'I've played Football Manager for 25 years and FM26 has me fearful'

It began back in 2001. An obsession that at times bordered on addiction - and in the same way that many other Football Manager fans fell in love with the game.

Championship Manager 2001/2002 - the franchise underwent a reboot a few years later after developers Sports Interactive broke away from Eidos - was my first taste of football simulation off the pitch. I'd played FIFA for years, but at this point, as an 11-year-old, I was drawn in by watching my Dad steer our beloved Tottenham Hotspur to attempted glory.

It all looked so simple. Pick your team, sign your favourite players, and win everything. Over the years, I learned more about how ruthless the game could be.

Losing your first virtual job is brutal and as it adapted to new technology and new developments in the sport, so did I. The Championship Manager and Football Manager series was a gateway into a deeper understanding of football.

My father, who was once also my youth coach, would talk me through real-life games. But I had a hankering to learn on my own, too.

So for the best part of a quarter of a century, I played every new Football Manager entry - but last year there was the disaster of FM25. Eventually canned in February this year, it was a doomed entry and a rare misstep by the developers.

Sports Interactive failed to release a new yearly edition of the game for the first time in my memory, and so the promises of a renewed game meant this week couldn't come fast enough. I would always, always pre-order the new FM because it was just so reliable.

To me, gaining access to the beta never felt like a lite version of the full release. It just felt like getting to play my favourite game weeks before everyone else.

So I returned to this pattern, enthralled by the idea I could live out my dream of taking the only team I ever coached - an amateur women's side - to the very top. The inclusion of the women's game in FM is one of many major additions to FM26, and I'm still very excited to get to grips with it.

But, for the first time, I find myself in new territory. I am actually fearful for the future of Football Manager.

FM26's beta has been met with a chorus of complaints from long-term fans, many of whom have voiced their frustrations across social media and forums, with some even demanding refunds. The issues are significant: a frustrating new user interface isn't very friendly at all, leading to a cluttered and clumsy experience.

But there is a litany of bugs that range from minor annoyances to game-breaking glitches. Yet, despite these undeniable problems, I find myself urging patience.

Sports Interactive's track record over the decades is almost impeccable; they rarely release a truly poor game. My concern, however, stems from one crucial observation: historically, the Football Manager beta has always been a reliable indicator of the final product.

The gap between beta and full release has usually been minimal. This year, that simply cannot be the case.

Beta releases are, of course, all about ironing out the bugs - but Football Manager 26 needs a monumental amount of work. There are significant improvements needed between now and its release date of November 4 for it to stand any chance of stacking up to prior entries in the series.

However, there is still hope. Sports Interactive has communicated clearly - ironic, given the quiet over this and FM25 until about September this year - and released three hotfixes to make the game quantifiably more playable.

Sports Interactive seems absolutely desperate to right their own wrongs. It's unlikely that an unpopular early patch on FM will be met with the same vitriol and pure frustration as EA FC 26.

There is a lot to like about the new FM. The match engine is vastly improved and far more immersive - the licensing deals with the Premier League, UEFA and FIFA certainly help - and the tactics overhaul that focuses on in and out of possession is a huge game-changer for the series and authenticity.

The women's game is going to be fascinating to tackle, especially once I get hold of the Data Editor and add in my real-life 2018 Mitcheldean Ladies side. These are all great things - even if it's the stuff away from the virtual dugout that needs fixing urgently.

So, for now, let's all cool our jets a little. This is a beta version of a game that shows so much promise. Sports Interactive rarely puts a foot wrong.

In fact, head honcho Miles Jacobson has admitted that failure with FM26 could doom Sports Interactive. And I'm sure we can agree that's not good for anyone.

The game is enjoyable when it's working. The UX needs fixing, sure. The number of bugs and nonsensical mouse clicks is too high. But I believe in Sports Interactive - because for over 25 years, they've earned our trust and patience.