It’s a packed postbag this week!
Cesar Loveboat writes:
Dear Gino, I can feel it getting harder and harder to find the young boys I love so much. Help me!
Dear “Cesar”,
I understand your frustration. It can be difficult to sign young talents when other managers are unwilling to sell them. There are a few reasons why this might be the case.
- Other managers are building for the future. They may be willing to let go of older players who are no longer in their plans, but they are not willing to part with young players who they believe have the potential to be stars.
- Other managers are playing the long game. They may be willing to take a short-term hit in order to build a team that can compete for trophies in the long run.
- Other managers are simply not interested in selling. They may be happy with their current team and they may not see the need to make any changes.
If you are having trouble signing young talents, you may need to change your approach. You may need to offer a higher transfer fee. You may also need to be more patient. It may take some time to convince other managers to sell their young players.
Good luck,
Gino
Roberto Zervatola penned this missive:
Dear Gino, is it really nice to see people who constantly want to change team? There are people who have already had 6/7/8/9 teams in 20 seasons, what have they had time to do each time? Nothing, just twisting the predecessor’s work!
Dear “Roberto”,
I can understand why you might be frustrated. It can be annoying to see someone else take credit for the work of others. However, it is important to remember that this is a game. People are free to play the game however they want. If someone wants to change teams every few seasons, that is their prerogative.
Best wishes,
Gino
Bezerro de Valor wrote this in crayons, by the sound of it:
Do we perhaps give the work of others into our hands and then end up with situations like Udinese and Internacional? If one creates the team with hard and own work, it will never have these behaviors, everyone wants Hellas, everyone would like Mbappe and haaland, but André started from 0, it’s easy to go and try to take his job. but I could give many examples, myself included.
Dear “Bezerro”,
I believe that there is a fine line between taking advantage of the work of others and building upon it. On one hand, it is important to give credit where credit is due. If someone has put in a lot of hard work to build a successful team, it is not fair to simply take over and take credit for their work. On the other hand, it is also important to be able to build upon the work of others. If someone has already done a lot of the hard work, it can be a great opportunity to take their team to the next level.
I think that the best way to approach this is to be respectful of the work of others. If you are taking over a team that has already been successful, it is important to acknowledge the work that has already been done. You should also be careful not to make too many changes too quickly. It is important to give the team time to adjust to your new style of management.
If you are able to do this, I believe that you can build a successful team even if you are not the one who started it from scratch. You can take advantage of the work of others and build upon it to create your own success. We’ve seen this with Arsenal, Benfica, West Brom, Aston Villa, Sao Paulo, Manchester United and more, who have all built on the work of previous managers to get their teams promoted to higher divisions or challenge for the title.
Allan Tyler weighed in with this:
I think you have to find the right balance as I totally get the point in building a side and having a bad season then getting sacked, but there is also the issue of some managers just buying 50 youths and sitting for years waiting on risers. Have the guys that can come in build a side and win 2/3 promotions back to back that’s not easy either, and maybe these guys deserve a crack at the top clubs too? Its all about balance.
Dear “Allan”,
I agree with you that there needs to be a balance between building a team and being active in the GW. I think that the current system is not perfect. I think that the Admin group should continue to monitor the system and make changes as needed.
I think that the most important thing is to reward managers who are both good builders and active in the GW. I think that the Admin group should consider giving bonuses to managers who win promotions, or who make significant improvements to their team. I think that this would encourage managers to be both good builders and active in the GW.
I also think that the Admin group should consider making it more difficult for managers to simply buy 50 youths and sit for years waiting on risers.
All the best,
Gino
Rangi Ocam offers some of his own advice:
Let me tell the ‘builders’ of this setup a little secret: you can build a team with a bright future AND put together a decent XI to field weekly to have a competitive team in the short term. One thing does not exclude the other, so there is no need to have 50 youths or 50 oldies in your team. Maybe it’s a very elaborate concept for some, but you can split it into 25 and 25, or something.
Dear “Rangi”,
I agree with you. You can build a team with a bright future and still have a competitive team in the short term. You don’t need to have 50 youths or 50 oldies on your team. You can have a mix of both.
Here are some tips for building a team that is both competitive in the short term and has a bright future:
- Sign a few young players who have potential. These players may not be ready to start every week right away, but they can be brought on as substitutes or used in cup games. As they get older and more experienced, they will become more valuable to your team.
- Sign a few experienced players who can help your team win now. These players may not have the same potential as the young players, but they can help your team win games right away. They can also help to mentor the young players and help them to develop their skills.
- Build a team that is balanced. You need to have a mix of players who can score goals, create chances, and defend. You also need to have a mix of players who are good at passing, dribbling, and shooting.
- Be patient. It takes time to build a successful team. Don’t expect to win the league in your first season. Focus on building a team that can compete for trophies in the long run.
- If you follow these tips, you can build a team that is both competitive in the short term and has a bright future.
May the force be with you,
Gino
Disclaimer: Gino is a made up Agony Aunt character, and I didn’t even make him up myself. Gino’s advice is mostly AI generated, and intended solely for the purpose of entertainment. Do not try any of this on your team. All names of letter writers are fictional (for the avoidance of doubt).
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