Football Manager 2021
Trophies, tactics and triumphs on the small screen
Tactics have had a revamp, with new templates and new player roles added
£8.99 FROM Sports Interactive, footballmanager.com NEEDS iOS 9 or later
Sports Interactive bills Football Manager 2021 Mobile as ‘the fastest way to football glory’, but any thoughts of winning the treble in your first short sitting should be put to one side. Such an addictive game, with so many players to scout, tactics to tweak and matches to win, takes time to perfect.
What new content do you get for your money? Tactics have had a revamp, with new tactical templates tweaked and new player roles added to the game. You now have more control over set pieces and can define routines at both ends of the pitch. Elsewhere, player dynamics and interactions finally make it across from the Mac version of the game, and you will need to carefully consider the important players in your team when making major decisions. There are also three new nations to manage in (Argentina, Canada, and Mexico), plus the introduction of feeder clubs and a customisable preseason.
Not a bad haul of new features then. The most welcome additions relate to tactics. Setting up a custom corner or free kick routine is straightforward, as is adjusting your team’s instructions in attack and defence, in possession and out of it. For a game that contains so many options and so much information, all on a small screen, this has been done remarkably well.
The new player interactions also add a much appreciated extra level of immersion. Though they are simple, they add a bit more control, letting you raise players’ morale or motivate them to work harder where needed.
Two halves and small text
Matches are exciting but have a few minor niggles. The default highlight speed is incredibly fast, making it hard to make out what is happening on the pitch. Swiping between the various tactical and information screens during a match was noticeably laggy, even on our relatively recent iPhone XR, and we suffered the occasional gameplay slowdown (although these were rare). Once you sort out the highlight speed and use the menu to navigate tactical screens instead of swiping, the actual match gameplay is fun and enjoyable, especially when your team scores that all-important last-minute winner.
Having to cram so much information on to a compact mobile device screen means text is often small and buttons fiddly to press. We reviewed the game on a 6.1-inch iPhone XR, but, even so, there were plenty of misplaced taps and text that was on the small side. If you are using a smaller phone, this is worth considering. Otherwise, this is a strong entry in the Football Manager series. We love how easy it is to tweak your tactics to perfection, which becomes all the sweeter when you put on a Ferguson-style masterclass in the very next game. Alex Blake