NIDZUMI+

My name is Sam Morris, and I have a problem with Football Manager 2010…

A quick flick of the retinas reveal that I’ve been here for an absurd number of hours, but I can’t stop now I’ve worked up until this point. It would be an historic treble for the previously branded relegation candidates of Parma and it would be a cop out to quit now.

I often find it hard to recommend Football Manager to people because if you’re vaguely interested in it, you’re already entering your 3rd season by now. Still I managed to find one who hasn’t been bitten by the statistical bug. Now all we ever do is talk over each other with tales of triumph and woe of Hull’s resurgence after being setback by relegation.

It’s weird to think that it’s all just a game because the players, or at least their names, are real. It instantly makes the game more engrossing and tangible. Granted Freddy Guarin never matured into the world class player I had at Bradford all those years ago but he is playing at reigning Portuguese champions, Porto. While Vaclav Kadlec, Kevin Monnet-Paquet, Patrico Rodriguez or Bjorn Billen might not be running out for Barcelona any time soon, actually I think that last one was a regen, I’ll still have the smug look on my face when they sign for a mid-table Ligue 1 club.

It’s not just the knowledge, although I would happily credit the game for a greater familiarity with global geography, it’s the building up a legacy. I know a lot of people like to transform their favourite clubs from non-league obscurity to title winning powerhouses and I’ve done that from time to time but the second word in the title is all important, Manager.

Personally it’s about building up that managerial legacy by winning all major competitions in the game. We’re talking international European and World Championships along with each countries individual club competition. Unfortunately I’m still yet to achieve this holy grail, at least in one save anyway. It feels unattainable, even with the amount of hours I’ve put in and believe me I’ve put a lot in.

Let’s just save us all some time, mainly so I can switch windows to the open FM window right now, and say that Nidzumi and my degree would be a whole lot better if it wasn’t for this game. Surely though, that can’t be just because of this outlandish goal I’ve set myself.

Maybe when I get all titles my addiction will be cured, but for now I’ll move the game into 2020, well that’s after I spend another 10 minutes debating whether I should take that Tottenham job offer.

The Priory is a six part series recalling personal tales of Video Game addiction. Stay tuned every Friday from the 29th of January up until the 5th of March for more fond or regrettable memories that are all too relatable. Click here for the rest of the series.