The information below is an attempt to keep managers informed of changes to the game of Mystify Soccer.

It will not contain information relative to the match engine or any aspects of the game that managers need to work out for themselves.

It should, however, be a log of changes to game rules and amendments to the web site.

Planned changes

  • Verification of managers to give extra benefits to those that are.
  • Ability to offer contracts to players whose contracts are expiring with a view to them transferring upon expiration.

Updates to the game

2023 changes

  • 17/11/2023 - Site changes
    Addition of links to the relevant season within team league and cup archives.
    Fix to transfer list filtering of 'Status'.
  • 28/08/2023 - Team selection changes
    Changed team selection page to warn when too many players are selected in a position.
    Reconfigured warning in site header to consider player position counts.
    Fixes applied to mailbox management and mesage display.
    Change to manager releasing to not re-set the training of players who are on loan.
    Change to match substitutions and tactics to consider an 'end minute' for checking on the match status.
  • 30/05/2023 - Various
    Addition of runners-up to country archive listing.
    Addition of Nationality to scout searching.
    Scout report will now display 'No' under interest if a player can not be transferred due to being recently added.
  • 10/02/2023 - Free transfer fix
    Fix applied for players who are out of contract to have no release fee.
  • 09/02/2023 - Substitution work
    Set fixtures to be generated differently for future seasons.
    Added 'manager friends' filter to recent match listing page.
    Modified 'extra team' system so that long term managers can switch secondary teams with less waiting time.
    Increased number of substitutes able to be used to 5.
    Unused substitutes now displayed on match reports.
    Financial data tweaked.
    Addition to team player page of 'copy' functionality to put basic player details in the clipboard of the device.
  • 30/01/2023 - Player assists and extra functionality
    Player assist statistics added to some areas of the site.
    Switched mail to use new HTML Editor.
    Modified code to cater for future removal of away goal system.
    Added 'like' system to forum.
    Creation of page listing recent matches, without displaying the score.
    Change to free transfer page to assist in differentiating between players out of contract and players released.
    Addition of 'woodwork' and 'off target' shots statistics to match reports.

2022 changes

  • 14/07/2022 - Fixes and new editor
    Player page stats changes to add team/season and general clean-up.
    Modified substitutions and tactics to cater for extra time changes.
    Fixed check for valid team to include goalkeeper, captain and substitute counts.
    Added new editor into forum and news articles.
  • 16/05/2022 - New position and page improvements
    Players can now decide against going on loan if they think they won't be playing enough.
    Fixes around mailbox and replying to messages.
    Wing back positions added.
    Work on team selection and tactic selection pages to improve functionality on smaller screens.
    Duplicated player substitutions into tactics screen.
    Tweaked messaging around match reports/previous matches on cup pages.
    Changes to team season results display - added extra time & penlties.
  • 23/02/2022 - Fixes and sponsorship changes
    Change to shortlist page so that multiple players can be selected at once for deletion.
    Switched tactic minutes to use ordinals with a slight re-wording of surrounding text.
    Sponsorship changes in terms of offers and company names, as well as stadium sponsorship being added to the existing (shirt) sponsorship.
    Tweak to training injuries.
    Tweaks to goal assists.
    Display of players without a manager added to scouting reports.
  • 21/01/2022 - General improvements
    New archive pages displaying european victories by countries and teams.
    Created account 'team management' page and moved 2nd team 'resign' option to it.
    Added the functionality to switch the primary team to the alternative.
    Added visibility of each teams' top players.
    Fixed issue with match tactics where a positional change was submitted with the player also being 'taken off'.

2021 changes

  • 20/12/2021 - Additions & code modernising
    Completed removal of old processing for remaining pages.
    Added match result to system that re-orders match report details.
    Fixes to team selection page.
    Fixes to rejected transfer mail system.
    Fixed issues around retired players being offered contracts.
    Added initial trial of player assists to match report timeline to assist with checking that they are being saved correctly.
    Hiding the result now also works on the 'office' page.
  • 10/11/2021 - Additions & code modernising
    Fix to match reports where a substitute is substituted.
    Fix to player data for substitution counts.
    Fix to position ordering on player scout reports.
    Addition of filter to long shortlists.
    Facility to re-order match report added.
    Option added to have the last league result score on the welcome page hidden.
    Change to loan rules to disable acceptance towards the end of a season.
    Moved account details, password & Options to new format.
    Further changes to the system determining whether directors automatically accept transfers.
    Various pages moved away from old style validation.
  • 13/07/2021 - Improvements & additions
    Change to the league table display to show mathematically promoted and relegated teams.
    Change to player contract decisions to include promotions and relegations as soon as they are confirmed, instead of needing the division change to actually take place.
    Fix to youth academy skill improvement display.
    Added 'Recent matches' to team player page.
    Swap players are now considered as part of the fee when transfers may be automatically accepted or cancelled.
    Increased the number days allowed for a final transfer confirmation.
    Added 'transfers to be confirmed' into notifications.
    Added option to 'scout player' from their details page if a scout is available.
    Added facility to edit a loan request.
  • 09/04/2021 - Improvements & additions
    Page improvements to scouting when on a small screen.
    Addition of player interest to player scout report.
    Addition of current transfer requests to player page.
    Addition of option for managers to select whether they want to limit transfer requests for their unlisted players.
    Addition of a system to mail managers their weekly results, if wanted (may be intermittent initially).
    Increased the mninumum number of weeks a player has to be at a team before they can be transferred.
    Change to the youth academy skill improvement display to include more weeks.
  • 19/03/2021 - Player data
    Player historical data display improvements.
    Improved the experience on the manager awards page.
    Added confirmation to taking out injury insurance.
  • 26/02/2021 - Transfer changes
    Multiple swaps allowed in a transfer. Auto accept/reject implemented for pure cash offers.
  • 01/02/2021 - Transfer changes
    Change to the transfer list display to direct current offers to the transfer details page, instead of the 'new offer' page.
  • 19/01/2021 - Transfer changes
    Change implemented into the transfer system (including free transfers) so that transfers have to be confirmed by the purchasing team.
  • 04/01/2021 - General additions
    Addition of transfer request limit per week between teams.
    Fix to match report when displaying substitutes where position was nor recorded.

2020 changes

  • 29/12/2020 - General additions
    Addition of a private 'Manager Notes' option.
    Addition of a facility to cancel player positional training.
    Addition of positional changes during a match to the report.
  • 16/11/2020 - Additions.
    Creation of new archive page to show teams league results against every other team in the country.
    Addition of contracts notification from accepted transfer requests.
    Addition of 'too old' rule when rejecting a transfer fee including a player.
    Addition of a 'contracts expiring' page that lists players in the final season of their contract.
    Removal of players who are already involved in a request, from transfer request options.
    Addition of a button to report mail messages.
    Addition of Recaptcha to joining form.
    Set transfers to not occur within 36 hours of a match (pending implementation in evening process).
  • 08/11/2020 - Transfer/Contract changes.
    Changed transfer request system to disallow a request where a player is already part of a similar request.
    Fixed issue with game weeks not registering correctly after matches.
  • 13/10/2020 - General additions/improvements.
    Addition of training data for players out on loan.
    Contract week corrections so that they are all to season ends.
    Addition of out of contract players to free transfer list.
    Addition of reporting functionality for managers to report abusive forum posts.
  • 02/10/2020 - General additions/improvements.
    Addition of remaining contract weeks to transfer list.
    Addition of remaining contract weeks to shortlist.
  • 11/09/2020 - Scouting page & Mailbox.
    Scout page updated to new code base with suitable improvments to user experience.
    Attempted forward/back options within mailbox.
  • 22/06/2020 - Youth system.
    Altered the youth player system to add players to academies as soon as they are requested, if possible.
    Corrected/Added various page links and text around the game to make it more meaningful and fix typographic errors.
  • 30/05/2020 - Tweaks around the game.
    Fix to loanable players so they can't be loaned the same week as being transferred or promoted.
    Loan request page updated to new code base with suitable improvments to user experience.
    Change to home page to display next match dates higher on the page for the benefit of smaller screens.
    Fixed Morale to sort correctly on squad players page.
  • 13/05/2020 - Tweaks around the game.
    Corrected the divisional top players listings.
    Removed links to make a transfer request for a player when player is retiring or out of contract.
    Added 'hide' functionality to transfer requests and forum posts to the manager interaction system.
    Updates transfer & Contract rules to align with the new system.
    Fixed various contract rejection issues that shouldn't have been occurring.
  • 01/05/2020 - Tweaks around the game.
    Corrected the yellow card message on player details page to state a 1 match suspension.
    Player valuation correction for old players.
    Removed the link to make a transfer request from players who have no manager.
    More corrections to transfer related mail messages.
    Removed code specific for IE8.
    Mailbox option added to the main menu.
    Added link to transfer details within message when requesting & negotiating.
    Created a system to assign youth players to some teams when a new manager joins.
    Some work done to link contracts and retirements a little better. Will be completed when full match playing is automated.
  • 24/04/2020 - Transfer details improvements.
    Added contract status information to transfer request details.
    Corrections to mail sent upon the transfer of a player.
  • 22/04/2020 - Transfer details improvements.
    Added notifications to shortlist when a player if offered as part of the transfer request - previously it was just the main player.
    Added valuations to player details on transfer screen.
    Changed negotiate transfer fee to be a pop-up so it can be closed without removing accept/reject options.
  • 21/04/2020 - Changes to underlying transfer code.
    Large changes to the base code around transfer requests and contracts.
    Added the ability for transfers to be cancelled by both teams after acceptance.
  • 08/04/2020 - Fixes and new transfer request page.
    Various fixes after the code base move including missing tactical options and invalid site timeout.
    Implementation of new transfer request page to trial new form validation and set up for an easy(ish) change to have more than 1 swap player at some point in the future.
  • 05/04/2020 - Shortlist addition and code base movement.
    Added shortlist message when a player is transfer listed.
    Background site code fully moved to new code base and old code fully removed.
  • 23/03/2020 - Tweaks and code base movement.
    Changed default contract length for a promoted youth player to be 2 seasons at £800 per week.
    Changed cookies to use a stronger encryption technique.
    Changed process that compares colours for match reports to a newer (hopefully better) system.
    Moved various non transfer shared aspects to a new code base.
    Changed site password encryption.
  • 16/03/2020 - Fixes and moving of game engine to an automated system
    Moved all transfer aspects to a new code base.
    Stored sent mail seperately to received mail to allow better management.
  • 02/03/2020 - Fixes and moving of game engine to an automated system
    Started storing TV games along with match history.
    Fixed long term bug regarding manager award calculations.
    Changed suspensions for yellow cards to be 1 match instead of 2 for the next season.
    Managers will now not be told when the recipient has blocked them from sending messages.
    Moved some transfer processes over to a new code base.

2019 changes

  • 07/12/2019 - Site improvements
    Moved creation of new mail to be within the mailbox.
    High level scouts can now search based on contract weeks remaining.
    Players will now start having thier skills decreased as they get older.
    Added team information to shortlist messages.
    Fixed an issue with contract acceptance messages containing a faulty link.
  • 11/10/2019 - Contract additions & mailbox change
    Added limitations to salaries being offered based on current squad salaries and division of team.
    Added limitations to contract lengths for older players.
    Altered mailbox to let mails be replied to within the same screen.
    Fixed various bugs regarding messaging around accepting transfer offers.
  • 04/10/2019 - Tweaks
    Added contract offer notes to 'Shortlist'.
    Youth players will now be automatically promoted upon reaching the age of 20, rather than released, providing there is room in the squad.
    Improved display of transfers involving swapped players within the completed transfers list.
    Began the work to limit salaries when submitting contract offers in an effort to keep things sensible.
  • 31/08/2019 - Mailbox changes
    Merged 'sent mail' into mailbox page and made it more user friendly.
  • 29/08/2019 - Fixes
    Fixed information displayed on player pages if they are unhappy about match time.
    Started work on displaying transfers involving a swap, as individual transfers.
  • 27/08/2019 - Fixes & tweaks
    Added a button to unmanaged team pages to join the game.
    Changed player page to have a contract offer option if a transfer has been accepted.
    Added information to player pages if they think they should be playing in a higher division.
    Added information to player pages if they are unhappy about match time.
    Change to free transfers so that cost depends on contract rather than valuation.
  • 02/08/2019 - Mailbox page rewrite
    Altered the mailbox page to work more dynamically within the browser. Added a link on 'accepted transfer' details to the contracts page.
  • 29/07/2019 - Player contracts live
    Forced all players to require a contract
    Stopped team skill resets on new managers joining.
  • 24/07/2019 - Dynamic page updates
    Improved player training page to run within the browser.
    Improved player selection within transfer request page.
  • 22/07/2019 - Contracts
    Removed the option for the loaning team to be able to offer a contract to loaned players.
    Added expiring contracts to the contracts page. Added players who are out on loan to the squad availability list of injuries and suspensions.
    Limited loan lengths to be no longer than the number of weeks a player is contracted for.
    Added functionality for purchasing team to cancel a transfer after it has been accepted.
  • 19/07/2019 - Contracts
    Added the ability to offer (and withdraw) contracts to players on the free transfer list.
    Added contracts to rules. This needs more detail as features are implemented.
    Added default salary and contract weeks to new players promoted from the youth academy and a reset of contract weeks to new managers.
  • 16/07/2019 - Contracts
    Added the ability to offer (and withdraw) contracts to players out of contract at other teams.
    Removal of transfer pool/Implementation of free transfer list.
    Removal of file extensions for site pages (to assist with SEO)
  • 12/07/2019 - Contracts
    Added a page where all contract offers can be viewed and managed.
    Added contract weeks to list of players in squad. Added contract weeks to scouting resports.
  • 09/04/2019 - Transfer pool
    Removed the functionality to add players to the transfer pool.
  • 04/02/2019 - Dynamic mail updates
    Site now updates the mail count at the top of the site every minute if you don't switch pages.
  • 02/01/2019 - Loan rule change and sorting additions
    Players can no longer be loaned out the same week that they have been transferred.
    Modified the ordering of forum messages and mail to consider clock changes.
    Added the display (and sorting option) of the date when a player was added to a shortlist. Any additions prior to the 4th May 2018 did not have the date logged so they have been set to that date.
    Players, not on loan, can now be offered a contract by their manager. This won't currently be processed.

2018 changes

  • 21/08/2018 - Fixes and GDPR changes
    The manager name has been removed from forum posts when a manager leaves the game.
    Fixed a bug with the shirt number changing system.
    Fixed a bug with the rendering of league tables.
  • 17/08/2018 - Tweaks and minor additions
    Standarised checkboxes throughout the site.
    Option added to receive an email reminder even when a valid team is selected.
    Option added to cancel a secondary team application.
    Addition of recently signed in times to the 'manager' page.
  • 13/08/2018 - Site standardisation
    Changed confirmation dialogs to use the same system throughout.
    Fixed checkbox style on mail listings.
  • 10/08/2018 - Functionality changes
    Changed the scout management and team selection pages to a new display system.
  • 06/08/2018 - Functionality changes
    Changed the tactics, extra team application, player shirt, transfer listing and loan request player systems to new display system along with finances.
  • 05/07/2018 - Bug fix and Archive Fixtures system
    Fixed a bug when sorting the youth academy players on skill values.
    Changed the archive fixtures page over to a new display system.
  • 21/05/2018 - Privacy updates
    Updates to the privacy policy and cookie information.
  • 10/05/2018 - Transfer details and shortlist removal functionality
    Modifications to the transfer request details page to change functionality so that it works within the browser and provides a better user experience.
    Addition of the ability to remove a player from the transfer shortlist whilst on the player details page.
  • 03/04/2018 - General tweaks
    Spellchecking added to relevant text boxes.
    Slight change to transfer request page to improve performance when retrieving player valuations.
    Captcha added to contact page for users who aren't signed in (implemented due to the increase in robots using the form to submit rubbish).
    Amended URL management of league fixtures and results pages to include the week number.
  • 18/03/2018 - Youth academy update
    Major modifications to the youth academy page to change all functionality so that it works within the browser and provides a better user experience.

2017 changes

  • 21/10/2017 - General bug fixes
    Fix to make week selection within league fixtures and results work correctly.
    Fix within youth academy to show information correctly on disabled promote/release options with reasons why they can't be used.
    Fixed issue within Rivals page where not all managers were displaying.
  • 19/10/2017 - Authentication system changed
    The system used to authenticate managers signing in has been updated.
  • 15/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Sent Mail' & 'Training'.
  • 12/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'List player', 'Pool player', 'Send message' & 'Scouts'.
  • 08/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Team player', 'Mailbox' & 'Country archive'.
  • 05/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Youth academy', 'Finances', 'League archive', 'Free transfer player' & 'About'.
  • 03/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Cup schedule', 'Transfer rules' & 'Manager awards'.
  • 02/05/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Loan request details', 'Transfer request details', 'Team cup archive', 'Cup results', 'Game structure rules', 'Current loans' & 'Non-team player'.
  • 20/04/2017 - Transfer Filters & page updates
    Implemented new filtering for transfer list & Transfer Pool. 'Players wanted', 'Team squad', 'Team league archive' & 'Training rules' updated to new design.
  • 24/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Loans' & 'Transfer List'.
  • 21/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Transfer request', 'Scout reports' & 'Youth academy rules'.
  • 18/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Application confirmation', 'Newest managers', 'Scout rules', 'Transfer pool' & 'Completed team transfers'.
  • 16/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Manager details', 'Player rules', 'Overview rules', 'Cup archive', 'Longest managers' & 'Manager friends'.
  • 12/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Match rules', 'Transfers', 'Rules index', 'Manager list' & 'Shortlist'.
  • 10/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Forum topic', 'Loan request', 'Rival managers', 'Previous team v team results', 'Completed transfers' & 'Finance rules'.
  • 06/04/2017 - Forum changes & page updates
    'Forum topic list' and 'new topic' page moved to responsive design along with the merging of 2 separate forums into one.
    Rules page regarding Extra Teams also redesigned.
  • 03/04/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Match reports' & some tweaks and fixes to pages already converted.
  • 31/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Leading scorers', 'Worst disciplined', 'Top players' & 'Communication rules'.
  • 25/03/2017 - Pages updates & Avatar icons
    The facility to add a small avatar icon to a managers' profile has been implemented. These icons will assist in future page updates. 'Account options', 'Team websites' & 'Trophy holders' also updated to responsive design.
  • 24/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Team selection', 'Account', 'Account password change' & 'Error pages'. Last league score on initial page coloured accoring to the result.
  • 20/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Team details' & 'Quit game'.
  • 17/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'League Tables', 'Results', 'Fixtures', 'Team sponsorship', 'FAQs', 'Tactics', 'History index' & 'Application form'.
  • 13/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Game Update', 'Squad players' & 'Previous Players'.
  • 10/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Disclaimer', 'Terms & Conditions' & 'Privacy Policy'.
    'Squad availability', 'Contact' & 'Links'
    Confirmation pop-up created in responsive design (to be applied as pages are re-designed).
  • 06/03/2017 - Pages updated to responsive design
    'Office' & 'News'.
  • 03/03/2017 - Responsive website launched
    Mystify Soccer (mobile friendly) website launched.