spootytown wrote:a. suppose the team (like mine) is very poor in quality and experience. To bring in a top class player, even if he's less than 100% integrated in the team and their style, will be an improvement in talent and experience. For example, a midfield averaging a rating of 55 brings in a player rated 75. Just do the maths: a 75 rated player at 75% is still better than a 55 rated player! So yes, there may be a time of adjustment, but I don't think it needs to be 'painful'.
Yes, but the point here is: to what extent does the arrival of a new player make the team feel like a team (which is my interpretation of "teamspirit")? I'm not saying it won't help them (because it will - though it'll help the team more when the player is completly adjusted), but taking your example to the extreme, signing 11 great players from as many clubs surely doesn't create a better locker room mood than a team would have if they always kept the same players. Take Real Madrid. Back in the "Zidanes & Pavones" days, they had a group of great individuals, but they failed to perform as a team.
spootytown wrote:b. agreed, although again, that might be at that position only. A team bringing in a new striker shouldn't really affect the spirit or morale of a goalkeeper, for example.
Well, obviously. That's why I proposed morale (so it'd affect only some players) instead of teamspirit (which'd affect the whole team)