England - The CM2 Story

Can't wait for more of this!

2013-06-15 21:28#112714 wellsy1498 : Just wondering mate do you have the twitter account @lets_play_CM2??? I follow you.

That's me, thanks for following

I'm currently tweeting post France '98 so if you want the results of this to remain a secret, don't follow me...yet.

I better add that I have a blog you shouldn't check either as this story on here - although only slightly behind - is a port from my blog. Please wait for the conclusion of France '98 - The FMScout version, before going over there as I believe this version to be the best. I am making improvements whilst porting it over.

Whilst I have your attention, thank you for the kind responses they are appreciated, honestly. I'm a huge attention whore so the more comments I get the better I'd also appreciate (just as much) some criticism or suggestions on how to improve. I am by no means a natural writer (that's obvious) so I'd appreciate the help.

Thanks again.

Our trip to France '98 - Germany

I didn't want to think it but my only thought was that our trip to France was coming to an end, we had drawn Germany in the next round. How the hell were we supposed to beat the Germans when it appeared so ingrained in our psyche not to?

I needed to know everything about my opponents to gain some sort of advantage. Normally I'd rely in the belief of my own team and tactics but I only had one shot at this, this had to be taken seriously. Instinctively I looked at their results, their squad and then focused on their formation for weaknesses.

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By coincidence my counterpart Franz Beckenbauer had been lining up his players in an almost identical way.

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I couldn't see a way out and anyway, if I were to tweak the team and formation that had got us this far and failed it would quite clearly have been a mistake on my part, the fans would never have forgiven me and my career would be over. I decided to go for it.

Sir Alan partnered Sir Les to lead us forth. We would need to convert our chances and these two were in top form. The whistle blew as I popped a chewing gum in true managerial fashion. 1,2,3....6,7,8 the minutes flashed before me. Then 9, 10,11 and "GOAL FOR ENGLAND!!"


It was Shearer, he'd broken the deadlock after 11mins tapping home from 3yrds to end a goal mouth scramble that rivalled the very best of them. The news fed through on Twitter and I began to receive tweets in bundles, some chanting the name 'Shearer!' repeatedly.

Half time soon came. I reminded myself the job wasn't over and that we needed more goals, one wasn't enough. I hadn't changed anything but my conscience had done it, on 50mins it was 2-0. Barmby with a towering header. Was this it? Were we really going to the semi finals?






















We were in the hat for the next round and we could draw one of Croatia, Romania or France...

A solid win over the Germans!

Our trip to France '98 - Semi-Final vs Croatia

The momentum was with us for this semi final, we'd beaten Germany and we'd beaten them well. We'd overachieved my expectations but we weren't about to stop.

I'd now be disappointed to go out of the tournament. In theory we had only come to make up the numbers relying on a lucky break or 3 but look how far we had come. We were now part of the final quartet having just caused a major upset. Maybe, just maybe, football really was coming home this time.

If the truth be told, when I saw the Croatia team tactics for the first time I snorted. It was a compliment really, they were counter attacking because they were inferior.

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I'd made a mistake during my team selection for the game and replaced Shearer with Fowler, I was supposed to take out Sir Les. On the 19th minute my error cost us a goal, Sir Les slots home to put us one up, I was a genius.

Darren Anderton had been in immense form leading up to this game but I had considered his replacement at half time. In the second half he proved his worth with a wonder goal from the edge of the area to put us 2 goals to the good and even closer to a place in the World Cup Final.

Croatia behind by two threw caution to the wind and sent everything forward and were rewarded only 4mins later. A cleverly rehearsed short corner kick drew out two England defenders leaving Asanovic to nod in at the near post. The red and white chequered fans sent delirious by the craft but most likely desperation; was a comeback on?

Davar Suker, a late sub rallied his compatriots and almost levelled with a stunning volley that almost broke our crossbar. The remaining minutes had been tense, we defended like crusaders but ultimately deserved our place in the final.

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France, the host nation would go on to beat our Group A counterparts Romania thus being our World Cup Final opponents.

Our trip to France '98 - The Final vs France

The French looked good, really good. I had scouted them and the strengths far outweighed the weaknesses. Only a fool could study a team graced with footballing gods like Zidane, Desailly, Ginola and Cantona, then come away with anything but shivers.

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The French Lineup.

We had a few players struggling for fitness so I hoped to keep it tight and make changes at half time. France had other ideas and were 1-0 up through Dugarry on 14mins. Sucker punch. I exhaled a breath and focused on the following match updates like a hawk. I needed a clue, are we in this? Should I make a change now? GOAL! It was Desailly. 2-0 with only 22mins gone. I felt something leave my side, my belief had started walking towards the tunnel.


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We saw it through to half time losing by 2 goals.

I didn't think we'd played badly and the statistics agreed with me. I had to instigate something.

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We made a tactical change and substitution.

His greatness, Zinedine Zidane, was playing as LWB facing up to McManaman, we had nothing to lose now so I pushed Macca forward. Unsworth moved forward the same but that move was a desperate one. Gazza hadn't been up to it and before he lunged in on anyone recklessly I replaced him, Nick Barmby was coming on.

I imagined taking my seat in the dugout, it would be silent. The crowd full of verve of course but I'd have shut them out, in a dream state I would have shunned everything going on around me. When the whistle went I'd jump to my feet and urge the players forward like a fan, Come on ENGLAND!

The second half was under way and the players had reacted, they were up for the fight and that pleased me. Keep up the pressure and make something happen I repeated within.
In the 73rd minute Macca targets an isolated Zizou. He drops a shoulder to the right, Zizou thinks he's done his job showing him outside but he's been skinned before he knows it. Macca reaches the byline and literally smsshes the ball towards the 6yrd box, out comes Leboeuf's hand and the ref spots it immediately, penalty to England.
My heart was in my mouth but as Sir Alan steps up.....GOAL!! It's 2-1 and we're back in it with twenty to play. We launched attack after attack, they dug deep, we pressed forward, they cleared the ball, we threw everything at them. At one point I counted 14 England players on the field we were everywhere, the players gave everything but there was no break through. It wasn't to be, the dream was over, France had won the World Cup on home soil.

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We can be proud. We gave it everything and we enjoyed it. Thanks for the memories at least.

Our trip to France is now complete. We came, we tried, we're runners-up.

This "story" took place over a game session one evening in which I tried to take England to World Cup glory in the game Championship Manager 2 - 96/97. The events were tweeted live and then later recaptured in several blog posts.

I have since continued this save and on this Sunday past I played out Holland Euro 2000. I have only written one blog entry detailing our qualification thus far. To find out how we got on please look out for the next chapter - England in Holland Euro 2000 - coming soon.

wow that France side was strong, no shame in losing to them.

I thought the same, Blanc could only make the bench. I was disappointed in Seaman letting me down, only rated a 4 in that game.

Did you ever play CM2, Special One?

CM2 is the reason I'm still in love with the game in 2013.

Having Klinsmann and Sheringham in the Spurs squad was great. Plus these days Sol "The Cad" Campbell fetches quite a few pennies so you can buy some of the future greats in the game.

Are you still playing the game a_esbech? When I'm not writing about it, it's all I've been playing in recent times. The game is timeless unlike most games from the same time period.

This England adventure has been so much fun. I love being able to play with the legends of that footballing era just like those you highlight. It's nostalgic yes, but I can also relate to the players because I know them. I liken the experience to that of a book, though I'm not reading it, I'm writing it.

Good Luck Mate

2013-06-20 07:18#114076 lets_play_CM2 : Are you still playing the game a_esbech? When I'm not writing about it, it's all I've been playing in recent times. The game is timeless unlike most games from the same time period.

This England adventure has been so much fun. I love being able to play with the legends of that footballing era just like those you highlight. It's nostalgic yes, but I can also relate to the players because I know them. I liken the experience to that of a book, though I'm not reading it, I'm writing it.

I have it installed, but I think I've logged about 3 hours in all over the past year or so. Not much

2013-06-19 20:03#114038 lets_play_CM2 : I thought the same, Blanc could only make the bench. I was disappointed in Seaman letting me down, only rated a 4 in that game.

Did you ever play CM2, Special One?

No he didn't, I'm his brother lol, and the first FM we had was FM11

@a_esbech: You should play more and thanks for following on Twitter