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You've always wondered what a real manager has to say about the game?! Wellm here it is, we got an exclusive interview with Mark, who happens to be a FML subscriber as well. Bio: Mark Christie is the Head Coach in the DMC Sports Soccer program.
The 26-year old graduated from Perth High School in 2001, Mark has been coaching since then. As a young player Christie played for Letham Boys in Perth, Tulloch Thistle In Fife and Kinnoull JFC In Dundee.
During the 2006 Season Mark created Luncarty Boys Club, The boys club based in Luncarty now runs at 7 different age groups and has recently been awarded the SFA Quality Mark - Which is the 2nd Highest in Scottish youth football. During this time Christie worked with SPL side St. Johnstone in their community schemes, He then took on a Professional Youth Contract with Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.
Highly regarded Christie has been involved in sessions with Glasgow Celtic Football Club, Manchester City Football Club, Falkirk Football Club & Stenhousemuir Football Club. He has also worked as a youth coach at Dunfermline FC, manager of Luncarty FC, and currently is a Reserve and U19 Coach for East Stirling.
FML Self Bio: I started playing FML in Beta back in the Old GW6 (the best GW i have ever been in - RIP). During my time in GW6 RT & Mik McDade made me an XFA Org, and from there I was made a moderator in one I can't really remember the name or number of that GW; it could have been GW17, that GW did not last long as we soon went into GW23 - I think this one was called Chung. This has the final release of Beta on it and this is where all my problems began (I have never won an FA, Super FA or Youth comp since). When the game went live I was in Keane where I met loads of folk who I still keep in contact with – mainly because they are either my mates or work with me in my mod team. At this point in the game there was a need for more mods and people to head up these mod teams as Liason Mods, I was shifted into Papin to help there for a while before going into Jackett as Liason Mod. After the full reset I have found myself in both Ramos & Belanov – still not winning anything...
FootManLive: You are a real life manager, do you feel that FML/FM had an influence to your real life career?
Mark: Not really in regards to the way I manage or coach my teams, the formation that I play in game has no reflection on what I do out of the game – in fact it’s the polar opposite as I tend to attack more in the real world. The one main thing that the game has given me is a knowledge of players and their history – I feel like an encyclopaedia of the most obscure players and teams.
Mark: Not really in regards to the way I manage or coach my teams, the formation that I play in game has no reflection on what I do out of the game – in fact it’s the polar opposite as I tend to attack more in the real world. The one main thing that the game has given me is a knowledge of players and their history – I feel like an encyclopaedia of the most obscure players and teams.
FootManLive: Do you think that virtual managers could do a job in real life?
Mark: Given the correct attributes I think that anyone could - it’s easy enough in the game to be able to click the train on long passing button to get players better at it, but realistically it is miles away trying to get a player to master another technique or do exactly what you ask them to do in a game. And then there is dealing with the players (or at youth level the parents).
Mark: Given the correct attributes I think that anyone could - it’s easy enough in the game to be able to click the train on long passing button to get players better at it, but realistically it is miles away trying to get a player to master another technique or do exactly what you ask them to do in a game. And then there is dealing with the players (or at youth level the parents).
FootManLive: What's missing from the game to make it closer to the real thing?
Mark: There isn’t anything right away that I can say would make it closer to the real thing, I don’t think a message popping up saying your goalkeeper has missed training as he was at pre-natal classes would work (that’s a joke that only a few will get...). However, I would like to see inter-squad matches introduced.
Mark: There isn’t anything right away that I can say would make it closer to the real thing, I don’t think a message popping up saying your goalkeeper has missed training as he was at pre-natal classes would work (that’s a joke that only a few will get...). However, I would like to see inter-squad matches introduced.
FootManLive: The player dabase is used by many clubs all over the world, but how good is it?
Mark: At the level that I am working at I feel that I can’t really use the DB for an accurate representation off players. I do use it for basic information like date of birth to see what level they can play at in the youth teams, and who they have previously played for.
FootManLive: How accurate are your players evaluated in the database?
Mark: If I am being honest I think that some of the players in the game are highly over rated and some players who are good on the real pitch are not as good in the game. My main example will be the one that gets me every single time, Jody Morris of St Johnstone has been the 2nd best midfielder in the SPL this season and was the best player the previous season. But what you find is that due to him playing for a lesser club he does not get the attributes that he should be getting. There is a thing on the Scottish forums that we call Old Firm syndrome: If a player has or does play for either of the Old Firm (Celtic/Rangers) he gets and extra 20 in his overall total just for previous being there.
FootManLive: How do you see the game's future?
Mark: The FM series could go on forever. My view is that people have to move away from annual releases (this will never happen while people still buy it) This is not just for FM but for Fifa\Madden\NBA and the likes. Bringing out paid updates every transfer window would be the way forward, I just feel that releases every year are more just bug fixes on previous versions and there is not much new or improved functionality in them.
FootManLive: Do you think you are better as a real manager or as a FML manager?
Mark: Have you ever played against me on FML? That will answer that one...
FootManLive: Are tactical instructions as meticulous in real life as they are on the game?
Mark: There is loads more that could be added to the Tactical side of the game on FM\FML but I do think it would just overload it. I think the way it is setup now is good for all levels of managers.
FootManLive: Is it really - The best job on Earth - as they say?
Mark: If I was paid the same money as the top guys im sure it would be, but at the moment the 5 hours in a car with folk farting in the back to play in -5C snowy conditions do take a little shine of it, but im sure I love it really or I would not endure them every 2nd week...
FootManLive: What would you say to the users that dream of becoming real life managers
Mark: Be prepared to switch off FM, FML and your family, football is not just training and matches, Football is players calling you at 11 at night as they don’t know something that you have told them 100 times, Or its trying to get players in, I’ve had to call players 10\15 times just to get them to come in and talk to me about coming in.
Mark: If I was paid the same money as the top guys im sure it would be, but at the moment the 5 hours in a car with folk farting in the back to play in -5C snowy conditions do take a little shine of it, but im sure I love it really or I would not endure them every 2nd week...
FootManLive: What would you say to the users that dream of becoming real life managers
Mark: Be prepared to switch off FM, FML and your family, football is not just training and matches, Football is players calling you at 11 at night as they don’t know something that you have told them 100 times, Or its trying to get players in, I’ve had to call players 10\15 times just to get them to come in and talk to me about coming in.
Great read :)
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