Football Manager 2006 (Mac/PC CD)

Transfers correct up to last transfer window
Improved Player-Manager interaction
Improved Media
Speeded up gameplay
Re-designed and easier player training facility
team-talk (1/2 time and full time)
more options
more tactical options

Anyone familar with this titles predessor and the past SI SM series will know that it is without a doubt the most in-depth and stat filled Management game available and boasts more features, players (theres 50 countries, 5,000 teams and 250,000 here),and options than any other footie management game on the market.

As a footnote, this game is really submersive so be prepared to sacrifice your gf and social life as you look to guide your team to glory.

All in all this is the best footie management title available, but there are a few niggles. My main one is that i have a top of the range Pentium 4, hyper-threading, 3.4ghz, 1 gig rammed PC and when this game does its sys check it reccommends that i play one league (England div 2 up) only. Now forgive me but the minimum spec says it can go on 256mb ram and a significantly lower processor. Now god only knows what kind of Quad Processor (10ghz), 10gig of Ram 100k Super computer you'd need, just to run every league so lets just say that unless your gonna purchase off Nasa, your gonna have to limit yourself.

I personally find that if i run 11 divisions :

England (Conference-Prem)
Scotland (Premier)
Spain (Premier)
Italy (serie A & B)
Portugal (Premier)

+Large database

that the game runs at an acceptable speed and is fun to play, and gives you a broad spectrum of teams you can manage and players to choose from. Obviously its a matter of preference as to the realism you want (and what power your pc has), however if you have a mid-range PC and try to fire up 30 leagues accross several continents, your gonna have a game that takes 15mins per load cycle, and the game will become cronically unfun to play.

Obviously teams are all up to date following the close of the transfer window. The accuracy of this extends to players who were injured at the start of the season are also injured on here.

The half time / full time team talks now enable you to directly affect the psychology of your players over the course of a match. If your star striker is having a shocker, do you encourage him or give him the Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment? Whatever you do, the results are seen on the pitch and in the dressing room afterwards.

Media interaction is extended and gives you extended opportunities to psych out the opposition or bemoan your own shortcomings.

The strength in depth that has been the hallmark of SI Games series (through the first 4 Championship Manager games and Football Manager 2005) remains evident - they've just made it smarter, faster and even more involving than before.

Now if I can only get to Christmas without the Spurs board giving me the boot...