Newbie mistakes in Hattrick

On November 5th, 2011, Hattrick user Mandonio opened a thread in the Hattrick forum so that all users would share their newbie mistakes. That thread became a compilation of errors that many people have made, which we hope will allow new users not to repeat them.

They are the following:

Training

1.1. Taking too long -more than a season- in buying a solid/poor coach. Now you get a passable/poor coach when you start.
1.2. Setting a very high stamina value (e.g., above 20%) even if you don’t play with old players.
1.3. Choosing a formation which does not allow you to maximize your training. For instance, playing 2-5-3 if you train defense.
1.4. Not playing friendly matches.
1.5. Buying old players for all positions, even the one you train.
1.6. Setting the training intensity under 100%.
1.7. (From rqltrqlt) Buying players with very high passing or set pieces skills, but a low main skill.
1.8. (From silva 20) Repeating the same lineup in friendly and league matches. Players only train for up to 90 minutes, even if they play for 180.
1.9. (From ajotta) Buying a coach with high leadership, and/or not distinguishing between experience, leadership and coach level. The most important thing when you are starting out is the coach’s level.
1.10. (From ajotta) Buying lots of young, trainable players, even for positions which you don’t train.
1.11. (From CAT-Licius) Complaining that players don’t gain TSI despite training (if their form drops, so does their TSI even if they have trained).
1.12. Changing your training type every week.
1.13. Forgetting that training takes place on Friday at 01:00 CET, or 00:00 WET. Not on Saturdays, not on any other day.

Finances

2.1. Becoming bankrupt.
2.2. Opening a youth squad or youth academy without having some experience in the game. It’s also important to have financial stability before starting with either of them.
2.3. Fooling around with your staff, hiring and firing them constantly.
2.4. Buying players without looking at their stamina, form or salary.
2.5. Becoming overzealous when bidding.
2.6. (From Spykee) Doing massive stadium construction works or, on the contrary, adding only one more seat.
2.7. (From masdevalenti) Buying players without knowing about player skills and how they contribute to your ratings.
2.8. (From drafte) Not looking at the transfer compare tool.
2.9. (From GEORGE_SM) Playing international friendlies on foreign soil from the beginning.

Matches

3.1. (From VK-Joey Ramone) Believing that HT works just like real football.
3.2. Playing creatively in every match, or setting attack in the middle when your wing attacks are stronger.
3.3. (From hypnotiz) Setting always the same lineup without looking at your rival.
3.4. Playing always Match of the season or Play it cool; in other words, not managing your team spirit.
3.5. (From Cassave) Playing counter-attacks if you know you’ll have the better midfield.
3.6. Paying too much attention to player stars and prediction tools.
3.7. (From Gabroll) Misusing tactics. For instance, attacking over wings without wingers, playing “normal” and not “play it cool” with just one midfielder, etc.

Miscellaneous

4.1. Generally speaking, being impatient.
4.2. Not reading manuals or rules, nor looking at forums or guides.
4.3. Being upset at getting advice or being corrected in forums. Or not asking at all if you have a doubt.
4.4. Calling all your lost games “unfair”.
4.5. Thinking that one of the players you got with your team might play in the U-20 or absolute national teams.
4.6. (From Ricardo2037) Writing in caps.
4.7. (From Marratxi) Believing that players have birthdays as anyone else would. A Hattrick year lasts for 112 days, not 365.
4.8. (From Milovan_Gallo) Not using tools that make your life much easier in HT: PsicoTSI/Foxtrick (buying players, stats, links), HO/HC (match simulators).
4.9. (From Mafedet) If you can get promoted to a higher league, don’t even think about it – go up. There’s always time to go down.