Season 4

Football Academy · Cult Status

Season 4

GarethGardner · Cult Status

How about transfer windows Rich after watching the transfer window close recently.

Im not a lover on the player transfer limit as its good to wheel and deal by buying and selling players. This would take that excitment out of the game, but agree that a player should not be allowed to swap for the season and fines could be given to stop this in an f.a court.

Morale sounds great

but very happy with the game so no real need to tinker with it for more details

-- Edited by GarethGardner at 13:54, 2008-09-03

SteW · Top Flight Player

RE the transfer limit, I think 'real life' rules say that you can't play for more than 3 clubs in one season. Or maybe it's register with more than 3 clubs?

Anyway, the point is, maybe we should try and implement the 'real life' rule?

RE morale, could be interesting. Would need to know a bit more about it before saying anything more though.

RE game details, would love to have more detail on what's gone on. The more info, the better, in my view.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Hm, Not that keen on the transfer limit either. Although I know its because i do a lot of wheeling and dealing.

How about doing it so players picked up on a free can't move until check points. I.e. Half and full season.

Football Academy · Cult Status

I know the transfer limit would have an effect on people who trade lots because some players are already at their fourth clubs this season!! As I said its less of an issue about restricting this merry-go-round and more about stopping these season long transfers as I don't want to have to track piles of them each season to make sure everyone sends them back.

The official ruling is you can't play for more than 2 teams in a year hence Mascherano needed a special ruling when he went to Liverpool. So anything beyond one transfer a season becomes complicated in real life as the player can't be used. This is why I've picked the 1 transfer limit up.

I'm sure it'll be the least popular of my ideas, but needs must and at the moment, its the best option I've come up with to solve these issues.

Richard.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

How about they just can't return to their old club in teh same season?

SteW · Top Flight Player

Would it affect players who went out on loan, or is it purely for permanent transfers?

eg. If I loan a player out for a half season, can he then be sold in the second half, or go out on loan again?

Football Academy · Cult Status

If it comes in, that rule wouldn't effect loan deals. It would be 1 permanent transfer per season per player.

I can't keep a record of the clubs each player has played for, it'd be too time and space consuming.

Another idea that I have on my possible list:

Weather

Weather conditions for each week in each country. These could alter the effectiveness of certain tactics on a game by game basis.

And following on from the Game Details section above, if I can make the changes to the engine to allow it that could also produce a Score Centre. I could then produce a live feed that runs like the live games at the moment, but that would update the scores for the divisions in real time - like when you turn on to watch Final Score and the scores are still coming in on BBC for example.

Richard.

Besty · Cult Status

I am one of the ones who has exercised the use of swapping players back at the end of the season and the main reason we agreed it was because both our loan spaces were so full, i think one loan a week is fine but it would be better if you could have one space for loaning out and one for loaning in. This would mean the player swaps that have gone on don't happen permanently and it speeds up the process of dealing with other clubs, i think i have only had one week in the new season that i haven't had any transfers and that's due to the backlog of deals arranged over the break and at the beginning of the season! So maybe this could be introudcued as it doesn't affect the amount of players you can loan in.

I think morale would certainly be a great addition.

Would also like to see some sort of method for imporoving fitness, like resting a player for one game gets them back a little bit, not necessarily one whole rating but it may stop players going down as much as they do now as i think they go down a bit too easily and it adds to the whole man management aspect of the game.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Yeah i like that idea Jamie. Maybe a week's administration period could be introduced between seasons. with transfers running three times in that week, just so teams can get sorted before season starts. Would avoid backlog maybe and mean teams start ready?

Luke_C · Cult Status

Im not sure on the 1 transfer per player rule I think it limits the game although understand you wanting to stop managers doing full transfers and trading back and basically using them as loans. Ive done this with two players and know other clubs who do the same, its a loophole that needed addressing. Rich maybe just make a note to everyone that any deals along these lines wont be backed up by FA and in doing so you take a large risk of losing your players if a manager leaves, gets sacked or refuses to trade back. Im sure it would pus down the number of people doing it.

Transfer Window is a big no no for me, manager would lose interest and transfers is a massive part of this game.

I like the idea of morale, maybe media could also effect this ie if a big club declare an interest in someone he may get unsettled alternatively if a player isnt playing for a big club and a lower league club express an interest it may change

Id like the game details although depending on how much the game engine would be changed as I think its taken everyone a long time to build a team around a formation and for it to be changed a lot may annoy people.

Not sure on the weather myself.

Ive asked Rich before about fitness improving and *I think* he said that it wouldnt make a difference over a season anywaybasically managers just need to plan better and rest players earlier in the season if they knew they would be needed in later games and I happen to agree on that one. And it would prob mean giving Rich quite a bit more weekly work that I dont think is really needed.

tonymdf · Cult Status

I think the transfer limit is a good idea. although I have used the loop hole on one occasion -buying a player in at value and selling him back at the mid point of the season for the same price is a tactic used by a lot of clubs who have feeder clubs or to sway a potential transfer deal , I think this loop hole needs to be closed

no player if sold should be sold or swapped back to the selling club ever ...
it will cut out the need for tracking of deals

I can list endless players that have moved clubs - Boriello - how many clubs as he had ? Millan...Chelsea... Leeds... i think he has been sold on at least 6 times in 2 seasons!!!

Parker sold as part of a swap deal then sold back a few weeks later ...this has to raise suspisions

Sorry i just used those 2 as they sprung to mind

I also think there are enough weeks in a season for any manager to try and implement deals in time for forward thinking plans of attack for next season - so a gap or extra tarnsfer transfer weeks would just be more work for Richard - rather than enjoy the free time between seasons

I also think the morale will only affect squad players or teams in the bottom half of a league.... how many clubs stick to using the same 12 or 13 players week in week out unless they have injuries / suspensions. A lot of players moving counties do very well when they move so maybe a morale boost upon a transfer should be thought about as well

I do not agree with the fitness ratring changes others have implied here - i think its very good as it is the older a player gets the lower their fitness becomes and the faster it drops - I know the players with better stats seem to drop slower than others but thats real life - i like the fact older players seem to be out for longer in the latter part of the season, this may make managers think again when planning their long term goals - there are clubs that have over 10 players over the retirement age - whilst this can A... enable to buy superstars at cut price deals... B... bring short term success and enable them to move on to bigger clubs... that equals C... certains problems once they have gone and the club then goes into free fall... I will use AC. inter milan and Roma as an example - where will they be in 2 or 3 season ??? look at the likes of leeds and Leicester - their managers used older players as a bridge to limited success and look at the state of the clubs now that managers have moved on

Match Detail...

The more info available to a manager the better - we can see the successes - chances created means you have got your tactics right or badly wrong, maybe a individual player rating could be introduced as in many fantasy games a 6 being average or man of the match bonus's if a player gets 5 or 10 mom his ratings or morale stats are rewarded accordingly

As the seasons pass by it seems that things even themselves out - not many double value deals seem to be happening any more but then we shall see what happens next week once the new youth players are introduced - there does seem to be a rush at key points of the season to bank funds and splash at mid season or now transfer window - whilst mid to low rated teams seem to wheel and deal all season round and try and feed off of clubs needeing to raise funds quickly !!

FA is an ever evolving game some aspects of which need changing to assist Rich with the time input and smooth running to make it as close to reality as possible without the need for him to spend 24/7 administerating as brish rail once said - were getting there!!!!

Belizeno · Cult Status

i know this is not really on the topic list here but there is one thing i've noticed about the game that kinda ruffles me a bit. Is it just me or are most players playing in the EnglishLeague overrated, compared to the other two leagues? I dont know, but sometimes i feel as if its not fair for managers in the other leagues if English League players are overrated, mostly in european cups in would widely affect the performances of other leagues.

Simon · Cult Status

everything should stay the same.

I'm a traditionalist biggrin

evertonian · Cult Status

I agree that the reversing of deals every season isnt a good idea and shouldnt be allowed. However a limit on transfers for a player would mean that new managers coming into the game might not be able to sell some players that aren't needed because they have only signed in that season. I think this would restrict a managers ability to wheel and deal especially in the case of new managers when it wasn't even them who made the decision to sign the players in the first place.

Steve · Cult Status

A number of players spend their careers moving more than they play. I suggest that as players receive a share of each transfer fee that after they have moved a certain number of times they become so wealthy they will spend all their time doing promotional work and playing golf - so become unable to play football (like most of the England team!). This would slow down the transfer merry-go-round.

Steve
Juventus

Football Academy · Cult Status

Having spent a bit of time working on changes for next season already I thought I'd post up a few snapshots that show the changes. The data on there isn't necessarily correct in that I've used an old team sheet so the ratings won't apply to the season 4 game, but it shows the changes I've already tried including.

View images here.

-- Edited by Football Academy at 11:20, 2008-09-22

Safehands · Cult Status

Looks good Rich

out of interest - what are the little red stars denoting net to some of the arsenal players on the teamsheet?

cheers

Football Academy · Cult Status

Those mark players who have moved clubs in a permanent transfer that season - they match up with the later column "Transfer" but I wanted an obvious indicator next to the names in the hope people won't try and transfer those players a second time in a season.

Richard.

Besty · Cult Status

I know the transfer limit was introduced as a method of preventing the long term loan deals that we have seen but i think it will have a real negative effect on the transfer market. I think i have wheeled and dealed as much as anyone in the game as it's the best way i can move my team forward, If each player is restricted to one transfer a season then i cant see the smaller teams benefiting at all, as these are the ones scrapping it out at the bottom of the pile to improve their squads more.
I could name at least 3 players i have purchased and then sold on this season already in a bid to improve my squad and nothing more sinister than that. I would much rather see a period of time where after you have purchased a player you cannot sell him for X amount of weeks (say 8 for example). And if a player moves more than twice in a season it could incur a fine, say £1mil, enough to deter people breaking the rules excessively. I do agree that a player should not be allowed to return to his previous club, not for at least two or three seasons anyway when new managers may be in place.
I really enjoy Football Academy and everything about it but i would hate to see a restriction like this in place where it basically takes away one of the biggest parts of the game and football management.

Luke_C · Cult Status

I do agree with Besty...I know im one of the worst for this "long loan" thing however the best way maybe for FA not to stand by such agreements and end up doing them at your own risk...I know I wouldnt try a amanager alone with one of my key players. Also they could be sacked/removed/move clubs and your player would be stuck...again the managers fault.
The changes wont really effect me much as my turnover of players isnt that high but for the lower leagues I think it would be tough.

Stu · Cult Status

I agree the limit looks quite a strict move. Jamies suggestions don't clear the problem FA has raised. If you say no further transfer for 8 weeks after a player moves that will only effect people innocently wheeling and dealing because doing a season swap won't be effected by that rule. The same is for fining clubs for more than 1 transfer of a player in a season this will hit the small clubs harder because money is tight and the big clubs doing season long swaps will be able to take the hit with out being detered

I have two season swaps at Sevilla and I can see how it could be a problem but £1m fine wouldn't put me off if it meant training a very good prospect because if that player improved his value could go up by £1m anyway

If a different way to stop these deals is going to happen it needs to be one that works and does help the small teams

Stu

paulh_85 · Cult Status

well how about a player not being able to go back to the same club in a season.

for instance walcott goes to chelsea in a platyer swap/loan with messi. these players cant be swapped back in the same season, thus stopping that move.

thats of course if people are dead against the whole thing, personally i dont see the problem with it

Luke_C · Cult Status

I thought the problem was Rich didnt want to have to keep an eye on all these deals all the time and thats understandable. Thats why I think if managers do it at there own risk that would go down

Football Academy · Cult Status

To have a rule where a player can't return to the club he came from, I'd have to keep track of every players last club, which is data I don't want to have to handle as it shouldn't be necessary.

I'm also not willing to "just leave it" as that leaves it open for example Man City could do a season long swap with Wolves, Man City then move clubs mid season and Wolves get left with the good youngster because it was "up to them" to sort it out.

Richard.

Luke_C · Cult Status

Yup Rich fair do's I didnt think of it like that...I was thinking more of an honest way but appreciate some managers dont. Something needs to be done altough still not sure what the best route is.

Besty · Cult Status

I'm sorry but i am not the sort of manager that would let that happen. If the player isn't technically mine, like Johnson in a current agreement with Man City, and they decided to move clubs, i would not keep the player permanently as this would not be fair on the new manager taking over, i don't believe you should get something for nothing.

As with a lot of managers i try hard to improve my team, but if you bring in a player at the beginning of a season and by midway he is not needed as you have improved your squad enough, then the initial money you spent would be wasted as you would not be allowed to sell him on, and the Free Agents list which is lengthy as it is will just grow and grow with people that cant be sold.

I hope a different solution to the problem can be found as i think if this goes ahead it will ruin the game (for me anyway) which i think up to now has been outstanding and is certainly a favourtie of mine.

Football Academy · Cult Status

That wasn't aimed at you personally Jamie it was an example, as I know you and Man City are one of a fair few who have done that swap deal this season.

The rule change isn't to stop honest managers, its to close a potentially big loop-hole that could be exploited by less honest managers, because otherwise I'm expected to track every deal done throughout the whole season to stop the honest managers being put at a disadvantage, and I hope you can all appreciate thats an unrealistic expectation for anyone to do, let alone the person running everything else.

I appreciate the transfer limit will restrict managers and is being seen as a negative. If people were exploiting the loop-hole already I imagine there'd be an outcry from the honest managers, so by taking action before an issue appears I'm appearing the bad guy. If you don't like the proposed change, give me alternatives that will address the same problem. I'm all for another way if theres a better one, but complaining about the only option currently proposed that is 1) workable and 2) closes the loop-hole, doesn't really help I'm afraid.

Richard.

Besty · Cult Status

I wouldn't expect you or anyone else to track every deal as i appreciate that is far too much, i just wish i knew of another way, have been racking my brains but can't think of anything workable. Anyone else got any ideas?

mg1 · Cult Status

What about putting the team name the player came from in the transfer section of the new teamsheet instead of Yes - that way it could easily be tracked and the player could then no longer be transferred back therefore closing the loop hole and allowing the player to be sold on by the buying if needed later in the season.

I'm guessing Rich has to make value checks etc when doing transfers this way it shouldn't take much longer to glance at the players previous club?

Fletch · Cult Status

A big part of the fun and interest in this game is the ability to switch on the PC and do a deal somewhere, buy or sell a player. I think thats helps with the success.

If you took this away I think less people would be involved and only logging on to put their team in for the week, hardly interaction.

Simon · Cult Status

What are you talking about?

He's not putting a ban on all transfers!

Fletch · Cult Status

Simon wrote:
What are you talking about?

He's not putting a ban on all transfers!

Yep I know matey, I'm talking about reducing the amount of times or deals that can be done. At the moment it is unlimited which is great IMO, any restrictions starts to effect the game for me personally.