[mundial]

Starting the thread up again, to pick other expert's brains!

Cheers,

Nick
Mundial F.C.
IV.62

[mundial]

I am just about at that plateau ($500,000) recommended to go after a solid coach. I've been saving up for a while. Of course, I'm undefeated for four games now, my team spirit is composed, and my confidence is wonderful. My coach now is passable with passable leadership. Should I reconsider going after that solid one, and stick with my gaffer? Wait until season's end?

Thanks.

Nick

[mundial]

How often do people out there interrupt normal training to train form? My average form is between inadequate and passable right now.

Thanks,

Nick

[Lone Star]

Normally I only train form before REALLY important matches and then a week or so at the end of the season. I usually train stamina at the end of the season, and since it damages form I add that training to the mix.

Panther City FC
III.1

[mundial]

I guess that makes sense, since you'd only be playing one game a week (friendly), and fewer players can benefit from training defending, playmaking, scoring, etc.

On a related note that ties my two questions together, will my team's form be better with a solid coach rather than a passable one? From my understanding, it would.

Thanks,

Nick

[Uniteds]

Any advice for someone just starting out? My team is currently 8th in V.101 of the USA. I picked up a couple of transfers (one from Sweden, hope that 20% doesn't kill me).

I hired an assistant coach and put an investment in my youth team. I've got 280000 right now.

[mundial]

I took a look around the rules and found no evidence that there are adverse psychologcal effects on the players when you fire a coach who's doing well. Rather, that the drawback is losing some fans for the next few games. I am feeling lucky and able to pin down a solid coach. And I figure the sooner I get that done, the better job I'll do training. But can anyone verify that it won't mess with my teams' performance as well? I may have to play a qualification match, depending on how these next three games go. I am tied for fourth with three games to go. But I want my young team to get better for next year too, and a run at promotion! Any tips?

Thanks,

Nick

[BrianCappellieri]

My team has just been activated and I'm just checking out everything now.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how I can get started.

Thanks!

Brian Cappellieri
New England Revolution FC
V. 38

[Elwood]

Some starting advice:

1. Don't spend big on one player early on.

2. Stadium expansion should be a priority. Typical recommendations are 20-25 times the size of your supporter club. You may not be able to go this large early, can't remember how much cash you start with.

3. Your coach's skill is important in training (the "A passable (solid/inadequate/weak/wretched/etc) coach..." part. Solid is the highest. Anything is fine until you start training heavily, though. Some teams have spent near (or over?) a million US trying to get a solid coach (it's 10k a pop and the new coach has random skills). Only go for a coach when you've established your club and squad and stadium, and built up a bit of cash.

4. Look your team over and determine if you have good training candidates. You can only train 1 skill at a time, and it takes 7-10 weeks to improve a player's skill in whatever you train, depending on coach skill and # of assistants, plus the age of the player. The BEST trainees are 17 and excellent in whatever their skill is. But those are EXPENSIVE. As an example, the first week of the current season, I bought a 17 yr old solid scorer for $510,000. 17 yr old excellents were going for over a million. 17-18 yr old inadequates are good to start with.

A player needs to play once a week to get full training, and in a proper position. For example, if you train defense, a player needs to play his last match of the week as a defender or wing back. Winger - wing back or winger. Scoring - forward. Playmaking - inner midfield, or winger for ~ 1/2 full training. Keeper - keeper, of course. Passing - no one's really sure :P

But a player does NOT get double training if he plays twice, so getting 2 'sets' of trainees is recommened, and stick with whatever training you choose for a LONG time (2 seasons or so, at least). Then start improving your other positions, gradually upgrading. Later on, as your trainees improve, sell them off when they hit a level you can turn a profit, and use that cash to get a new trainee and an upgrade somewhere else.

The match engine favors midfield. That's why, if you look at established teams, they use 3-5-2 so often. Midfield rating (for the team) is determined mainly by the playmaking skill of your inners (3 of them in the 3-5-2), but also by the PM skill of wingers, and if you play a center defender offensive (don't recommend it), or a forward defensive (or this), the PM skills of those players. Possession is based on your midfield rating vs the opponent, and, for the most part, the team with the highest possesion gets more chances for goals.

Due to this midfield thing, a lot of teams train playmaking. The other 3 big ones are scoring, defense and keeping. Don't know of many that train winger, and I don't know of ANYONE that trains passing. Oh, the stamina of any player using PM in a match is important. Stamina goes up fast, at the expense of form (around 1 level a week, exellent basically the highest), and form is increase by general training.

Pick a formation that compliments your skill choice for training. 3-4-3 is good for scoring, 5-4-1 or 4-5-1 for defending, 3-5-2 for playmaking. Keeping, probably best to use 3-5-2, but doesn't matter. This way you can train the max amount of youth each week.

I don't know how quickly the supporters increase at lower fan club sizes, but I know mine increases by about 18 a week. I've been playing for a year, though, and my fanclub is around 2150, and I'm undefeated in my series. Once you get a good idea, if expanding, build a little larger to take into account expected increase. I just expanded to 60,000 seats, even though I likely won't fill it til I have 2400 fanclub members. But I should hit that sometime next season.

Um..what else? Invest 20k in your youth squad each week, once you can afford it (I'd recommend starting now, if possible). Highest level is excellent, but the better your squad, the better chance you have of promoting a good one. And promote one every week. It doesn't help to hold off. It's random each time.

Oh, ignore the game-generated values. To check out market prices, browse the Swedish transfer list some. That'll give you a good idea of what players are worth in 'real money'. One really good player isn't going to make your team a world beater, so don't splurge on a single guy.

Through my first 2 1/2 seasons, I was continually at the 200k debt marker. Only now am I regularly on the plus side. So don't be afraid of debt, but don't go much further than 200k.

Hrm. That's about all I can think of now ;-)

I'll try to check back here more often, or you can HT-mail me. My team is Indy Racing Athletic, and I'm in III.16, but should promote to II for next season. Just clinched the series, and a win in either of the last 2 weeks clinches automatic promotion. User name is indyracing.

Good luck and have fun!

[BrianCappellieri]

Thanks! That's great information exactly what I was looking for.

A few questions:

1. I just started today and haven't played game (that I know of) but I have 3 points. Why?
2. Does Hattrick run on your own time or is there a set schedule?
3. When does the new season begin where I can start of fresh?
4. I have $300,000. How much should I spend on improving the stadium?
5. Can I edit my uniforms?
6. When putting players on the transfer market who bids on them? Other people playing the game or is it like a computer management game?
7. How do I sign other players? Not sure on where to click.

Thanks again.