32 seasons in a row in 1st Division! (part 2)

This article is the next episode of Part 1 which went through the history of the club, from its origins through its many seasons in Division 1. We'll now see the last seasons of the team at the highest level, before studying the psychological aspect and sports related topics of playing in Division 1, as well as some advices to try to reach this level.

Part 2 available in French: (22459)

In season 75 (September 2020), I won the title and once again I've decided to start a new training plan with some wingers, already trained in Playmaking. I spent 15 millions € on 3 players and keep my scorers as well.
But I failed to renew my available slots of scorers as other positions need to be adjusted, and because prices are always higher and higher since 2016.
Competition is crazy as well, and after two podiums, I ended 7th in season 78 (August 2021) and I'm demoted for the very first time of my history.

I'm now in Division 2, and I'm waiting to get good young players in my Academy to restart a new project.

About those 32 seasons in Division 1, we also need to consider the psychological aspect of the game: indeed most of the time you try to get a better team than your opponents and climb up the divisions.
Here you need to win and stay at the same place season after season and if win the title, you are the public enemy #1!
If some of your opponents don't like you, it will make your life harder.

Let's talk about PIC agreements (PAs), whether you like it or not, I think it's important to propose some and accept some as well.
As I often say, you don't propose PAs, others will do it and you will play against some users who had the opportunity to PIC before playing against you, or that will be able to do it after. That will lead you in a worse position for ball possession.
I've done a lot of PAs, even when they did not seem good for me: by exampe when my rival was playing at the Masters after, I proposed a PA to help him (when I had an easy Cup round after). Implicitly the aim was to owe a debt and get paid back later. To last in Division 1, you need to be nice, generous and able to manage PAs.

Regarding the results, you should also try to avoid aligning your top players all the time, as I often see users playing with their top 11 lineup in easy cup rounds in order to have an easy day and be sure to win. That can lead to more injuries and harder games in the weekend for the league round.
Personally, for each Cup round I set the minimal lineup to win the game. Objective is to have what is needed in my sector ratings to win the game and I set some replacements when score is good enough in order to save my top players. This implies to be able to correctly estimate the strength of your rivals, anticipate a MOTS, estimate stamina of your opponent, Experience SE, etc.

It's good practice not to put too much money on one single player, even if you can afford to. If you think more long term and all the positions to renew in the future, it will help you last longer.
About players, something really non negotiable to last longer is to have some age variety. It's easier for stamina training to have all players at same age and experience will be better distributed, but:

=> When your players will turn 34/35 years old and time comes to renew your team, you won't be able to do it. Maybe you could replace 2 or 3 players, but that's it. The rest of your team will grow older and older, their market value will drop a lot, your team will not be homogeneous and you will face your own end.

You really should consider having a wide variety of player ages, to give you some margin when renewing players with younger ones on a regular basis.

That way, you only need to renew 1 or 2 players every season.
In both of my teams, players are 27/28 years old when I buy them on average, and I try to make them last as much as possible until 35/36 years old, and more if possible. When you are all set, the turnover is easy to manage.
When you get promoted, try to buy older players the first time. They will cost a bit less, and take some young players to have this wide variety of ages.

=> Then you need to last long, to optimize your revenues to be able to change players in order to avoid your team growing too old.
A good goalkeeper could be bought at 26/27 years old. He will be trained (such as 17 in Goalkeeping, 13 in Defense and 20 in Set Pieces) and will last 9 to 10 seasons.
It seems obvious, but your stamina share will be high, at 30% or more, so your oldest players that are 32 years old and more can have an Excellent stamina (8). Training will be slower, but with a coach assistant you can still train properly!

A word about your stadium as well. I often see teams in Division 1 in small stadiums about 60 000 seats, with quite often 100% attendance. They prefer to keep their money to buy players later, but its a mistake! The sooner you invest the better, this money will be earned back quickly with tickets revenues increasing. You need at least 80 000 seats, and personally I have two stadiums with 90 000 and 100 000 seats, and I managed to get some nice records. So do not hesitate !

Regarding the staff, I feel like almost every users. 1 assistant, 1 medic, 1 form coach and 1 psychologist.
As long as you're not in "training mode" and your players are still young since you just arrived in Division 1, you can play with 2 assistants et no psychologist. But on the long run, the psychologist will be non negotiable, increasing your attack ratings. He will give you a higher team confidence after a heavy loss or to keep a good confidence after a large win.

Some numbers for the end:
- 10 years in Division 1, from 2011 to 2021.
- 448 games played, 3rd best world record and 32 seasons in a row, 2nd best world record.
- 250 wins, it's 56% win rate.
- 821 points scored, best national performance, 9th world best.
- 8 titles of champion.
- 90 000 spectators for the attendance record (full stadium), this game: (600923870)
- 24 times on the podium in 32 seasons.

Here are some advices to try to last in the highest level! I use all of them with success with my 2nd team as well, which is in Division 1 since 20 seasons, so now, your turn!

P.S.: finally at the end of the season, still any (at least 2) good youth player to train so... I'm back in D1, for a 33th season :)

Translated from French to English by Tryskell (5242925)

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