retired_jenlivesay

Bayern Munich on my game, in 2014, are now a mid table club and have been for some while. Decent players still there, they just haven't signed new people. Gladbach (who start the game in the second tier) are top of the Bundesliga and Champions League Quarter Finalists at the moment. Funny league, Germany!!

Gordon Strachan was Bayern Munich manager at one point....

deantibbetts

Bayern have acted as a bit of a breeding ground for managers since I left in 2013. They have had four managers in the four years since then and all of them have won the league, so Bayern have just done 10 in a row. Mihajlovic took over from me and is now Arsenal manager, then Thomas Linke who is now Inter manager and Guardiola spent two years there before taking over Liverpool.

On the Gordon Strachan point, he's just been sacked by AC MIlan

retired_marcias

League reputation is, as others have said, the key point here. Club reputation can only ever affect a player's decision to a certain extent however successful the club is if they are in a lower reputation league.

The German league seems to be that way though in real life - Czechs, Austrians, Poles and other Eastern European players often move there, but players from the big leagues very rarely move to Germany. There will always be exceptions, even going all the way back to Kevin Keegan playing for Hamburg, but you have to just accept the limitations when it comes to signing big reputation players.

In 3 years at Werder Bremen I have been able to attract a sufficient quality of player for me to be very happy. The limitation there for me is my own ability and tactics - I play a certain tactical style and like to play attacking football, although tis is partly dictated by my inability to get defensive instructions right. As far as players go though I am happy that I have been able to put a squad together that can challenge for the Bundesliga title if I have the ability as manager. As for Europe, again my tactical nouse will decide that. I made Champs League semis first season, but have done progressively worse in each season since.

deantibbetts

That's a major point. If you are realisitic when playing the game then you will be able to sign good enough players to dominate the Bundesliga or at least put up a challenge year in year out. If you are unrealistic and expect continental success you may struggle with the level of players available.

I've just taken over VFB and have made a number of really solid signings who I think will help me challenge for the league, but i'll be dumped out of the Euro Cup as soon as I meet a half decent side.

retired_marcias

Interestingly, in my latest pre-season I managed to sign a high quality Portsmouth player on a Bosman as well as one of Hamburg's best players (another told me where to go when I tried to sign him and moved to Sevilla instead though!). I also signed two players from Serie A side Sampdoria, both of whom were happy to move to Werder Bremen despite being either squad rotation or key player status at Sampdoria.

Continental reputation players such as Roberto Soldado at Real Madrid who lists Werder Bremen amongst his favourite clubs after a 6 month loan in my first season have no interest in moving to Bremen though of course.