It's the first 3D game and it shows.
After FM2008, my favourite, it was a bit of a disapointment.
Then FM2010 was good, improved on FM11, and FM12 is considered by some people to be the peak of the series.
Coincidentally or not, the last Championship Manager was in 2009/2010, and FIFA Manager's last was 2013/2014, and now Football Manager has been stagnating a bit (or getting worse in some places) because it has no competition in the market anymore.