I have been a bit neglectful of my teams, side-tracked by other games and hobbies for a bit. I checked in here and there to re-adjust the squads but I've not been training them or buying and selling enough and have slipped back a lot. Last few days I've been doing some catch up.
Currently lying in 8th place with my main team, Cage FC, at level 9. I play the team in 4th today. All of the top 5 are teams that have beaten me in the cup or CL over the past few seasons. And they have well passed me out in terms of Q by continuing to put money into their teams, where I stopped. It was bound to happen some time. This is the season I should have been taking care of the most. Ah well, I'll catch up again slowly. I won't care if I don't level up this season, it'll give me more time to strengthen them back up. If I do make it up, I might need to buy a pack of T to get in some decent scouts, as some of my team are a bit passed it now. They've had 4-5 good seasons some of them.
TheCageyOnes UTD lie in 6th at level 8, again without any spend for the past few seasons. They might actually hang in there though. their league isn't near as tough. Just a change of tactics needed.
Maiden Utd also down at 8th at level 5. That's my T35 squad, never spent a cent on them. And I think a drop back for one season would do them good.
Proof then, that the game does not play itself, you do need to keep up to date with your management. But also, that a little spend helps too. Every season prior to this my teams finished top or 2nd and went far in the CL.
I'll see how end of season goes before deciding, but I might just look after the main team from now and let the other 2 drop. You need to be dedicated to switch between 3 teams daily.