To start, I don’t want to come across as some kind of Football Manager 26 apologist — I recognize that the game was released in an abysmal state, and that the UI is incredibly rough and hardly legible, let alone functional. That said, I can’t say that I haven’t seen the vision. While not as refined as it possibly can be, I’ve loved the new tactics, with in-possession and out-of-possession shapes inventing all new ways you not just build a system and tactical identity, but build a team as well.
In my review last month, I called FM26 “a brilliant game in a clunky shell,” and I stand by that statement to this day. I understand that this may be an unpopular opinion in some circles, but that’s how I felt. However, I can’t say I’ve loved the game as much as I did Football Manager 24 and previous entries. In fact, I can’t say I loved it at all.
But that’s begun changing recently, and I have no qualms with saying that I’ve learned to love FM26 as fixes have been made available.
There’s Still Work To Do, But The Patches Have Been Good
A massive criticism of FM26 upon release was that it was obviously unfinished and lacked polish, optimization, and a functional UI. And, to be honest, a lot of those criticisms still hold plenty of water. Even a month after release, issues with the game’s responsiveness and menu design linger. However, one of the biggest differences between now and then is that the patches have finally started to add clarity, not just stability.
The most recent updates haven’t reinvented FM26, but they’ve made it easier to understand why things are happening (and Shouts are back). Post-match reports are more informative, player feedback feels less opaque, and the game does a better job of surfacing trends instead of forcing you to dig for them. That matters, because FM lives and dies on feedback loops. If I lose, I want to know how and where things broke down — not just that my xG was lower than the other team’s.
That said, it still feels like we’re only halfway there. Heat maps and passing maps remain glaring omissions, especially in a version of Football Manager that is meant to emphasize structure and shape. If the game is going to ask me to think in terms of zones, rest defense, and positional discipline, then the visual tools to evaluate those ideas need to be front and center. Right now, I’m often convinced something is wrong tactically, but the game doesn’t always give me the evidence I need to confirm it.
The Tactical Foundation Is Genuinely Excellent (Albeit Imperfect)
Where FM26 really won me over — even early on — was its in-possession and out-of-possession systems. This is the first time in years that tactics feel less like slotting roles into a familiar 4-2-3-1 and more like designing a living structure that changes depending on game state.
Those tactical layers have made team-building far more deliberate. You’re no longer just signing a “winger” or a “box-to-box midfielder.” You’re signing players who make sense within specific phases of play. Can this fullback hold width in possession but recover centrally out of it? Can this midfielder survive being isolated when our press fails? FM26 asks those questions constantly, and punishes you when you ignore them. This tactical system has always been a source of appreciation for me, even at launch, when most people were down on the title.
However, even this aspect of the game isn’t without faults. I’m sure you’ve seen it already, but many players have noticed how certain tactical shapes — especially no-striker formations — are incredibly OP right now. Instead of setting up in a traditional 4-3-3 with two wingers and a striker, many have opted for three attacking midfielders all in a shadow striker role. Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that past FMs haven’t had obviously broken tactics — the 4-2-3-1 gegenpress has been notoriously unbalanced in past entries. However, with the new graphical overhaul, I was hoping that the match engine would receive a bit more attention and create more balanced tactics across the board.
I Love My Save, But Immersion Still Needs Work
Since the beta period, I’ve been controlling LR Vicenza, a third-division Italian club that hasn’t been relevant since the 90s. And leading them to the top flight has been a gratifying experience.
In my first season, we were able to avoid the Serie C playoff blender by winning Serie C Group A. But in my second season, we could only muster a mid-table Serie B finish, despite a decent start. There was a period where we went winless in over 10 straight matches, often losing (or drawing) in comical, heartbreaking ways. In Serie C, I had a relatively simple (but fun) tactic with an incredibly fluid shape. Out of possession, I had Vicenza set up in a 4-3-3 / 4-4-2 setup. But in possession, we went for it — the fullbacks became wingbacks, the DM would drop into the back line, and we’d commit a ton of numbers forward. While it helped me blitz Serie C, this didn’t work in Serie B, where most teams had higher budgets and better players, especially the Serie A yo-yo clubs like Venezia, Hellas Verona, and Cesena.
So, after the season was over, I had to go back to the drawing board. Instead of being ambitious, I had to be more pragmatic. And ultimately, it worked. Despite it being an incredibly close race between the pesky Cesena, we secured a 2nd place finish. The previously relegated Spezia ran away with it.
And in Serie A, I’ve faced a ton of challenges. Players who were previously invaluable to me have become tactical liabilities. Instead of being able to take the fight to 90% of the teams in my division, most matches have been a fight just to survive the onslaught. We’ve managed to pull out two wins in our first five matches, but I already know that we won’t be competing at the sharp end this season.
This is the Football Manager experience I live for — climbing the ranks, building out the squad, enduring the suffering. And it’s still here.
However, I’d be lying if I said I felt as much immersion this year as I have in years past. That’s a big pain point this year, particularly as it pertains to how in-universe news and narrative elements are presented. Important stories don’t feel urgent or prominent enough, and too much of the surrounding football world fades into the background unless you actively go looking for it.
That’s frustrating, because immersion has always been one of Football Manager’s greatest strengths. Right now, FM26 feels mechanically deeper than ever, but emotionally flatter than it should be. The stories are there — they’re just not being surfaced in a way that pulls you into the world.
There’s Still Hope
I still believe there is a truly great game under the imperfections in FM26. The UI needs a massive overhaul — not just visually, but philosophically. Information should flow naturally, not feel buried behind extra clicks and poorly prioritized screens. No amount of tactical depth can fully compensate for the friction that constantly pulls you out of the experience.
But for the first time since launch, I’m optimistic again. The patches have shown intent. The tactical systems are worth investing in. And saves like the one I have with Vicenza remind me why I put thousands of hours into this series in the first place.
FM26 isn’t perfect — not even close — but I’m finally having fun again. And for a game that launched the way this one did, that’s not nothing.
