retired_gorgini

After a few short stints getting a feel for the game, I've gone two seasons into a promising game at the helm of Welling United (randomly picked side). My first season went reasonably well, after a mediocre start, I had a really nice run-out and managed 5th place and kept the fine form going throught he playoffs and got myself promoted, much to my own amazement as well as the pundits.

My second season, up in the conference, was unbearably frustrating, to the point that I actually applied for, but couldn't bring myself to accept a few jobs around the Christmas break as I thought my team was just giving up on me too often. The boys just couldn't hold a lead, and had only won three games through the mid-way point and was sitting desperately bottom of the table. I even quit making my usual round of biting comments in the media as I found that boasts from the floor sounded pathetic. Still, I wouldn't give up, made a couple of effective loans in March to give me a boost through the end of season, and got a couple of injured starters back, so I thought I might have a chance. Sure enough, I actually got a couple of wins, so on april 1 I was 20th, ten points adrift of safety with a match against 19th place Forest Green looming large. Long story short, in a repreat of the previous season's strong run-out, I saved myself from relegation three points clear and in 17th place - and didn't deserve it one bit. But I'll take it. The TV money will keep the team out of administration, but I have another battle coming this season for sure - I could finally cut some deadwood payroll and improve my depth, but the overall quality of the team just doesn't feel as good after a couple of starlets moved on and a couple of loans expired without adequate cover on my part.

I've tried to stick to the LLM concept pretty tight, though I will admit to using the search screen to request the loan of a few practical short-term loans of unscouted players when a run of injuries left my short-benched squad in a desperate lurch (backup goalie starting in midfield anyone?)... though there may be a nugget of realism there too? All in all, it's been a lot of fun all around, one of the best games I've had the pleasure to play in ages and a lot less infuriating for someone with poor reflexes than pro evo on the ps2 - more interesting too.

Anyway, here are a couple of questions for the veterans.

1) My team's always finished the season in the red. I have a midfielder I found by chance cheap right at the beginning who has turned out to be a witch despite mediocre stats (must be something in the hidden stats), and right now he's valued at 400k. He's happy at the club, but I can't imagine him staying on. Should I just sell him off and secure the immediate future of the club, accepting that without him, I'll probably drop (probably will either way to be honest), or do I hold on for dear life and work him until he leaves? Some of this question relates to my not really understanding how an unprotected or expired contract works (some players seem to leave, some seem to hang around until i release them on a free, some get bought and I get compensated, etc). What are the rules for compensation?

2) I'd like to scout some slightly higher division clubs specifically from my local area, but not being from England, I'm not entirely sure what clubs those would be. I know that Welling is based in the outer east fringe of London, and I know all of the Premier and Championship teams from the area, but once it gets into the lower leagues, I'm at a loss. Can anyone recommend some realistic targets geographically or traditionally for Welling to look at for loans or even purchases? Random just doesn't feel right and I would like to scout up the ladder for loans rather than use the search screen.

retired_kswansonwoolf

1. I simply hate selling first team players. My long term plan is to keep them, sell the reserves and only bring in players who look to be of equal or better quality than my first XI. If your team really depends on him so much, i reckon it'd be madness to sell him. Others may think differently about this though.

2. Your guess is as good as mine.

retired_berrysale

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about point 2.

If you're in Conference South, most players in lower leagues than that would have heard of the teams.

It's personal choice, though

If you are really concerned, you can use something like www.multimap.com and zoom out.

KingsbayYHPE

Tipping Kostis?

It's a decision only you can make, phio. You know how important a) the midfielder, and b) the money would be to you. It's an age-old LLM problem and one no-one can answer except the guy playing the game.

Second point? No idea, I'm a Scot.

retired_kswansonwoolf

Feel free to edit it out Ian, it sounds dodgy.

creative36

Tipping?
Pah, sounds more like common sense to me.

The day we ban common sense is the day we become Scottish by default.

retired_gorgini

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by iajafer:
Tipping Kostis?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

who? or what? (honest, i don't know, is this a player or a catch phrase of some sort? does he play for boca juniors? i probably don't want to know and the anwer is probably a red flag thread anyway, so don't tell me.)

no, i've no intention of tipping the guy, just asking ageneral question related to finances. do I really need to worry so much about going red at the end of the season? at what point would I have to worry about administration? is it different for every club, or is there a general debt region that is the end of the road. and does going broke even result in a game over? or do you just have to sell off a few players and keep plugging away until you get relegated out of the conf n/s?

retired_kris1971again

Teams in London, east of London....may be missing a few but I can give the Thames Estuary/Essex teams I have knowledge of...

Southend United, Braintree, Hornchurch, Tiptree, Great Wakering, Billericay, Canvey Island, Chelmsford, Basildon, Thurrock, East Thurrock, Dagenham & Redbridge, Leyton Orient, Burnham, Colchester, Dartford, Egham, Forest Green, Hadleigh, Maldon, Romford, Southend Manor, Stansted, Stratford, Tilbury, Yeading, Staines Lammas, Rayleigh, Hendon, Grays, Greenwich, Brentwood, Boreham Wood.

These are the teams I am considering as being nearby in the lower leagues for my Braintree game, though some people may care to argue, or wish to point out any errors.

retired_sara maria

Kostis is the resident fool. As proven by his username kfoolmoon.

Oh and he's Greek, not that there's anything wrong with that.

retired_kswansonwoolf

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by phio:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by iajafer:
Tipping Kostis?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

who? or what? (honest, i don't know, is this a player or a catch phrase of some sort? )
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That would be me, and i surely hope it won't become a catch phrase any time soon