I'ev used the method 2 but it's not necessary to mess up the team.

My best 11 quality was 46.5. I've sold the worst players and bought 8 free agents with very low quality (3*30-32 + the crappy youngster, 2*).

So I started the season with quality 40.2 (-5.3!)

But after the draw I'm playing against a level 8 (mine is 6) with 44.5 qty

His best11 is 42 quality but honestly I was hoping for something better.