This game lacks reward for dedicated players

[Dmitry Petrushkevich]

Because you were blinded by the information the game given, and failed to understand how the game worked. 1 star difference can be easily overcame by proper player management and correct tactics.

I have a lower quality team than half of the people in my league and ends in 2nd at level 23. I rarely attend my games and actually beat the league winner on the last game of the league for 1:0 where I didn't even watched it (although I'm still 5 points short).

My players are outperforming for their quality, and this is achieved by proper management.

You can only play better though learning not complaining. But yeah, it could be frustrating at times.

Seriously? Cause my buddy who just quit the game thinks differently. His league champion hasn't attended a single game, hasn't substituted a single player, hasn't changed formation even once all season long. I'm not sure if he ever assigned a skill point, cause he won the league this way with his 5* players while other manager were trying to improve their teams and had 6* and 7* players.
And looks like in every league weaker teams has won all the last games last season (at least 6 teams that managed by friends of mine couldn't win a game). Probably all the "proper managers" don't watch their games and got weaker teams.