Hi fellow FMers!
I started reading this thread from the first page and I feel sorry for not joining this conversation earlier.
The way I play is that I either start in early June 2022, but use the default database and disable first transfer window (until this point I didn't start unemoloyed, as I have OCD that I must keep everything under control and I didn't want to join a club and see that AI sold some good players, or renewed bad players' contracts, etc.) or start in June 2023, but with the latest database (24.5) and enable first transfer window.
What I like when starting in June 2022 is that I can make a good base for success (good staff, good training, etc) but I don't like the idea of replacing existing managers or mutually terminating existing staff contracts (I'm not sure IRL board would sack a physio on a 2-year contract and pay a xy compensation)
What I like about starting in June 2023 is that I can try and build my team in the first transfer window (offloading players, releasing them), but I don't like that I don't have stats available to me (I'm playing attributeles and relying on ass man's or coaches opinions in the first place then judging own players using stats or match analysis). To overcome this I started in June 2022 and simulated all the way to June 2023 and then pick a club
With that in mind, I'm preparing for a long last save in FM23, I like Danish football infrastructure, their vision (check their site), stadiums, etc. So I chose a team that has only staff on amateur contracts (so I can sack them without compensation to cope with y OCD and I generally like to develop staff members, shame there are no staff cohesion or generally more options to play with regarding staff), they're in Danish 4th division. I'll see whether I'll start in 2022 or 2023 and if I'll use the 1-hour rule.
I always play with nationality I'm managing in (that means I barely play as myself, so I create a new personna), and I like to bring in only staff of that nationality, generally I mostly like to build a home grown club, barely signing foreigners, relying on my youth or signings (when I set up my recruiment team I give them a division to focus and let them scout for around 9 months and then I take a look at what players they reccomend and are available, that means I avoid first 2 windows, this is tru if I start in June 2022)
I'll also try to delegate everything to staff except training and first team coaching staff and try to listen to their advice as much as possible and face consewuences if I didn't have luck when signing them (the attributeles thing), but I'll try to rely on their personality much more now as it can at least guarantee for some good attributes. One thing I can't fit is who should negotiate with staff when they turn for job postings? I still can't find the most realistic way possible to handle this, what's your opinion? I also like to hire young coaches to give me more time for them to develop alongside me!
Quite a huge post, I suppose I said much without saying anything, but I felt the urge to join this conversation and introduce myself. (I rarely started in very low leagues, mostly mid-tier top clubs, but ss you guess, I get bored after 3-4 months even when following many rules I set), so I hope a new and uniwue save will anchor me to it!
I suppose I'm not the only one who thinks of FM more than a game which can be exhausting, especially when expecting much from still only a game..
P.S.: I avoid newgen staff! I don't like the idea of employing a coach with no experience but great attributes... Those guys seem dull to me...
Okay, so, before going to rules, I removed the clubs I don't want anymore (assigned them to No league). Then I went for the bottom option for the rules. Changed the required teams numbers and removed play-offs and play-outs. When testing the rules, I get an error "Could not find rules for division with 10 teams".