Is there some game mechanic or something hidden that the player doesn't know they are interacting with when it comes to strikers?
Over the past two versions of the game, I've been having an issue that seems to persist regardless of formation, tactical style, etc. I think I usually am able to put together a decent tactic, morale is generally high, teamwork and cohesion are high, and I'm usually performing well overall even after slumps, and I'm generally playing long term types games moving from lower levels to higher ones over several seasons.
I'm struggling to understand what it means or what to do when strikers go on long scoring droughts. I know this has always been a thing in the game, but it usually felt kind of more manageable and realistic. What I am seeing now is that early in the season (and often usually late in the season as well), my strikers score like gangbusters. Like I'll win a game 8-2 with one getting hattrick, and the other starting striker and a sub also scoring. And this goes on for a while, its not really clear that I'm supposed to do much, but I'll praise these players when they get man of the match or whatever. But then suddenly, usually around the end of November or early December, I don't stop winning exactly...but the forwards all go cold. I win 1-0 with goals off set pieces, or draw a few games. By January, I start getting messages in my inbox after every game. Sometimes three at once...Goalless Striker A worries Team. 10 hours no goals. Goalless striker B worries Team. An incredible 12 hours, no goals. Goalless striker C worries Team. 7 matches without scoring. It prompts me to criticize them, which I usually do, or I've tried fining them, praising them, I can do lots of things, but my only feedback is whether their morale goes up. Is this just a weird morale feedback loop where they cant score because their morale drops because they didnt score? Its very weird, and to me, the player, it feels like there's something I'm supposed to be doing about this, but I cant seem to effect it much. After about 2 or 3 months of this, finally maybe all 4 of the strikers in my rotation have scored a goal in the second half of the season and normal business resumes. This is like a microcosm of about 75% of the seasons I've played on FM22 and FM23 with FM23 seeming to be worse than this problem was in 22.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Are there other switches I need to be using? Other cues for feedback besides morale?
