Breaking the top 4 up ?

[Football-Fanatic]

Im thinking of starting a season with Newcastle, Blackpool, Everton or another team which could contend ... given a bit of magic.

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations about how to break up the elite performers in the Premier league which is ultra competative, i am hopefully going to be using the Roy Hodgeson tactic which was created by a user of this forum so i think getting into europes a possibility with luck, any suggestions on other tactics i could deploy ?

One main trick is getting in really decent staff which can improve your club, retired players such as Gary Neville could really push your club forward if you can bring them in.

Here's my real question for anyone reading this, my 2 main transfer targets are quite low key but i believe their both capable of pulling off great things and are dirt cheap, firstly Lee Trundle whose a free agent would/has anyone ever taken a gamble on this lad in the top flight ? also Robbie Savage to anchor the midfield has anyone had a success/disaster with him at their club ?

Replies would be much appreciated guys and any hints/tips on improvements would be welcomed with open arms (H)

 

[Mally]

Hmm its quite easy to break the top 4 and progress with any team but it would be easiest with a team like Everton or Villa.

Also there are loads of free agent staff around with can do a decent job for them sides also you can pick some up from other clubs and only pay a little compensation depending on their contract of course.

I think you should make your own tactic its more fun that even if it is frustrating, your playing the way you want to play and how you think is best. Just using someone elses and winning all the takes a lot of fun out the game.

I wouldnt recommend any of them (Savage, Trundle) to be honest mate there are a lot more better options than them too and i dont think their premier league and especially not for a big 4 team . Depending on what team you go there could be loads of different targets and you can find good recommendations all over the site in like the bargain bin threads and even the wonderkid threads.

 

[Impz]

A few tips

1. Get a balanced team. Yes, some might say to buy all the wonderkids in the game and see them dismantle as they fail to gel together as an unit. My suggestion most of the time is for a manager to have less than 4 definitive signings (aka players who will slot into the first team) for any season. This is to facilitate the gelling of your team because most newbie managers tend to buy all the talented players in one season, and then wondered why they are not doing well.

2. I always recommend that people try to see how a ready tactic works before editing it to suit your needs. I started off with a dude's 4-2-3-1 tactics formation (which btw is a very good tactic for most weaker sides, and then to top 4 material). Then, you have to start adjusting your players accordingly. If you have a playmaker than can take some knocks, push him up to a central midfield position instead of having 2 defensive midfielder. Do the same for all positions.

3. Stick to a tactic. Generally, things don't go too well at the start of any tactic (inconsistency). Stick to it unless the tactics is making you lose 10 games in a row to teams you should win easily.

4. Get some decent staff. You need some good staff and there are many free agents who can get a 4 star training rating easily...and with cheap cost.

 

[NatCat]

Some tips I used to get Blackburn into the top 4 are

1: Sign some talented foreign youngsters, if you have the funds I always go to Alan Dzagoev of CSKA Moscow, and most talented cheap young foreigners are found in countries like Poland, Ukraine and Russia.

2 Get a good tactic that fits your players. There's no point playing the diamond if you don't have a defensive midfielder, or 4-3-3 if you only have 2 decent strikers.

3 Get some good loan players from the big 4. Players like Kakuta from Chelsea, Ramsey/Wilshire from Arsenal etc.

4 Your staff. make sure they are good, top 4 quality.