Manchester United

MANCHESTER UNITED
The Official Computer Game
from Krisalis Software

INTRODUCTION
When Michael Knighton tried to buy Manchester United for twenty
million pounds in 1989 it was world news. The most famous football
club in the world, with its magnificent stadium and unrivalled
tradition has captured the footballing imagination of the whole globe.

Yet the beginnings of this great club could scarcely have been more
humble. A group of Manchester railway workers who played in their
lunch hours formed Newton Heath Football Club in 1878. Amateurs all,
they played straight from their shift, and things were very different
from the splendour of Old Trafford today. Changing rooms were in a
local pub and the shirts they pulled on were not red but green and
gold!

But they were good and led by the Doughty brothers, Roger and Jack,
the Heathens as they were known, were soon joining the professional
ranks, being admitted to the Football League in 1892.

There were still problems, however. The ground that they played on was
owned by the church who refused the club permission to charge any
admission! With no income the club were forced to move to a ground in
Bank Street, near to factories belching out so much noxious smoke it
was reckoned to be worth a goal start.

Newton Heath were soon in trouble despite the fervour for the sport
locally and in 1902 the club was verging on bankruptcy. A local
businessman, J H Davis saw the attempts to raise the money to save the
club, and was so impressed with the dedication of those involved that
he set up a consortium to take over the club's debts, and on April
28th 1902 Manchester United was born.

Success soon followed and in 1907/8 United won the League title for
the first time, largely due to the play of Billy Meredith, the Welsh
International signed from local rivals Manchester City by manager
Ernest Mangnall after a bribes scandal.

The following season the team won the FA Cup for the first time when
Sandy Turnball scored the only goal of the game against Bristol City
at Crystal Palace. In 1911 the League Trophy returned to United.

Yet a more significant event, the building of the Old Trafford
Stadium, at a cost of almost #60,000 alongside the Manchester Ship
Canal. FA Cup winner Turnball, later tragically killed with the
Manchester Regiment during the First World War, scored the first ever
goal there, against Liverpool, in 1910.

Between the two wars were lean times for United, the club spending
more time in the Second Division than the First, and at one stage, in
1930-31, only avoided relegation to Division Three North by winning
their last game of the season.

Even worse, Old Trafford was hit by German bombers in 1941 and the
main stand destroyed. It was after the war that a new man took over
the manager's chair at United. His name ... Matt Busby.

Busby stamped his authority on United and quickly built, with deputy
Jimmy Murphy, a team of unrivalled attacking skill. The attack led by
Arthur Rowley and Stan Pearson, and prompted by the mercurial and
versatile Johnny Carey delighted the fans and in 1948 won the FA Cup,
sweeping aside Blackpool.

But Busby wanted to build his own team, not improve on the one he
inherited. That he did so is legend. The Busby Babes, the finest young
players of their generation, were fashioned into a Championship
winning side. The names are as fresh today as they were then; Ray
Wood, Eddie Colman, Bill Foulkes, Jackie Blanchflower, Liam Whelan,
Bobby Charlton, Dennis Viollett, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Roger Byrne,
Tommy Taylor and the legendary Duncan Edwards, an England
international at 18.

The League title was won in 1956, and the following season United went
for the treble, only the might of Real Madrid stopped United in the
European Cup semi-final, and a cruel injury to goalkeeper Wood cost
United cup glory at Wembley, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa. The League
Title retained seemed like an anti-climax, but it gave access to
Europe once again. Surely nothing could stop United this time?

They swept past early opponents Borussia Dortmund, Honved and Bilbao,
and after a titanic struggle in Belgrade knocked out Red Star to set
up a semi-final tie with AC Milan.

It was not to be. On the 6th of February 1958, on a slush covered
Munich runway their aircraft never left the ground, eventually hitting
a house beyond the runway. Byrne, Bent, Colman, Jones, Pegg, Taylor
and Whelan died along with club officials Walter Crickner, Tom Curry
and Bert Whalley and eight journalists including Frank Swift. Of the
injured players John Berry and Jackie Blanchflower never played again.
Duncan Edwards battled against his injuries for two weeks before he
too died.

The world grieved the loss of of the Busby Babes. We have never seen
their like again.

The season continued, under the guidance of Jimmy Murphy. United were
carried on a wave of popular sympathy to another Cup Final, but were
beaten 2-0 by Bolton. In the European Cup AC Milan were 5-2 aggregate
winners after a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.

Busby returned to rebuild United once again. In 1963 they once again
won the FA Cup, beating Leicester City 3-1 with one of the goals being
scored by Dennis Law, the Scottish striker persuaded by Busby to
return from Italian soccer with Torino. Along with Munich survivor
Charlton, Law was instrumental in United's resurgence.

Another factor was the emergence of an Irish winger described by
United's Irish scout as a genius George Best to 10 win the hearts and
minds of the United faithful, and these three players formed the
nucleus of the side that clinched the League title once again in 1965
and 1967.

In 1968, before 100,000 people at Wembley and ten years after Munich,
Matt Busby saw his side win the European Cup with a 4-1 extra time win
against Benfica. Goals by Aston, Kidd and two from Bobby Charlton
sealed United's greatest triumph. Busby was made Manager of the Year,
and in 1969 he stepped down as team manager to become General Manager.

In the following years United lost their way. A spell under Wilf
McGuinness, a United player who joined the backroom staff when injury
cut short his career was followed by a similarly unsuccessful spell
with Frank O'Farrell. When he was sacked six days before Christmas in
1972 United were bottom of Division One.

In came Tommy Docherty, a larger than life figure whose witty style
and bold transfer swoops endeared him to the United faithful. He kept
them up in his first season, but despite the ever open chequebook,
United dropped into Division Two the following season, ironically
relegated by a Dennis Law goal for close rivals Manchester City.

United bounced straight back at the first attempt, and then set about
the First Division with a bold attractive style including two wingers,
Coppell and Hill. Although the League challenge faded United reached
the Cup Final against Second Division Southampton. Yet Southampton
triumphed 1-0 and United were empty handed.

The following year United were back at Wembley, and this time
triumphed over Liverpool with goals by Jimmy Greenhoff and Stuart
Pearson. Shortly after this Docherty was sacked, after revelations
about his private life. and was replaced by Dave Sexton.

Sexton changed the mood at Old Trafford, and his more cautious style
of play was not to the liking of the Old Trafford fans. He left in
1981 to be replaced by Ron Atkinson, a flamboyant figure in the
Docherty mould. Atkinson thought big, acted big and bought big. Bryan
Robson and Remi Moses came from his old club West Bromwich Albion,
Frank Stapleton from Arsenal and Dutchman Arnold Muhren from Ipswich.

In his second season United lost the Milk Cup final to Liverpool, but
in 1983 they were back at Wembley to beat Brighton in the FA Cup in a
replay.

United were also back in Europe and the Cup Winners Cup campaign of
1983-84 saw them into the semi-final against Juventus. It was a last
minute goal by Italian star Paulo Rossi that finally knocked them out.

In both of the next two seasons United made a bright start in the
League only to fade away at the end. Mark Hughes emerged as a striker
of huge talent, and players like Strachan and Olsen joined United.
Once again the FA Cup was their prize in 1985, despite having Kevin
Moran sent off while the score was 0-0, the first player to be
dismissed in a Cup Final. The following season United started like a
train with nine straight wins and only one defeat in their first 16
games. But they ran out of steam and Atkinson paid the price in the
next season for a poor start, when he was dismissed in November.

United's eighth postwar manager is Alex Ferguson, the former Aberdeen
boss who broke the Glasgow stranglehold on Scottish football with his
exciting young side. He joined United in preference to Tottenham and
the Scottish national side, and since his arrival has built an
enterprising team, with signings such as Brian McClair, Steve Bruce,
Viv Anderson and the recapturing of Mark Hughes from Barcelona. This
season has seen the departure of some favourite faces such as Norman
Whiteside and Paul McGrath, as well as the arrival of Neil Webb, Mien
Phelan, Gary Pallister, Paul lnce sod Danny Wallace.

Loading Spectrum
CASSETTE (ALL) - Insert Tape "ENGLISH MANAGEMENT". 48K Type LOAD ""
and press Enter. 128K use tape loader as usual - follow any on screen
prompts. DISK - Insert Disk
"ENGLISH MANAGEMENT". Press Reset. Press Return when menu appears.
Follow on screen prompts.

Loading C64
DISK - Insert Disk printed side up. LOAD "*",8,1 and press Return.
Follow any onscreen prompts.
CASSETTE - Insert tape "ENGLISH MANAGEMENT". Press Shift Runstop.
Follow any on screen prompts.

Loading Amstrad
DISK - Insert Disk. ICPM and press Return. Follow any on screen
prompts.
CASSETTE - Insert Tape "ENGLISH MANAGEMENT". Press Control and Enter
keys. Follow any on screen prompts.

Loading MSX
BLOAD "CAS:",R. Follow any on Screen prompts.

TEAM SQUAD

This gives you details of the current available first team squad for
United. Players that are unavailable through injury or suspension are
not shown in this section.

By moving the cursor over the players name and press Fire on joystick,
the player's details will be displayed. This will include the player's
ratings. These ratings are derived from the computer records of the
player's attributes in sixteen categories, and which are then
converted to a rating for the player relevant to his actual position
in the team. These ratings will change throughout the season due to
injury, form and results, aswell as by the successful use of training.

You start the season with a fully fit squad and no suspended players,
a luxury that few modern day managers enjoy!

PLAYERS INJURED

This section contains the players who are unavailable for selection
due to injury. It also contains details of the injury and the number
of weeks the player will be out for. Once a player is available for
selection, however he may need a good deal of training to regain match
fitness, particularly after a serious injury.

PLAYERS SUSPENDED

This gives a list of players suspended, if any, together with how many
more weeks they have to serve in their ban.

TRANSFERS

This section allows you to buy and sell players to strengthen your
squad.

Buying a Player:

To try to buy a player you position the cursor over the icon of
figures and press Fire. You may then select either to view the
transfer list of players available, or scout for a player.

The transfer list is the list of players currently being circulated by
their clubs that are available for transfer. This information is being
circulated to all clubs, not just United. The player has a club
valuation, which is based on his actual player ratings. If you wish to
try to buy a player at the asking price then simply select the buy
option in the usual way. If you wish to bid for a player then you can
adjust the bid price by changing the player's valuation up or down in
tens of thousands using the mouse cursor.

Once you have made a bid then the decision of the club is given.

If you are successful in buying a player then that player is
immediately included in the first team squad.

If you elect scout for a player the computer will then display alist
of potential players for purchase. The price of the player will be
higher this way as the selling club will not be so willing to sell.

Selling a Player:

To sell a player you must click on the Player Leaving Icon. You can
then indicate which player you wish to put on the transfer list. Once
a player is on the list other clubs may bid for him.

If another club is interested in one of your players, either on the
transfer list or not, then one of these icons is displayed. If you
click on this icon then he will make you an offer on a player. You may
then elect to accept, refuse, or if you so wish, insult the chairman
for his derisory, in your view, offer.

Selling players will generate funds for you to strengthen the team in
other areas, or simply look for a replacement.

TRAINING

Training takes place on the days between matches and follows a set
schedule. As manager you are free to alter the training schedule of
any or all of the players according to their needs. Each player is
assigned training to certain aspects of his game, and may train on any
four in each week. The manager may change either the content or the
emphasis of the training for each and every player. Throughout the
season the players needs in training will alter as their fitness and
form varies with results.

Each session has a positive effect on the players attributes that it
is designed to affect so that over the season the benefits will show
themselves in the player ratings. In certain circumstances, however,
training can have a negative effect, both on fitness and morale.

Heavy training also increases the risk of incurring injuries during
training.

Training requires balance and thought. Too little and the players will
lose fitness and form. Too much and the players will be tired and
injury prone.

GAME OPTIONS

This section allows you to save off partially completed seasons. This
is accomplished by following the on-screen prompts after selecting the
relevant SAVE/LOAD option.

The icon represented by the Question Mark allows you to adjust the
game parameters.

Set Game Time - allows the player to set the arcade game duration to
any time between 10 and 90 minutes in 10 minute steps.

Change Name of Manager - the default setting is, of course, Alex
Ferguson, but this allows the player to change the manager to any name
he likes.

Choose Control Method - Follow on screen prompts.

Change Names of Players - allows the player to change the name of
players in the United Squad, although not their rating, to allow him
to play alongside Bryan Robson.

Set Difficulty Level - this unique feature allows the player to set
how well the computer will play, either as United, their opponents or
as both. This will enable him to play the computer opponent at varying
levels until he can win at 100%, at which point he can reduce his own
efficiency!

Change Game Type - allows the player to choose between a full
management simulation, or a pure arcade game.

PROGRESS CHART

The player can keep his eye on the results and tables as well as his
own popularity through the Daily Sport newspaper. Good or bad - the
news is here first!

THE MATCHBALL

This takes the player to the matchday section of the game. The player
can also review the league tables and fixture list at this point. This
may affect the team selection, and show how well future opponents are
doing.

The player may change the name of any team in the Division to a team
of his choice. That team will then be automatically included in the
fixture list.

MATCHDAY SECTION

Once the player has decided to go to the next match then the manager's
job really begins. First he must decide his formation and the players
he wishes to play.

Formation To choose formation click on the number representing your
choice of the following formations:

4-4-2
4-3-3
4-2-4
1-3-3-3
2-3-5

After you have made your choice of formation a list of players
available for selection will appear, and you will then be asked to
select your team by clicking on the name of the player.

Once the match is over then the computer will update both the fixture
list and the league table with the other results from the day's
fixtures. In addition the Daily Sport will give the press verdict on
the result of the season's progress in typical tabloid fashion.

On completion of the match, the manager is returned to the Management
section of the game, where he can check out the progress of the team
in the league, or the health of his squad. Any players injured during
the match will be added to the injury list, as will any players who
have gained suspension through yellow or red cards. He can then begin
again the process of strengthening his squad, and adjusting the
players training schedule.

During the season the manager may wish to save his progress to date,
so as to return to his position later. He can do this by clicking on
the game options icon. This will allow the player to enter the section
of the game that allows him to save out or load in a previously saved
position. To perform any of these operations the manager simply has to
select the appropriate icon and follow the on-screen prompts.

ARCADE SECTION

On entering the arcade section the player will be in view mode. To
enter play mode use joystick after kick-off.

In view mode the computer will play the game so that player can watch
and suffer just like a real manager. The players will carry out their
instructions to the best of their ability. In play mode the manager
controls the team either through the joystick or keyboard.

(C64 Joystick Only)
The player nearest the ball at any time is highlighted. This changes
as the ball moves around the pitch. By moving the joystick the
highlighted player moves in the chosen direction. Once in possession
the player can run with the ball using the method above or kick it,
either to pass or shoot. The ball is kicked in the direction the
player is facing by pressing the fire button, and the duration of the
press dictates the power of the kick. A rapid, quick press of the
button will kick the ball along the ground with a reasonable strength.
Two quick presses will chip the ball with a reasonable strength.
Holding fire down will set the strength of the kick depending on how
long the fire button is held. If the fire button is pressed again the
ball will be chipped, otherwise passed along the ground.

When not in possession the player can challenge for the ball by
interposing a player as the opponent runs with the the ball. A sliding
tackle may be performed by pressing the fire button.

CORNERS

For corners in play mode a cursor will appear on the screen which you
must position where you want the ball to land. There is a strict time
limit which you are allowed to take corners before the computer will
take them for you. This will stop any time wasting.

FREE KICKS

For free kicks in play mode a cursor will appear on the screen which
you must position where you want the ball to land. There is a strict
time limit which you are allowed to take free kicks before the
computer will take them for you. This will stop any time wasting.

PENALTIES

If you have been awarded a penalty move the joystick in the direction
you wish the ball to go as viewed from behind the player who is taking
the penalty. Press fire to take.

If a penalty has been given against Manchester United hold the
joystick in the direction you wish the gooalkeeper to dive as viewed
from behind the goalkeeper. After the ball is struck you cannot change
direction.

The season can be played with any combination of View and Play
watches, as the player requires.