what should i buy...

[saintjo]

If I at least get a tie in my next 2 games, I will autopromote back to div 5.
After the first 2 weeks of the next season I should have 1-2 million to spend on upgrades, but Im thinking I should upgrade a slot before then. My last match ratings with one winger played towards the middle in a 3-5-2 was

Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: inadequate
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: excellent
Left Side Attack: formidable

I train defenders, so I dont want to purchase one of them. I have about 400k to spend. So should I get a
1. Midfielder with excellent playmaking (currently they are all solid or passable).
2. New goalkeeper. Currently is passable one.
3. New forward. Currently have 2 passable scoring/passable passing ones. Not sure on prices of forwards, so im not sure what quality I could get.
4. Just hold onto the money for now.

any suggestions?

[BreizhManu]

new midfielder

[Raven Hawk]

Buy a new IM and stop pinching your winger towards the middle. :)

[lytic]

How's the arena?

[saintjo]

The arena is 21000. I considered upgrading that too since at the end of the season with the 10% for promoting I will be around 1050 supporters. But If I get in a tough division, I may have trouble selling out and loose some of the supporters. So I was going to wait until after the season started for that.
And also I have a passable/poor coach already incase that question comes up :)

[lytic]

go for the long term... solid coach/inad leadership and upgrade the arena to 35k.

[saintjo]

eh, i have a passable/passable player i plan on making my coach as soon as he pops to solid. but i think that is still a few weeks away at least.
adding on to the stadium sooner than i wanted might be an option. then it would be done in time for any early season home games and any home cup matches i might get.

[Vince]

If you're training defenders, why did you run/are you running a 3-5-2?

[McSweeny]

If you're training defenders, why did you run/are you running a 3-5-2?

if i were training defenders i'd run a 3-5-2 in league play and a 5-4-1 or a 5-3-2 in friendlies. I figure it'd be worth sacrificing two training slots to be much more competitive in league play

[saintjo]

Exactly as McSweeny specified. My goal in Hattrick is not to train as many players as possible, its to win as much as possible. Therefore I run a 3-5-2 in my league matches. That is the only way to consistantly put up a fighting chance at winning at my level. If I could afford 3 stud midfielders and still hold a fighting chance in the midfield while running a 5-x-x, I would, but I dont have that much money. I sacrifice 2 training spots to win league matches and I am more than happy to do so.
Friendlies dont matter so I always play 5-x-x and cup matches i try to play a 4-4-2 or 5-x-x if possible, but not always.

[daedalus]

If you're training defenders, why did you run/are you running a 3-5-2?Screamin' Seamen ran 3-5-2 in league and 5-3-2 in friendlies as well. I think they've done decently well.

[daedalus]

If you want to improve players, I'd go with a midfielder since you seem to have a pretty good offense. Although, given that you already have solids, I'd seriously consider saving up the money to make the jump to formidables.

Alternatively, improving your coach to a solid is also a very good idea. I know you already have a passable/passable on hand as a coach trainee but it's hard to predict experience pop. Also, having him continue to gain experience won't hurt. One possibility is to just go on the cheap and go with a solid coach with weak leadership* as an interim until your player is ready to be converted to a solid coach.

*NOTE: That only works if you don't care about PIC'ing through the season because he won't hold up your Team Spirit.