Player Manager - A Sports Progression Fantasy

I don't really like sports, I don't know much about them, and I haven't been interested in soccer since I got hit in the face with a ball back in 3rd grade.

And even with all that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Learning about whichever guy kicks ball better was surprisingly interesting and this story was able to put me into the minds of someone who actually cares about that.

It's a very good read, and I highly recommend it even if you don't have much of an interest in sports.

Great writing.

fun premise.

the only reason not a 5 star is psychic dog is a bit jump the shark

and too much real life soccer stuff (yes I know it's a soccer book.....but I don't need thatttttttt much info about real life stats)

pacing a bit slow because of too much soccer stuff

Absolutely adore FM, FIFA, and football. Having a story like this show up is incredible. You would not believe how hard it is to find decently written sports fiction online, and this is really like hitting the jackpot. This is one of those stories that I have to hold myself back from reading, or else I'd be too disappointed that there aren't enough chapters.

It's enjoyable.

Pro:

Intriguing story

Solid characters 

Top tier comedy

Pro/Con: There's a LOT of football talk (duh). Might be too much for some, might be just right for others. But it's definitely not an insufficient amount. 

Con: A lot MC just thinking to himself, contributing nothing to the story.

The amount of football talk is really the standout for me. It can be detrimental to non-fans. There's a lot of technical stuff being thrown around. A lot of football matches and players being discussed in depth. If you're a fan, it's juicy. If you're not, it's skipped. It doesn't really contribute much to the story, but it's well researched (I assume. Idk, but it seems like it) 

[Review is VERY late. I kept forgetting to write this:]

We needed this story. 5 years from now when my memory finally fails me.... it will be just me and Max [MC] and Johnny Winger [<3melting].

As far as a grammar score... I forget all the rules anyways... but unlike the way I speak/write [yes... yes I do speak exactly like I write. I am indeed sorry yes] this is smooth. The humour slides right into the story naturally.... there are no jarring moments in conversations. So tops from me.

The style? MY GUY! How has no one given us this before? No problem admitting I am supporting Ted on Patreon... only the second time I have used that service [normally just buy the books when they come out] The entire setup... just... it all feels like Ted is creating an experience I will not miss out on... the post chapter notes! Done in the style of TV commentary... it just makes RR itself become part of the story experience.

I do read on Patreon, and then again here on RR..... Just so Max sticks in my head longer :) and Jackie! and Ziggy... and Raffi... BOO JAMES BOO!!!! :) poor James, that boy needs (a different) Jesus. The end of this current chapter [56] really sums up what I like about Max... his confidence in his new ability... his humour... and his imperfections.

The story!? We have told ourselves this story so often it feels comfortable and familiar. Well for those who have played Football/Championship Manager, Outside of the Park Baseball, or Franchise Hockey Manager at least. It is just you out there in that world, figuring out how to use the tools you have to win a luxery yacht... out there convincing kids that if they trust you with their career, you are the one that can get them a pleasure barge. Trying to keep the right people around you so can all get on the paddle steamer.

[HA, this review has been here for an hour now? this is probably why I dont have one posted... I will press submit here real soon]

So yes.... I am all in... and maybe you can be as well?

Probably one of the best fics I've read. Certainly  the most entertaining one I've read this year. Binged every chapter in 24 hours.

The premise is unique, the characters are interesting, the pacing is just right, and to top it all off, the author notes are entertaining.

Keep em coming mate.

(book 1) The premise is interesting, and I tend to enjoy more mundane system novels like this, unfortunately while there are some impressive points (his characters actually seem messily alive), the central premise is a let down. Even with an utterly disproportionate advantage it feels like the protagonist struggles to accomplish anything. On the one hand, the messiness is believable, on the other it makes it feel like the whole thing is pointless given what an advantage the protagonist has for his poor results.

This right here is a story about football written with respect, knowledge and love for the game. I never knew I needed something like this but I do. It speaks to my shriveled soul and gives me a strange feeling of nostalgia. Thank you for writing this great story about one of my first loves!

The author promises a series based on sports management but somehow decided the sports management system makes some random bloke into a quality football player. He spends an entire book of the novel with the guy playing instead of managing.  This is very much not what I hoped for when I started reading and feels like a pointless diversion that stretches the novel out.

Amazing story. Agreed wholeheartedly with Alexander Wales' review, which feels like cheating.

The narration is charming, and could talk about any subject at length without making things boring. Reminds me of a hypothetical first person Terry Pratchett, that's how good it is. That's the saving grace of this story, justifies almost any criticism I could throw at it.

If I had to point out two flaws, it's that first, sometimes the character voices are too samey. The manager of the Chester team talked very similarly to Max and it threw me out of the story.

The second flaw isn't even related to the contents of the story, not DIRECTLY. However I feel it's affecting the development of the story. It's about the Patreon. Writers have to eat, but there is some cargo culting that is harmful to both author and audience, and it's splitting fanbases into multiple groups.

I go to a Player Manager community and I can only interact with other non patrons. More ridiculously, even patrons can only interact with other patrons of the same tier! This means a cool discussion of 50 participants is split into 40, 9, and 1 people. You're punished if you read ahead

And ten chapters ahead? Come on.

As I said I doubt this is done in the name of malice or greed. It's just "what's done". I beg the writer to do what Max does and try to break with tradition. Everyone reads the same story. Maybe two groups at most.

Anyway, 5 stars in all fields. This is possibly my favorite story in the site.