Hi, I want to introduce another idea for youngers. I know that there are already threads about that, but I'd like to develope an idea without hijacking another member's thread.
First of all, I like how regens work comparing with other games and previous editions. Several youngsters every year, with semi-random roles, qualities and locations, but with good criteria imho.
But we have little impact in those regens: we can affect their quality through demanding better academy level from chairman, and players nationality according to staff nationalities. little else.
I will like to have a deeper academy management (of course people who don't want to manage it could lend it to youth team assistant and have several regens every year and no more problems). how? first of all, having not only a u18 team, but some teams according to age. For example here in spain young teams have a maximum and minimum idea, always between 2 years (for example, boys born in 96 or 95) but last which I think that lets 3 year range (boys born in 90-91-92).
What is the benefit? Well, you may shape those boys in order to assign them natural roles. a 18 years old player already has a natural role, but a player aged 12 does not, although he has some attributes that make him better defender than striker. Also you can control a bit their PPM's, but it won't be easy and most changes will be due to random events or internal player changes.
Of course players' habilities won't be higher than currently are, but players will be more used to your tactics and also you will know how do they perform, and know more about their hidden attributes. Of course, as young players change a lot and very quickly a great 13 years old player can be a crap 16, and a medium 13 player can be the academy star a couple of years later.
Also good teams can have more than one academy (and foreign academies, as some members demand), but it will get more expensive, while 1 local academy should be nearly free. Fans should demand managers to play in senior team that 17 years old star who is scoring tones of goals in academy matches while you are playing a unpopular 32 years old striker. Or hating you for selling a young star, expectating after buying a 14 years old african boy who is pacey but does not seem to play football.
Assistants could tell how young players are performing and if they are improving they CA, and maybe an idea of their PA, as now they are saying.
What do you think?