I've been sitting on this for a while but has anyone else got a Career Mode 'system'? It could be an insight into my obsessive-compulsive nature, but I've used a template to build a squad for years now. It's arguably hampered my enjoyment as the series itself has gotten a little stale, but I can't operate without it; I need that structure.
That structure being:
Depending on the squad I inherit, I’ll pick the formation aimed towards the highest average overall rating. I’ll then take the average overall from that starting 11, which will become my bar. For the rest of the squad I’ll take the overall minus the player’s age. This becomes the bar for second-choice players. All players signed, first or second choice, must match or exceed the respective bar.
I aim to have all outfield players aged 30 or under for outfield players, 32 or under for goalkeepers. Goalkeepers and centre backs must be tall; full backs, attacking midfielders and wingers fast; and deeper-lying central midfielders with good tackling stats. After one season I will aim to migrate to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with all players meeting that criteria. I’ll look to have three strikers – one fast, one tall and an all rounder as my first choice. For every other position I’ll have two players.
If any existing players meet the criteria, I’ll tie them down on new contracts until their 30th birthday or as close to as possible within a wage structure dictated by my highest earner. I’ll let the contract run down for any players who don’t meet the criteria, or sell them if I have three players or more in their position.
Scouts will set up to look for players who meet the criteria whose contracts are expiring. I rarely need to pay a fee for anyone except left backs and attacking midfielders, who are quite hard to come by on a budget. Typically, I’ll check the ‘First Team Quality’ box if I’m looking for a starter and ‘Promising’ if looking for a back up, but the latter won’t return many players if you’re in the lower, lesser leagues.
After one or two seasons I’ll have the type of squad I’m looking for and won’t look back!
I’ve done this every year since they introduced the current scouting network system. FIFA… 13? Hasn’t failed me since.
To kill the chaos even more, each year I have three Career Mode saves in my sights: Aberdeen, Union Berlin, and the worst team in England, sorted by overall rating then budget. The aim with each is to win the Champions League (or equivalent, pre-licence) either with that team or another, if offered a job at a better club.
Just me?...
[tumbleweed]
You think that's bad, you should see me with Championship Manager.
