The secret to a running a successful football team is very simple: one, keep a core group of skilful players on board to guarantee results, and two, churn out a new replica kit every few months and watch the fans fall over themselves in a rush to chuck their money at you.

And so it is with LMA Manager 2006. The front end strip might be all new and flashy, but apart from that this year's version is essentially LMA Manager 2005 all over again. Certainly not a bad thing given the franchise's deserved reputation for solid console football management, but this is more gentle tweaking than full-blown football evolution.

Still, the tweaks that have been made are certainly welcome - the rejigged transfer system with its ability to tailor contract negotiations in minute detail in particular. It might not sound much on the surface, but the result is a far more aggressive transfer system where even rubbish teams can grab players that might not otherwise make the move to a lower club. Like the real game these days, success in LMA Manager is as much dependent on canny bargain hunting as it is on training and tactics.

Other new additions include training matches (pretty pointless in our opinion), and the Football One results service, which is rather nice if you like classified results and listening to Gary Lineker's velvety tones. Other than that though, it's business as usual for the LMA steamroller. The matches are still a bit ropey, but the awesome, life-sapping depth is as abundant as ever. And with a post-transfer window update ready to download by next Spring, long-term fans are suitably well catered for. Just don't forget to eat or go to the toilet.

Great new look with the same social-life-destroying gameplay intact. A must have for football-loving LMA virgins.