I wonder if making a few more friends, would help your league situation.

When I was in the lower levels, I had fewer friends, and on numerous occasions, I was in a league, higher than my managerial status, with much stronger opponents (mostly all strangers). However, buy watching bidders on the transfer market, at first to try to befriend players from different countries, to get different flags, I have now got over 100 in game friends, at least 24 of them in my level or one higher or lower. Now, as the game is supposed to try and place you in a league with your friends as much as possible, the chances of me playing against similar level teams, is greater.

Just a thought.