Maybe you will have a bad season or two or even three, but if you are a smart manager you can manage your way through. Yeah maybe not at levels 20+, you may not win the league but that is actually how real life works. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and all these "spending" aka token buying teams win the league more often than others. But you still see Atletico Madrid beating Real Madrid for CdR and Wigan winning cups. Save your tokens, tank couple of seasons, buy new young players by avoiding bidding wars and you will be fine.