Justin Tomlinson

The board have allowed works to increase the stadium capacity by 2,000, fully embracing the PL!

Exciting challenge. In real life most managers would fail and despite the circumstances would still get the blame!

Okay… Promoted to the PL, so will be looking to add a bit more quality to the squad. However, I have dreadful youth facilities / network etc. Is it even worth bothering to start upgrading? I presume it’ll take years for the board to let it get to a level where I might start getting potential PL players, whilst costs will rapidly increase as it slowly improves?

Quite a step up to the Championship - plenty of clubs with much bigger wage budgets etc. Much harder to find freebies who are competitive at this level too. (You can easily get out of League One with ex PL young freebies.

Mid season slump… if I can find a gap in the fixture list I often arrange an easy friendly to try and get some confidence back.

2026, as 4 straight promotions.

Ahh yes. Though for 1st team quality at that level they will probably cost more than the limited transfer budget. It should really look at the % of games new signings play, with the majority being U23.

We have had this debate about easiness on a few other topics. FWIW I have played every version of FM (and CM) before so have racked up 1000’s of seasons, so through the process of trial and (a lot of) error I am (now) half decent. Managers in real-life are lucky to get a few bad results before their managerial careers are ended!

I suspect as Charlton were League One you’ll have a stronger squad plus a better to attract better quality freebies. That said to go up on freebies / loans from the Championship is very impressive.

Worth have 2 players for every position so you can regularly rotate, especially against the weaker teams. Keep an eye on your future fixtures so you can make key players are ready for those. Also use your subs where you can.

Suggestions please… I have just managed to get Kidderminster Harriers promoted to the Championship. Three titles and a play-off promotion from League One. I’ve done this on mostly free transfers and some loans (though no real stand out star loans). I have only purchased one player for £2k, but have improved coaches and training facilities. The best of my players have been snapped up via their escape clauses and the rest are League Two / One standard, so I’ll pretty much need a squad overhaul. I will have a transfer budget of £2.3m and wage budget of £55k (currently spending £30k). Can I get promotion again on freebies / loans (conscious it was tight last season), if I spend should I get a couple of decent signings or lots of squad players, or use the money to upgrade coaches and training facilities further? Below Average Training Facilities Poor Youth 4-2-4 wide gegenpress.

How much do you benefit from your coaches taking these improved qualifications?

Are your players tired? It doesn’t look like you are using your subs? As a rule I have 2 players in my squad for every position to allow for rotation, especially once the fixtures come thick and fast - plus use subs to keep fitness levels up.

I am more guided by the star rating initially, then average rating as the season progresses. Using trials pre-season gives a good idea of how well they will improve your squad.

Just wait until he faces my young, pressing, gung ho collection of free transfers!!

Yes agree with all the above. Trials, with a busy pre-season to test them out is key. Haggle on all contracts is key as money is always tight. Try to get a settled team (tactics and starting XI) so they gel, but use some rotation to keep players fresh as stamina etc will be poor.

Very good point about the need to clear out deadwood from the 1st team squad to improve coaches workload. A few of my players won’t enjoy it when I log on later!

Yes same… Mine want counter attacking, patient etc…. I am all entertaining, gung ho - but winning. Yet moan, moan…

I’ve had this… l’ve loaned in a R/L Fullback - for which I need him as a L Fullback. Played most games, 7.28 average rating. Looks like he will be recalled as they wanted him to play on the right. Initially I was angry, but on reflection… When I loan decent players out it is because they aren’t quite ready for the first team, but I have signed them for a specific role. So for example I generally have 2 players for each position, sometimes a future player is available so I’ll sign them as the 3rd option, but as game time is limited I loan them out. I would want them to play that position so they develop the strengths for that role, so they can slot in when they return (or not if they were rubbish in that role on loan).

To be able to have 5 subs in the PL is reason enough for me! #TiredPlayers

Squad size kept to a minimum. Negotiate hard (down) on any contract, every £1 matters. Loans (with no wages). Try and get lots of good friendlies. Sell anything you can!

Good post, well done for flagging.

Also don’t change too many players at once - gradually improve the squad as team cohesion will be key.

Just like in real life players have good runs, where morale is high and / or they fit well with other players in your side.