What to look for in league two players!?

Normally play top league or just below but have decided to start in League Two (Crewe) for FM2011.....

Thing is, i look at players who have 8's and 9's and instantly dismiss them as good players but then i forget i am in League Two.

So what is a good number range, to make a decent player in the lower leagues?

Thanks

That's the toughest part of going down to lower-end management.

Have a meeting with your backroom staff, they tend to know what looks good for your team, check the stats of the players they have recommended - look for players around that mark, if not, slightly higher. Crewe have quite a good reputation, so you could look into loaning Championship/ young PL players. The world is your oyster!

Am currently playing on FM2010 in BSS and I usually like to see my players having their key stats as at least a 10. e.g. I want a DC to have at least a 10 in marking, tackling, heading and teamwork. The rest is just pure luck on how good he is elsewhere. So as for League 2 I suppose looking into the 11+ mark would be fair enough. The thing you find with the lower leagues is that the good players tend to become a lot more specialist rather than well rounded.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Yep that helps guys

Will get on a scouting mission tonight - dont have a big budget so could be a long process

I know it sounds weird but I don't worry too much about technical skills at this level. I personally look for young players with good mental and physical skills. I figure I can make an impact at these levels with a team that has pace, strength and height in all the right places.

Pace pace and more pace

I use to buy young or prospects for next to nothing or on free (release players etc), train and flog for profit - build some decent finance and work up to the top slowly. Its never good for finances to go up and up, spending tonnes along the way..

In FM10, as Newcastle in the Championship, I got this guy Vili Saviolienen, or, as I like to call him, the Terminator. He plays in Scandinavia somewhere. It said 'good player for League 1', but he destroyed essentially all advanced midfielders in the champ. Kept Whittingham in his back pocket all game. Unfortunately, he can't manage the Prem so well.

Two feet and half a brain.

Pace pace and more pace

This this and this.

i find the best thing to do is scout as many players as possible. listen to what the staff suggest and scout them and look for players with around 10 in key areas for positions. scouting takes up a lot of time but when u do find a gem of a player at this level it makes it feel so much worth it

also look for loans as these players will often make a huge difference at this level.

Pace and determination. I would also steer clear of any players with a report saying that they are prone to injuries

You have had a good response on stats etc, I’d like to cover another area.

League 2 is where it begins. You can offer full time deals and attract football players rather than plumbers who know how to kick a ball. You need, however, to balance this, as it is all too easy to sign players on a whim! You need a good bit of young talent that you can take up the league with you as you are at the point where you can’t being in 10 free transfers a year cause the quality isn’t there, remember though if they look ok for your league but don’t look like they will improve it is probably better to leave them where they are. On the other hand you need to have some old heads, someone at the back to keep calm amongst the chaos as you are hanging on the that vital 3 points, someone to poke that goal in a goalmouth scramble or thread that elusive needle, these players you do not want to spend a lot on, transfer wise or wage wise as you will probably cast them out if you go up.

If you get this mix correct you will find yourself set up well for the future, just be content to spend a good few seasons building at this level as once the foundations you will find it a lot easier to reach the dizzy heights of the promised land and you will be glad you did!

And that sir is why I love LLM!