The weather's getting colder, the clocks are going back and the nights are drawing in. It's the perfect time of year to have a football management sim tucked away snugly in your Xbox. That's presuming you enjoy football, of course, because you really need to enjoy all aspects of the beautiful game to get the most from LMA Manager 2003.

At the opposite end of the experience scale from the instant rush of adrenaline delivered by football action games, this game focuses on the heavyweight discipline of managing all the factors involved in getting your eleven favourite men to knock a ball around a pitch in a (hopefully) winning manner.

These factors are plentiful. In addition to the task of leading your team to victory, you have the responsibility of juggling the finances, hiring the backroom staff, negotiating player contracts, ducking and diving in the transfer market, rebuilding or expanding the stadium, coaching the players - the list is extensive. You can even choose which advertising deal is most lucrative for the pitch side hoardings. About the only thing outside of your jurisdiction is the contents of the half-time meat pies.

But this level of detail is not daunting, and is where the title's defining strength lies. The game is designed to be accessible to all and is presented in a style that will not overawe a casual fan or bore a veteran.

Navigation - often the key element in the success of stat-based games - is mercifully simple. A choice of eight main categories operated by both triggers and the Right thumbstick leads to numerous sub directories.

Depending entirely on your management style, responsibility for various tasks can be delegated to staff, so you can spend more time on the team rather than worrying about the incidental stuff.

Unlike Championship Manager Season 01/02, LMA Manager 2003 lets you actually watch the game and offer rudimentary managing tactics from the dugout. You're even invited to view the edited highlights in a TV-style post match analysis with commentary from Messrs. Lineker and Hansen.

This additional use of graphics helps to create a more hands-on feel. It gets you much more involved in the action than reading a text description of a game, because match action, by any definition, is the main event.

LMA 2003 is not as comprehensive as Champ Man, especially in the player data department; nor is it as focussed on team selection as the latter title is.

But that is LMA's strength, because it offers an accessible way for casual fans to experience the highs and lows of being the gaffer without being completely blinded by science and statistics.

1. Accessible without being simple
2. Match graphics are a very cool idea
3. Easily navigated

1. Visuals could be nicer
2. Dugout command response is sluggish

Power
Match graphics are passable but not exemplary, the searchable player database is nice and quick.

Style
A well-designed menu system combined with decent highlights result in a polished look.

Immersion
Got any friends? You won't have if you get heavily involved in a league campaign.

Lifespan
If being the boss floats your boat this may never leave your Xbox. It'll last as long as your patience.

Summary
For a lighter and visually more exciting look at the footy management biz than Champ Man, this is just the ticket.