5. Old Players Are Overpaid
Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesTaylor quotes in his book that he noticed, Liverpool sold their players as they near or pass their thirtieth birthday, and it is true that Bob Plaisley believed that the average First Division football is beginning to burn out at thirty. And to some extent, it is the same in Football Manager: Xavi simply cannot play two games in a week, while Puyol has returned from a lengthy absence of seven months and has just completed one game for my Barcelona side this season. It is interesting to note that we all tend to overpay the old players owing to their past performances. According to a report in 2012 from Fifa TMS (the department of Fifa that studies international football transfers), of all the players who moved to Brazil, Argentina, England, Germany, Italy and Portugal, on an average, they earned their peak fixed salary at the ripe old age of 32. In the game, Xavi and Puyol are earning £235,000 and £170,000 respectively each week but honestly, their output does not match their income level: Puyols fitness is a concern, while Xavi averages a rating of just 6.55 every game. Hence, I am planning to get rid of the two next season as the same wages can be can be invested in younger players and possible replacements.