So if the journey mode is a little pre determined and has a finite point where it just ends...
then how can the choices you make change the thing? Surely it makes no difference if you annoy your manager or not for arguments sake because you will play and ultimately finish the thing?
I have watched a few people play out the xbox "early access" online and depending on how you perform really affects what happens to your player at the club and your character's lifelong friend "Gareth Walker". Also depending on the team you pick, and how you perform, you may get the chance to win; The Premier League, FA cup, League Cup, European Cup. Also your responses change the way your team mates, family and the coaches and manager react to you, as well as sponsorship deals.
There is also a "sliding scale" of "Starting 11" "substitutes" and "reserves". At the end of each game, it totals us; how you did in training, how you performed in the match and what you said and the sliding scale moves. So depending on these factors, you may start more games, if the manager doesn't like what you say, you may find yourself on the bench, more than starting. Or you could end up watching the cup final from the stands...
During the exit trials (near the start of the game), you pick your position; CF, LW, RW or AMC. So far I have only seen one person pick anything other than CF, The early access seems to end at the same point, with the same outcome for the other guys I have watched except for a guy who picked AMC, he got a different outcome, so it may be worth replaying with the different positions.