Is the second season slump a real thing?

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Ghents

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I seemingly always have issues with a second season and/or second half of a season free fall. I typically always use Newcastle since that's my club and I understand that I may be overachieving the first season, but the drop off in the second season when I improve the overall quality of the squad seems to take a big dip. Like hovering in the Top 6 for the first season, then the mid-teens the second.

It seems to the second season players first touch becomes ****, they make bone headed passes and are just overall off the mark finishing. I've been using Gengenpressing (following the instructions) and in the first season it was great. I finished 6th, qualified for Europa and lost in the FA cup final, which was fine. I've tried variations of a 4-2-3-1 since that's what my squad is built for, but nothing seems consistent.

But now in the second season against top clubs that I'd draw in the first season I'm getting thrashed 5-1, etc. I'm not sure what my issue is. I know the World Cup is between seasons, so I run fitness/team cohesion until my tactic is fluid but I'm not sure what else to do.

Here is my squad, which I think is quality enough for Top 6.

View attachment 363172View attachment 363171

Any advice/suggestions? I'd like to think the AI just figuring out tactics is in our heads, because that would be a dumb thing to have to force players to completely and drastically change tactics season to season.
 
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How many new players did you bring in and how many of them are now 1st team regulars?
 
Quite a few if you look at the squad.

If the so called second season syndrome hits you, which in my opinion does not exist, make sure you train on team cohesion. A squad with a lot of new players (3 or more) need to gel in order to fully understand each other. Best bet would be signing a shitload of young players that have a huge potential and let them play for a season of 5. You'll see that they understand each other and every other season things start to get better.
 
Only 2 new regular first teamers, that was after a cup game.
 
So, once the new campaign started I decided to run team chemistry through the first transfer window, even though I didn't sign a single player, and things seem to be going well.

I guess that was the problem, dumping 1-2 first teamers and bringing in 1-2 first teamers and it taking a while to settle.
 
Second season slumps almost always happen to me.. I remember my Newcastle save i completely over achieved and got 4th on my first season, then struggled to get 6th despite the fact that i brought a few player upgrades..
 
I feel your pain. Now I just completely change my tactics every season, seems to work a treat!
 
Quite a few if you look at the squad.

If the so called second season syndrome hits you, which in my opinion does not exist, make sure you train on team cohesion. A squad with a lot of new players (3 or more) need to gel in order to fully understand each other. Best bet would be signing a shitload of young players that have a huge potential and let them play for a season of 5. You'll see that they understand each other and every other season things start to get better.

You are deluded, if you think that is gel your squad the only issue...ME adapting to your tactic and counter you, if you play with one tactic. You must have at least 2 different tactics or changing approach every season.
 
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