New to the game, any advice greatly accepted

Hi Guys

I recently bought 2014 on some friends advice, I have got my head around the basics ( I think ) but I could use some help on Tactics and good players to look out for, I am playing Bristol City in League 1. Also I am getting a great deal of Interest in Joe Morrell one of My under 18s even when I put his asking price up to over a Million, do i cash in or keep him? City not being exactly flush these days.

With a team like Bristol I would cash in, money evaporates into thin air outside the Premier League so you need to take it when you can.

Wonder if I can get up over 1.5 and then sell, Even clubs like Villa and Spurs are coming in for him. Thanks Man

The best way is to get a reasonable amount up front, say £750k but add in loads of clauses, future fees and sell on percentages. They can really add up if your lad is good enough to rise to the top.

I am already getting over 1 mil offered up front, even when i demand a 30% sell on clause and loan back deal. this kid must be an up and coming wunderkind.
I think the money would be a massive benefit to the team and then I can look for Players to fix the Massive holes in the team

A team of Bristol City's reputation should be capable of being in a similar ball park to most Championship clubs when it comes to transfers, so it should be relatively easy to attract some good players that would thrive in League 1 and possibly even in the Championship as well when you get there. At a glance, the Bristol City squad looks more suited to a bog standard 4-4-2 than anything else. Incidentally, that's ideal for a new player of the game since 4-4-2 is very forgiving and it should be straightforward for you to build an effective system with the shape once you get to grips with the game's interface and mechanics. Since Bristol City is one of the strongest teams in League 1, I would recommend perhaps having an attacking 4-4-2, as well as a controlling 4-4-2 to use when you want to break down a team that's sitting back, and then maybe a defensive 4-1-4-1 or flat 4-5-1 as your third tactic for situations where you want to switch to something more suited to seeing out a game and clinching a tight result. Try to think in terms of real-world football principles when setting up tactics and you really won't go far wrong.

Are you still in pre-season? How do you want your team to play? Would you get a decent % of the transfer fee if you decide to sell Morrell? You can check this on the finances screen where it will say & of transfer revenue made available.

There are many long-term players of the series here who I'm sure will be more than happy to help you get used to the game.

Played a couple of games, seriously considering a restart and looking carefully through every decision before starting out. Obviously I will choose City again, your team is your team after all, through good and bad. I was thinking this would be just like Championship manager from back on the Amiga, way more in depth.Thanks for everything guys. I will check back soon.

When I first played Football Manager (well, Championship Manager before that) I used to always start as a "big club" just so I could get a "feel" of the game and all it's features before deciding to start careers elsewhere and in more "obscure" countries, ones I though I'd never, ever manage in.

In the lower leagues loan are vital can easily keep you up, propel you to glory if you get the right couple on loan. From memory there is a limit to domestic loans so look at outside the UK for extra loanees.

Really huge Thanks for all the Advice everyone, I have restarted and have gone 4 pre season games unbeaten decent 3 and 4 goal victorys over non league sides and a hugely heartening 0-0 draw with premiership Cardiff (very defensive set up, clearing to flanks, tight marking pressure on opponents and high tempo). I got Joe Morrell under Contract first thing as soon as I started, now anybody coming in for him will have to pay £££ My normal setup is a standard 442, wingers and a defensive midfielder, one box to box central midfielder. I have the strange quandry of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to work out up front, attacking midfielder/striker and very talented but i cant quite figure out how to use him best.