Starting out keep wages low, and don't waste money in friendly competitions. 50-75k is a good wage max for your team. You only need 16-18 players. Get a mix of youth and seniors to ensure your youth get 6.8 or higher ratings, all youth results in low ratings and poor progression. Get the team management skills and Judging Potential first. Build your stadium only after your capacity is well above your current one and only build once, don't build and tear down. Only get astilla, and flauta corporate boxes. Ignore all other seats unless you plan to play your team for at least a year without change GWs or leaving the game. Your main goal should be to accumulate 1-2 star players each season until you have your 5 that you will lock. Don't go overboard with 8-10 good (3.5-4 star) players that you will lose or pay a ton in wages to keep when their contract runs out. Best to key in on 5 players to lock (4.5-5 star players) in key positions of striker, MC or AMC, at least 1 DC best 2 as DC's are really the key to winning, and maybe a AMRLC or GK depending on preferences. Only as GWs get old do the good GKs thin out. At the beginning their are plenty of good GKs, I have won a ton of competitions with Tombolini a cheap vet in goal at the beginning of GWs when I had good DC's.

In a new GW, make sure to get at least 1 of your key players at the start. I.E. one of my favorites is Fazio or Quagliarella, who are amazing players for many seasons. But that is because they fit my system. Check the forums for a list of players not well known and cheap but who are amazing like Jesus Datolo, Juan Cominges, Gioda etc.

Joining an existing GW: look for bargain senior players with low wages (usually 30+ in age but with high 15+ natural fitness) then go the youth route. With no JP sign 10-15 youth on wages maxed at 1,500 and ages 17 or younger to get good ones. By 18 all the better players are snapped up. Until you have JP do not go crazy and bid on a youth for a high wage unless they show obvious signs of potential, i.e. 13+ pace, acceleration, finishing, jumping, heading, composure, off the ball for a striker. Save your money and know that it will take 3-5 seasons to improve. Don't waste money on big wage players and look to bid for a bargain at wage auctions.

My favorite players:

GK – Tombolini, Frey, De Gea
DC – Gioda, Naldo, Fazio, Westermann
DRL – anyone fast with good tackling, positioning, marking, bonus for crossing
DM/MC – Sissoko, Javi Martinez, Edgar Barretto
AMC – Cominges, Montenegro, Gracian, Ben Arfa, Toni Kroos
AMRL – anyone fast with good crossing, pace, acceleration, dribbling, and off the ball – Albin, Christian Rodrigues, Simone Pepe
S – Quagliarella, Fernandinho, Paloschi – I like target strikers mainly and look for heading and jumping in addition to pace, acceleration, off the ball, finishing and composure all 15+