Not even sure if anyone reads these but I want to vent a bit without posting on the boards and being told to "reread the forums" or to "check other teams to see what they are doing" or any of the other super vague forms of advice.

This is my third go-around with ManagerLeague.  I originally started in Season 64 but decided to stop during Season 68.  Then, after realizing the other online football manager games were crap, I came back before Season 68 started.  I only missed a couple of weeks.  I spent 45 seasons building and learning and trying to get my team to the top.  I reached Division 2 in Season 82 and spent 26 of the next 31 seasons there.  The other 5 seasons were one-off promotions to Division 1 where I was sent down the following season.  The last 6 seasons were back-and-forth between Divisions 1 & 2.  It got quite frustrating.  I was dominating in Division 2 but I couldn't even come close to competing in Division 1.  So I stopped for awhile.

This current incarnation began in Season 117.  A moderatly quick acent to Division 2 left me optimistic.  I have now been in Division 2 for 8 seaasons and have only made the play-offs once.  Obviously, I am falling into the same habits and decision making as before, even though I'm trying to find new and different ways to compete.  I have changed the way I purchase players.  I have looked into different ways to train my team.  I have tried different ways to run Friendlies.  But here I am stuck in Division 2.

I was recently checking up on the ML Champions League page and noticed a team that was in the QuarterFinals of the competition and also in second place in his domestic league.  I looked at his roster and he had about 20-22 players.  I have a hard time deciding which players to play when cup matches arise because of fatigue.  Because of this, I've been prioritizing the league over all cup competitions.  But apparently, I don't have to do that.  There is a way to get success in both the league and in cups.  I just don't know how to do that.

I purchase credits when needed.  I also use the 'Earn Free Credits' page as much as possible.  I play 200 friendlies per season.  I play in cups on the weekend.  I'm thinking the key is in player acqusition but I haven't found the right formula.  I've tried buying outright superstars (but funds usually prevent that).  I'm currently trying to acquire 17 and 18 years olds that look promising.  But if my training techniques are off, I'm just spinning my wheels.

I don't plan on stopping again... at least not yet but it is getting frustrating.  Again, not angry at anyone or at the game... I just wanted to type a couple of paragraphs.

Here I am in the 3rd division for the first time ever and I'm 2 points clear of the relagation play-off.  I'm OK with it.  I believe I can even jump into 9th place at the end of the season.

I haven't spent a lot of money this season; only on training camps and Player Cups.  I plan on buying 3 new players at the start of next season and possibly buying 1 before the end of this season.  That would give me 23 players for the start of Season 68.  I have a couple players I would like to sack but to do it now would only throw my relagation battle out of whack.  We'll see.  I believe I'm on the right track.  I've set a long-term goal of reaching the First Division by Season 75.

League USA.  Division 3.  Department 1.

Well, there you have it.  I won promotion to Division 3 in just my 3rd season.  From my post titled "Season 65 is Over; Let's Begin Season 66" you will notice that I had no plans of competing but I was going to try to make my team stronger.  In the process of that, I fielded a strong team.

I do not believe I will be a strong team in Division 3, though I will fight to stay out of relegation.  I plan to rebuild slightly and try for a run in Season 68 or 69.  I have already put a few players up for sale if anyone is interested.

jmhgn

League USA; Division 4 (soon to be 3); Department 1

My initial plan was to train, train, train.  Well, it turns out I'm in first place by 1 point.  I'm not going to stop training but I think I figured out the game.  I keep hearing about playing a lot of friendlies.  Well, here I am, 3 seasons in, and playing 3 friendlies after each League Match and I'm on top of the table.  I still do not believe I am ready for the Third Division but I have a plan.  When (if) I get there, I'm going to do what I should have done when I started playing.  I'm going to purge my team of the players that I don't think have a future and I'm going to buy a couple of young studs and train, train, train again.  I expect to be in Fourth Division for Season 68 whether I get promoted or not.  Then... look out!

 Harvey Hamsters

League USA, Division 4, Department 1

League USA; Division 4; Department 1

Season 65 was a good season for me.  I finished in third place which qualified me for the Play-Offs.  I lost the first match but I didn't expect to go far.  With an overall record of 18-7-5, I had actually 1 less point than the season before when I finished fourth.

The highlight of the season had to be my League Cup run.  After the first match was won on penalties, I went on to win 4 more matches rather easily.  In Cup-Round 6 I was pitted against a rather strong Division 3 team.  The 3-0 loss told me that I may not be ready for promotion just yet.  I need to work on training and being smarter about acquiring newer players.

My expectations for this season will not be high.  I plan on making sure my younger players get the attention they deserve so that I may be a stronger team next season.  I'm not going to just give up on the League or League Cup but my players may not be up to playing to level they should.  If I can finish in the top 5, i will claim another season success.

On a lesser note, I have a new logo.  I live in Northeast Ohio and I am a fan of Columbus Crew.  I took their logo and tweaked it a bit to fit my team.  I'll be back at the mid-way point!

League USA -- Division 4 -- Department 1

I am in third place right now at 10-3-2.  Things are going well and it still looks like I will finish in a playoff position.  But I'm not sure I'm ready for Division 3.  I made it through 5 rounds of the League Cup before I was matched up with a Division 3 team.  This team was very good and beat me 3-0.  I need to work on getting my team trained and fill in the holes.  I have no back-up defenders and I really need a better goalkeeper.

Well, like I said in my previous post, I don't expect to be promoted this season but I'm going to start preparing for that inevitable day.

jmhgn

Harvey Hamsters

Well, I finished last season in fouth place.  Not bad for the first time out.

I blame missing the playoffs on a string of 5 games that ended in a 0-0 tie.  I believe it was because my team was too tired from all of the friendlies I was putting them through.  Everywhere I read, I see that top level teams are recommending that new players play as many friendlies as they can.  That works fine if you have enough quality players on the bench to play in these friendlies.  I have a brand new team and I can not afford to put rising stars and prospects on the bench.  I need to win to draw fans and keep the ticket money rolling in.  I also need to win Cup rounds so that my sponsor keeps paying me.

This season, I may sell a top player for some extra cash but I will play the best line-up I can every game and hope for the best.  I expect to make the season ending play-offs.  I do not expect to win my Department or even do well in the play-offs.  I'll be back after game 15 with an update.

I am jmhgn and I am the manager of Harvey Hamsters.  I play in USA Division 4 Department 1.  After 13 matches I am 9-3-1 and in 3rd place.  When I started, i was very excited and started to set my team based on what i know about soccer.  I drew my first match 2-2 and then lost in the first round of the League Cup.

After losing my first Cup match I decided to check out the other teams to see how I could better my team.  I spent a lot of money on 3 transfers and sacked a bunch of players.  I then went on to win my next 2, draw the 2 after that and then lose.  I saw a downward progression.  Something had to change again, so I decided to read all of the forums and the notes.  I have now won 7 in a row and I expect to win the next two.

Tougher matches are upcoming but I expect to finish in the Top 5 and hopefully Top 3.  I'm excited to play this game.  I've been looking for something like this for a long time.