Hattrick beginner's guide

This article aims to give you the basics to build a successful team. Other strategy can be as successful as the one described. This are the ones that have less risk involved and are more simple to understand but remain very rewarding. Take it more as a

Training is the key to success.Choose a training between (training details on  HT wiki):

-DEFENSE (de): 10 players but slower [best formations: 5-4-1, 4-5-1, 4-4-2]
-PLAYMAKING (pm): 6 +4(50%) players, good to increase ratings of the team, but less profitable. [3-5-2, 4-5-1, 2-5-3]
-SCORING(sc): 6 players. [3-4-3, 2-5-3, 3-5-2]

\Set stamina to 10% increase to 12% later if necessary.
\Training intensity: 100%
\Hire a passable coach (Leadership counts, but later on, don't worry about it, begin with poor). Do it straight away if you don't have one. Solid coach will have to be converted, because of the costs later on (after 3/5 seasons).
\Staff: Depends a lot about the level you are playing in. Minimum 3 assistant coach.Two/Three for the others to begin with. Read further in HT wiki
\Play all the friendlies. This is rule number 1.
\Increase your arena if sold out.
\You can't train players for more than 90 minutes a week. Always play different players in training spots when you have 2 games in a week to maximize training. Train the players rigorously every week (most important thing in the game). Do not sacrify training for results. Always use all the training spots.
\Stamina and form which works in a different way compared to primary training is achieved at 75% (estimation)after 1 minute and increase with the minutes played.
\Almost in all the cases is better to play without tactics. Ask around before use them.
\You shoul have at least 2/3 head player and one SP (set pieces) specialist with worldclass+ (mythical+ would be better)
\Do NOT MOTS (Match Of The Season) I know the temptation is huge, but is almost impossible to bring back Team spirit to a decent level (affecting midfield). Always PIC (Play It Cool) if you win 100% sure.

BRIEF UNDERSTANDING OF THE GAME

Midfield is king, but you still need a decent attack and defense to convert and defend chances. To simplify let's say in a game there are 10 chances (normally 10/13). Midfield decide who actually have the chance. So, if you have 55% possession for example, you mostly (randomly choosen) have 7 (and opponent 3) or 6 (an opponent 4) chances. More midfield means more chances for you AND less chances for your opponent. This (hypotetical) 7 chances are divided between central and side (left around 30%, centre 40% (actually a little bit more), and right 30%).  So in this case you can have for example 2-4-1 (left-centre- right attack). Let's take left attack. You have a chance (decided by possession aka midfield). Now you see the value of your left attack (let's say passable) versus his right defense (lets say solid). So your attack is not far but a little bit less strong than his defense. you can probably expect to score around 1 out of 3 chances. Sometimes more sometimes less.

TRAINEES:
Buy 17 years old and 30 days max. Primary (de/p/sc) at least passable,
Sell them at least at brilliant (1.5/2 seasons). Preferably at worldclass and supernatural (2/3 seasons).

Best specialty (in order):
(very important for trainees, less for the rest of the team)
DE: head (much better), powerful. Avoid at all costs unpredictable
PM: head (much better), tech (if with good passing and scoring). Avoid unpredictable
SC: quick, head (same) and decent unpredictable.


Best secondaries (inadequate+) in order: 
DE: pm, winger, passing
PM: passing, defense, winger (useful)
SC: passing, winger (*pm just for technical defensive forwards)

Please note, all other secondaries are irrelevant.

RESOURCES:

team management:
-Hattrick organizer (http://www.hattrickorganizer.net/) * please note that the line up prediction is not updated but can be find (not easily) online (after jul 2010) or
-Hattrick assistent manager (HAM) (www.lokesoftware.dk/ham/)

firefox/chrome add-on:
-Foxtrick (http://www.ht-foxtrick.com/forum/portal.php) - enhance your hattrick experience


live matches 
HT live sight (Ht live) (http://htlivesight.sourceforge.net/) - useful and enjoyable

FORUM:
A useful "non-official" guide is been published on the forum. Search for post N. 15172393 (Global) older version 15036721.1

Go to the forum and search for post N. (13355347.1   (Oceania)
You will find a detailed help guide and answers to a lot of common questions.
 
A nice article is been done by Broughy1322 www.hattrick.org/Community/Press/?ArticleID=8321