On the subject of friends and active teams, this is where I get my main enjoyment from the game. In my current league, there are 8 teams that I am friend's with. Four of them have been in the league with me for the past 4 seasons. We are all evenly matched, and we keep getting promoted alongside each other. I won my league last season, but in the CL, this season, the teams finishing 2nd, 3rd & 4th, were also in my tournament. It's getting really enjoyable, pitting my wits against regualar opponents.

Its far better than having a league where there are only about 3 or 4 active managers. Just blasting goals past managerless teams, day after day, is boring.