Is there a lower quality league in FM 06 than English Conf North/South?

[Izulde]

Just wondering if there's an even scrubbier league than that.

Thanks in advance :)

[sabotai]

I don't think so. It's been awhile since I played, though, and I played in the Scottish league. (EDIT: I thought you were asking if there was a league below Conf. North/South in the English leagues.)

[RPI-Fan]

The problem with the Conf North/South is it's possible to get pretty good quality players in on loan. If you play in the bottom division of more obscure leagues... say, Sweden, this doesn't happen as much because the top teams don't have such deep rosters.

[Izulde]

The problem with the Conf North/South is it's possible to get pretty good quality players in on loan. If you play in the bottom division of more obscure leagues... say, Sweden, this doesn't happen as much because the top teams don't have such deep rosters.

That'd actually be a benefit in my case, since I never loan players in, which usually results in me getting my tail kicked.

[GoldenEagle]

The Northern Ireland third division is pretty rough, if it is still in that version. If you are looking for a real challenge, I would try to pick the lowest Central/Eastern Europe league you could find outside of Germany, Italy, and Spain and maybe Belgium and Netherlands.

[st.cronin]

Israel, maybe?

[Karim]

I'll second Northern Ireland. Pretty slim pickings.

[Young Drachma]

Israel, maybe?

I replaced them with an American league that actually doesn't have a salary cap. Life is so much better.

But I think Northern Ireland are a worse league than Israel actually.

[PilotMan]

I played in Whales. That was right up there with Northern Ireland in my book. The main problem with Whales is that TNS gets all the players and generally kicks ass all over the place. Getting players is next to impossible. I still havn't won the title yet, and am looking to move up, but I can't get any looks except from Conf teams.

[King of New York]

Malaysia, the lowest league. OMG. I've been playing a team called Tentera--after three brutal seasons of barely avoiding relegation, usually in the final match of the season, I finally have put together a half-decent (by Malaysian standards) squad that might finish in the top half of the league.

[Izulde]

I wound up going with Sweden, but all these suggestions are great for future reference :) Thanks guys

[Oilers9911]

My WWSM 2006 game I managed Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland...wow that was tough. I managed to win one of the many cup competitions but it's really not easy to bring in good players.

[Toddzilla]

I played in Whales. That was right up there with Northern Ireland in my book. The main problem with Whales is that...Um...Whales?

[Bee]

Um...Whales?

His goalie is named Jonah.

[Oilers9911]

With Shamu playing in the midfield.

[dacman]

And forward Willy has a "free role"

[Oilers9911]

*rim shot* well done.

[Anthony]

but isn't it all relative? like if you're in a crappy league - aren't the other teams just as crappy? the Bulls wouldn't have been a dynasty without MJ. if every team had an MJ like player then the playing field is equal. so what does it matter if the whole league is bad?

[flere-imsaho]

but isn't it all relative? like if you're in a crappy league - aren't the other teams just as crappy?

Yes and no. Lower leagues in Europe (probably also in South America) usually have a collection of teams with varied characteristics. For instance, you'll have some former big clubs who have fallen on hard times but still have the resources and the ability to attract quality players which can allow them to dominate a league and get promoted. You can have some semi-pro clubs who got to the league by playing out of their minds, but who have to scrap for each and every game, and can't really afford to be there anyway. You may also have a club or two which just got bought by someone rich, who drops in a whole bunch of high-priced players to get them promoted. And then you'll have the teams who are just good enough not to get relegated, and bad enough not to really flirt with promotion, for whom the league is essentially "home".

[st.cronin]

I think the main appeal of playing in a lower division is that you have to make choices. You can't look at your roster and say "I need a fullback," and you go out and buy a top fullback. You'll have to find somebody on your roster that you can retrain, or else you come up with a strategy that minimizes the weaknesses of your roster - playing a 3-5-2, or something.

It may be just as hard to win the Premier as it is to win Conference North, but its a different TYPE of challenge.

[Anthony]

It may be just as hard to win the Premier as it is to win Conference North, but its a different TYPE of challenge.

ok, i'm fine with this. good answer. i thought izulde was trying to look for the ultimate in difficulty by going to the lowest possible and worst possible league.

[Marc Vaughan]

Taking a team from Conference South/North to the top of the Premiership is imho a REAL challenge - put it this way, it took over 30 seasons to do it ! :D

[Marc Vaughan]

PS> In the lower reaches I always tend to go for a robust and simplistic tactic and aim for physical prowess over skill ('tis easier to find players at that level without worrying about them being overly skillful).

[PilotMan]

Um...Whales?

Uh, yeah, spelling was never my strength, and it was late, and the sun was in my eyes and a rhino was charging my ass. You know how it goes.

[dacman]

Yeah, I have problems with the wizard hat falling over my eyes when I'm re-adjusting the robe.

[MJ4H]

Uh, yeah, spelling was never my strength, and it was late, and the sun was in my eyes and a rhino was charging my ass. You know how it goes.

Jeez. That sounds serious.

[Izulde]

One thing I noticed looking over the Malaysian league is just how many South Americans and Africans play there.

It gives me some ideas for my next dynasty. :)