From Prospect To Star Player

Posted in Player Training | On March 4th, 2008 | By Kazzy

We all want, and sometimes achieve to turn that 17 year old at the start of the game, into the dazzling 22 year old who has all the top teams in the world, nagging at his heels., but ask yourself and others the question.. ‘Do I/you play a part in this players progression?’ If they think about it, the answer you’ll most likely get is, No. That’s the answer you’ll get 9/10 times, as you’ll often find the few who’ll know how to turn the promising youngsters into the best players, but then there are the other players who rely on their ‘Potential Ability’ and so on. This Guide, or whatever you may want to call it - Will hopefully highlight the things you need to do in order for your potential Rooney, to reach that Potential. “See You in a Few weeks Buddy” -

This is the first method we’ll touch on today, Guessed it yet? It’s the ‘Loan Method’.

We all know that a little first team football here and there does no harm - In fact, it’s probably the best thing for a young lads ego and confidence. So Perhaps you’re managing in the higher leagues, and have a player that looks promising in your Youth Squads? Send him out on loan.

First team experience and regular football is the best way for our youngsters to learn. If they’re not in your plans on your senior first team - Don’t be selfish, let them go for a while. If he doesn’t repay you In the future, that’s when you know you should’ve been selfish towards the worthless bastard.

You wont see immediate results, You don’t see immediate results with anything or anyone these days, So this can be repeated over the years, maybe two or three years of going on loan, perhaps the clubs getting better each year, although that’s down to the players ability, The higher the club - the better the chance he’ll have of fulfilling your managerial dreams, as he’s getting a taster of football at the higher levels.

Over time, stats will rise steadily, some more than others, as that’s expected.

At the end of the day, It’s up to you whether you feel the player should carry on at your club, if his progression over the years isn’t what you hoped or you don‘t think he‘ll feature in your team, then you offload him, but that’s a personal matter.

“Now it’s your turn, lad.” -

First team opportunities are a big boost, to any player really, young or old, experienced or non-experienced. Playing a shite team in the Carling Cup? A friendly even? Give the younger lads a shot, whilst still being pretty sure you can still grab a victory at the end of it.

This may not be the most effective method, and probably shouldn’t really be counted as a method, but at the end of it ‘Every little helps’. Perhaps this is best used and put to effect, when your player is at your club, and not involved in any of the other methods mentioned.

“Fancy a few Training Sessions?” -

This is probably the most obvious one, Put them on a designated training schedule that you’ve either set up, or downloaded. This doesn’t have to directed completely at the development in youngsters, it could be used for the first team too, or goal-keepers, or whatever.

Advanced training sessions are always good, Tick the little box in the players profile which shows the ‘effects of training’, if their stats are showing a decline, or little improvement, that’s when you know you’re going wrong.

There are downloadable training schemes available for us to use, some are even concentrating on the progression of younger players, ensuring they’re the best, or at the top of their potential in the following years.

Setting up a desired training schedule doesn’t come easy, It would actually be one of the more difficult things to master whilst managing your desired club, some people even avoid it completely. This will be something I’ll focus on soon, training. That should help in one way or another.

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Those three methods highlighted above would be the more effective methods, over time anyways. The training and Loan methods show huge effects, usually always positive amongst players.

There’s the automatic method, were you depend on the ‘Potential Ability’ and so on, but that’s not challenging at all, is it? Nein. Nor is it really making your job as a manager or coach difficult. Hopefully this’ll give you newcomers to Football Manager some sort of enlightenment or idea on how to make your promising youngsters the stars of tomorrow.

Good Luck!

Written By John 

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