Yes, I noticed even some teams around me wouldn’t talk to me, just flat out refused (tried negoitating with the same team on 8 different occations (multiple players of course!). Problem is seems like default wages have dropped too so even when you do get to trade, you have to lump in cash too

Shaw was around but (“borrowed” copy of the game so no manual) but my assuption is the numbers by their names are openess to nego, they’re in the 20’s so didn’t want to waste any chances I had to make offers. Perhaps I made a mistake in not trying to get him. Hopefully hes still available come end of season (my task for the day! (20+ games? lol))

I will look out for Donadel though, got a couple of average midfielders, one that will probably stick with me as an eventual back up wnger is Aliyev (22 10 75/80+ stats so hes doing alright, multiple purpose too )

I’ll go read abnout him now

The problem is that you aren’t allowed to negotiate with them unless your team rating is above a certain level. This is why I picked up so many youth players in my first couple of seasons.

Did you check the Youth list for Shaw (and Schwarz and Shimizu and any other goodies)? I think it might be random this year so there’s no guarantee they’ll be there. Don;t forget the Unbelonging list too – no transfer fees there either.

If you’re after a nice cheap DMF with good ability, I recommend Donadel. I made an entire post all about him!

I’ve found the CPU teams quite willing to make offers for the Default players, which I was happy to accept. This bulks out your points total quite a bit. Unless you’re making rash offers of several thousand points for players it’s pretty easy to steer well clear of a Game Over.

Just spent my evening playing ML, manmaged to win a whole two games with defaults woopie! lol Amazingly 4-1 over rangers, (Go guiterriuz (sp?) hattrick!). Just wondered how you’ve done against them. For some reason they just got turned over very easily.

I would of posted on a previous blog posting but I don’t know if you read them. But just did my first mid-season negotiations, my god their harder than before! lol Usually trading off the dead-wood is easy and possible to almost hjave a whole new squad (or at least half of one). All i managed during those 4 weeks was 3 new players. One traded and transfers (boo expensive!) I did sell a couple and put a few out on loan though.

Anyway the point I was getting at was, because I’m probably going to finish my first ML season in a similar position to you (only won 3 or 4 games (3 games post mid-season) so will be bottom most likely, was it any easier come end of season to get some new signings?

I’m just slightly nervous about it, I suspect if I transferred more than 2/3 players close season I’ll be a in position come end of the next season where I hit game over from lack of funds! Any tips would be appericated. (especially seeing as you managed to get such a good player as shaw!)

Btw I did go and read that guide you linked up in your blog, I’m using the 4-4-2 formation suggested in there and its helped me no end (well compared to my first 5 games of dismal-ness).

I see your 5th now, hope you make it, for your sanity’s sake mostly lol. I am jealous of back to back wins though, best I’ve done is win/lose/daw in a row lol.

I’ll check my teamwork numbers later but it is something I do look at from time to time. Last time I looked was only a few games ago, and I was surprised to see that even players I’ve had for two seasons have ‘only’ got numbers in the high 70s and low 80s with each other. This *could* be a consequence of the (enforced) regular rotation of the First XI due to stamina issues, but even so… I’m pretty sure in years past those numbers would have been in the mid-to-high 90s by now.