I try hard to avoid wasting tokens in auctions. Nothing - not the goals per match, not the skills, not age, not ratings, nor total matches played- will give you any idea of how that player will play for you. If you spend 80 tokens, is probably emotionally harder to admit he is mediocre and drop him.

I feel much better off being willing buy low, try for a few subs/ matches, and decide to invest greens, sell, or just bench.