Powermonger

Does anybody have any tips on good squad rotation, such as getting the best use out of reserves, youngsters etc without over playing anyone or getting them jaded? I get fairly poor at rotating my squad and tend to neglect my reserves and youngsters and not getting the best use out of them. I'd like to optimise my squad management a little better.

Sir EW

First of all, squad rotation isn’t needed for all teams.

If you are not playing in the Champions League or UEFA cup then squad rotating could be counterproductive.

But assume you have a team playing on the European scene…

First of all, I work always with a squad of 22 players, divided in a first team of 11 best players and a shadow team where every position of the first team is covered by a ‘doppelganger’.

The real youngsters who are not ready yet stay in my youth team. If I have decent facilities then I keep them with me, unless they are almost ready for the first squad then I sends them on a loan for 6 months, maximum a year.

I put the players that are too old for the youngster and not good enough for the first team in my B team. I always send those on loan unless they are not good enough, then I sell them.

So I’m not doing any rotation with my youngsters or B-team players.

In general I play with the best 11 players I have.

Sure I look to their fitness rates and when it’s below 90 then I give that player some relaxing time.

So in a way I’m already rotating a little.

For the other games, I use my common sense.

When I’m at a good team and I have to play a cup match against a lower league- or just a weak team then I always send my entire shadow team, thus giving my first team some rest.

When I’m playing an important European match on Tuesday and have to play a league match the Sunday before then I’ll usually send my shadow team to the last one.

When I’m qualified for the second round in the Champions League and I have to play 1 or 2 more games in the first round yet then I always send my shadow team to these games.
AC Milan is always playing like that.

I can’t lose or win anymore and my shadow team is gaining valuable European experience and my first team is getting some rest. Btw most of the time I win those games anyway due the high motivation of my shadow players.

I can guaranty this is an excellent approach and it’s close to reality.

MrPompey

You may need to ensure you have your b team players with a squad status of 'squad rotation' else some of the players not getting regular footy may complain.....just like real

Sir EW

No they will not moan. Almost never, 'cause they are on a loan and in general play their games.

Also after a few years, it are in general my youngsters that are hitting the fence of the 1st team, so they usual do not complain. They are in my team since years…

However, for the shadow team, you have to make sure you didn't promise a guaranteed 1st team postition...

skanky

since the beta patch (both of them), i try not to rotate as morale slumps a bit too much for players that are "rested" (read: rotated) for a game or two.

for the sake of not upsetting my first team, i'll usually loan out any decent so they get first team games that way.

as for non-wonderkids, all they get are sub appearances --if they were that good, they would start instead of warming the bench!

Powermonger

Thanks for the tips Sir EW, I'll take them on-board for my next game I startup.

Juffas

In my expirience rotating more than 3 players at a time disrupts the balance of the teamperformance so I try to avoid it. Except when playing minor teams in cups or at the rare occasions of “unimportant” matches. I use the calendar function a lot to plan my rotation.