retired_google

I generally work with a long-term plan. I tend not to move out any players from the squad I walk into. I figure I'll give them a chance to show that they can fit into my tactical thinking (sometimes players perform better than their ratings, if they're in the right tactical setup. I've had players average a 7 match rating despite all their ratings being in single digits).

I send the scouts out to hunt for any youth player who looks like he might make it. Usually bring in loads on trial. I'd say I end up signing about 75% of the players I bring in on trial after getting an assessment from all my coaches. Then I stick them in the reserves, bringing them into the first team in things like the Autopants cup or when a first teamer goes down with injury. If they can handle it, then I operate on the "if you're good enough, you're old enough" philosophy.

If I find myself in a relegation dogfight, I look for some loan signings or veteran free transfers to help out. I almost *never* actually buy a player from someone.

ddong78

OK, first of all let me tell you that I play CM4, where the 2D view has made tactical play much more direct and logical. So...

I try to work with the players that are already in the squad when I go to a new team. This means that I only buy or loan players if I absolutely have to or if my scouts find a very good case of a youngster (not very often). Half the seasons I don't sign anybody at all.

So then I focus on training (....) and tactics. The 2D view helps deciding what works and what doesn't with tactics, while attribute monitoring (using the new and sophisticated pen-and-paper technology) helps with the right decisions on training.

Once I get those in order, I relax a little bit and try to strengthen the squad by signing youngsters. Who knows, maybe some day the ugly ducks will actually turn into beautiful swans (=$$$ ).

By the way, this is my style of play even when I manage a top team.

retired_pmetzger1

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>What's your team-building philosophy?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, when I first arrived at Moor Green it was:

"Have you got two feet and a reasonable sense of balance? Okay, you're in."

retired_viyviymz

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cm wizard:


1. Buy in the positions the team is lacking

Hope this helps.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Buy.. with what?

KingsbayYHPE

Reasonable sense of balance? Pah! My Kildare players were falling about like drunken amputees when I took them over

retired_nekh_20

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by iajafer:
Reasonable sense of balance? Pah! My Kildare players were falling about like drunken amputees when I took them over <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Isn't that because you stick Scotch in their bottles during the match?

pat555

Most of the posts already give good advice.

The only extra thing I can add is the use of loans and try to think short term.

Otherwords if you can loan in a decent player for a whole season in a position rather than sign one I would highly recommend it. As it reduces wage costs and obviously there is no transfer cost either for a player that is generally much superior than players in your league.

Build your squad to do a job on a season by season basis. If you need to stay up then just expand the size of the squad with emphasis on defence, if you want promotion then try and sign a few players from higher divisions and raise the bar of your team's playing level

KingsbayYHPE

Right, this thread is heading for Tipsville, North Carolina, so I'll divert it to Closure, some other State.