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Help! I've been promoted to Div IV!

Written by Bolttime

Background
Have you recently been promoted into your first 'seriously' competitive division?

As part of the Oceanian Mentoring Program, I am mentoring a player who has just been promoted into Div IV. This is the first time he has been in a competitive division. I presume there are a number of players in the same position so I thought it might be worthwhile posting some of the mails I've sent and received here, to get an idea of the kinds of advice you'd get, if you asked the same questions of a long term manager.

I'm going to concentrate purely on the first things you need to think about, and as it happens, it's familiar to me right now.

I've been in every division in Oceania, and played since 2005. I am trying to give enough information for managers to make an informed decision here. I'm not trying to make any decisions for them. I've done this purely to show others the kinds of things they should be thinking about in that first, 'oh my God' week.

Note - I am presuming that basic training is already in place, with a YA being going concern.

Here's a really interesting compendium of my first week's emails. And of course you'll see some more from the following weeks if our editors can talk me into it. But here goes:

Week 1 – Preparation – Your own Team

Are you using Foxtrick with chrome or Firefox?

Do you use HTEV & Hatstats?

Are you using other manager applications? Should you?

Have you got someone with leadership as your coach?

What formations can you play?

Do you have an OCD? WTM? DMF? IMTW? DTF? Specs? Set pieces players?

Have you got Team Psychologists to maintain TC. A minimum of 3 is probably required - possibly more if you are going to lose many matches.

What will your MF be after 4 PICs in a row?

After looking at your current team's tactical position, what would bring you the most advantage? More MF, Central or wing attack, or more Def?
Now think a little about what your opposition will be thinking when they see your team. What formations will they expect? How can you make an unexpected formation that gives you an advantage?

Do you need to consider increasing the size of your stadium?

Week 1 – Preparation – The Series Opposition

Have you looked at the whole series opposition?

How many are beatable at your home?

How many can you get away results against?

Where do you think you rank in this series?

Which games can you PIC?

Usually you will not be able to judge the rest of the series too well until after the first game. You can do some preparation but it will not be finalized until you see the week 1 games and the new transfers in week 1-3. So put most of your effort into reviewing your first opponent. Make sure you have a coach with leadership.

PIC the first cup game. Ensure you have 2 formations with decent experience and that it is at excellent for your formation for round 1. If you do not have a solid or passable leadership coach, you better think about getting one but it will not do you much good this season.

Week 1 – Preparation – Buying and Selling

Try to put off buying anyone new for as long as possible - that may be week 2 but try to make it week 7 or more as prices decrease rapidly after week 4/5. The opposite of this is that the best prices are in week 2 - so if you have anyone to sell you should do it in week 2 - usually the advice is to have the sale occur on Sunday afternoon or evening European time - so late on Thurs (AEDT - I speak not for the Fijian hordes) is the time to put the player on sale, especially any 17.0 YA players (after ensuring he has played 1 game for you to get the bonus when he is resold).

However, sometimes it is worth buying a 33 or 34 yo who has the skills you want at a cheap price (usually less than $300k - but it is a risk if an injury happens...). Just make sure it is not in a training spot.

If you think you can stay up or get a play-off spot with no changes and continue your training that is preferable unless you get lucky with the Div lottery and have the option of going for the championship.

Week 1 – Preparation – Matches and Formations

If you cannot win a game then get the most out of it as you can. Can you minimse the loss (as this helps with table position and confidence) by bulking up MF & playing with Defense. Is 451 or 541 an option? Gain TS with a PIC and minimise your loss of TC. But make sure you are getting the training your team needs - so maybe you can play 253 or 352 with 2 OCD to maximise MF and lower the score or with 2 or 3 TDFs.

Do not CA in this situation unless you can beat his attack and have a decent attacking option as you will lose out in MF. Usually one strong wing with a FTW and 1 OW. Other winger, if you use one, to play WTM unless he has no wing defense.

If you just promoted you may have to win the first game as it will probably be against one of the weaker teams in 8th, 7th, 6th or 5th. Considering PINing the first game if necessary - you do not want to lose the first game against one of the weaker teams, especially if it is at home.

Sometimes it is worth giving up a training spot for a result but it should be the least preferable option. If you have to do it can you give up a half training spot?

But really, take it easy, prep for your first game. See how the series opposition does and pick your targets.

You need more MF?

You only need more MF if your opponent has more than you do (particularly in your home games). Wing Attack is great but it can be expensive.

If you have a passable or even inadequate leadership coach you should by default PIC nearly every game, it should be your default position. I do normally; except for the last game and maybe a game I really need to win and the loss of TS is of makes no material difference to me in the next 3 games - all PICs. Your MF will be pretty decent if you play with 5 in the MF after week 2 - as you will have had 2 cup games as well.

Overall Strategy?

The strategy you need to not get relegated really revolves around getting enough points to stay up. That may mean maximizing your points from home games by PIN at home and playing a defensive formation on a PIC away. Or maybe maximizing your MF and hoping for the best.

Worse case scenario is you pick the 2 weakest teams, PIC every game except these 2 (while minimising he damage as much as possible), PIN or MOTS these 4 games and aim for a playoff.

It is important to have a strategy – just make sure it suits your team and their training.

Always remember HT is a long term game, you need to make a profit as well as promote.