Lower league management hints n tips
- Thread starter craiglowerson1984
- Start date
- Replies 33
- Views 62K
I really appreciate your help guys with this. Just some more information needed please!!! Do you use minimum player instructions on all players, and do you rely on your *** man star rating on players or do you look for players yourself based on certain attributes? I'm also unsure on fluidity and mentality. Again I really appreciate your help with this guys as this game is making me go mental.
Just wanted to add: at times, I could get better players, with very low player wages, by signing them as player/coach. The disadvantage is that they take up both part of your wage budget and a staff slot. A side benefit is they don't seem to mind not playing as much (since they are working, coaching, I suppose).
I signed Hedwiges Maduro in league one with AFC Wimbledon. He was probably the best player on my team, yet taking a very minimal wage. Now here comes a potential bug: when he got a career ending injury, he retires, but will not sign as a coach.
Now, I've had another player (Jack Midson) who I started with in my Wimbledon save, then talked him about perhaps being a coach, he says he wants to manage, then perhaps a year later he's wanting to be a coach so I sign him from being a player only to a new player/coach contract - now this doesn't save me much money as I recall. Anyhow, from player-coach, I signed him a year or so later to a coach-only contract. He has a very good personality (Professional, as I recall) and had some great PPM's for a striker, but didn't turn into a great coach so at some point (we were in the Championship) I had to drop him.
To find players who might want to player-coach, you can filter your search results by "Coaching Qualifications". They won't all sign as a player coach. Many will want coach only or player only.
I signed Hedwiges Maduro in league one with AFC Wimbledon. He was probably the best player on my team, yet taking a very minimal wage. Now here comes a potential bug: when he got a career ending injury, he retires, but will not sign as a coach.
Now, I've had another player (Jack Midson) who I started with in my Wimbledon save, then talked him about perhaps being a coach, he says he wants to manage, then perhaps a year later he's wanting to be a coach so I sign him from being a player only to a new player/coach contract - now this doesn't save me much money as I recall. Anyhow, from player-coach, I signed him a year or so later to a coach-only contract. He has a very good personality (Professional, as I recall) and had some great PPM's for a striker, but didn't turn into a great coach so at some point (we were in the Championship) I had to drop him.
To find players who might want to player-coach, you can filter your search results by "Coaching Qualifications". They won't all sign as a player coach. Many will want coach only or player only.
Really, I think I made all my money signing young players, developing them, selling them. To reduce the drama of transfer negotiations, I just write in a buy-out clause into their contracts. Probably I could get more money if I negotiated.
If you do negotiate and sell a player, try to add the a friendly to the deal. Most large clubs seem to not mind it at all.
Also, you can play friendlies against larger teams. I never seem to see much result in the club finances though: mostly I played home friendlies. That might have been a mistake.
Although you don't have a visible staff wage budget, you should try to sign cheaper staff. I signed several very good scouts for very low wages, like 250 pounds per week, but if you're not careful, you can pay twice as much. Along with that: don't blindly re-sign your staff. They will want higher wages and if you are really low on finances, you cannot afford to pay extra.
But ultimately, you are trying to gain promotion to where the huge money comes in. Your stadium will be too small. Keep expanding it, if they let you.
Now the danger is the ownership will build you a new, but very small, stadium which you will be unable to expand for years. I read in FM-13 there was a 20 season wait after one stadium was built to get another.
Is it possible for my side to change from semi-professional to professional without achieving promotion to League 2? Stagnating in the Skrill Premier, and I feel I might need to be professional to move up...
DannyLFC1892
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2013
- Messages
- 312
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Yeah, don't over complicate things, keep it simple.
As for ratings I find the best way to judge players is to compare them with the players you currently have in the same position using the graphical chart or attribute comparison.
I go with a rigid approach, and swap between counter and control depending on strength of opposition.
Look for players with pace as well, as this is deadly in the lower leagues. Fast wingers and full backs with tall strikers is almost unbeatable.
Thanks for that mate. One more thing apart from CB's and FB's do you play your other players in their favourite position. I'm only asking as all of my strikers favour TM and I don't think you can play 2 TM can you?
DannyLFC1892
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2013
- Messages
- 312
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Not always, as they don't always fit the system you want to play. I've used two target men and got results so you could give it a try. All my strikers at Ebbsfleet are above 6'3 and favor the target man role so sometimes I'll play them both as that, or one TM and one advanced fwd, and have the wingers crossing often and fullbacks crossing from deep.
I've restarted as Bath and I'm predicted to finish 11th. Therefore I've decided to play a rigid defensive 4 4 2 with amr/aml. My team instructions are higher tempo & hassle opponents. I've got my 2 wingers instructed to cross aim at my target man and for my TM to hold position and my other striker to run into channels. I'm not sure what instructions to put on my mid/def and I think I need to go more attacking when I play a **** team in the cup games. What do you think?
Cheers
If you haven't read these I highly recommend them.
Pairs & Combinations: The Complete Series *Updated Version Coming Soon*
How to Play FM14: A Twelve Step Guide
Even if you are under the wage budget, the team will loose money but then gain some large payment at the end of the season and it should mostly cover the losses. At league 2 level, I'd swing over any transfer funds I have into payroll. I can pick up players for free, no need to buy them, until at least the championship, maybe prem level.
Also, try to develop good young players and sell them to big clubs. That is likely how you will make all your money. I'd write a buy-out clause into their contract for whatever you feel you need: 600k or 1 million or whatever. Now, you don't want to go turn over your whole team every year, but selling 2-3 players will help.
bredbin
Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2009
- Messages
- 116
- Reaction score
- 10
- Points
- 18
Thanks for the reply. You're right about the big payment at the end of the season helping. My board have had to provide cash injections over 5 times in the last 3 seasons! Up to league one now so hopefully finances will start to improve.