retired_sina9090

Oh dear...

retired_jsammut

You hire scouts.

You send scouts out.

Scouts find players.

We don't use the player search option. That's the way we play.

retired_tye1234

Just to clarify what quinny is saying
You hire scouts.

You send scouts out.

Scouts find players that are absolutely sh:te

You have a zero transfer budget so filter you scouts findings, looking only the sh:te players that are available for free.

You decide all the players that are available for free are even more sh:te than your own players.

Sell one of your real duffers for a couple of grand.

Hope that your board give you 1K to splash out on transfers because that opens up so many more opportunities to buy sh:te players

retired_lovestoned4805

Greg, the problem with using player search in the game is how do you know of these players. By sending out a scout it is expected that they travel the country and watch games, training sessions and talk to blokes in pubs (at least mine seem to considering the plurks they recommend). Hence the scouts find these players. Using player search is unrealistic as no list of players exists.

Some people have claimed there are lists of transfer listed and loan listed platers but this depends on the league and often the list is not in the format of player search in the game, even if they existed you would still scout the player before signing as the list would not detail how good they are.

Scouting is the only way.

retired_gyraah

Cheers guys. Have started using the Scouting option and seems to be working a treat.

retired_rekhavenkat

You know, it's been so long since I played champo I still call it champo.

Nobody mentioned the hoary old retort, SWYCT. Highly important in my view.

I had thought it acceptable to use the search screens provided FoW was on and the players were subsequently scouted before purchase (or I suppose given a trial to see how many legs they have). Times seem to have changed, though there were always zealots who would make some "rule" or other to make things more difficult (and, paradoxically, less realistic.)

I still say that the essence of the game is to have fun and the essence of LLM is to have fun while playing in a realistic way.

I seem to recall a manager of one of the Italian clubs using champo to see what his little known opponents might be like. I could never decide if that was an endorsement of the researchers or indictment on the manager in question. Still, it illustrates the point that what is "realistic" is very much a matter of personal perspective.

retired_B_RAN

Believe me, I rely on my scouts almost exclusively. The only exception is at the start of a new saved game with a club that has very few players overall. Sometimes I will use the newer "filter" option to find any players listed for loan that my assistant manager indentifies as a realistic target. Usually I don't loan any of these players, but I'll send my scout to look at them anyway.

If for some reason I have a need after a few weeks and my scout recommends them, then I may loan them. But I rarely loan players to begin with, and after that initial start to my saved game, I never even look for loan players. I tend to view loaning players as extraneous.

Anyway, the answer to your question is that, in real football, club managers become fully aware of who is actively available for loan through player agents, other staff members, the football association, and the media. They may not know of these players before such discussions take place, but eventually the word gets around. The agents especially work hard to try to advance their clients through the football ranks, and if their client has an opportunity to go on loan to a lower division side, then the agent is going to get on the phone and help spread the word.

I think there's a misconception that scouts are the only medium for finding playes and conveying information. But the reality is that the FA in each country maintains lists of free transfered players, and there are many additional channels for conveying information about players. Managers may not be able to travel and scout players personally, but they're on the phone and talking with other people around the football world all the time. They get videotapes, news clippings, you name it.

This is why I think it's reasonable to search for loan players and let the assistant manager filter the results. Then you STILL must send a scout to see if he recommends the player. If he doesn't, then you don't loan him. Even if the scout DOES recommend him, it doesn't mean that his stats are good enough or that you will even need the player. But, until FM programs features in the game to reflect those other channels of learning about loan players, then I tend to see this as a pretty reasonable alternative, especially since the number of players you are recommended is usually very few. Sometimes it's just one or two.

retired_tye1234

Then you are almost playing LLM

bodymassindicator

Then you are almost playing LLM </BLOCKQUOTE>
The way he described looking for loan players in certain situations is quite reasonable and I'm sure I've seen seasoned LLaMas say they occasionally do the same thing. It's a slippery slope that is best avoided to step on, but the balancing act can be done.

retired_duncan

Lovely use of a mixed metaphor there, TADW :thup:

Agree with your point, BTW. Hopefully, that settles the discussion. For this week at least...