Season 128 - Are you ready?

[HeavensAAA]

I realised abit late that we have to keep 1 star players. And when i did realise, i did not know i could use their SA and multi position players to keep quality low so they were gaining almost as much as they were losing in rating every season. So for now, till my players quality get lower, i will have to endure selling and buying more players for now. Yes it is stressful and i often buy very weak players 1st and waste tokens buying replacements later so I definitely spend more than 60 tokens per season on average.

Frankly i still track the associations i left previously. One got demoted after last season and the other looks likely to get demoted after this season. They both have alot of inactive players with training maintained at very low percentages. So I definitely made the right choice in leaving. I agree that i might be able to stay or join a platinum association but from what i see, it takes an association with an average of at least 115 from week 1 to retain their platinum division status. Not easy. Also must have well trained and active members.

With 1* player, you could accumulate them all over a few seasons. Bringing 3 x 40%+ 18/19yo (18yo 1-position with SA or 2-position is best, as roughly 1 season’s training will gain a position or SA - next season they can stand in as 20%+ with SA for first 2 cup games and even probably into day 3/4 with weak opponents) into a new season should not impact your draw. 3 seasons on this cycle you’ll have 9 of those, and they will stay for some 10 seasons before you need to replenish any.

Forum would usually have at least 5 platinum associations looking for member replacement at each season end, and typically they look for teams under 110%, or even 100%, for draw purposes too.

What I did in day 1 to 3 of season 4 was:
1) auction checking just past refresh - no interested players then set alarm timer in 7 mins (to come back with 40s for next lot) ; with interested, then set timer in 3 mins;
2) then check associations by random alphabets combination for platinum -
a) preferably Western Europe-based players (timing suits best, as SE-Asian countries would miss late games);
b) English-speaking (with current experience, I would not want to join one without active interactions);
c) preferably 1160 or above (fighting relegation with 1100 or less is tough when first joining - likely to be weakest and not easy also to be expected to keep beating weakest - My asso mates were bailing me out with their wins initially, until I could strengthen properly in season 5 - we barely kept platinum with 1355 and 1370; the pressure of getting at least 2 x 1st or 1 x 1st + 2 x 2nd is a lot
d) can tell if they are active at the time of joining (mine simply demand attendance and bonus - or else kick ) - just quit and rejoin another until such one is found

Good luck in finding your platinum association soon!

[Sillybq]

With 1* player, you could accumulate them all over a few seasons. Bringing 3 x 40%+ 18/19yo (18yo 1-position with SA or 2-position is best, as roughly 1 season’s training will gain a position or SA - next season they can stand in as 20%+ with SA for first 2 cup games and even probably into day 3/4 with weak opponents) into a new season should not impact your draw. 3 seasons on this cycle you’ll have 9 of those, and they will stay for some 10 seasons before you need to replenish any.

Forum would usually have at least 5 platinum associations looking for member replacement at each season end, and typically they look for teams under 110%, or even 100%, for draw purposes too.

What I did in day 1 to 3 of season 4 was:
1) auction checking just past refresh - no interested players then set alarm timer in 7 mins (to come back with 40s for next lot) ; with interested, then set timer in 3 mins;
2) then check associations by random alphabets combination for platinum -
a) preferably Western Europe-based players (timing suits best, as SE-Asian countries would miss late games);
b) English-speaking (with current experience, I would not want to join one without active interactions);
c) preferably 1160 or above (fighting relegation with 1100 or less is tough when first joining - likely to be weakest and not easy also to be expected to keep beating weakest - My asso mates were bailing me out with their wins initially, until I could strengthen properly in season 5 - we barely kept platinum with 1355 and 1370; the pressure of getting at least 2 x 1st or 1 x 1st + 2 x 2nd is a lot
d) can tell if they are active at the time of joining (mine simply demand attendance and bonus - or else kick ) - just quit and rejoin another until such one is found

Good luck in finding your platinum association soon!

But mate, why were you looking to join a platinum association? Like you said you were being carried along while you strengthened. You run the risk of getting kicked if the position holders get frustrated. Plus it sounded like a fight for survival. Why gamble, there are many associations that are a guaranteed 50 or 100 tokens? So you went in and out of associations just checking their training levels before sticking with your current association? But i do understand why there is a need for associations to demand attendance and bonuses since i was frequently frustrated in my previous associations.

I really like the auction bit. Very efficient use of time! Will probably try that next season. With regards to 1 star players, i still cant afford the 18-19 year olds. The stadium development is draining all my cash. And without developing the stadium, i cant proceed to develop anything else.

[HeavensAAA]

But mate, why were you looking to join a platinum association? Like you said you were being carried along while you strengthened. You run the risk of getting kicked if the position holders get frustrated. Plus it sounded like a fight for survival. Why gamble, there are many associations that are a guaranteed 50 or 100 tokens? So you went in and out of associations just checking their training levels before sticking with your current association?

If keeping the association at platinum level, there will be a 100T reward for each season. Along with 35T from sponsors, 5T from boxes (my typical bad luck ), and typically 20T from events (could be more - set as 20 for budget purposes), I could earn up to 160T each season.

Like what you do and exactly what I did until end of season 4, typically I spent about 50T for squad replacement for 1-season players before too. Without that 100T from association (say only 50T from gold 1), I would only have that 50T extra to spend on FTs (will explain on greens later), and that basically means 1 very good one max, so only by getting that max 100T I can consider strengthen 2 positions with FTs each season until the team becomes relatively less beatable.

I only joined 1 association and that’s the current one (looked around for a long time before requesting). They previously had 2 different members being kicked in those 2 previous seasons because of general inactivity, and they made the point very clearly that maximum bonus and attendance is way more important than result at the start. They understood in a sense that they might need to bail me out in that first season (to earn the T to strengthen in the following season), while they feel relatively confident that I could at least win 50% of matches when considering my 96% general win ratio and clean sweep of trophies then. (hence why I feel you should be fine in finding a good platinum to join when yours is even better than mine!)

Yes, now it is still a fight for survival (got 1st this week, and 3rd last week - need another 1st to safely stay in platinum, as usual ). Draw has often been very tough and unkind (this week we are the weakest of 4 on paper as usual, and still managed to win 1st ), so it kinds of bringing out the competitive edge of each other. And don’t think they would kick me out now (not surprised if in the first season ) when I have earned 131 out of a possible 168 points in 3.5 seasons with them.

[Sillybq]

If keeping the association at platinum level, there will be a 100T reward for each season. Along with 35T from sponsors, 5T from boxes (my typical bad luck ), and typically 20T from events (could be more - set as 20 for budget purposes), I could earn up to 160T each season.

Like what you do and exactly what I did until end of season 4, typically I spent about 50T for squad replacement for 1-season players before too. Without that 100T from association (say only 50T from gold 1), I would only have that 50T extra to spend on FTs (will explain on greens later), and that basically means 1 very good one max, so only by getting that max 100T I can consider strengthen 2 positions with FTs each season until the team becomes relatively less beatable.

I only joined 1 association and that’s the current one (looked around for a long time before requesting). They previously had 2 different members being kicked in those 2 previous seasons because of general inactivity, and they made the point very clearly that maximum bonus and attendance is way more important than result at the start. They understood in a sense that they might need to bail me out in that first season (to earn the T to strengthen in the following season), while they feel relatively confident that I could at least win 50% of matches when considering my 96% general win ratio and clean sweep of trophies then. (hence why I feel you should be fine in finding a good platinum to join when yours is even better than mine!)

Yes, now it is still a fight for survival (got 1st this week, and 3rd last week - need another 1st to safely stay in platinum, as usual ). Draw has often been very tough and unkind (this week we are the weakest of 4 on paper as usual, and still managed to win 1st ), so it kinds of bringing out the competitive edge of each other. And don’t think they would kick me out now (not surprised if in the first season ) when I have earned 131 out of a possible 168 points in 3.5 seasons with them.

Not at all mate. While i do think many may look at the trophies to see how active my team is. I think ultimately it is about the quality or high white skills. I know my team isn’t strong. It can be but isn’t. Your points total is really good and it is surprising that your association has to fight for survival. I mean they bailed you out before so your members should be relatively strong as well.

But i have been told association draws are similar to normal draws in that we are more likely to draw our friends. Perhaps you guys might be luckier if you eliminate some friends from strong associations who do not support you often and are in the same division?

[HeavensAAA]

Not at all mate. While i do think many may look at the trophies to see how active my team is. I think ultimately it is about the quality or high white skills. I know my team isn’t strong. It can be but isn’t. Your points total is really good and it is surprising that your association has to fight for survival. I mean they bailed you out before so your members should be relatively strong as well.

But i have been told association draws are similar to normal draws in that we are more likely to draw our friends. Perhaps you guys might be luckier if you eliminate some friends from strong associations who do not support you often and are in the same division?

Yes, lots of associations consider favourably teams with players having high white skills. And probably rightly so because it does give some advantage to those teams.

And only by keeping FTs (or some 19yo with some greens to start season around 100% and stay in team until 22yo) for lots of seasons can gather them without spending crazy amounts of Ts. It then comes back to the point where it is worth spending lots of hard-earned Ts to get more FTs to keep. Hence, I did overspend slightly in season 4 and 5 to strengthen, and only by strengthening enough that winning more becomes possible in asso matches against platinum opponents (league, cup and CL do not need such high whites to win anyway). You can see it is like a cycle - strengthening requires lots of Ts and greens, and in return its rewards is even more T (plus further more from certain event, such as King of the Hill which is heavily biased towards high avq teams).

Well, really no luck with draws mostly and 3/4 times would end up being the worst or 2nd worst team with the best teams having significant quality advantage against us. Tried lowering AVQ of first-11 and just turns out similarly tough. There was not even once that our association was the best team in AVQ in some 14 draws, which is incredible. (And that is also why I always feel so hilarious when some are complaining about draws not working, because ours is as luckless as it gets ). Association members are doing extremely well to win 1st this week (eg. 17% & 15% disadvantage, still managed to win home games, 8% disadvantage and managed a draw when 2 goals behind, etc.). I won 3/4 when the engine is so, so determined to troll my other game 9-2 with opponent having a 90% shot efficiency and red card my DC with PK awarded too.

Really don’t know about the association draw related to friend list. I will surely have a look and remove those!

[Sillybq]

Yes, lots of associations consider favourably teams with players having high white skills. And probably rightly so because it does give some advantage to those teams.

And only by keeping FTs (or some 19yo with some greens to start season around 100% and stay in team until 22yo) for lots of seasons can gather them without spending crazy amounts of Ts. It then comes back to the point where it is worth spending lots of hard-earned Ts to get more FTs to keep. Hence, I did overspend slightly in season 4 and 5 to strengthen, and only by strengthening enough that winning more becomes possible in asso matches against platinum opponents (league, cup and CL do not need such high whites to win anyway). You can see it is like a cycle - strengthening requires lots of Ts and greens, and in return its rewards is even more T (plus further more from certain event, such as King of the Hill which is heavily biased towards high avq teams).

Well, really no luck with draws mostly and 3/4 times would end up being the worst or 2nd worst team with the best teams having significant quality advantage against us. Tried lowering AVQ of first-11 and just turns out similarly tough. There was not even once that our association was the best team in AVQ in some 14 draws, which is incredible. (And that is also why I always feel so hilarious when some are complaining about draws not working, because ours is as luckless as it gets ). Association members are doing extremely well to win 1st this week (eg. 17% & 15% disadvantage, still managed to win home games, 8% disadvantage and managed a draw when 2 goals behind, etc.). I won 3/4 when the engine is so, so determined to troll my other game 9-2 with opponent having a 90% shot efficiency and red card my DC with PK awarded too.

Really don’t know about the association draw related to friend list. I will surely have a look and remove those!

You guys are good! I have not played in platinum but i track my previous associations and their record has been dismal in platinum after dominating in gold 1 so it is a very steep jump in the kind of teams you face.

I feel my Gold 1 matchups are much tougher than our League,CL and Cup so platinum must be really bad ass.

My draws have been relatively good this season. I attribute it mainly to my team mates being more active this season and having a much stronger first 11 than their bench. Not sure if it is also best 14 quality players from each team form associations draw quality but it does seem to make a difference by keeping a weak bench.

[Max]

You guys are good! I have not played in platinum but i track my previous associations and their record has been dismal in platinum after dominating in gold 1 so it is a very steep jump in the kind of teams you face.

I feel my Gold 1 matchups are much tougher than our League,CL and Cup so platinum must be really bad ass.

My draws have been relatively good this season. I attribute it mainly to my team mates being more active this season and having a much stronger first 11 than their bench. Not sure if it is also best 14 quality players from each team form associations draw quality but it does seem to make a difference by keeping a weak bench.

Associations is a feature I have never really looked into, I played one season In a gold one association a very long time ago, I think the opponents were tough but I can’t remember, It would be fun to play in platinum I would say, but as you said probably extremely challenging, maybe there is more 9 star opponents there.

I don’t know to be honest because Associations is a feature I have hardly used except to look up managers and their trophy hauls and win percentages.


Sent from my iPhone using by pressing the Reply button.

[HeavensAAA]

You guys are good! I have not played in platinum but i track my previous associations and their record has been dismal in platinum after dominating in gold 1 so it is a very steep jump in the kind of teams you face.

I feel my Gold 1 matchups are much tougher than our League,CL and Cup so platinum must be really bad ass.

My draws have been relatively good this season. I attribute it mainly to my team mates being more active this season and having a much stronger first 11 than their bench. Not sure if it is also best 14 quality players from each team form associations draw quality but it does seem to make a difference by keeping a weak bench.

Really great that you have nice draws! Wish we would have them occasionally too... (envying)

Only played platinum from start, so it has been very tough right from the start at level 4 & 5 then. Understandably it would be so as opponent managers had seasons to strengthen and mould their teams when I barely had some 5-6 FTs who couldn’t be trained properly (insufficient greens, no world-class drills then, etc) and the rest of first-11 filled with stop-gaps players. And then opponents tend to have a few players with high whites when my team had only a top attacker with any threat, if at all.

Most platinum players would know about manipulating draws, so putting a 1* first-11 would still draw those same 7*-8* monster teams when our association quality ranges from 113% to 127%. My 124% semi opponent (association tag: #9CID6I - captain) this weekend had attackers of 155% (300%+ finishing!), 146% and 132%, along with 135% MC, so my 117% team getting a home 5-2 reverse win is as good as I could do.

https://ibb.co/8610qF2

Final opponent was only 2% weaker and needed to win both as the final total stands (Association tag: #O4BV5Y)

https://ibb.co/tQ13LMQ

And maybe because of the relatively higher win ratio in association matches, my team would be drawn against the 2nd best or 3rd best of opponents even when my AVQ ranks 4th or 5th (very close AVQ between 3rd to 5th, depending on which teams have finished 2 daily matches and training first). The draw system does try to balance it to ensure a closer matchup (at my expense ). I also have to build my FTs according to the association needs (needing to win via counter against better opponents - hence the 3 newest additions all go to defenders and GK).

Very fun and indeed exciting playing in platinum as it forces a manager to find a way to grind out an unlikely win against the odds, plus the extra Ts. League, Cup and CL matches will be felt like a piece of cake after those nightmare challenges. Really worthwhile to try it!