However, there could be promising signs to come in the future, going by the latest edition of Football Manager.
The football management simulation game has been wildly popular since it’s initial release in 1992 and is now played by football fans and professional players alike.
‘FM’ is also used as a player database by football clubs due to their worldwide scouting network of around 1,300 scouts which developers use to ensure full accuracy across the game.
The ‘beta’ version of the game was released last week, giving players a chance to play an early access period while the final aspects of the game are being finalised.
The full version of Football Manager is released on November 9th.
Just for fun, we simulated three seasons into the future to see how Sheffield United could line up for the opening day of the 2024/25 season – and the results were very interesting.
The Blades have become somewhat of a yo-yo club after promotion back to the Premier League in 2022/23, followed by immediate relegation back to the Championship for the 2023/24 season and then promotion back to the top flight once again.
They’ve kept a decent chunk of their current squad, bolstered it with a few big signings (including an England international) and have found an exciting new manager out of fairly reasonable obscurity.
Here’s how our simulation had United looking for the first day of the 2024/25 season:
‘FM’ is also used as a player database by football clubs due to their worldwide scouting network of around 1,300 scouts which developers use to ensure full accuracy across the game.
5. LB - Francisco Ortega
Burnley brought the full back to the Premier League in 2022 from Argentinian side Velez but the Clarets were relegated at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and United were able to snap the Argentina international up for £16.25 million
Photo: Marcelo Endelli
6. CDM - Tom Davies
After a season being used mainly as a substitute, Everton let Davies join United for a fee of £15.75 in 2022 where he has found much more regular game time as part of the starting XI in both the Premier League and Championship
Photo: Alex Livesey
7. CM - Steven Alzate
Unlike Davies, Colombian international Alzate was a regular starter for Brighton in the Premier League but was still allowed to leave for £13.75 million to join the newly promoted Blades at the start of the 2022/23 season
Photo: Steve Bardens
8. CM - Jamie Shackleton
The young Englishman struggled for game time at Leeds United and made the move to Bramall Lane in January 2024 for £5 million. He has become a regular starter after helping the Blades win promotion from the Championship
Photo: Catherine Ivill