retired_duncan

You can if you think you can :cool:

Uknowmehfo

Well, let's say it's better in some ways.

More difficult. Lots more challenging, etc...

I left my Conf S side when I thought they had hit the ceiling and that was upper mid Conference. 10 seasons after they've just been relegated from League 1 and I find myself hoping they might retake me if they ever thought about getting rid of their current gaffer.

As to if I have done it? Nope.

As to if I feel it's impossible? Nope. Though I think it would take some 25 seasons or so. And that's without counting the scouts drying out and the assman rating everyone as one star as your reputation is pants compared to that of other teams in the division.

retired_kswansonwoolf

I think Ian's done it with Harrogate?

Not impossible, but you will need loads of luck and stubborness to achieve it.

retired_duncan

If you manage to stay in the top flight long enough does the board eventually let you pay proper wages and transfer fees (as long as you have the cash)?

The assman always says players who are too good for me 'would not be a worthwhile signing'. There should be different comment for this, such as 'the player's agent has indicated his client will take out a restraining order against you if you bother him anymore'

retired_skinner3

Isn't this kind of tipping?

retired_crazybonejr

butler, there's a difference between tipping and discussing. Nobody has said "go out and do this, and you'll make it to the EPL." Nobody has even mentioned what you might do in order to get there.

retired_jmathias

valid.

retired_sargent

I think we are all praying that The new FM will have solved the problem of club reputation not keeping up with club performance.
You can spend years in the Championship with a promoted side and still have no money for players wages, no players will join, your scouts do not find any suitable players and you get more and more pished off.

retired_mayasmomma

Given the club reputation issues, it is possible but DAMN difficult - a previous (pre-patch) LLM adventure saw me take Grays to the EC playoffs in 21 seasons, and we were never able to pay out more than about 7000 per month to any player. As another example, my current LLM is in the 6th season with Alfreton Town. We're only L2, but our rep is still obscure, and we're still listed as semi-pro. I feel justified in saying that playing in L2, we're qualified professinals, and our rep should have soared to the lofty heights of 'Local' - after all, we get the occasional highlight on Sky now.

I've heard club rep is tied to player rep, but it is difficult to imagine attracting even regional talent to an obscure club and, let's face it, many L2 teams have regionally known players.

Until this is sorted in FM, LLM to EPL will be difficult - as it should be. While difficult, however, I don't think it should be impossible. If I saw club reputation rise more realistically from obscure semi-professional to regional professional a bit more realistically (how long should it take to become known in the region?) I would be a bit happier.

First and foremost, however, the finances need to be reworked for us. LLM means starting with nothing - when you've put 12 seasons and you're making the club money every year, you should then have a bit of leeway. Worse, when you're at 50% of your wage budget, you should be able to offer quality players more than 7k per week.

Just a few random thoughts - LLM is still loads of fun, but I now expect to cap at L1/EC and then take my rep and move to an EC/EPL yo-yo to finish out my career. I suppose that may be more realistic anyway - when's the last time a Maidenhead came up from obscurity in 30 seasons?

retired_mayasmomma

I agree the scouting as you rise in LLM is a HUGE problem - scouts seem to get caught in a no-man's land at these levels.