Asunto: Defence Training

What are the main skills people look for in defenders? Should I bother training them in playmaking for example, or just concentrate on defending, passing, tech and pace?

I'm a long time on and off player but trying to take the game seriously now. I also think my 2nd XI trainees are too old- would I be right?

playmaking is important otherwise they do what my defenders do and panic kicking the ball out of play or in wrog direction

my aim is to get defenders with solid playmaking

Agreed, playmaking will become even more important if and when the devs introduce the new match engine which was tested in NT matches towards the end of last season.

We saw defenders aswell as mids and strikers making crossfield and backwards passes meaning low pm and passing could prove very costly on defenders. The latest i heard was that the new ME is planned for next season.

I also think my 2nd XI trainees are too old- would I be right?

Do you mean your first XI?

If your training defender just now then your first team players are too old at 26/27, i'd look at selling and bringing in some younger guys.

Thanks guys.

Yeah my first XI are too old defo- the problem is that because I drifted in and out of the game I don't have newer replacements to take their place so when I sell them I'll be effectively starting from scratch with my friendly line up trainees. Which is fine but, If I'm to do that I want to do it properly and I think the younger trainees I have are perhaps too old and I will not be able to cash in properly when it comes to sell them. Some of them are about 22 and I'm only just beginning their training.

Any help appreciated!

Have you got a junior coach?
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Yep, a good coach who is unearthly at defence training. My main coach is incredible with no skill less than brilliant (so I dont need to chop and change when changing training). I could swap coaches for now so my junior coach is incredible and switch to defence training for now with my good coach.

i would advise that big time mate.

Individual skills have no relevance for junior coaches.

Basically for head coach you want big individual skill, In your case Unearthly defending, the other skills are nice to have but not essential. Only if you can afford.

The assistants and junior coaches, only thing that is important is there appraisal. I.e excellent coach. Ideally you want a to aim for a magical for your junior coach, as soon as you can afford.

For assistants, improve as you go. 3 X good for newbs, moving on to 3 X excellent then 3 X outstanding then if your loaded 3 X brilliant or magicals.

I would only improve assisant coaches after improving the head coach, a head with many top individual skills with improve your players (a lot slower than your selected training skill) but over a long time this can have a noticable and worthwhile benefit.

E.g. perfect head coach for a striker trainer would be Unearthly striker, technique and pace. Also allowing the main skilled trained to be adjusted easily. For defence and mid trainers a head coach with high as possible defending, playmaking, passing, technique and pace.

edit: Unearthly appraisal for a coach is also possoble but are extremely expensive and rare. Magical is considered the top appraisal by most managers.
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Thanks for that. I will definately heed that advice. I've decided to sell all older trainees and all but one of the younger ones and bring in a raft of 16 year olds. Seeing as my team wont be competitive for a few seasons I think I should sell the better outfield players I have also to save on wages and recoup some of my investment.

just be prepared for a massive cull in supporters and even winning 17-0 will still make some of them leave :(

Aye they're a fickle bunch! I think I need to bite the bullet and start from scratch!