Tips for first season in Premier League

[liverpool-fc]

Hi guys, I've just been promoted to the Premier League with Brighton for the first time. I'm concerned however that my current squad isn't really good enough to deal with the step up required for the Premier League.

I was wondering whether anyone could offer hints and tips on dealing with promotion to the EPL. I've only ever once achieved this before on a previous version of FM - and jumped ship at that point! So I'm inexperienced in dealing with this sort of situation.

Thanks.

[Lenzar]

Try a defensive 4-3-3 formation with the best DM you can get. Then play your AML and AMR as Inside-forwards and counter attack.

You'll pick up a good amount of points that way - it at least worked for my Everton team.

[Domus Clamantium]

When I got the Gills promoted in the playoffs (third consecutive promotion) I felt the same. I was at the time happy not to be promoted, and was unsure whether I could make it, but we did get promoted. I eventually finished 10th and had a great first Premiership season, with one great result beating Man United 3-0 at Priestfield. With Brighton you have an arguably better side and better finances so you should be alright, although my side was indistinguishable from my League 2 side, with the exception that I still had Jack Payne (who coped very well), Bradley Dack and Chris Whelpdale. Dack wasn't good enough as he was still developing and Whelpdale who played well in the CH couldn't handle it because he only has 11 pace and 12 acceleration and the goals I was getting from his Long Flat Thows to Near Post were no longer nearly as regular as before because the Prem keepers are so much better and the defenders are so much better in the air (eg Shawcross for Southampton). That being said, having someone who can long throw is still a huge benefit and someone who can hack it you could sign can be found in Ryan Shotton from Burnley, who has 19 long throws and can play as right back or centre back and is defensively solid. Another one to look at is Erik Janza, who can play left back or left mid defensive winger, 16 long throws and bags of potential.

I think with Brighton you don't have too much to worry about. With regards to signings I think you might have some problems with consistency of your team so you will want to look for players with equal ability but better consistency. What you need to know is that you will be alright for money because the EPL will pay you £4m a month and you get paid nicely regardless of what position you finish. I got £15m for finishing 10th. I would probably keep Forster-Caskey and your keeper and swap LuaLua with someone more filled out. Kazenga can run with the ball and he's got the flair and fitness but he's one of those that isn't very efficient at doing something with it after cutting inside because of poor mental and technical ability, similar to Myles Weston in the 2012/13 season for Gillingham. Also you will now be able to scout worldwide so hire a lot of scouts to go around Africa and South America where a lot of talent can be found (argentina, mali, ghana, nigeria, uruguay and brazil are the hotspots IMO). Your increased reputation will enable you to hire quality staff as well. Tom Vernon and David Friio are good scouts, both have 20 JPA/JPP, and if they don't want to be scouts, just offer more money. I would also suggest looking at getting a few consistent Professional/Model Professional personality players in, this is what helped me get to 10th because they perform and train so much better and of course they can be great tutors.

With regards to attributes, a minimum of 13 for key attributes is necessary for developing players and 15 for already developed players. That's a good guide to help you know whether your players can hack it or what to look for in new players.

Tactically I would suggest two balanced tactics to give you possibility of countering the common 4-5-1 V formation and 4-4-2. 3-4-1-2 is a good counter to 4-4-2 but it is generally dominated by a flat 4-3-3 (nobody uses that though), and it helps to have that one (or 3-4-3 or 3-5-2) available if your full backs are injured. Use as well one very defensive tactic (for playing Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Man City) with either five at the back, or one or two defensive midfielders. If employing a DM or two you really want at least one guy who is basically a tank who can tackle, is strong, can mark and position well, is good in the air and can double as a centre back or more central ball winner. They will also have good composure, decisions and anticipation and high work rate, good bravery, good teamwork and decent aggression. When shopping for a ball winner you also need to look at their history of cards. Ideally you want someone who is a tank but has a nice low hidden Dirtiness and good Sportsmanship and it's good if he has Plays Shorts Simple Passes, Stops Play, Dives Into Tackles, Comes Deep To Get Ball and Plays No Through Balls. If using a second DM, ideally you want a DLP(Support) player next to your Anchorman/Defensive Midfielder(Defend) with Tries Long Range Passes, Dictates Tempo, Likes To Switch Ball To Other Flank, Stops Play and Killer Balls Often or someone who can learn these PPMs. This guy has to have good teamwork, flair, technique, passing and creativity, but also is decent at marking, tackling and positioning. If they have too much flair or are lacking in one of those key creativity attributes they will unfortunately have a low pass completion rate.

If you are going to sign new full backs I really strongly think you need them to have at least 10 flair, dribbling and crossing in addition to the normally necessary 13+ pace, acceleration, strength, tackling, marking, concentration, decisions, anticipation, work rate, teamwork and stamina. Full Back (Defend) won't cut it at this level. Plays one twos, gets forward whenever possible, runs with ball down their side of the pitch are the PPMs to have for full backs, and if they can do it, cuts inside and runs with ball often are great but only for the capable (flair, creativity, decisions and dribbling!). Typically these full backs can then also play very well as defensive wingers, wide mids, inside forwards or wingers. Luke Shaw from Southampton, Erik Janza, Matthew Briggs (Fulham), Luke O'Neill (Burnley) can fill this role and will definitely sign for Brighton.

To get some goals as a weaker team you really also need at least one guy who is big strong and good in the air up front.

[TheJock83]

The biggest thing is to not change the team too much. Look at the average ratings for the 1st team regulars, anyone over 7.3 should be alright in the PL. My tip would be to get 1 CH, 1DM, and 1CF with good PL experience and look for the best WM and FB in the Championship and sign them up.

Keeping as much of the team together as possible is the key. Consistency + confidence = better results.

Also, if you lose a few games before the 1st transfer deadline, don't panic buy on Deadline Day. You'll probably lose a lot of games so don't panic!

[Domus Clamantium]

Try a defensive 4-3-3 formation with the best DM you can get. Then play your AML and AMR as Inside-forwards and counter attack.

You'll pick up a good amount of points that way - it at least worked for my Everton team.

This is what I do for my defensive tactic. 4 at the back, 2 DMs, one is anchorman/DM(d), other is DLP(s), CM(s)/BBM(s) in the middle with gets forward whenever possible, and 2 fast wingers with one inside forward (must have cuts inside and runs with ball often) and one winger (must have runs with ball often and hugs touchline/runs with ball down his side of the pitch), and target man/complete forward/advanced forward good in the air up front (should have moves into channels and plays with back to goal). Also the Winger is on Attack duty with his side's full back on support duty, whereas the inside forward is on support and his side's full back is on attack with that full back set to hug touchline so he overlaps when the IF cuts inside.

Usually manage a 0-0 draw or get a surprise win. If you concede, switch to a more aggressive tactic to bag a goal and bring things level and return to defensive mode.

[Sussex Hammer]

I play Classic tactics but have had decent success with West Ham who had just come up at the start of the game. In my opinion I have learnt from not going too defensive against the bigger teams as at times you can just invite pressure and sooner or later they will find a way through. Arsenal by passing their way in and Man City the same or by crossing to the monster that is Dzeko up top. Unless you are going for a 0-0 to get points against those teams you will need to score and by sitting deep you will rarely get the chance.

I'm certainly not saying that you can't play defensive especially if you have a good tactic like others have mentioned above I am just talking about my experience.

Take Man City for example. They don't have too many quick strikers and they play narrow so at times I have grabbed a result by pushing right up and playing to the flanks. Against Arsenal I have just beaten them 3-1 at home by playing a 4-4-1-1 and didn't sit back once I got the first otherwise they would just pressure me. I haven't lost to Man United yet and I generally just play a normal strategy against them. I'm not saying go gung ho and you will probably get a hammering once in a while but even in the real life Premiership last season lower teams seemed to have better success against the big boys by having a bit of a go.

[Domus Clamantium]

I play Classic tactics but have had decent success with West Ham who had just come up at the start of the game. In my opinion I have learnt from not going too defensive against the bigger teams as at times you can just invite pressure and sooner or later they will find a way through. Arsenal by passing their way in and Man City the same or by crossing to the monster that is Dzeko up top. Unless you are going for a 0-0 to get points against those teams you will need to score and by sitting deep you will rarely get the chance.

I'm certainly not saying that you can't play defensive especially if you have a good tactic like others have mentioned above I am just talking about my experience.

I should say with the Defensive tactic I have it set to Rigid, and the goals come from set pieces, that's why players who can win the ball in the air are really necessary.

[Sussex Hammer]

I should say with the Defensive tactic I have it set to Rigid, and the goals come from set pieces, that's why players who can win the ball in the air are really necessary.

Oh indeed. A lot of it is about players. I rarely score from set pieces so I'm pleased someone does!!

[Puni]

Might be worth taking a look at the previous seasons of the PL to see how many points you'd need to stay up. That way, you can easily check if you're on course during the season or not.

[DrizzitD]

Most important one to me is holding back on spendings. Try to survive 1 season on free tranfers and loans.

Second season you will have more money from leage placing/tv and your rep will have gone up meaning you can get better players often for less compared to first season as youd then have to pay them to come to your unproved team. Not to mention you will most likely go bankrupt if you dont actually hold on to the prem.

If you do get unlucky and fall down again that saved money will make it even easier to get up again and havin an easier start for a new try if needed.

[KevMaaan]

Small checklist of things some people may (or may not) overlook:

-Have a look through each team in the PL's recent transfers, look at who they have released on a free and decide if they can still perform at pl level, if so, sign them up.

- Match prep is going to be your friend this season, obviously against the big teams "defensive positioning" will be a forgorne conclusion, but for teams who you think you might edge set it to "attacking set pieces". Look to play defensively and frustrate your opponent and hope your focus on set pieces pays off with a lucky goal from a corner.

- Play mind games. Think the next game might be a close one? Single out one of the opposition players and try to "put him off" by calling him the weakest link for the next game. Beware, this CAN backfire and lead to the player having a storming game, however more often than not it will lower their morale and could make them prone to mistakes if they cant handle pressure too well.

- Know what your team are capable of, ie, dont overreact when you get hammered by united or city, it was expected. In these games, i find the best strategy is to relieve the team of all pressure and hope that the other team buckle under pressure and get frustrated at your organised defending.

[MichaelBrown]

I've always signed the players that the big teams release. When I was promoted on my current save I signed Essien and he won me vital points on his own. Likewise, you can pick up bargains on the transfer list which will cost maybe 1-2m. Easily worth it.

Also, I either play 4-1-4-1 or a 4-2-2-1-1, with two DMs, 1 W and 1 WM, 1 AP and AF.

[soccer.joel]

Take advantage of winnable games by trying to control and try to play on the counter against the big 6

[flamydale]

First season in the prem is easy as you are considered underdogs the whole time and therefore opposition players are complacent. Finished 2nd with Leeds in first season while my friend who was also promoted finished 8th with Forest