Asunto: Help the Punt Road Tigers

I've got alot less time for sokker than before (thanks to my job and my gf) and the team is suffering without their boss. He does not look very long into the future and doesn't bother to adjust his tactics as much.

So my team has gone into a decline I feel. So instead of using ages on trying to figure out a future, you guys might be able to help me.

Who should go? Who should stay? What tactics would perhaps work best and what part of my team should i strengthen?

Got about 4 million in the bank to play with.

Here is my squad:
(now removed)

Appreciate any comments you have that could make my team better and Achmid... make notes fast ;)
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Moving Forward
You need 2 things
1) At least a loose plan of what you will be training and when.
Without it your purchases are random and you'll find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to do next and all of your options seem too hard.
2) A player you're excited about training.
Your team is better since selling Amien, but your interest level is not. He was the reason you were excited about game day and about training. You need to replace that or the planning won't matter and you'll give the game away.


Suggestion #1: Pace Plan

IMO This would require the least time (least transfers etc).

Pros
* Almost all of your trainees need pace
* The majority of your A-Team could use a level or three as well
* Fewest transfers that need to be made

Cons
* Fagnani is a great player, but as he has divine pace already he'd have to go.
* Its really tough to maximise pace training and go far in the cup.


Other Sales
IMO Zagloba and Kaliszan are "win now" type of players rather than guys like a Castro or Faganani who are both good now, and have ongoing potential. As you're not in line for the cup right now, and aren't likely to win A-League from here (especially given time constraints) I'd be moving them on for younger players.

I'd also look at selling Kring. If you're going to be a concerted pace trainer for a season or two you'd be better off getting a low-pace 14+ GK and training him up.

Purchases
+1 A-Team defender (pce: 10+ def: 13+ for a flat 4, or def:11-12 with more mid skills to be the guy sweeping in front of the back 3)
+2 strikers (preferably young enough that they will still bump in pace, so you can prioritise tch+striker... I'd still want pace at 9-10 as a minimum starting point)
+ as many trainees as required to get you to 22 players

Lineup becomes
GK: Kring(?)
DEF: Fritz, Cygan, Verbeek, ???
MID: Zaballos, Castro, Jeppesen, Bakens
ATT: ???, ???

I've gone with a defender over another mid or striker because I know how much my team hurts if any of my back 3 are out. You've got really strong tech and def on your mids, so with the additional pace the 4 of them should supply enough.

Tactics
Given the stats of your mids I'd be playing close but on the defensive side of your opponents mids (at least in the defensive half). If you get the ball 1st your tech should see you through a fair bit. If they get the ball 1st your defending should give you a decent chance. With current levels of pace you can't afford to be trying to catch and tackle from behind.

Where to after pace?
Your currently have more striker type trainees than anything else so striker/tech is probably the easiest option. This would also enable you to keep much of your midfield and defense as is (though some will be starting to get to my idea of sale age by then)



Other Options
1) Base your training around Castro (as he is a nice interesting player) for the next 2 seasons. You could start with PM, which even Fagnani could use (essentially unlocking his high passing which at the moment is wasted)
2) Switch to Striker training. I'd probably replace Castro (better off selling while he still is of training interest if you aren't going to train him) and Celevski, buy another speedier striker and spend whatever was left upgrading defense.
3) Tech training. (Some of your mids are getting to the point where you're probably best served selling them and getting higher def/pass/PM guys with less tech)

Thanks for your advice.

I'm currently training technique to bring Davidson, Day, Fagnani, Castro (just lost his place in the danish squad), Celevski, Pantelidis and now also Paras.

I have bought a few player to "win now" and almost did :p Lost to FCM on both occations.

Considering selling all old middies, but keep old defenders. Quality cost and since I'll probably never have focus on defenders they are a cheap but good alternative.

Maybe I should just drop all non- PRT striker products and make that my new goal?

As for 4 defenders? I've never liked it in this game. Too often good strikers run past the two central defenders, so I've found a need to have 3 guys there. Since that move I've done better down in defence.

haha thanks mate, I have been about 5 hours away at a 21st so just used an old tactic against you, stats make the scoreline seem quite fair, and as I had always suspected from seeing your team, the other A-League teams around have awesome players.

What I wouldnt give to swap players with you :P

I hope to be able to make a constructive post in this thread in the future, but I certainly understand the lack of time (and although I have "more" time for things, this game has not recieved that unfortunately).

I would like to say Naph made a fantastic point about Amien, he was the reason you stayed so interested, and (now comes my little addition) you are to continue in A-League, you need a player that you will be really excited about training. Of course, if that doesn't happen, I feel that you may find yourself ont he wrong side of a Q match in the coming seasons and just ace div 2.

As far as picking a player that will get you excited, I'd say make an offer to buy one of the better young gun australian players going around (which there will be more updates shortly to the rankings thread once the database is fully updated...as more detail is being added tot he database).