Author: Richard David Pike
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FM20 Challenges: (5) Supporter Ownership, Phoenix Clubs and Academies
If the global covid-19 pandemic has shown anything about the sport we love, it is how important the role of clubs are in the lives of fans, and vice versa. Empty stands are just not the same; clubs that rely on matchday income are gasping for breath; even the extraordinary sub-culture of esoteric random that…
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FM20 Challenges: (4) Financial & stadium issues
Project Restart is now in full swing as the Premier League is set to return on 17 June, while the Danish Superliga is the latest to resume action with AGF vs Randers FC tonight. One common theme of concern among clubs of almost all levels and leagues has been the financial impact the lockdown will…
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FM20 Challenges: (3) Fallen Giants
As leagues across Europe tentatively edge back towards action, fans are likely to be a notable absence from games for quite some time yet. Empty stands filled with little more than artificial crowd noise and advertising boards cast an eerie disconnected atmosphere. It may well take some time before football as we know it returns…
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FM20 Challenges: (2) Extraordinary geographical and script-busting tasks
Bit by bit football edges back to normality. The Bundesliga has exploded with goals, while the Italian and Spanish associations are looking to return to top-flight action within the next three weeks. On the other hand, leagues in Scotland, the Netherlands and Belgium have already been prematurely ended. To help you cope we have prepared…
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FM2020 Challenges: (1) Capital city, dominance-breaking and through-the-leagues
After more than two months without football due to global covid-19 pandemic, we at Heart of Football share the frustrations of millions longing for its return. To satisfy your footballing fix during the suspension, why not engage yourself in Football Manager 2020? We’ve decided to break down a series of challenges into bite-size chunks to…
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Denis Irwin: Manchester United & Sir Alex Ferguson’s Mr Reliable
This May sees the 30th anniversary of Manchester United’s 1989/90 FA Cup victory, a campaign which began in the 3rd round against Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest. The only goal scored by Mark Robins gave the Red Devils a 1-0 victory widely believed to have saved Sir Alex Ferguson from the sack. After a thrilling 3-3…
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Debate: Financial Fair Play
What is your opinion on Financial Fair Play (FFP)? Richard Pike: As a Wigan Athletic supporter, I have a mixed opinion on FFP. Had it been in place when we were climbing up through the Football League, it would have been tough to reach the Premier League. Bridging the financial gap to other teams in…
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Francesco Toldo: The underrated, dependable deputy to Buffon’s brilliance
With four FIFA World Cup victories, Italy has produced some of the finest players to grace the game. Giuseppe Meazza, Valentino & Sandro Mazzola, Gianni Rivera, Giacinto Facchetti, Gigi Riva, Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile, Paolo Rossi, Gaetano Scirea, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro del Piero, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta: the list is endless. …
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Debate: Return of European Club Competitions
Will English clubs win both the Champions League and Europa League? Which teams and ties are you most looking forward to seeing in both competitions? Hanu Trivedi: No, I can’t see English clubs cleaning up both the trophies. Personally I believe that Liverpool and PSG (and Real Madrid of course) are the only teams with…
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Juan Carlos Valerón: The bad luck & timing of Super Depor’s genius
Even prior to the national team’s Euro 2008 triumph, Spain was always respected as a producer of fine footballers. One of the greatest set of players to fail to fulfil the country’s football potential was the 1990s and millennial generation: Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Miguel Ángel Nadal, Fernando Hierro, Albert Ferrer, Fernando Morientes, Joseba Exteberría…
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