Quote Originally Posted by Sillybq View Post
I agree with everything mentioned as well. I read that reds are pretty useless and have not watched many ads to store reds. But this season I faced the consequences of my actions. Last week, I have had to sell some injured reserves and buy replacements instead. I believe my team has had more than 12 injured players this season draining my reds down to below 30. I told myself, I have to keep these 20 plus reds for my first team hence the forced sell.

With regards to young FTs, I would like to add some points based on my own experiences.

1) You should try to buy 2 or 3 18 year old FTs at level 2. They cost a lot more tokens the moment you hit level 3 when you find you are competing with all levels, not just level 1 & 2 players.

2) With 5 plus million to start and 80 tokens at level 1 and 5* 18 year old FTs costing at least 2.5 million each. They should be avoided. They cost 1 token for a reason. Either buy slightly older or lower quality so you can buy more players.

Join an association, ask your friends to invite you if you are below level 4. It works for some players not all. Some players I spoke to say it is the version you are using and some say it is the server. I can’t find the right answer for it.

Do note players lose around 20 percent value when you get promoted. So as mentioned by superdunk, keep only players you will definitely be using the entire following season. If you feel any inclination to replace them next season, just sell them at season end and buy back early next season. Keep low value players and the bare minimum 14 players to lose as little money as possible. This only applies if you have the time to buy replacements at a good price and if you have sufficient tokens to buy replacements.
Sillybq and superdunk, thanks a lot for your inputs as well!

That is exactly why I started this thread as suggestions to newbies when we have learned our lessons the hard way. Reds should be stocked up to at least 50, or ideally around 100 at any time so 2-3 unlucky injuries in a row won’t impact our season flow. Adding to this, low level managers should avoid arranging friendlies because of possible injuries as well. Gaining a few greens cannot compensate the loss of reds in early seasons. From own experience, pitch level 9 is about the right level when we could gain greens from friendlies, while we do not need money ads and get all reds to heal on injuries incurred.

And regarding FTs, sillybq is absolutely right on buying 18yo FTs early at the start of season 2, as well as the suggested value-saving by selling off those non-core players providing that you have the tokens and time to buy a new lot next season. Those FTs may cost a few to up to 10 tokens (way excessive if more than 10 for level 2) and could last us 7 seasons when properly maintained. At the start of season 3, you will face with the fact that FTs could cost 30+ tokens and the most hurting factor is that the money value of such a FT would cost 30% more as well. The chance is you could still afford the tokens but not the inflated money value when your fund is tight in needing to buy a whole load of players.

Therefore, the youth academy comes to the rescue. Some may just say I am selling youth for the developer (and I am not!), but the fact is there is no better alternative than paying 30+ tokens for a 80+% FT with designated positions & SA for FREE at the start of season 3. Level 1 manager should take note of this and consider the preferred position of youth, as this option would be gone if not taken by day 3 next season. Managers of level 3 and a few above, like myself, should feel very grateful that the old youth system giving us a 6-18 token option for a FT at the start of season 3.

With association, do start finding one to join when you will be promoting to level 4 next season. Platinum and higher gold associations would be ideal as the token reward for staying in the same division is at least a fold or even 3-fold of your TV rights token income, though you would both need to settle a very good first-11 early and also a good all-time stat to be considered, as the first association match-up draw will be taken by the end of day 5 - It would make sense for a competent and ambitious association to get members concluded by day 4. Keep checking the association column in the forum for hires there.