Second season syndrome

[drfcraz]

Always happens to me where i have a good solid first season, sign some good players in the summer and then can't push on the following season.

Im West Brom atm and finished 11th last year. Towards the end of the season i was just starting to get consistnce wins. I Only signed one player in the first season in the Jan transfer windonw which was Jeremy Toljan.

Then in the summer I have signed Mame Diouf, Jeremy Menez, Assaidi and Van Dijk who are all very good players. Now i've played 9 games only won one drawn two and lost the rest. Im using the same tactics and formation can anyone kelp/advise me how to turn it around? I've tried everything.

 

[bluebird123]

This is from MANUMAD (I hope he doesn't mind me using this);

Chances are that in the second season your reputation will have risen, so now your team is muchmore of a threat in the eyes of your opponents.

This may have the following results:

o Teams will often be happier to take a draw against you.
o Deeper defensive lines; that space behind the lines that you were exploiting will get smaller and smaller.
o Man-marking of your star players will be much more common .

One cannot be too specific about any recommended tactical changes because you must consider what will work best for the players at your disposal, but I would advise doing the following:

1. Only recruit players you are sure you need.

2. Look for players with Creativity, Determination, Off The Ball and Anticipation,as these are the types of player who will help you to stay in games, break down narrow defences and retain possession.

3. Look for pace as well - even where you wouldnt think that its that important(eg starting xi/back up cbs with less than 11/12 pace should be avoided).

4. If you got promoted in the previous season, you have turned from one of the top teams in the previous division to one of the lesser ones in the division you now find yourself in so your tactics should be tweaked to reflect this.

5. Understand your reputation has changed and play according to it.

6.It is reasonable to want to build on your squad after the first season in a better divison (or after a season of success) but being too busy in the transfer market will damage your team more than improve it. Do NOT go on spending sprees. Rather decide what you need and buy the best players you can for it. Not more than 3/4players per summer (up to two in January). Even if you do buy with restraint you still have to introduce your new players gradually (one per starting lineup for a couple of months plus one more as a sub).

7. Coversely dont offload too many players at once. Remember TEAM COHESION is very important. Aim for a gradual shift towards a more balanced team. A team which stays together for long will play better than a team which keeps changing even by the introduction of better players.

8. Look at the candidates you want to buy and esp their character. Dont bring in disruptive players.

9. Are players who previously played tremendously now look lazy or demotivated (watch the games closely ? who is misplacing passes they shouldnt, who isgetting caught on the ball, who is skying shots from 6 yards?). Remember thatmotivation issues emanate from the way you approach press conferences, team talks, private chats and media comments as well. Give them a kick up the *** with one of the said tools you have at your disposal.

10. Match train (and general train) to combat specific issues.

11. Start season earlier and have more friendlies. Train general team cohesion and match tactics and then intensively for a couple of weeks ball control. If you still see symptoms of the syndrome after all the above train general attacking on average and match also attacking till you start seeing results.

12. Pray

It is probably the best post I've seen on this forum, it'll solve your problems easily.