Fifa Manager 2006 will surprise you if you have never played this series before!
First off theres the big main noticable difference between the two managment games, FM2006 as it's MASSIVE database with every player from every league from every country. Whereas Fifa Manager 06 provides the gamer with an enjoyable 3D match engine. So I started off deciding which I like the most, to my surprise I went for the 3D engine, it just makes you feel like a real manager some how watching your team through the full 90 mins (not forgetting extra-time).
I'm not to familiar with the previous installment of the series so I can't exactly compared the two, but I can easily say many of the aspects of the game are all good. Most noticably for me was really a sound difference, when your team play's in a premiership match for instance you will ear Ally McCoist and Trevor Brooking, whereas when you watch you team in a european match (champions league) you will get the commentatry from the guy from ITV (Sorry Don't know his name, he did Robot Wars :). All the kits and players are up to date with the 2005-2006 seasons and many of the specific players in every team have been designed around the player (so Milan Baros kinda looks like Milan Baros, and yes I'm an Aston Villa fan). But what makes this game a success is the small things. The daily footy magazine within game which they had in previous versions works even better,.
One of the main aspects of this game that makes it a success is the fact that EA haven't messed around with it a lot as they have done in the passed, this as been one of the reasons that only recently I have gotten into the Fifa Manager series. Sadly A noticable problem I have concurred is the fact that now after managing Aston Villa for three years I have noticed that younger players are getting the exact names as older briliant player like Teddy Sheringham. I just hope this doesn't affect the game to much. Also occasionally the commetary team get confussed and will say at the start of a game that 'They have no chance at the championship now, and a cup is the teams best chance' when you may be actually top of the premiership! I should also mention that the graphics of the game are enjoyable, well at least we don't have to go out and buy Fifa 06 :)
All in all I definactly reconmend this game to ANY football fan because on match days the 3D engine gives u the real feeling that your watching your team on a saturday afternoon!