When you buy new non-trainees...

[MikeVick7]

What do you look for?

Mainly I'm trying to get a feel for when you buy non-trainees what type of player do you buy. Is there an age limit? Certain experience level? Secondary must-haves? Just trying to get different ideas.

Like for example. Right now I'm trying to buy a small upgrade at defender and have about a million I'd like to spend. So I know I could get a somewhat experienced formidable with a secondary as compared to an inexperienced outstanding defender. But I'm thinking I would be better off with the outstanding and just letting him gain experience since I'm still in div V.

[Vince]

I usually look for a significant upgrade (3 skill levels, minimum) over the player I'm replacing. I put a ceiling at about 24, 25 years old, and I don't really need secondaries.

Lately, I haven't had much time to 'shop,' so I basically look for guys at the skill level I want who aren't too old. Secondaries and experience are basically gravy if I can find them.

[PilotMan]

I have been building for the long term, and I usually go for the youngest/highest player available. He has to be a big ugrade, like above, and he will gain exp while my team develops. It takes a hit to my experience, but each year I have seen a bump.

I like them young as I want them to play with my team for a long time. And I can still sell them before they get too old, and get a better return on my investment. If you buy an older 25 and up, as they age, their resale value will drop. Unless you are stocking your team with titanics, I think that younger players are a better investment, even though they may be a little more costly up front.

[sterlingice]

I tend to search on <24 years old and >weak experience for almost every position I'm looking at. Secondaries vary by position I'm looking for. I figure if they're under 24 then they will still be at reasonably sellable age when I need to upgrade or replace that position next time out and the price difference between a 25yo and a 22yo is negligible.

For instance, right now I'm looking for a wc-titanic defender who is 23 and under and also has weak experience and pass or higher stamina. I like the free half star that weak experience brings and lots of 21yos, even, have that. Also, I don't want any fatigue events happening to my defender so that's why the stamina.

SI

[MrBigglesworth]

I'm a defense trainer, my defenders have terrible stamina, and I can't remember the last time I had a fatigue event that resulted in a goal. They are rare, but 30 different events that are all rare add up, I guess.

I haven't been worried about ROI lately because I've been upgrading so fast that I have only been keeping players on the team for a short while. But now that my best players are magnificent, I'll prob slow down on the upgrades so I am starting to look at younger players. But older players are good too if they have experience. They can be of great value, especially if you can get a 27 year old with good experience and passable or solid leadership. I had one keeper, Niklas Åkesson (3615792), that I bought for $570k at 27 years old and inadequate exp, and I sold him 3 seasons later for $899k at 30 years old and solid exp. And he played a lot better than a keeper of a similar level but wretched exp.

[sterlingice]

That was about the level things started slowing down for me. Actually, it was around outstanding for most of my players- then I had to start doing pieces slowly as it's just so expensive to start upgrading past that.

SI

[PilotMan]

I tend to search on <24 years old and >weak experience for almost every position I'm looking at. Secondaries vary by position I'm looking for. I figure if they're under 24 then they will still be at reasonably sellable age when I need to upgrade or replace that position next time out and the price difference between a 25yo and a 22yo is negligible.

For instance, right now I'm looking for a wc-titanic defender who is 23 and under and also has weak experience and pass or higher stamina. I like the free half star that weak experience brings and lots of 21yos, even, have that. Also, I don't want any fatigue events happening to my defender so that's why the stamina.

SI
Your methedology is very similar to the way that I go about things SI.