Obviously most of the hints and tips have been covered, but here is what I would suggest:
This post sums up the best option at the start:
Saint Ryan wrote:
Il post a screen shot with my staff
Oh and another thing I beat Leeds 54 - 6 or something so yeah it must be me being Saints
EDIT:
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8816/staffvr0.jpgBasically I've got the best staff to make sure that the players are fit etc.
I make sure that all the players do everything bar the kicking, then have Long Scully Pryce Eastmond doing kicking and the other kicking one.
After a game I straight away get all the players to recover etc and then repeat the process. When someone gets injured you need to re-add them to the training regime.
Hope this helps
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4899/leaguedz2.jpgJust so you don't think I'm lieing
When employing staff, try and find the highest rated staff with the shortest remaining contract with his club. That'll save you a good bit of money
Make sure you keep on top of all your contracts, remember the off season runs from the 10th of October to the 31st of January, so any players and staff whose contract ends between these dates will be released.
Make sure all your stand offs and scrum halves have both tactical and general kicking coaches assigned, even those whose secondary positions are SO and SH.
Try and promote youth and reserves where necessary, it's always an idea to release the junior players who aren't going to make it and recruit more. Rearrange your junior list into preferred positions and only promote the top player in each position. SO, SH, HK and LF are notoriously easy to find as juniors, props are quite rare. Try and get the improvement as close to the potential as you can before promoting. Only promote what you need from the SA to Senior squad, as those who don't play may have low morale and won't sign contracts.
While playing the game, don't start and programs that require your, the admins or Windows permission to start, it'll restart the game and you'll have to reload it (quite annoying when you're 20 points to the good in a game.
It took me a while to realise that if you double click on a players name, you'll be taken to his stats and can have a good look through them. It's not necessary to dive into them too much in easy mode, but could come in handy in medium and hard modes.
Players I've brought in who have done the job:
Kurt Gidley (Cracking fullback)
Rangi Chase (Best played at SO, not a bad hooker, good kicker)
Nate Myles (Strong prop)
David Williams (Free-scoring winger)
Nigel Plum (prop/SR, gets the job done well)
Matt Ballin (Excellent as a rotation hooker, good at Loose)
Cameron Smith (Excellent rotational hooker and a very good SO)
Financially, it's good to get rid of players when they reach 32/33, they're still worth a fair bit and are starting lose their attributes. I've already shipped out Long, Gidley, Gilmour and Wellens.
I tend to have a hooker on the bench, along with 2 props )although some tend to be SR, with PR as their secondary position) and a LF with SR as his secondary position.
It never harms to resort your squad into attribute order (highest first) and pick your squad, subs and reserves that way.
When renewing contracts, try and follow these rules:
First team regular under 32 - 2 years
First team regular 32+ - 1 year
First team squad player under 30 - 1 year
First team squad player over 30 - 1 year
First team squad member you're unsure you want any more - 6 months
Reserve squad member who has potential - 1 year
Reserve squad member with no potential but you're lacking numbers - 6 months
When playing a match, don't start worrying about interchanging a player until the get to below 70%. Luckily the colour of each player changes the weaker he gets during a game, so it's easy to keep tabs.
I think that pretty much covers it. Does anyone know the name of the classical song that plays when the game first loads? I know it's well known, but the name escapes me
