Introduction
I'm interested in exploring the various effects of different aspects of training over player's attributes, to that end I've concocted the following test settings.
Test Settings
I've set up my B team as Brest (French League 1) to test various training schedules over a period of an entire season using the following method and wanted to share the results with you.
Using the in-game editor I've edited the B team to have the following:
· Attributes: Each player visible attributes to be a 10.
· Hidden Attributes: Each player hidden attributes to be a 10.
· Player Positions: Players that could play multiple positions turned into pure position by setting 1 to all other positions but the natural position (20).
· Age: Each player's age changed to 18 (Changed date of birth to 1/1/2003).
· Nationality: Changed each player's nationality to French (to avoid any Adaptability effects).
· Weaker Foot: Removed any value in weaker foot (All the player have one very strong foot – 20, very weak foot – 1).
· Injuries: I reset any existing injuries but made sure the players have similar sharpness and fatigue.
· Current Ability: I've edited the Current Ability to be the RCA (Recommended Current Ability) advised by the in-game editor (ranged between 63 for a Striker and 68 for a Centre-back).
· Potential Ability: I've edited the Potential Ability of each player to be x2 the Current Ability.
· Training Facilities: Brest have Good Training Facilities (12) and Good Youth Facilities (12).
· Coaches: All training categories have 2.5 stars (Fairly Good) at least.
· Balanced squad: 3 GK, 2 DR, 4 DC, 3 DL, 2 DM, 3 MC, 2 AMC, 2 AMR, AML, 2 ST. A balanced squad in terms of positions.
· Transfers/Loans/Contracts: Players were set unavailable for loan, they were also given the same salary ($60k p/a) for the same contract duration (5 years).
How do I test a training schedule?
I take over the B team general and individual team training, set up a schedule for the team to train over a period of a season and go on holiday. Because the B team have no games scheduled (they do play, it just doesn't show on calendar) this training setup don't get spoiled by the occasional cup match reschedule.
Tested Training Strategies
Training Strategy
Times Tested
Avg. Overall Growth in Attributes
Full Rest
1
-104
Delegate to Assistant Manager
1
+146
Test #1: 5 Endurance, 5 Overall, 6 Recovery
1
+74
Test #2: 3 Quickness, 3 Physical, 5 Defensive Engaged, 3 Attacking Patient
1
+188
Test #1: 5 ENDURANCE, 4 OVERALL
Expectations: I am expecting major improvements in Stamina, Natural Fitness and Work Rate alongside mild improvements in all attributes depend on positions.
Results:
Most improved attributes were: Strength (+19), Stamina (+16), Jumping Reach (+12), Balance (+9), Anticipation (+9), Work Rate (+8)
Most declined attributes were: Off the Ball (-7), Finishing (-6), Marking (-6), Bravery (-6)
Overall growth in attributes: (+74)
Name
Age
Position
CA
PA
Prof
Inj Pr
Acc
Agi
Bal
Jum
Nat
Pac
Sta
Str
Agg
Ant
Bra
Cmp
Cnt
Dec
Det
Fla
Ldr
OtB
Pos
Tea
Vis
Wor
Cor
Cro
Dri
Fin
Fir
Fre
Hea
Lon
L Th
Mar
Pas
Pen
Tck
Tec
Sébastien Cibois
19
GK
73
142
1
1
1
Isaïa Hubert
19
GK
71
142
1
1
1
Loïck Massé
19
GK
70
140
1
1
1
1
Kylian Le Her
19
D (R)
73
136
1
1
1
1
1
-1
-1
1
Mathéo Da Silva
19
D (R)
74
136
1
1
1
1
1
-1
1
-1
Brieg Le Bars
19
D (C)
74
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
-1
-1
Noé Sow
19
D (C)
71
136
-1
1
1
1
1
-1
-1
-1
-1
1
Josué Escartin
19
D (C)
75
138
1
1
1
-1
1
1
-1
-1
-1
Ali Dicko
19
D (C)
71
136
1
1
-1
-1
-1
Kévin Galisson
19
D (L)
72
136
1
1
1
1
-1
Tom Flamanc
19
D (L)
71
136
1
1
1
-1
Téva Lossec
19
D (L)
72
136
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Kilian Liri
19
DM
68
132
1
-1
Pierre Jouan
19
DM
69
132
1
1
1
1
-1
1
1
Rémi Maugain
19
M (C)
70
128
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Kurtis Chadet
19
M (C)
67
128
1
1
1
1
1
Abdourahmane Thior
19
M (C)
69
128
1
1
1
1
-3
1
1
1
1
Djibril Konté
19
AM (R)
69
130
1
1
-2
1
1
-1
1
-1
-1
Axel Camblan
19
AM (R)
66
130
1
1
-1
1
-1
-1
Loïck Piquionne
19
AM (C)
67
122
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Aymeric Faurand-Tournaire
19
AM (C)
65
122
1
1
1
1
1
Rafiki Saïd
19
AM (L)
66
130
1
1
1
1
-1
Samuel Genty
19
AM (L)
70
130
1
1
1
1
1
Lucas Gélébart
19
ST (C)
67
126
1
1
1
1
1
-1
-1
Chris Basakila Bazungula
19
ST (C)
66
126
1
1
-2
-1
-1
Sum
2
-1
2
2
9
12
7
1
16
19
0
9
-6
1
4
5
0
2
0
-7
1
0
2
8
0
-3
0
-6
1
0
0
1
0
-6
1
0
-2
1
In the table above you can see the difference between attribute at the start of the season (12/7/21) and end of the season (22/05/22). A positive value means the attribute increased, a negative value means the attribute decreased (due to injuries or training effect). There is also a sum at the bottom.
Discussion, conclusion and follow-up:
I was surprised to see such a massive improvement in strength, jumping reach and balance as they were not specifically trained.
My hypothesis is that 1. The players naturally grow stronger and taller because of young age. 2. There is some correlation between Endurance and Resistance sessions.
It's also interesting to see that the defending unit declined in terms of attacking attributes (such as off the ball -7, finishing -6), and the attacking unit declined in terms of defensive attributes (marking -6).
Also interesting to see two players got an increase in professionalism despite not having any mentors. One player injury proneness decreased by 1. However, due to injuries Overall Stamina increased only by 16 and Bravery got an overall decrease of 6.
Follow-up test would be changing Endurance session to Resistance and compare the results.
Test #2: 3 Quickness, 3 Physical, 5 Defensive Engaged, 3 Attacking Patient
Expectations: I am expecting major improvements in Pace, Agility and Acceleration (Physical, Quickness), as well as Marking, Tackling, Aggression, Anticipation, Decisions, Positioning (Defending Engaged, Attacking Patient).
Results:
Name
Age
Position
CA
PA
Prof
Inj Pr
Acc
Agi
Bal
Jum
Nat
Pac
Sta
Str
Agg
Ant
Bra
Cmp
Cnt
Dec
Det
Fla
Ldr
OtB
Pos
Tea
Vis
Wor
Cor
Cro
Dri
Fin
Fir
Fre
Hea
Lon
L Th
Mar
Pas
Pen
Tck
Tec
Sébastien Cibois
19
GK
79
142
1
1
1
1
Isaïa Hubert
19
GK
73
142
1
1
Loïck Massé
19
GK
71
140
1
Kylian Le Her
19
D (R)
74
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Mathéo Da Silva
19
D (R)
73
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Brieg Le Bars
19
D (C)
71
136
1
1
Noé Sow
19
D (C)
76
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Josué Escartin
19
D (C)
73
138
1
1
1
Ali Dicko
19
D (C)
78
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
-1
1
1
Kévin Galisson
19
D (L)
73
136
1
1
1
1
Tom Flamanc
19
D (L)
76
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Téva Lossec
19
D (L)
73
136
1
1
1
1
1
1
Kilian Liri
19
DM
74
132
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Pierre Jouan
19
DM
74
132
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rémi Maugain
19
M (C)
67
128
-2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Kurtis Chadet
19
M (C)
71
128
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Abdourahmane Thior
19
M (C)
68
128
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Djibril Konté
19
AM (R)
75
130
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Axel Camblan
19
AM (R)
71
130
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Loïck Piquionne
19
AM (C)
68
122
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Aymeric Faurand-Tournaire
19
AM (C)
66
122
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rafiki Saïd
19
AM (L)
74
130
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Samuel Genty
19
AM (L)
70
130
1
1
1
1
1
1
Lucas Gélébart
19
ST (C)
70
126
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Chris Basakila Bazungula
19
ST (C)
68
126
1
1
1
1
1
3
-2
9
18
15
17
11
11
19
15
0
8
0
4
6
6
0
6
0
1
4
0
5
3
0
2
6
0
3
0
0
5
2
4
2
0
4
2
In the table above you can see the difference between attribute at the start of the season (12/7/21) and end of the season (22/05/22). A positive value means the attribute increased, a negative value means the attribute decreased (due to injuries or training effect). There is also a sum at the bottom. I've also used colors this to emphasize improvements.
Most improved attributes were: Stamina (+19), Agility (+18), Jumping Reach (+17), Strength (+15), Nature Fitness (+11), Pace (+11), Acceleration (+9)
Most declined attributes were:
Notable attributes: Aggression (0)
Overall growth in attributes: (+188)
Discussion, conclusion and follow-up:
This training schedule seem to have a much greater impact on the players than test #1. Massive improvements in all areas of players physicality.
Surprisingly stamina improved more with this schedule than the "pure" Endurance from the previous test. Also no decline whatsoever (is that even a good thing? I'd rather have strikers that can't mark).
I think that the most baffling result is that defending unit's aggression attribute hasn't changed despite having dedicated 7 (!) training sessions (Defending Engaged), and 3 training sessions (Attacking Patient) as secondary impact for an entire season. Because of that I had to recheck the sessions descriptions:
Follow-up test would be to see if aggression is even trainable, using 21 Defensive Engaged schedules.
Any comments, ideas, suggestions and critique are welcomed.