Why don't ass't managers handle reserves right? (FM 06 question)

[Izulde]

My assistant manager is supposed to be handling the reserve team, scheduling the friendlies, determining the lineups, etc...

But he hasn't scheduled any matches for them. They've sat there all season long without playing a single damn game, the result of which is I've had to play guys from the reserves who are "Severely lacking match fitness".

It's really irritating. Why the hell do I even have an assistant manager then?

[BYU 14]

I don't think you will get any games scheduled for the reserves unless they are in one of the reserves leagues. I had the same problem until I gained promotion into a higher league that held a spot in one of the reserve groups

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

I don't think you will get any games scheduled for the reserves unless they are in one of the reserves leagues. I had the same problem until I gained promotion into a higher league that held a spot in one of the reserve groups

Ahh that'd explain it. How high a league would you need to be? Right now I'm in the middle of my first season. Started off unemployed and got hired right away by Maidenhead. Expected to finish in the drop, we're presently 5th, the last spot for promotion playoffs, so every game counts.

Unfortunately, our top striker, one of my acquisitions, just got injured last game and is out for a month. I'm not too happy with who we have to back him up either, because our other usual starter is 37 and has looked noticeably slower the last several games and our main reserve isn't that good.

It's been exciting so far, though.

Edit: In Conference North/South atm obviously.

[Sweed]

In my first dynasty I started getting reserve games when I was promoted to the National Conf (England).

In my current game I am in the South Conf and no reserve games are scheduled.
I do go in and schedule one friendly a week though to bring in a few pounds and to keep my guys in shape.

[BYU 14]

I got them in National as well.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by Izulde

My assistant manager is supposed to be handling the reserve team, scheduling the friendlies, determining the lineups, etc...

But he hasn't scheduled any matches for them. They've sat there all season long without playing a single damn game, the result of which is I've had to play guys from the reserves who are "Severely lacking match fitness".

It's really irritating. Why the hell do I even have an assistant manager then?

The schedule friendlies option refers to having your asst. mgr. schedule friendlies for your first team over the summer, not for the reserves.

I agree it's irritating. In some leagues, like Germany, even some of the top league teams don't have a default reserve schedule. Surely these guys are playing somewhere?

[Icy]

I don't like the reserves system at all. Probably it's because we don't have that in the Spanish football league. Here the teams have the first team and the under 18 team and both play in their leagues, but that reserves league is only used in some countries, mainly in UK. The problem is that FM applies that setup to all the leagues, including the Spanish one and that creates a mess because if you place players in the reserve team, they never play a game. To fix it, i have the reserve team always empty, but of course the AI teams don't do it. For next FM versions i whish the reserve teams would exist only in the countries that have that league setup in real life and not in all the FM world leagues.

[Desnudo]

So what do they do with the older players who aren't playing first team football?

[Icy]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

So what do they do with the older players who aren't playing first team football?

Sell, loan or fire them. They usually end their careers if they are too old or end playing in a second division team that will be so happy to have an skilled veteran.

[Izulde]

Well we played through our top striker's injury and through a scoring drought. It's near the end of the season and we're holding steady in 3rd, so it looks like we've a shot at promotion playoffs.

Then my top defender gets hurt and is out 3 to 5 months!!!!.

And yes, I will turn this into a dynasty, but a season by season one... going game by game or even month by month is too slow for me.

[daedalus]

I was under the impression that some of the bigger Spanish clubs have a "B" squad that competes. Is that incorrect?

[Icy]

Originally Posted by daedalus

I was under the impression that some of the bigger Spanish clubs have a "B" squad that competes. Is that incorrect?

Yes but they compete like any other standard team in the competitions, there isn't a special competition only for "B" teams. The main restriction is that "B" squads can't be ever in the same level than the main squad. So for example if Real Madrid is in 1st division, Real Madrid "B" can't be over 2nd division, even if they win a promotion to 1st, they would have to reject it. For any other thing, B teams are exactly like any other team in the competition (well there are a few other limitations like the amount of players with X years of experience in the 1st team).

[daedalus]

Spiff.

[Passacaglia]

I'd suggest bringing all the guys on your reserve squads up to the A team until you get promoted. They're not going to get games on the reserve squad, so you might as well let them practice with the first team.

[SirFozzie]

In my latest game with French Ligue Un (League 1) team Lens, there's no reserve games, but I just book tours of various small nations, just one-two a month, playing 2-4 games per tour. Keeps them sharp.