I have just ended season 2018/2019 with my small team from Rotherham - maybe this article may not interest many who already are very experienced players - but I just want to tell you my story and my strategy.
Rotherham are lowest league (4th division if u count Premier League as 1st division). This season I have just won Premier League and came to the quarter finale in Champions League (but got beaten by Ath. madrid) - but quite succesfull.
Promotion Strategy:
* I made short term contracts (2-3 years) depending on age and abilities
* I normally go for free transfers (there are many good people out there)
* I always stay under my budget
* I choose a tactic which support that I con't need a wide troup
* I stick to my tactic (rarely change tactic) - after experimenting I stick to the tactic
Premier League strategy:
* I contract young players (16-21 years old) on long term contracts (as long as possible)
* I ensure that they don't have irritating clauses in the contracts such as "minimum bid clause" or "match highest earner clause". Well in the sometimes it may be neccesary - in that case ensure that it is a true talent (wonderkid) or ensure that the contract isn't that long - and ensure that you aren't going to sign another who will demand very high fee
* I sell middleaged / old players
* I try to keep a small troup as possible (I have succeded well with a troup of 20 - now I probably have 22 players in troup)
Tactic:
I have been playing centered. In my case 4-1-2-1-2 (4 defence, 1 DMC, 2 MC, 1 AMC and 2 ST). I have also been going for a period playing 4-3-3 centered (4 defence, 3 MC, 3 ST). This tactic will ensure that you don't need a wide troup - IMPORTANT I think.
Good talents:
In the beginning where you aren't that famous some of your big talents may want to move to a bigger club. Hopefully you have been able to put them on a long term contract - so when they ask I have simply accepted their transfer and set the transfer amount to an extremly large sum (30-60 mio. UK pounds).
later on I have been signing talented / semitalented players on very cheap contracts - and loaning them out. As long as you have space in your wage budget - this may be an idea as you can sell them later on - or eventually use them.
Contracts:
I am always in good time nenewing my contracts - planning which players I wanna sell - so I keep a young team - and let some of the middle aged / older players sell in good time - so I get some value for them. I am always at least a year a head - so I sell pleayers after season (selling in july if their contract is running out in a year).
Main points in my strategy:
* Young players
* Long term contract on talents (wonderkids)
* No irritating clauses in contracts
* Center tactic (buy players to fit tactic)
* Always stay below wage budget
Specific on my tactic:
I am not sure it matters - it depends on the way you wanna play I suppose
I have choosen a fluid short control tactic. If you are equal to other squads this may result in few goals from your team - but later on you will outplay many teams and scoring massive goals. I am focused on each individual players strenghts (complete forward, advanced forward, deep lying forward, etc.) When I have choosen the player - I set this so it gets maximum points (except defence - where I never put it on limited defender - because I wanna play fluid and narrow.
Result
As for now I can see that I have one of the best teams in premier League - only Arsenal is better. But my average age is 22 where Arsenal have 29,3 - so they may be in trouble soon. I also have a much better potential - since my players all the time are getting better.
As a last comment - I am no expert in tactics - I just wanted to tell you my story and what I have done to make a success with a small team - telling you my story - hope some of you can enjoy playing a small team from the bottom too
Rotherham are lowest league (4th division if u count Premier League as 1st division). This season I have just won Premier League and came to the quarter finale in Champions League (but got beaten by Ath. madrid) - but quite succesfull.
Promotion Strategy:
* I made short term contracts (2-3 years) depending on age and abilities
* I normally go for free transfers (there are many good people out there)
* I always stay under my budget
* I choose a tactic which support that I con't need a wide troup
* I stick to my tactic (rarely change tactic) - after experimenting I stick to the tactic
Premier League strategy:
* I contract young players (16-21 years old) on long term contracts (as long as possible)
* I ensure that they don't have irritating clauses in the contracts such as "minimum bid clause" or "match highest earner clause". Well in the sometimes it may be neccesary - in that case ensure that it is a true talent (wonderkid) or ensure that the contract isn't that long - and ensure that you aren't going to sign another who will demand very high fee
* I sell middleaged / old players
* I try to keep a small troup as possible (I have succeded well with a troup of 20 - now I probably have 22 players in troup)
Tactic:
I have been playing centered. In my case 4-1-2-1-2 (4 defence, 1 DMC, 2 MC, 1 AMC and 2 ST). I have also been going for a period playing 4-3-3 centered (4 defence, 3 MC, 3 ST). This tactic will ensure that you don't need a wide troup - IMPORTANT I think.
Good talents:
In the beginning where you aren't that famous some of your big talents may want to move to a bigger club. Hopefully you have been able to put them on a long term contract - so when they ask I have simply accepted their transfer and set the transfer amount to an extremly large sum (30-60 mio. UK pounds).
later on I have been signing talented / semitalented players on very cheap contracts - and loaning them out. As long as you have space in your wage budget - this may be an idea as you can sell them later on - or eventually use them.
Contracts:
I am always in good time nenewing my contracts - planning which players I wanna sell - so I keep a young team - and let some of the middle aged / older players sell in good time - so I get some value for them. I am always at least a year a head - so I sell pleayers after season (selling in july if their contract is running out in a year).
Main points in my strategy:
* Young players
* Long term contract on talents (wonderkids)
* No irritating clauses in contracts
* Center tactic (buy players to fit tactic)
* Always stay below wage budget
Specific on my tactic:
I am not sure it matters - it depends on the way you wanna play I suppose

Result
As for now I can see that I have one of the best teams in premier League - only Arsenal is better. But my average age is 22 where Arsenal have 29,3 - so they may be in trouble soon. I also have a much better potential - since my players all the time are getting better.
As a last comment - I am no expert in tactics - I just wanted to tell you my story and what I have done to make a success with a small team - telling you my story - hope some of you can enjoy playing a small team from the bottom too
