Football Manager 2020 Inbox

If there’s one thing that’s remained constant in Football Manager since its release, it’s the sheer volume of information you’re presented with as a club manager. From incoming transfer offers and bids to player requests, there’s always something new for you to deal with. To help you navigate the sea of notifications, Football Manager 2020 has a brand new Inbox that highlights the most important and key items for your attention. The Inbox is the central hub for all notifications that directly affect your job as a manager and your role within a football club. Anything that falls into this category will be highlighted with a red accent colour, and a new ‘Must Respond’ label replacing the ‘Continue’ button. The majority of the Inbox is comprised of news items, but you’ll also receive emails from your board and members of staff, with key messages marked as ‘Must Respond’ in red. These will include things like your first board meeting where the board will set out their ambitions and expectations, or a request to sign a specific player.

There are a number of big changes to the game this year, some that will have a major impact on your long-term managerial journey and others that will be more subtle. Some, such as Club Vision, will force you to adopt a certain identity that will be reflected in the style of play and tactical approach of your squad. Others will be more subtle, with the in-game version of Raul Sanllehi having a particular idea of how he wants Arsenal to play or the in-game version of Tony Pulis wanting Stoke City to achieve certain league positions within a set timeframe.

Another change that will have a massive impact is the new Development Centre, which will highlight which youth and reserve players are likely to be ready for your first team at your club, as well as highlighting those who require a little more coaching to become top quality. This, combined with the new way in which you can fine tune a player’s playing time by altering their contract, allowing you to define their pathway from fringe player to star striker, is a welcome improvement to the game.

Other changes are more minor, including a better way of visualising team dynamics with a view of social groups in the squad and a clearer view of your backroom staff’s responsibilities. The match engine has had a buff, too, with more fizz to the animations and goalkeeper saves that make the experience of watching a football match unfold much more pleasurable.

Despite the myriad of changes, it’s the new challenge mode that stands out as the biggest, and possibly most devious, thing that’s been added this year. It’s a real eye-opener that will make you look at your current management approach in an entirely different light. That, along with the plethora of changes that improve upon what came before it, is a welcome addition to a franchise that’s already a footballing icon.