If he isn’t tweeting about FM then Adam, aka @TractionFM is likely be found talking mental health.
He doesn’t Blog as much as he would like to which is a shame but please go it out.
Creator name & what made you choose it?
I was initially planning on going for the easiest option available to me, AdamFM – how original! But I ultimately decided on something I’d hoped would draw some attention, and who doesn’t love some Alan Partridge, aha!
Real name?
Jan Vennegoor Of Hesselink, I wish! It’s Adam, as you most likely gathered from my response to the previous question.
Favourite football team?
Manchester United, however, labelling them as a favourite may be a slight exaggeration. In the last eleven years alone, they’ve managed to heighten my anxiety and cost me my beloved hair! Although I am led to believe bald is best, up the reds.
Talk me through your FM journey – where does it start?
My passion for management games goes back to the very beginning. I always found joy in the squad-building aspect of a save, prioritising it over tactical planning, etc. As kids, a friend and I would unfold two deck chairs, don jackets as if we were on the touchline, and scream at pixels on a screen for hours on end, all whilst having the time of our lives – truly great times.
This fuelled my fascination with the management side of things. The ability to shape a team according to my vision, deciding how I wanted them to play, hooked me. Since then, I’ve never looked back.
Ok, you’ve been playing the game, what made you jump from “player” to “creator” and how have you found the journey?
While I wouldn’t label myself as a content creator, gaming has always been a great source of comfort, offering solace in the virtual realm. Despite promoting FM as a means of relaxation in my tweets, I’m typically anything but relaxed while playing it!
On a more serious note, I’d had a longstanding desire to share my own saves and ideas within the community. Having spent years immersed in content from the likes of Treq, Llama and Lollujo on YouTube and then delving into reading others’ games for inspiration, my ultimate goal had always been to try and seamlessly integrate my passion for FM and mental health, creating a blend of both.
What’s your style of play? Within the library we have a couple of guys who plough through seasons letting the Assistant Manager’s do the vast majority of stuff, mainly getting into the late 2060’s trying to complete bizarre and random challenges, but we also have guys who are very much into the finite detail and will manage every aspect and would consider a save done after 5 or 6 seasons. Where do you fit within the scale? There is of course, no incorrect answer.
As I’ve already briefly alluded to, my focus in the game has always leaned more towards recruitment and squad-building, rather than the tactical intricacies, I’ll leave that to the likes of Cleon (ViewFromtheTouchline). I doubt he’s looking for my expertise in posting a picture of a laptop and a Redbull though!
Nevertheless, I enjoy being in control of every minor detail, excluding the obvious and sleep-inducing press conferences. I tend to click through those at speed, hoping I haven’t said anything to upset anyone! Despite my busy schedule, 5-6 seasons is usually the norm for me.It tends to be ample time to take a struggling or smaller side to the big time. The harder the challenge, the more enjoyable it is!
Favourite version/save? Any particular bittersweet/comic/down right depressing memories?
I’ve certainly had my fair share of depressing moments, with the odd bit of success thrown in, but I wouldn’t honestly say it was anything spectacular. Winning the league with Levante in my first season a few years back was certainly one of the enjoyable saves, which made for a nice change!
Ultimately, I guess I have to point to the most obvious stand-out moment for me, which was my save with Danish minnows Aarhus Fremad in FM23. That save rekindled my passion for the game, got me back into blogging once more, and made me fall in love with a football team whose community embraced me and whose players and staff supported me and gave me the honour of certainly being the first person in Manchester to own the shirt—an honour i’ll gladly take any day of the week.
Which bloggers do you always make sure that you read?
Without a shadow of a doubt, I’d highlight the extremely talented plethora of writers on ViewFromTheTouchline. The quality of writing is next level, and the level of detail each individual goes into is first class. I’m always left having learned something new every single time, which I love. Then you of course, have the likes of the extremely gifted FMGrasshopper|Tony, who again produces the type of content that you can only sit and applaud. Certainly, someone who drives me to want to produce better in my own writing.
Overall, I believe as long as an individual truly cares about what they’re writing and that love then translates into their blog or content they’re producing, then it’s a winner in my books. Whether it’s Rensie, CarrileroFM, or Jenna (TheFFM) with her save updates and Excel wizardry, the list of talent is truly endless.
Who within the community, seriously impresses you – produces the type of content that you just think “Wow, I couldn’t even contemplate producing stuff to at that level?
I guess I should have reserved my last response for this question! But, like so many have already done, I have to mention the extremely talented gentleman that is Mustermann. The detail he goes into, the effort that he puts into his videos, and even his skins, for that matter, is second to none.
I know for a fact he will go far within the world of content creation because his passion, commitment, and sheer effort come across in everything he produces, and I’m genuinely delighted for him.
What puts you off reading other creators blogs – what makes you click that “X” button in the top right of the page?
I wouldn’t specifically point out something and say, ‘That puts me off.’ However, individuals who possess the ability to tell a compelling story and provide a narrative that captivates me in a save are the things I truly enjoy.
I wouldn’t criticise anyone in the slightest, though. Everyone has a distinctly different skillset and approach, so whatever works for them is absolutely fine. As long as you enjoy what you’re writing, that’s all that matters.
Ok, final question.. I have 5 minutes and I have a list of blogs in front of me – In 100 words, why should I click on your blog…
Do I have a blog? Joking aside,yes, I do. However, I seemingly never have the time to write as much as I’d like anymore. But when I do, it’s because it’s what I love doing. Sometimes, the best way for me to express myself is through writing. I don’t claim to be something I’m not – I’m certainly not a tactics guru or anything of the kind, as we’ve established already in these questions. If people enjoy what I produce, that’s fantastic. If not, that’s absolutely fine. I’ll just do everything in my power to win you over the next time!
I’d like to say thank you to Adam for taking the time to complete this for us. Please give him a follow on X, @TractionFM, check out his blog and make sure to subscribe to make sure you don’t miss out on his posts, whenever they drop.
As always, if you are a FM Blogger and would like to share your experiences of playing the game we all love with us then feel free to either send us a message on Twitter @TheFMLibrary or hit us up in Discord.
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