Football Manager Live’s uniqueness is borne out of the fact that it confers the user with the ability to create their own team. The game contains teams created from scratch by the managers. So instead of people managing real life teams like
This gives the game a sense of individuality as the team you create will be the only one bearing that name. It creates an attachment that is palpable as the team is essentially your baby. Once created it is up to you to bring that team success. You can customise your club in a number of ways, and these are described in more detail below.
TEAM NAME
One of the first things you will be required to do when signing up for Football Manager Live is name your Club. This is one of the most crucial decisions you will make so endeavour to take your time. The name you choose will be your club name for the duration of your subscription. It is also one of the most fun parts of the process. During the beta testing a litany of team names emerged ranging from variations on users' favourite club, where they live, and even named after famous football players or cultural icons.
Some sample BETA names include: FrootLoops FC, Web Spinners FC, Victorious Secrets, GIGIADZE!!!!, Vidal Baboon, Ultra.., and Superstar Tradesmen to name but a few.
A team name can give your side an instant identity, so why not go for something original and make a name for yourself. Once you have chosen your team name, no other manager can use that throughout all Football Manager Live Gameworlds. Your team name will in essence be an extension of your personality, it can get your team noticed in the Gameworld and will be the name your fans chant during matches.
YOUR OWN PROFILE
Every manager has their own in-game profile via which they can tell the world a bit about themsevles and/or their team via the presonal 'Statement' section. Use this to say hi to the gameworld, or to show off your team and post links to your best players and their goal clips. What you use this section for is entirely up to you.
Alot of managers add humorous twists to their names. One famous moderator, Si Evans, took the name ''Si 'I do not work for SI!' Evans''. Can you be as funny, or do you think you're funnier? Finally, note you can put in a picture of yourself for all the world to see. Are you brave enough?
All these options are accessed from the 'Manager' -> 'Options' menubar and the 'Change Profile' and 'Change Photo' buttons respectively.
BADGE
There is a space on your team profile page for you to upload a customised team badge. These can be a jpeg or png file. This is one of the areas where the distinctiveness of the games excels. People have embraced this concept immensely and there are a number of expert graphics experts who can create your teams badge to the exact definition you require. Some of the badges created would put professional designers to shame and a number surpass the design and personality of many real life team badges.
If you are adept at Photoshop you can make one yourself, but there is an excellent badge designed accessible via your account of the www.fmlive.co.uk website. To those that have created their own it is a real labour of love. The game will automatically resize the badge created and show it alongside your team name when playing a match. 'Club' -> 'Profile' -> 'Change Badge' will allow you to upload badges from wherever they are stored.
KIT COLOURS
The style of kit used to remain pretty much the same up to the 1980s. Then sponsorship and the need of the fans to wear a stylish representation of the team they loved emerged. So after picking your team name and setting up your stadium, the next objective is kit choice. Perhaps you will duplicate the colours of your favourite team? Or carry on the original aspect of the game and choose your own style. Do you have a lucky colour?
Perhaps you know your football history and will emulate legendary managers like Don Revie and Bill Shankly, whose choice of kit was psychological. Shankly believed the colour red struck fear into teams and changed his sides kit to all red while Revie changed Leeds kit to reflect the great Real Madrid side. You select both your Home and Away kit from 35 kits which you can customise with your own colours. Your team colours will also show on your profile page; Colour 1 as the background and Colour 2 as the text. Thus this option will affect the whole image of your team.
'FM Live' -> 'Preferences' -> 'Club' will take you to the correct place.
Read on for details of how to design your pitch, create extra squads, and tell the world about your team!
