Football Manager 22 was released on November 9, 2021 to a positive reception by critics. The game currently sits on an impressive Metascore of 86, making it one of the most critically-acclaimed management games of the last decade.
Football Manager 22 was released on day one on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, which helped bring in an influx of new players to the series. Unfortunately, those players may have a tough time in the opening hours, as the Football Manager series throws pages of options, data, and statistics at players, which can be very confusing at first. So, to give new players a hand, here are a selection of Football Manager 2022 tips.
Updated January 4, 2022 by Jack Pursey: One of the many reasons why the Football Manager series has continued to thrive year after year, despite stiff competition from the more successful and fully licensed FIFA series, is thanks to its unparalleled depth in the sports genre.
The Football Manager series, like many sports games, can be criticized for lacking major improvements between yearly releases, but small improvements and additional features have added up over time to the point where Football Manager 22 is one of the most detailed management titles in all of gaming. As mentioned before, however, this can make it a nightmare for new players. To offer further help to newcomers, we've expanded this list to add a few more FM 22 tips.
13 Don’t Overcomplicate Tactical Instructions
When first booting up a Football Manager game, many new players will be overwhelmed by the number of tactical choices on offer. Consequently, some beginners will make the mistake of picking specified instructions in every available category, assuming that it's a necessity.
However, picking specific instructions from every Team and Individual category isn't only unnecessary, it can also significantly harm the team's style of play. Overloading the players with tactical instructions can significantly harm their creativity, making them too rigid and predictable in attack, while also restricting their ability to adapt to the opposition.
12 Be Wary Of Each Player's Workload
Although it may sound obvious, it's vitally important to manage each player's workload in Football Manager 22. This important part of management is often overlooked by new managers as they're either too focused on trying to win their early games and consequently overwork their key players, or they're underestimating how much individual attention each player needs in comparison to most other sports games.
So, to avoid an injury crisis, managers should keep a constant eye on the fitness levels of their players, ensuring that they properly manage their game time, while also fine-tuning their training schedule and intensity.
11 Adjust Set-Piece Routines Sporadically
Set-piece routines are one of the many important features in Football Manager 22 that new managers will overlook on a first playthrough as it's hidden behind one of the game's many tabs, and they'll be too preoccupied to notice, focusing instead on more pressing issues and trying to get to grips with the game.
Although every save file will begin with a default set of set-piece routines, these should still be adjusted to suit the strengths and weaknesses of the team's individual players. Moreover, the manager mustn't simply set and forget their set-piece routines, as opposition teams will soon recognize that the team is using the same set-piece routine every game, and adjust accordingly.
10 Assign Staff Roles On The First Day At A New Job
One of the first things that new managers should do is assign roles for their staff. Football Manager 22 lets the manager delegate a wide range of tasks to their staff, which can be invaluable for beginners, as they can come to terms with the game's core mechanics before branching off into more complex features.
Training, press conferences, contract renewals, and even some tactical decisions can be left to the manager's coaching team. Before doing anything else, managers should head to the Staff tab, so that they know exactly what they need to work on and what their staff will be taking care of.
9 Pay Attention To Dynamics
The Dynamics tab gives detailed information on the morale, hierarchy, and social groups of first-team players. This may initially seem like something that the manager can overlook. However, it can be the thing that makes and breaks their career at the club. An unhappy set of players will start to show their displeasure on the pitch, which can lead a manager straight to the sack.
Before making any key decisions regarding players, the manager should have a thorough look at their Dynamics tab, particularly at the hierarchy section. A disagreement with a Team Leader could spell disaster.
8 Keep Promises
Following on from the previous point, there is one thing that the manager can do that will instantly change the mood of their players: breaking a promise. Throughout a season, players will come to the manager asking for various assurances, regarding things like their playing time, transfers, pay rises, and more. If the manager makes a promise, it's essential that they keep it.
This may seem obvious, but some sports games, like the FIFA series, have minimal consequences if the manager goes back on their word, so beginners may think that they can do the same in Football Manager 22. This certainly isn't the case here, as a broken promise with a player can often result in a broken level of trust between the manager and the whole squad.
7 Be Flexible Tactically
A common beginner mistake that beginner managers will make in Football Manager 22 is coming into the game with a pre-determined tactic and style in play in mind, without even deciding what team they're going to pick. This is especially an issue when managers are planning to start the game unemployed or manage a bottom league club that they're not familiar with. Chances are that the tactic won't suit their team of players, which is, of course, essential to winning games.
Although it's a good idea to implement a familiar style of play, the tactic must suit the available players. Otherwise, the manager could be out the door before their plans have a chance to come to fruition.
6 Pay Attention To The Board's Vision
Another common beginner mistake is ignoring the board's vision. The board will set out their vision very clearly when the manager starts a new job, though many people don't realize how much of an impact it can actually have.
For example, a manager could find a lot of success playing a solid, defensive style. However, if the board requests an attacking style of play to entertain the fans, then the manager may be shown the door, despite what success they may have achieved.
5 Be Patient In The Transfer Market
The transfer window is one of the most exciting times in any Football Manager game, as it gives the manager the chance to sell any disgruntled or underperforming players. Meanwhile, they can splash the cash on better players who suit the manager's style.
Consequently, many new managers tend to rush into the transfer market. This can be a fatal error, as a poor transfer window can significantly harm a team's progress for years to come. To avoid this, managers should ensure that any signings are thoroughly scouted, and ensure that they don't overspend.
4 Watch Extended Highlights
With all of the stats and data available to managers in Football Manager 22, some find it tempting to speed through matches, only watching replays of the goals. Although the data available in the game can paint a good picture of each match, it's still worth watching a good chunk of each game, as managers will often spot pros and cons about their side that the data doesn't show.
It's also worth pointing out that the default camera angle can be quite restricting. It may be worth switching it to Sideline, which offers a better tactical view.
3 Utilize Individual Training
When first joining a team, or trying to teach a pre-existing set of players a new style of play, it is important to work with the players in training. Thankfully, Football Manager 22 makes this easy, as there is a specific page dedicated to individual player instructions.
The individual training tab lets the manager train their players into a new position, alter their training intensity, or even instruct them to work on a specific skill.
2 Avoid Teams With Financial Issues
One thing that is synonymous with the Football Manager series is the excitement of taking a struggling team to trophy-winning glory. Although achievements such as this are among the game's most satisfying moments, it's often a bridge too far for beginners, and attempting it can potentially put them off the game if things get too tricky.
This is particularly the case when new managers take charge of a team in financial difficulty, as the side can soon find itself suffering from a plethora of issues, which will often be no fault of the manager. Picking a team in financial trouble is Football Manager 22's equivalent of a "hard mode," so new managers should put the challenge off until they're more accustomed to the game.
1 Don't Rush Through Seasons
Once new managers are up and running, they'll start earning positive results with a strong style of play that is being well implemented by a happy squad of players. At this time, new managers may be tempted to pick up the pace and rush through the rest of a season.
Rushing through a season is only likely to end one way, however. Lack of attention to tactical alterations, player morale, and club improvements often won't show signs of issue until it's too late. Moreover, managers should avoid the tantalizing "Go On Holiday" option as much as possible, as they can end up missing vital moments in the season. They can often return from their sunny vacation to a plethora of problems that can take literal hours to eventually solve.
Football Manager 22 is currently available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and Mobile.