You make sense. My season does pick up after I get tossed out of a competition. Though, I make sure I have 18 players who can shuffle about when needed. Reserves are only for youth/free transfers, so far. Train/coach and sell.
I usually buy players near the middle of the season after I assess which areas need adding to. I'm not averse to buying at the beginning, though. No sense in turning away from gold. D:
I think I'm loyal to the players I started out with. Take my Rightback for instance. The chap has developed so well, been a 4* verging on 5* every season that I don't have the heart to drop/replace him. (Scores 1 in 3 and makes a goal every other game!) What I mean is, I experiment with the line up, but only if the DR can play. D: (Broke my heart to drop my DMR/MR. I inadvertently started training with AMR in my first season and with the new update, he's got 38/50 done since the end of Jan but his overall Q hasn't kept up with the overall squad Q. Had to drop him to the bench - though he's still the most capped in the team. T_T Bad man management skillz, bruh.)