Deciding who to keep and who not to?

[D - Pak]

Hey guys, I have always had a dilemma and was wondering if you could help.

When you take over a club, on what basis do you decide the players you are going to keep and the ones you are going to sell?
- Do you look at each player's attributes and remove him if he has poor numbers for more than one of the key attributes for his position?
- Do you listen to your assistant managers rating (stars)?

Also, I had a look at the thread for important attributes for each position. If I am managing a Premier League club, what should be the minimum number for each attribute? (11, 12, 13 etc)

Thanks in advance.

 

[duckers4]

I start off by looking at each player and seeing where his best position is. Then i look at all the players for a specific position and decide which ones are the better players. Then from all the players who arent the best in their natural position i look to see if there are any useful players who can play in a variety of positions.
So basically if there are a couple of players in the squad better than you in your natural position and you can only play in that said position you are getting sold.
OR i sell players if i know that i can go and get better players for the money i have available to me.

For the Premier League i would say you want your players to have at least 15 in a key position.

 

[D - Pak]

i think i get what u mean. cheers!

 

[*Paul*]

Hey guys, I have always had a dilemma and was wondering if you could help.

When you take over a club, on what basis do you decide the players you are going to keep and the ones you are going to sell?
- Do you look at each player's attributes and remove him if he has poor numbers for more than one of the key attributes for his position?
- Do you listen to your assistant managers rating (stars)?

Also, I had a look at the thread for important attributes for each position. If I am managing a Premier League club, what should be the minimum number for each attribute? (11, 12, 13 etc)

Thanks in advance.

Don't listen to your assistant too much, he can be very misleading.

If I have just joined a club, I make a 'Starting XI' with it in Tactics and sell deadwood who are not in the team. Make sure you have about 3/4 players who can play in that position, maybe more if you play, say, 3 CMs so you'll need around 7 (1-2 youngsters or fringe players and the rest rotation).

The players who are not even on the bench need to be sold, wage lowered, or just kept if you think they are useful. Utility players (players who are versatile) are very important, especially if you are in Europe, and so you should keep them.

If you look at the top 5 earners at the club, and get rid of any who don't justify their wage, even if they are very good (e.g. If you're Wolves and Kevin Doyle is on £200k a week, and he's your best player still sell him as his wage is just stupid).

Try to clear very old players or youngsters who won't make the team this season (loan them out) and try to replace the old players with youngsters like Lukaku, Kevin, Dodo, etc. (PM me if you want a proper list)!

If a player who you don't think is that good, even if he is your best player, is wanted by many clubs I would offer him out for around double his value (e.g. If he is worth £4m, offer for £8m and you should get £5.5m offers if he is that good) and you should get some offers.

If you're in the Prem, the key attributes for the players should be at least 13, but don't worry about finishing for a defender, etc.

Hope this helped and if you need more help just PM me or add me on MSN at [email protected]!

 

[Death Ball]

I look the positions that my players can use.

Then I see, according to that, what formations would go well. Not ruling out those that don't have one position not covered, i.e., if I had no wingers for either side I wouldn't go for a 4-2-3-1, but if I had AMC(s), AMR(s) and lacked only AML(s), then I would consider it.

Then I have a look for the stats of the players. That helps me think what of the possible formations could contain the most talent or what would fit better the kind of play my squad needs/can perform and pick the formation.

Then I look again and players and stats, I see what are the strong players and strong positions and what are the weak positions. I then categorize the players into: key players, good players, decent backups, not good enough even to backup players.

I unload the not good enough players. Then I aim to have at least one key goalie, one key centerback, one key midfielder and one key striker plus good fullbacks, good second centerback, good midfielders to fill de midfield and good second striker if I play two upfront for the starting XI. Then I want to have at least one good bench centreback, a decent backup for fullbacks (though better a good reserve and able to play both sides), good midfielder and good wing player plus a good striker (if playing a single striker formation) or a decent backup striker (if playing a pair).

Only after that's had, I start to look to change some goods to keys and some backups to goods.

That's my Dexther Bolle approach and the one I like most, though also the one many times I tend to forget.

The other is just wasting money looking for the best in the transfer while I take out the not good enoughs and replace the not keys. Not so fun and not so fulfilling style.

 

[D - Pak]

wow thanks Paul and Death Ball for the detailed replies!

If I have just joined a club, I make a 'Starting XI' with it in Tactics and sell deadwood who are not in the team.

Paul, I am glad you mentioned that. That was exactly what I was trying to ask. How do you usually decide on that 'Starting XI' and who do you classify deadwood? Upto now I have been considering anyone rated below 3 stars by the assistant manager to be not good enough but like you said, this seems to be highly misleading. The stars just depend on the player's current ability compared to the squad average. I took over West Brom and the average current ability of the squad was around the 130 mark. So even average defenders like Marek Cech managed a 3/3.5 star rating.

 

[*Paul*]

wow thanks Paul and Death Ball for the detailed replies!



Paul, I am glad you mentioned that. That was exactly what I was trying to ask. How do you usually decide on that 'Starting XI' and who do you classify deadwood? Upto now I have been considering anyone rated below 3 stars by the assistant manager to be not good enough but like you said, this seems to be highly misleading. The stars just depend on the player's current ability compared to the squad average. I took over West Brom and the average current ability of the squad was around the 130 mark. So even average defenders like Marek Cech managed a 3/3.5 star rating.

No problem, glad I helped. I classify 'deadwood' as players who are not needed, i.e. A winger if you don't play wingers, a 37 year old on a massive contract who can be easily replaced for less and if you have many goalkeepers, the worst of them should be sold.

I would decide on a Starting XI by first seeing what club you are - if you're West Brom go for a defensive approach as you're a weaker team. 4-5-1 would be a good shout, so I would first put your key players (Carson, Scharner, etc.) in the team and fill the other gaps with better players.

Sorry for the short response, don't really have time to talk. Add me on [email protected] on MSN and we can talk later!

 

[Meemo]

I think the best way to classify "deadwood" is by simply cross referencing their stats to other players who play their natural position. If you think they won't cut it in your squad and as duckers said can only play one position then it is probably best if they are sold. Wages too play a big part in squad management and you can also offload high earners who doesn't have the stats to prove it, although stats are not everything, it is probably better to play it safe and run a much more financial stable club.

 

[D - Pak]

I dont have msn but thanks for your time Paul.

thanks meemo. the thing is that when I filter out key attributes for each position and set a minimum limit of 13 on each of them, theres like 4 players left who match that criteria in the west brom squad and pretty sure most relegation/mid table teams. what would you suggest in such a case? sell all of those who dont meet the criteria and rebuild the whole squad or do you reckon I should keep players who meet most of the attributes apart from a couple? also even if I decide to overhaul the squad, the new players who meet the minimum of 13 in each key attribute criteria are very expensive.

 

[Meemo]

If that is the case, keeping your current crop of players would be much more beneficial as you don't have to shell out cash for basically the same caliber of player.

 

[*Paul*]

If you can improve the team, then by all means do it. But if no quality players join, don't try and buy some mediocre player to replace one which is the same. Don't use the filter, just go 1 by 1 and check the player profiles - that should be better. You just need to cope with the current crop for a bit until you can afford/attract top players.

 

[TheEquinox]

I try to get an assistant coach with high potential and current evaluation skill and then rely mostly on stars. This always worked for me to get an overview when taking over a new team. Later I'll know my players better automatically and won't have to pay attention to the stars any more.

 

[sammyt]

normally i look at my team and what positions are covered and form a tactic around this. then i will look at my keepers and sell any that aren't yuoth team players, very high potential or my best keeper. normally leaving me with just the 1 senior keeper as i've never had a keeper get an injury so i don't tend to bother putting one on my bench unless i have to. then i make sure i have a striker that is one of the best players at the club so i have a main attacking outlet. next i turn to my centre backs and i look through the options and select the best 2 or if none standout then the 2 youngest as long as they aren't extremely bad. when i fell happy that i have a bit of an idea about the players already at the club i tend to schedule a few friendlies to make sure that i've selected teh right players and i rotate the players in these friendlies to see which is better. if i find i have a position where i have a few players then i offload the worst either by selling them or free transfers as there's no point having 5 senior strikers if you're playing 1 up top. and if i find a position that is a big weakness, e.g. all of the players who can play there average ratings less then the rest of teh team then i sign a player who can play that position effectively./ if it's a league i know noting about i either see if teh assistant reccomends anyone or i do a filtered player search for tat position taking into account my budget and the position and whether they are interested in my club and get scout reports over 3-6 games on each of the top few by either stats or value depending on how many players get returned by the search.

 

[D - Pak]

cheers guys. really appreciate your replies. very helpful!

 

[Lol_101]

sometimes, after winning the treble, u feel like u dont need anyone in teh team.

im feeling that right now. 9th season and running

 

[joshr100]

No problem, glad I helped. I classify 'deadwood' as players who are not needed, i.e. A winger if you don't play wingers, a 37 year old on a massive contract who can be easily replaced for less and if you have many goalkeepers, the worst of them should be sold.

I would decide on a Starting XI by first seeing what club you are - if you're West Brom go for a defensive approach as you're a weaker team. 4-5-1 would be a good shout, so I would first put your key players (Carson, Scharner, etc.) in the team and fill the other gaps with better players.

Sorry for the short response, don't really have time to talk. Add me on [email protected] on MSN and we can talk later!

I play 4-5-1 with wingers with west brom and play attacking football and managed 7th final position in the league and beat Man Utd in League cup final, qualifying europe as a result so going defensive isnt always the best option for so called lower teams as I have done that in the past and it hasnt, Plus ive sold carson and scharner and brought in Kasper Schmeichal and Aaron Gunnarson to replace them so 'experience' isnt always the best option its mainly about ability no point playing weaker experienced players if you have someone better them but not as experience, how are they going to get experienced if you dont play them?

 

[Death Ball]

I think I missed to mention my look over the stat numbers, what is good and not enough.

Obviously, my requirements to consider a player key, good, backup or useless depends on what is my team division. But thinking on a top flight team, I would say that key player is one with at least two 15+ stats in the relevant skill, at least 13 in decision if it's not one of the highlighted is always a bonus; if he has at least one 15+ and the rest are between 12-15 then it's bound to be considered good; if they have them between 11-13 and with no more than one or two at 9-10 (depending on what) then they're backups; if they got too many 10- then I consider them useless.

Though I must note this is a formulation I'm making right now, not something I go over in a rigorous manner.