Possibly the most in-depth game ever.
The game has a 3D match engine which. although quite basic, can help you figure out strengths and weaknesses - You can give each individual footballer specific orders, so for example if he shoots from far out often and keeps missing you can set it so he looks for passes or runs with the ball. Each player has over 20 characteristic stats so the trick is finding his key area and playing to his strengths whilst making sure his teammates are in unison and benefiting from his game as well. It's a huge balancing act and one that is constantly evolving based on opposition, scoreline etc.
Just as much depth is seen off the pitch as the game gives you all the real life responsibly expected from a manager. I make sure that I hire the right coaches and staff to help the team and reinforce my style of play, I try to buy future talent so I don't have to spend umpteen millions on already established stars...
These options all existed on the previous FM games so what we have here is a more refined update. I owned 2010 but what 2011 is a more realistic human approach - Now you have to deal with player agents in real time and they often haggle with you for a crazy contact for their client, you just have to be prepared to pay a bit more than the asking price if the player is highly sought after. Unlike other games though Football Manager is a game suited to yearly updates because the world of football changes so much from season to season, all of the database and game world change dramatically from version to version and here we have a setting that is post world cup with new talent and emerging teams, different financial standings, new rules and regulations, and numerous slight game tweaks.
You have to have a knowledge of football to get the best out of this, and if you do you can find much delight in using that knowledge to mould a team that plays the way you appreciate.
Take your time with it and don't rush through and the rewards are there.
Edit in reply to Chunyu19 review -
"I am so interested to know whether the player "Petch1984" who gives a 9.0 rating for this game is the staff of developer or publisher? As his/her review look very similar to those promotions/advertisement, is this a REVIEW ? No ! Most of the contents he/she mentioned was what older FM already got.....no NEW informtaion at all."
My reply would be that my review has to take into account players new to the series so of course it would mention aspects the game has continued from previous instalments - I thought my point was clearly made and I quote "These options all existed on the previous FM games so what we have here is a more refined update". This is a sports simulation and therefore I believe that the real life changes in football are a huge feature that many enjoy in the sequels.
And these promotions/advertisements you speak of...for me these never ever suggested wholesale changes from FM 2010, so I was under no illusion as to what I was buying.