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Tactics are important as well, and the options are numerous. Literally dozens of variations exist, defining aggression, tempo, passing styles, set-piece strategies, defensive styles, and scads more. These can be adjusted at any time, even in the middle of a match. Speaking of games, on their scheduled date, you get to watch them from an ivory tower of sorts. Don't expect a FIFA or Winning Eleven-style visual game engine, though. You'll have to be content watching circles move around the pitch with commentary informing you in an oh-so-English style about the goings-on. You can call in tactical changes and even substitutions from your perch on high, and give pre-game, halftime, and postgame talks to individuals or the entire team.
Just about every league and team in the world imaginable is available, along with the corresponding lower divisions in case starting out with Arsenal or Real Madrid is just too easy (personally, I went with Manchester United the first time around). Once you create your identity, any team is available for you to take the reins.
The press will constantly be on your tail, and you can't blindly ignore the finances of the club. Navigating the wilds of the world's Transfer Market for players to restock the team is another monumentally important task, as footballers will grouse, get injured, and otherwise fail to perform up to your standards. Granted, you can groom players from your reserves and youth squads (or even work arrangements with other teams to be feeders and parents), but this takes time and isn't as good as signing a top performer (provided you can afford them).
It should be pretty apparent that Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007 is a gigantic game – more than can be reasonably discussed within the confines of a single review. Every person's experience is guaranteed to be unique, what with all of the variables involved and ridiculous number of clubs available to choose. The first season I played, I managed to take all-powerful Man U and run them right into the ground. My inexperience and random anger made superstars Christiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney wind up hating me, and the notorious English press had a field day at my expense. Eventually, I snapped at the press, the players, and the board – and of course found myself on the unemployment line. Lessons learned, I headed off to a different squad on the Continent, Real Madrid (that's right, I only go for the big guns). I spent more time learning my team, developing my youth, being nicer to the press, and not randomly chastising the club's superstars. Of course, they responded better and the wins began to come more easily.
Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007 is the perfect game for the rabid soccer fan who simply knows that they can do better than the folks at the helm of their favorite squad, or who just want to take on the challenge of leading a low-tier club all the way from the depths of the lower divisions to the top of the nation. Regardless, plan on having any extra time immediately and happily disappear into the soccer universe created on your PC. Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007 is not for everyone – its characteristics requires a careful, thoughtful approach and may seem too big for the impatient types. If you're in the market for a true sports management simulator, though, this one is at the top of the list. It's simply smashing.
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