snootyjim Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 So, managers of small(ish) clubs trying to build them up, how do you deal with stagnation? I'm actually managing in the Premiership at the moment, but I finished 10th in my first season, 9th in my second, and sit at 10th presently with not much hope of climbing above 9th. Finances aren't really improving, because I'm spending quite a lot on youth transfers to flesh out my very small squad, and attendances show little sign of improving. I spend half of the season trying to convince my players to stay, without ever receiving genuine offers. If I got £20m offers, I wouldn't mind, and would just sell up, but most of the time they moan a lot, get unhappy, and I wind up selling them for less than it will cost to buy an adequate replacement. A suggestion I've seen a fair bit on these boards is that you need to move clubs, because you as a manager have exceeded the capabilities of the club itself, but I don't particularly want to do that - and I guess many in the Careers forum would be of the same ilk. Getting a job at Arsenal/City/Chelsea/United is probably possible, or even Blackburn and build them up a bit, but it's not exactly fulfilling. Doing that wrecked the Scottish aspect of my career save, so I'm not likely to repeat it! So what do you actually do? Just stick at it until something comes together, or take some kind of specific action? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackripper Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 You say you buy a lot of youth so why not use that as inspiration to stay and hopefully they will blossom into stars for you and you will eventually climb up the league. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
withnail316 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 You're doing pretty well, so it's just about staying with it. If you can finish a couple of places higher up, you'll have a UEFA Cup spot, so maybe press the board for a few quid for one stellar signing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK22 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I always set asking prices for all my talented players. This is usually at least double their value, which will deter clubs from making petty bids which only end up unsettling the player. If they meet the asking price, and I'm willing to sell, it means I get a price I'm happy with. Maybe you'll get yourself into Europe soon, which will offer a new challenge. Maybe target a FA/Carling Cup run. I'd probably leave if I was getting bored, but you might be close to a breakthrough, so it might be worth persevering for a bit longer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcidBurn Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 If they moan then offer them out, what are the players values? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
snootyjim Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Not a lot, regrettably. £7m is the highest. Last forced sale resulted in me losing a player for £6.75m (I offered him out at £7.5m), and I couldn't obtain a direct replacement of equal calibre for under £10m - I rely on scout reports for new players so it's a bit harder to find great players on a budget. I have all my players with fairly high asking prices, which tends to dissuade clubs from making bids, but there's still speculation all the time, and then the players decide they're capable of playing for a bigger club and off we go. It's not too bad at the moment though, with a combination of shouting and acquiescence I've only lost 3 players to bigger fish, but there are about 6 who keep harassing me about transfers. On track for 8th now, surprisingly, so we may just be improving after all... just incredibly slowly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
snootyjim Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 Had to share this Bit of a freak result, but nonetheless! Everything just came together the season after I posted this, and I managed to come 3rd in the Premiership, sneaking ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea - this was my first European game with Southampton! I don't think I'll make 3rd again this year, but the Champions League money will be incredibly useful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deisler26 Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Why don't you try winning with an entirely English squad? Took me 6 years, but I won the Europa League with Leiria with an entirely Portuguese squad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
snootyjim Posted September 30, 2011 Author Share Posted September 30, 2011 It'll take me a few years to win anything other than the league cup with a squad full of Brazilians at this rate I think once I've reached the peak with Southampton, I might go to another country and give something a bit different a go, probably with no signings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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