Transfers themselves deviate from their real-life counterpart more so than any other feature of FM Live, with eBay-style 24-hour auctions between clubs, ensuring frantic last-minute panic bids. Help for out priced gaffers comes from the already rabid community who bombard your in-game inbox with various deals and transfers, many of which are always well worth a punt. In addition, the social interaction extends to a variety of lobbies and chat rooms, where friendly rivalries can develop.

Thus the gameplay itself is a stripped-down experience compared to Football Manager 2009, lacking the latter’s 3D game engine and extensive media interaction. This may seem at odds with the various implementations from Football Manager’s regular titles but isn’t actually a criticism, since the community itself more than compensates in helping pile on the praise or pressure in equal measure without having to worry about hearing what a fictional board of directors might have to say about your performance.

Of course the big question for this title will always be, is Football Manager Live a worthwhile diversion from the main franchise to justify a subscription? In all, both titles manage to successfully offer different challenges and experiences from the series while retaining the addictiveness and “one more match” mentality that’s caused many sleepless nights over the years. Moreover the four month trial included with the game disc should be adequate space to make your decision – how many games, MMO or not, are still played religiously after four months?

Football Manager Live is a curious, audacious shot of adrenaline into a series that was bordering on stagnation. If you’ve always loved the team building and match day aspect of the previous titles, let’s see how you cope against almost a thousand other rivals. The world is literally at your feet.

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