retired_mekeesha

I have a curious scenario and a question.

For the first time ever I qualified for Europe. My 1st division N. Irish team 'did a Gretna' - won a sucky cup and promptly got thrashed at home in the first UEFA Cup qualifying round. A short yet sweet adventure.

However ..... prior to the game I got a form from UEFA asking me to register my squad. Of a squad of 25, I needed at least 8 'homegrown' players and 4 nurtured by my club. The former was no problem since my scout can only poke around my home country, but I had NONE of the latter.

With woeful training and youth facilities, the 15/16 year old kids brought to my 'academy' are always too fat, lazy and greasy so I promptly release them. Thus my whole squad comprised freebies dug out by my scout.

Technically therefore, I should have been ineligible to take part in the competition. I took a large gulp and posted the form with my squad anyway and nothing was done - no points deducted, no ejection (of course I went out at the first hurdle anyway).

So my questions are,

1. What exactly does the second condition mean - does it mean 4 kids who were promoted to your youth squad? Is it imperative that we retain 4 of them just to keep the bureaucrats happy should we qualify for Europe?

2. Is there any subsequent penalty for not meeting the criteria for a registered squad?

3. Is it a flaw in the programming that I got through the bureaucracy to play the tie?

retired_duncan

Good questions those. I think that the 4 club players need to be with you for a minimum 3 years and be less than 18 when they join, or something like that. So you technically don't need to have your acadamy produce them, you just need to train them. I had a save where my scout found heaps of youths and they eventually were elligible.

As for what happens if you don't have the required number.... nfi

retired_tinkfaeree

As far as I know, an "empty spot" counts for any of the requirements. So if you don't have those 4 self-nurtured players, you could only select 21 in your squad.

retired_jmathias

I agree with Ollie.

retired_lastdietever

IIRC you leave the spot empty and come match day it's filled with a grey. Don't hold me to it though.

dwglobal

WHS :thup:

Think of it as a squad of 21, with 4 bonus spots for "home grown" players.

I think wewak is also correct on what qualifies for "trained at the club."

KingsbayYHPE

Of course, if you have any U-20s who are decent they can play without being in the squad.

Emm

Is that an error in programming or is that real life?

KingsbayYHPE

I always assumed it was real life...though I can't be certain.

retired_mekeesha

Cheers for that fellas. I didn't think to leave 4 vacancies, but I got to play the tie anyway.

Ah well, if there's ever a next time ....

Iajafar's solution is an intriguing loophole - can't be possible in real life, surely?