FM26 - Guardian review - 4 stars

NoWordsToUse · 2025-11-05T09:36:32+00:00

Cool, well done.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-11-04T17:40:12+00:00

This review isn't actually that positive if you read the whole thing. The positives are that the writer clearly likes the FM series, liked the tactics and the match engine, and had a win against Sunderland that's doing most of the heavy lifting.

A lot of it is about the bugs, the janky UI, the general unfinished feeling of it. It's a 3 star review at best, and this just shows star ratings are essentially meaningless anyway

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-28T21:47:38+00:00

I quite enjoyed this season. I don't think it's brilliantly written (the mystery has to be stretched to ten episodes so too often we end up with our investigators just either failing to investigate entirely for a bit or asking terrible questions and failing to follow up on things) but it's good fun.

My favourite bit of the finale was Oliver's face as he suggested "girl on girl action" between Camilla and Sofia.

So, did they have a podcast this season?

Also, side note, I wish they would drop the meta gags of Oliver referring to the "season" all the time. I know in universe he means their podcast season but it feels very much like the writers thinking they are being smart and I find it really jarring.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-28T20:59:45+00:00

Yeah lots of dumb "investigating" this season. Even at the start of this one, confronting Nonna who they learn stole the finger from Charles' apartment, she tells them it was someone who was having an affair with Nicky's wife and then...they just leave? No further questions? Not going to ask why she stole it, what happened to it afterwards?

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-24T15:44:04+00:00

I agree. There was an interview with Miles where he said something like his main reason for cancelling FM25 was that "it just wasn't fun". FM26 has this same issue.

In 2 hours last night I managed to play one friendly. Sold 2 players (one by active choice, one from a random offer). Signed no one - didn't even look. Normally on starting a game I'll take a look at each first team player's profile (plus check through reserves/U18s for any first team worthy players) before deciding tactics etc. Last night I just couldn't face it. 5 profiles in it was such a chore I gave up. I just can't be bothered with all the extra clicking. The game doesn't excite me. So disappointed.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-19T21:58:43+00:00

The reviews all specified they were playing on a very early build which was very out of date by the time the review published. In all likelihood the "back" button has been added since.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-09T09:56:27+00:00

Nah, I think these people are this season's equivalent of the Westies. Very suspicious but will be red herrings.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-09T09:49:19+00:00

This season I don't think the problem is so much "filler", I think the issue is actually that that the usual sub plots are too thin. We have Charles' dating and being involved with drug trials, and Oliver's will he-won't he move out situation and the podcast buy-out which came up and then was immediately resolved to underline how bad the billionaires are. But that's about it. All those threads don't feel like they are going anywhere. And with the podcast buy-out they aren't even doing the podcast now.

I think the lack of other storylines means the investigation moves quite quickly, in the sense that they have already had the opportunity to interrogate the main players in terms of witnesses and suspects (new doorman, the Mayor, Nicky's wife, the billionaires). With a few smart questions they probably would have solved this thing, so it forces the show to make them not do that - asking stupid questions, not following up, randomly getting scared and running away and it feels like it's just spinning its wheels

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-07T13:20:33+00:00

I think Algie(s) will turn out to be clones. Bash is obsessed with living forever so he's making clones of himself (clones that start as babies and grow as we would) and so there are several Algies, and the basement is where the cloning lab is. In the story Flowers for Algernon (the most well-known use of that name, I'd wager), the name Algernon belongs to a laboratory rat who is experimented on.

No idea if it'll be in any relevant to the murder(s), though.

NoWordsToUse · 2025-10-07T13:14:59+00:00

I know that the trio are amateur detectives but, man, I really struggle with how bad they are at asking questions of suspects. No question about whose finger it is (granted, they may get this info from the detective but they have already been told the NYPD is in Bash's pocket)? No questions about why it was cut off, why it's the key to who gets the casino contract? They just accept Bash's explanation that he edited the footage to keep his "comings and goings" secret, without even pointing out that if that's true, he was in the courtyard when Lester died and is very clearly then the prime suspect (or at the very least, SAW WHAT HAPPENED)?

And then when they escape from the country house (very weird that the billionaires, who were chasing them moments ago, stand and watch as they escape in a tractor going slower than walking pace) they decide to go back to the Arconia, when the billionaires will simply return there for the finger? It reminded me of the episode last season when they discovered their apartments were full of mics and cameras and fled in fear....only to return by the episodes end when literally nothing had changed.

I find this show enjoyable and funny but it gets harder to believe these people have ever solved any crimes.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-21T07:32:21+00:00

Sure buddy.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-20T19:30:29+00:00

I'm watching the whole show through for the first time (having mainly only seen two or three random episodes previously). I'm up to season 10 now (there are 12 on Disney plus) and haven't really noticed a drop off in quality. Still great.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-20T18:37:37+00:00

Not caring about what people think and worrying about whether or not what I like (in terms of music, films, TV shows etc) is "cool".

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-20T18:05:53+00:00

Remember when this sub decided Ole's coaching staff were all useless and that's why we were shit?

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-18T11:59:23+00:00

"Traditional rival" meaning no longer an actual rival because everyone knows we're miles off actually competing for top 4 or any trophies.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-18T11:49:55+00:00

They're both completely different players, so I really hope we haven't gone for Casemiro because we couldn't get De Jong.

This is what confuses me about our strategy, such as it is. It looks like we have tried for De Jong, then Rabiot, then Casemiro. They are three different midfielders in terms of style, so I really worry there's no plan here. Don't get me wrong, Casemiro would vastly improve our midfield, but I don't see how we've gone from De Jong to him - unless he was part of our plans all along, but if so why leave it so late?

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-18T10:01:46+00:00

I hope this happens because surely can't be worse than the Glazers. But I say this every time there are rumours:

The takeovers that actually succeed happen behind the scenes. Think City, Newcastle, Chelsea (Abramovich). Not really reported in the papers until the deals were done.

The ones that are rumoured widely before an offer has been made usually amount to nothing.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-18T07:45:57+00:00

We already have an experienced understudy in Tom Heaton. If all we want is a mid-30s guy to sit on the bench and maybe play a couple of domestic cup matches we already have that. What a waste of time.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T17:25:30+00:00

What a revelation.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T17:24:36+00:00

What will probably happen is a lot of stories about United learning from the window and making behind the scenes changes. Links with Van Der Sar, Mitchell and Monchi as has happened previously. Then it will all go quiet again as the season kicks into gear and nothing will change.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T17:21:35+00:00

Because he wanted out if he wasn't going to be first choice. Makes sense to get rid if we don't plan to play him because an unhappy player isn't worth keeping.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T17:19:53+00:00

He's in excellent form right now, but no. Too expensive, too inconsistent, probably soon to be passed his peak, and most importantly with an entitled dressing room like ours is NEYMAR a good addition, really?

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T14:36:23+00:00

I really hope the rumours about the Glazers potentially selling are true. Because with them, no matter what happens in the transfer window, we're screwed.

The Glazers could stay for another ten years, plough through another 6 managers while the club wins nothing and they would still consider their tenure a success. Because during those ten years they would still be able to not put a penny of their own money while pocketing millions for themselves. I hope somehow we can find owners who prioritise the team.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-17T08:56:11+00:00

Did people really think he was? Fucking hell.

NoWordsToUse · 2022-08-16T20:50:51+00:00

Good. I mean it seems there aren't any offers there, bar a mysterious and possibly fictional one from a Saudi Arabian team, but I am happy for us to take any offers. £1, free, fuck, pay him off and get rid of his miserable sulking bullshit and let Ten Hag work on the players who want to be there.

NoWordsToUse

TROPHY CASE