For those curious types who'd like to investigate the wonderful world of pretend football management while not wishing to fritter away the rest of their lives on the really heavy duty stuff as proffered by the likes of SEGA and Sports Interactive, Premier Manager (PM) 2006-2007 is the perfect starting point for wannabe Warnocks, Mourinhos and Wengers. PM doesn't try to baffle the beginner with a bombardment of stats and scrolling screens; it takes a more straightforward line through the trials and tribulations of club management instead. All the familiar elements are still present'stubborn chairmen, sulky players, discontented fans'they're all here. It wouldn't be a proper management game without'em, after all.PM 2006-2007 incorporates an interface a monkey in cuffs could easily use. Everything'messages from the board, club staff and news bites from the world of football outside your chosen club'is displayed simply and sensibly. You want to talk to your chairman about refurbishing the training facilities as requested by one of your hired hands' Just say'yes'next time he appears on screen. Whether you actually get what you want is another thing entirely. Similarly, the search for'and negotiation of deals with'players is a cinch. There's a search facility that can take into account the type of player you're looking for, his nationality, price range and availability. It's easy to find the man you want to acquire, but getting him interested in signing for your club is'again'another thing. Your negotiating skills will be put to the test, that's for sure.Once you're into your career as manager of your favourite team, navigation between screens to keep you up to speed thankfully gets no more complicated. Training schedules, league tables, cup competitions are all easily accessible via the central hub'the home page, if you like'of PM 2006-2007. While some contemporary footy management sims can be a little intimidating to those new to the genre, Zoo Digital's Premier title eases you into the hotseat. That's not to say that PM 2006-2007 is a shallow, hollow experience: there's plenty here to keep budding managers occupied for a long while. No matter that in-game fellow manager's names don't entirely ring true'we all know who Neil Wirneck is supposed to represent'all the player names that we encountered while playing were accurate.To those not initiated in the fine art of football management simulation, watching the drama unfold can be as exciting as watching paint dry. To those hooked already'and those about to be ensnared'keeping an eye on the clock, and watching the numbered/coloured buttons racing around a top-down, two dimensional pitch can become addictive. So, a message to all you newcomers/Curious Georges out there: at the asking price, this is as good as you're going to get for your PS2.