Noob Help--how do I start?

[madman31]

Hi everyone. I just created a team and am a bit overwhelmed by all of the information available on this game. I learned about Hattrick via MZ, which I love (am I allowed to say that? :D ), and am looking forward to a long and prosperous career here.

My question is, what are some of the first things I should start doing to begin the long road to progress?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks!

Kevin
Wraithe FC

[vex]

Get a passable coach, then you might also post your team here so that they can help you more.

[vex]

Dola


Read the rules at Hattrick, over and over and over. Best thing to do, I promise.

Read the Hattrick FAQ here on the board: Link (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=7891)


Read Hattrix: Link (http://www.databased.at/hattrick/index.asp)


Post your team info on the Official team list at the top of the board.

Read the rules.

[saintjo]

definately go for the coach.

then fill any huge holes you might have in you lineup. hopefully someone can help you with that if you post it.

then i would add seats to your stadium, but only based on one of those arena sizer programs that figure it for you like on hattrick files http://www.databased.at/hattrick/index.asp. so you have at least 15000 seats, maybe more.

start putting at least the minimum into your youth squad.

[vex]

I say put in 20K in the youth squad, it'll pay off.

[Icy]

This is a great newbies guide:

http://www.hottrick.org/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-6-page-1.html

Also there are more great guides there for training and more stuff at that site, take a look and also ask here, FOF is a great knowledge source for hattrick, i learned here all that i know.

[vex]

i learned here all that i know.


Poor guy:)

[maddog00]

And once you get the hang of things, get a hattrick program. I like Hattrick Organizer the best. But that's my 2 cents. :)

[Vikas]

It'd probably be wise to train on Stamina too for a week or 2. Having high stamina midfielders in the lower leagues might just give you the edge to win matches with.
This of course depends on what your midfielders' stamina is at the moment :)

Never ever spend all your starting money on 1 good player!
Keep in mind that training players to sell with profit is the way to make the big money. Sites like Hattrix (mentioned by vexroid) give you good info on how to handle that.

Read read read a lot :)

[Raven Hawk]

1. Buy a passable coach
2. Decide what position you are going to train.
3. Buy 17 y/o inadequates at that position.
4. Place in oven and cook at 350 degrees for 2 seasons, then feast on your rewards.

[Jets80]

Alright!!!! fianly a team from my division represented here at FOF. V.201

Madman31, You will be playing my Jet team for your 1st hattirck game.

welcome to hatrick.

[Jets80]

Dola..one more thing. Definitly create a "long term" plan. V.201 was ranked as the 11th tuffest division in V last week by hatstats and there are 4 very good teams in the division. We have been beating each other up for the past 3 seasons.

[Mr. Wednesday]

I've saved a copy of my newbie advice. Here it is, in all its glory.

Read the rules. Pay particular attention to section 14, The Player, which tells you what skills at what positions are important to what ratings. These will be the things that you have to worry about when you set a lineup and bid on players. One thing that's not apparent from that section that you should keep in mind is that passing is a secondary skill. It contributes to attack ratings, but the primary skill (scoring for forwards, playmaking for midfielders) is more important.
Look at your players and figure out what you want to train. If you already have some good trainee candidates (19 or younger, inadequate or better in one of the primary skills i.e. keeper defending winger playmaking scoring, preferably better than $10 000 assessed value) then you should think seriously about training that skill. However, think twice about training defense -- it's slow to train, doesn't give great dividends to team performance, and requires you to use upset-prone formations.
Get a new coach. I recommend the passable training skill with poor leadership for about $80 000. For your attacking/defending/neutral, keep the strength of your team in mind. Some managers like to use the coach's attacking or defending preference to shore up a weak spot, others like to use it to enhance a strength. I'm in the "weak spot" school myself, and since I train goalkeepers (building up my defense) my coach is fond of attacking.
Fill out your trainees. Look for cheap 17-yos with at least inadequate in the skill you've decided to train. You'll need two gks, nine or ten defenders, four wingers (plus four wingbacks training at half-speed), six inner midfielders (plus four wingers training at half-speed), or six forwards, in total. You can subtract any potential trainees already on your squad from these totals.
Expand your stadium. Particularly in division VI with a bunch of other new players, you'll have an immediate leg up if you consult us for advice on how to play, not to mention that some of your compatriots will abandon the game almost immediately. You can expect a fair amount of success right away, and with success will come crowds. Plus, in division VI sponsorship dollars really aren't enough to keep your economy moving. You should expand to somewhere between 12 000 and 15 000 seats, with 62.5% terraces, 25% basic seating, 10% covered seating, and 2.5% VIP seating (in total).
If you have any seed money left after the new coach, trainees, and stadium expansion, consider using it on the transfer market to fill any non-trainee holes in your team. Be very careful, it's easy to lose your head and overspend (and you'll probably still do it at least once before you have a feel for the market). Keep an eye on transfer deadlines, and if you can plan to be online at the deadline, you MAY be able to get better prices that way (but be wary of getting sucked into a bidding war).
Fire any players on your squad who aren't good team leaders (sympathetic or popular with the highest leadership skill on the squad) and don't have at least inadequate in a primary skill. Note that initially, you may still need some of these guys as backups, but even then only one or two of them. You don't need a full "B" squad, just the five subs plus one or two more for form/injury cover.
Set your lineup for your next game. If it's the midweek friendly, try to get the guys who didn't play in the league game into the lineup to maintain form. It's absolutely essential that you get the second half of your trainees in the game so they get training. If it's the league game, aim for your best possible lineup in terms of form and skill. MyBestTeam (http://www.mybestteam.org) can be a very useful tool here, particularly when you haven't really got a feel for how to play your team yet.
A word on formation (which comes into play when setting your lineup) -- the default 4-4-2 with two inner midfielders is rarely effective. 99.9% of effective teams will use three inner midfielders (by repositioning at least one player) regardless of the formation they use. Beyond that, formation is largely driven by the training regimen. Defense trainers will play four- and five-defender formations, winger trainers will play formations that don't abandon a wing, playmaking trainers will play five-midfielder formations, and scoring trainers will play a 3-4-3.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Dola, in case it wasn't clear, that order of priorities for your seed money reads new coach, trainees, stadium, players to fill holes in your lineup.

[madman31]

Thanks for the help, everyone. I look forward to playing lots of matches with you all!

Wraithe FC

[Jets80]

Dola, in case it wasn't clear, that order of priorities for your seed money reads new coach, trainees, stadium, players to fill holes in your lineup.


I would not reccomend upgrading the stadium the first season. Too many new owners go deep into debt becasue of that.

[vex]

I would not reccomend upgrading the stadium the first season. Too many new owners go deep into debt becasue of that.


Very true. That, and you won't need it.

[Mr. Wednesday]

It depends on circumstances, and I wouldn't recommend going into debt to do it (hence my comment about it as a priority for seed money), but with a quick start you WILL need it. I was selling out a 13000-seater by my third home game. See my history at Hatstats (http://usa.hatstats.info/team_overview.php?teamid=70854).

[damnMikeBrown]

Madman, I'm oblivious. Didn't even connect that you were Wraithes.

I'm glad you came to this forum. I kept e-mailing you hoping you'd gotten everything together, but fearing you hadn't. I'd have been suspicious if a series mate had kept offering to help me too, I guess :)

At any rate, glad you found the forums!