I haven't encountered the time slot problem but understand most are having a problem with it, I repaid the fee and got right back in. I'm stopping at birmingham for now.
Probabilities of a 7* improve as you reach higher stages. Stage 4 was 119 tokens for a 7* or 8* striker for me. Stage 6 is 339 tokens for an 8* or 9* aml, amc or amr.
By the way, he's used nothing but long passes so far as well.