If I buy lower quality players at the end of the season, while keeping the players I want.. I can only lower it by 4-5 points. That might still be enough to put me with the level 8s and 9s when I get to level 6. Ugh...

That is.. unless the cup format changes but it won't. My average has to be very very low like 3* at the end of the season so I get teams on my level but this is impossible.