How many signings before chemistry get whacked?

Just a random thought on how this might work.

Im currently playing with Barnet and we've just made it into the Premier League after tearing the Championships to shreds in our first season there.

I usually make about 10 signings every time we get promoted but since this team were so dominant and they performed very well in the cup games against premier league sides, i decided to stick with the majority of the squad. eventually i started the season with 7 of my starting 11 being from my championship winning side (my goalkeeper has been with me since L1!).

January transfer window roles around and quite miraculously, horrible form from Spurs and United means that I go into January 2nd in the league. 1 point behind leaders Man City and 2-4 points clear of Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Utd. Arsenal were one point behind with 3 games in hand.

Because we were doing so well I started dreaming of Champions League football (and the large pay day that comes with it) so I used all of the $20m the board give me signing 4 players to help with my rotation policy. I also sell a bit of dead wood. All the signings were completed on Jan 1.

What happens is I don't pick up a single point in January. The same side who beat Man City 3-1 in Manchester cant beat West Brom and Blackburn at home! The result is I've slid down the table and I'm now in 7th. Now even a Europa League spot seems to be hopeful thinking.

What do you guys think? Have the new players caused a problem? I usually only have this problem when I sign 10 players and throw them all into the starting lineup but my current starting 11 has 4 or 5 new signings at most. and the 5 new players i signed aren't even in the starting lineup.

Yeah I think players still didn't gel together so they could play poorly.

# macdab55 : Yeah I think players still didn't gel together so they could play poorly.

But that doesn't explain the fact that these new players I signed aren't even in my starting eleven. Only one central defender has started a game due to an injury to my regular player.

another problem is language. until now you probably signed mostly UK players who already know english, but now that you are playing in the premier league you have signed non english speaking players and that might be a problem.also, the philosopy, closing down, passing,width, tempo and all the other tactical options might not be suited for the new players.i am managing steaua in the second season and in the first season i have signed 22 players at game start(yes, i've cheated). they started to play very well after the winter brake, the first part of the season, the team was mediocre; i finished the half of the season on the 2nd place and barely managed to qualify for euro league from the second place in my group but after all the players learned romanian and i finaly got the tactics right, i've won the league in the 31st match(34 in total), romanian cup and euro league, beating teams like juventus, inter milano and atletico madrid in the final. the general play in the second part of the season was very dominant. so it's very important for the new players to gel together, learn the language, learn the tactical instrustions of the manager.