All you can do is to give them really long contracts, try to give as high as possible release clause when they demand it. I like to give high "team of the year" bonus, they most likely won't get it and will make it easier to sign them up.
My goal right now is to build a dynasty with Arsenal. A switch to the Italy's national team 3-2-3-2 formation has produced the goods for me and it may turn into my favorite formation.
I did that on FM12 with Gloucester City, at the time their stadium was closed due to flooding and they played at their main rival's ground. There was a bug and the club couldn't return back to their own stadium. It was very satisfying to finally build my very own stadium. The game is really different at low level. My favorite way of playing is building a dynasty with a single club, changing generations and finding the best youth and developing it. When i get bored with that save i will most likely start a journeyman game. With the mindset that i will go after my own interest (like a real manager would) rather than stick with a single club and try to build it up. It would be cool to go around the main European leagues and win with different teams Mourinho style.
@Toxeia: Its a simulation of the job "manager of a football club". The role can be as expansive and as narrows as you want it to be. In general the manager has the responsibility of picking the players for the first team, picking the tactics and the strategy of the team and the individual player roles and duties. Other aspects are your relationship with the players when you have team talks or private one to one chats. Mainland Europe clubs have a "Director of Football" person who is in charge of negotiating the transfer in and out of players, but most of the time the manager will have control over who goes into the club.
Think of it as the football equivalent of Gran Turismo. FM goes into very deep details of the football world, and everything you do goes into the team's ability to win games. I have been playing it since 2007 and i still find something new to learn. Since then It has enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of football.
Its an emotional roller coaster that punishes mistakes and rewards dedication. Just remember that its not all your fault when you lose, everything happens for a reason and it can be improved.
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