Football Manager’s Most Useless Features: What Needs Fixing?

Explore Football Manager’s most useless features. From goal-line tech to VAR, we review what works, what doesn't, and what should be scrapped.

From Goal-Line Tech to VAR, We Dive into FM’s Useless Features

When you’ve spent countless hours crafting the perfect Football Manager save, the last thing you want is to deal with features that make you wonder, "Why is this even here?" From the barely noticeable goal-line technology to the bewildering manager wages, players have spoken loud and clear on what they consider the most useless features. And as we approach FM25, where we’re already losing features like International Management, Create-a-Club, and even the inbox, it makes you think: maybe we could do without some of these too.

Let’s dive into these divisive features and see which ones deserve an overhaul—and which should be kicked into touch for good!

1. Goal-Line Technology: Is It Even On?

Let’s start with goal-line technology, a feature so seldom used in FM that you’d be forgiven for forgetting it’s there. In theory, it’s a great tool, but in the game? You rarely see it come into play. When it does, it’s so uneventful that you just move on without caring. It’s like that one cousin at family gatherings: always there, but never adding much to the party.

If we’re being honest, this feature is just coasting along, not offering anything significant to the gameplay experience. Should we keep it, or should it quietly slip away into obscurity like the inbox?

2. Social Media: Haters Gonna Hate

Ah, social media—where no good deed goes unpunished. You can win the Champions League, and your fans still find a reason to moan. Sure, it can be funny sometimes, but most of the time, it just feels like unnecessary noise.

Well, it seems the developers have taken note, and they’re scrapping this feature in FM25. So, for those who love getting roasted by virtual fans, enjoy it while it lasts!

3. VAR: Every Fan’s Favourite Villain

VAR: the feature you love to hate. It’s just as controversial in FM as it is in real life. Every time it appears, you can almost feel your blood pressure rising, and not in a good way. It’s as if the game is trying to recreate those "I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening" moments we see on TV, but most of the time, it just feels like a hindrance.

While some argue that it adds realism, others would gladly see it gone. In its current form, it’s more of an annoyance than an exciting part of the matchday experience.

4. Squad Planner: Why Bother?

Now, here’s a feature that splits the room. Many players admit they don’t bother with the Squad Planner, but those who do swear by it. It’s actually a helpful tool for planning future transfers and organizing your squad more efficiently. Think of it as a digital whiteboard for your grand tactical plans.

But here’s the catch: it doesn’t integrate well into the rest of the game. It feels like an optional extra, not an essential part of your management duties.

To give this feature the attention it deserves, it needs to be more seamlessly linked to the scouting and transfer system. If you’re ready to give it a go, check out our own Football Manager Game Planner to take your team planning to the next level.

5. Red Card Appeals: Don’t Hold Your Breath

Ah, the red card appeal, the feature where hope goes to die. You submit an appeal, and 99.9% of the time, it gets rejected. Seriously, does anyone know if this feature even works? If you’ve ever managed to overturn a red card, consider yourself one of the lucky few.

In our opinion, this feature needs a serious overhaul. It either has to become more realistic with better chances of success or be given the boot altogether. Otherwise, it’s just another button to press with no real impact.

6. International Football: Gone but Not Forgotten

International management is one of those features that sounded great in theory but rarely delivered in practice. Only a small number of players actually took the plunge into managing national teams, and as a result, it’s being removed in FM25.

Still, there’s a bit of sadness in seeing it go. With the expanded World Cup on the horizon, this could have been a great opportunity for the feature to shine. Who knows, maybe on its return in FM26 it will be in a much-improved form. In the meantime, if you’re looking to unlock new strategies and secrets in your Football Manager career, check out our eBook guide to gain an extra edge.

7. Press Conferences: A Manager’s Groundhog Day

If you’ve been to one press conference in FM, you’ve been to them all. The same repetitive questions, the same dull answers, and, spoiler alert: they don’t seem to impact anything.

This feature has so much potential, but right now, it’s just a chore. With the introduction of AI, there’s hope that press conferences could evolve into something more dynamic, with intelligent, varied, and even provocative questions to keep managers on their toes. It’s time to ditch the old script and bring in a bit of spontaneity!

8. Manager Wages: Monopoly Money

Manager wages in FM are about as useful as the paper money in Monopoly. What’s the point? You can’t buy anything with it, and it doesn’t affect your in-game life in any meaningful way. Sure, you see your wages go up, but unless you’re planning to start a virtual property empire, it’s not doing much for you.

This is one feature that’s crying out for a bit of imagination. Maybe allow managers to invest in their own career development, or even in the club’s infrastructure. If you’re serious about making the most of your manager career and access premium content, don’t forget to explore our Premium Members page for exclusive insights and tools that will give you a leg up in your FM adventures.

Final Whistle

As we approach FM25, we’re already bidding farewell to features like International Management and Create-a-Club, but it’s clear that some of the remaining features could also use a bit of TLC—or maybe even an exit strategy of their own. That said, if some of these features are refined and expanded, there’s hope they could have a place in future versions of the game.

While we’ve all got our opinions, Football Manager continues to evolve, and who knows—maybe one day we’ll see a perfect balance of features that players truly love.

Want to see what other features are being removed in FM25? Check out our guide here: FM25 Features and News