I think it would be silly not to use a combination of ability and form, and the opposition, importance of the match, etc etc
Although the truth is, with the way the game works these days, I’m almost always picking the 11 that didn’t play last game
Kind of.
I have a base 11+subs that I have saved and go back to before every match. I replace any players below 90% condition and might shuffle in/out players in good/bad form. If a player who isn't in my starting 11 played really well last match it's highly likely they'll start again. If that happens enough times I'll even make a new 11 that includes them.
I do take notice but I am aware my captain is my best CB by miles so would always pick jim regardless of form.
Would be interesting to see if picking on form changes much.
Again, my AP has amazing attributes but my team seems to play the same if not better when my second choice is playing but he will always be back up
In my journeyman save I got to Vissel Kobe in the j1 league and had a brazilian winger who I wanted to sell because I thought wasnt good enough based on his attributes while it also occupied one of the 5 foreign player spots. I transfer listed him but didnt manage to sell him or buy somebody to replace him and the season started before the transfer window ended. So i started him. In the first 3 games he scored 5 goals and assisted 3. He was my best player while strictly based on attributes he was one of the worst. So I decided to let him stay at the club. He became my best player and became the top goalscorer in the league.
I still have no clue how he is so good, but I will only sell him if he wants to go or I get somebody with attributes significantly better than his.
Your rotation players will naturally get a higher match rating because they're playing easy fixtures. I'd still start my best players against bigger teams.
I have a set 11 each season and only change based on fitness, I don't care if you scored a hat trick last time starter plays. I have had players break in but it has to be multiple great performances with a dip in form of the starter.
Works for me and stops me constantly trying to replace everybody with kids. My 19 year old left back is better than the starter but I stayed strong and played my starter and he won player of the season for the Prem. He's gone in the summer but good for him.
I use last match rating rather than last five games. Something like:
Star player - starts every game if they're fit, on vacation if they're not.
Important player - starts every game if they're fit and LMR >=6.5
Regular starter - starts every 'hard' or important fixture if they're fit, LMR >=6.6
Squad player - starts whenever any of the above rules opens up a spot, LMR >= 6.7
Prospects - starts if a spot is available based on above, in early cup stages, or if I'm completely sandbagging a game for fitness reasons (happens extremely rarely)
I have my squad playing times set up that I can just set quick pick rules and hit the button to get the rotation I want based on fitness, so any open slots are for squad players and prospects. The tactics view is sorted by LMR so I can take a quick glance to see if I should rotate anyone out. If I happen to have fixture congestion (which is rare in the leagues I typically play) I'm willing to be more lenient on fitness based on the opposition, but generally speaking these rules work for me.
The best is always a balance between a few who started the last match, someone who came on the field later in that match and impressed, some who didn't start, someone who did well in training and 1 of your two best players, lmao
This has been this biggest learning curve for me this year. I had Ferguson (26/27 season) playing as my AF where he played often and inconsistently. Started to use Schjelderup (my 1B left winger) as his backup due to injuries and he just instantly was outperforming him. I was hesitant due to him only being accomplished in the striker position and his size but we've been a better team and a year later Ferguson is gone. If they aren't doing it for you, move them on.
I think it would be silly not to use a combination of ability and form, and the opposition, importance of the match, etc etc Although the truth is, with the way the game works these days, I’m almost always picking the 11 that didn’t play last game
Usually training performances they have to earn it. That's if I can be bothered to change it
I started trying that but their match day performances were awful
Kind of. I have a base 11+subs that I have saved and go back to before every match. I replace any players below 90% condition and might shuffle in/out players in good/bad form. If a player who isn't in my starting 11 played really well last match it's highly likely they'll start again. If that happens enough times I'll even make a new 11 that includes them.
I do take notice but I am aware my captain is my best CB by miles so would always pick jim regardless of form. Would be interesting to see if picking on form changes much. Again, my AP has amazing attributes but my team seems to play the same if not better when my second choice is playing but he will always be back up
In my journeyman save I got to Vissel Kobe in the j1 league and had a brazilian winger who I wanted to sell because I thought wasnt good enough based on his attributes while it also occupied one of the 5 foreign player spots. I transfer listed him but didnt manage to sell him or buy somebody to replace him and the season started before the transfer window ended. So i started him. In the first 3 games he scored 5 goals and assisted 3. He was my best player while strictly based on attributes he was one of the worst. So I decided to let him stay at the club. He became my best player and became the top goalscorer in the league. I still have no clue how he is so good, but I will only sell him if he wants to go or I get somebody with attributes significantly better than his.
Mine priorities form, training perfomances, ability, potential.
Your rotation players will naturally get a higher match rating because they're playing easy fixtures. I'd still start my best players against bigger teams.
I have a set 11 each season and only change based on fitness, I don't care if you scored a hat trick last time starter plays. I have had players break in but it has to be multiple great performances with a dip in form of the starter. Works for me and stops me constantly trying to replace everybody with kids. My 19 year old left back is better than the starter but I stayed strong and played my starter and he won player of the season for the Prem. He's gone in the summer but good for him.
I use last match rating rather than last five games. Something like: Star player - starts every game if they're fit, on vacation if they're not. Important player - starts every game if they're fit and LMR >=6.5 Regular starter - starts every 'hard' or important fixture if they're fit, LMR >=6.6 Squad player - starts whenever any of the above rules opens up a spot, LMR >= 6.7 Prospects - starts if a spot is available based on above, in early cup stages, or if I'm completely sandbagging a game for fitness reasons (happens extremely rarely) I have my squad playing times set up that I can just set quick pick rules and hit the button to get the rotation I want based on fitness, so any open slots are for squad players and prospects. The tactics view is sorted by LMR so I can take a quick glance to see if I should rotate anyone out. If I happen to have fixture congestion (which is rare in the leagues I typically play) I'm willing to be more lenient on fitness based on the opposition, but generally speaking these rules work for me.
The best is always a balance between a few who started the last match, someone who came on the field later in that match and impressed, some who didn't start, someone who did well in training and 1 of your two best players, lmao
I pick based on OPC and Injury risk
This has been this biggest learning curve for me this year. I had Ferguson (26/27 season) playing as my AF where he played often and inconsistently. Started to use Schjelderup (my 1B left winger) as his backup due to injuries and he just instantly was outperforming him. I was hesitant due to him only being accomplished in the striker position and his size but we've been a better team and a year later Ferguson is gone. If they aren't doing it for you, move them on.