Football Manager Handheld 2010 brings all the spreadsheet glory of the PC version of the game to the PSP, so now all the hardcore football fans can carry one of the best management sims around today in their back pocket. It's a match made in heaven.

For those not familiar with Football Manager, it's a game where players take control over a football (or soccer if you prefer) team as its manager. You have control over the team selections, player signings, training schedules and player transfers. Basically this game is for all those Sir Alex Ferguson wannabes out there.

The game can be quite daunting, and isn't really suitable for everyone. But if you're a football fan who scours over player stats and the latest player transfer rumour, Football Manager is definitely for you, and you should keep on reading.



The 2010 version offers a variety of tweaks that improves on the visual presentation and gameplay from the previous edition. One of the new features is the addition of a new skin, which gives the game a nice clean and polished look. It's very easy on the eyes, which is a good thing if you're playing multiple hours at a time. Also, being a text-heavy game, legibility is of a high importance. I found the type to be very easy to read, even on the small PSP screen. Another positive as you'll be reading a lot of emails and scouring player stats throughout the game.

This year, there are a total of 11 leagues in the game, and you choose four of them to be included in your game. The biggest leagues of the world are all there, like the English Premier League, Serie A, Liga BBVA and our very own A-League. All leagues also offer the option of including the lower divisions, except the A-League, which actually doesn't have one.

A concern of mine, when I first started this game was the navigation. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of navigating through the pages using the left and right shoulder buttons on the PSP. And moving through the menu and scrolling through emails was just as easy, using the D-pad. Still, for the inexperienced, the interface can be quite daunting and confusing, and it may take some serious game-time to figure it all out. Long time fans though, will feel right at home browsing through the pages using these controls.



I found that in this game, the members of your staff were of great importance. Another new feature this year is improved reports from your coaches, scouts and your right-hand man, the Assistant Manager. The scouting report is essential when checking out prospective targets on either the free agent or transfer market, as your scout will give his recommendations on the player's skill, as well as compare him to a current player in that position on your team. The report also mentions the possible target's interest in signing with your club. The coach's report is similar, except it has detailed reports of the players in your current squad.

Aside from yourself, the most important man in the club would be your Assistant Manager. Without him, playing this game would be extremely difficult, and would most probably take a lot longer to do things in the game. The Assistant Manager will offer help in dealing with players, locating the weakness of the team and then identifying suitable targets to rectify the weakness. He also will provide a list of the strongest players in the squad, and even help you pick the starting XI for an upcoming match. This feature is a God send.

The PSP version does a good job of providing a similar experience of playing on the more powerful PC, but due to the hardware constraints it does mean that it does lack in several areas. I was probably most disappointed with the lack of depth when communicating with the media, the team and individual players. There just weren't enough options to choose from, other than basic generic answers. No crowd noises during actual matches meant a lack of atmosphere that is usually created by the cheers and jeers of the crowd. The eerie silence after the team scores a goal was not quite right.



A positive to come out of the hardware constraints means the PSP version isn't as in-depth as the PC version, so this means anyone new to the series will find it easier to play and much less confusing.

Football Manager will test out your managerial skills, as well as your patience. You'll have to deal with the Board, fans, injuries and disgruntled players to create a successful team. Long time fans of the series will no doubt enjoy this game. And with the PSP version, you can have it on you at all times.