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Use the filter to narrow down the players displayed in your squad. This will enable you to focus on a section of the squad and assess which areas you need to strengthen if any. Before you jump into making any tactical or transfer decisions you should familiarise yourself with the players at your disposal. Using the filter will simplify that process more easily and identify any positional weaknesses more easily.

Using the tabs above your Squad View will enable you to look more closely at your youth squad, any players that are currently out on loan, the contractual status and wage of each player within your squad, a players statistics and also their physical condition.

On the First Team view it will list your current squad (excluding your youth team). Your current first team squad will be listed in order of position from goalkeeper through to forward. However, you can change the order shown by clicking on any of the markers.

At the top of the current first team squad is the Senior Squad Summary which summarises information relevant to the number of players at your disposal, their average rating/age/wage, your squads total value and your squads total wage.

The minimum number of players you are allowed in your squad is 21 and this can be comprised of first team and youth players, including a minimum of two goalkeepers. This is because on each match day you need to select a starting XI as well as 7 substitutes, leaving spare squad players in case of injury or suspension. Players on loan from your club do not constitute the 21 nor do players on loan at your club.

If the size of your squad drops below the required minimum number of players or goalkeepers (for example due to a player retiring or handing in a transfer request), then at the end of the season your Chairman will buy players on your behalf to take your squad size to the minimum number of players you are allowed.

Please note that this rule also applies to unmanaged clubs within the Game World, but the minimum number of players they are allowed in their squad is 20. It is also worth noting that external clubs are exempt from this rule. However, they are not exempt from this rule if they are competing within an SMFA competition.

If an external club is competing in a SMFA competition you cannot purchase their last goalkeeper or any outfield player if it will take their squad below 18 players. However, you can offer a player as part of the transfer if it keeps the squad at the same level.

Please note that if a player hands in a transfer request due to player concerns they will still leave the club irrespective of the club's current squad size or number of goalkeepers.

Any players that starts out on loan cannot be recalled by their parent club until the end of the season as they are on a season long permanent loan. However, the club that the player is on loan at can terminate the loan agreement at any time.

A youth system or squad is a football term, used to refer to a particular team's youth investment program, which develops and nurtures young (often local) talent, with the intention of using them in the First Team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads in teams with small budgets. Football clubs take responsibility for developing their own players of the future. Some youth systems are classified as football academies.

Within Soccer Manager the primary use of a youth team is to help you organise your squad better. There will not be any specific games played for your Youth Squad. However, any player within your Youth Squad can play for the First Team. Alternatively, you could play a game entirely with your Youth Squad by selecting them from your Tactics page.

Players aged 21 years or below can be moved to your Youth Squad. To do this you will need to access their Player Profile, select Squad Status, then Youth Squad and then click on Confirm Squad Status. Likewise to promote a player from your Youth Squad to the First team you will need to do the last procedure but select First Team instead

Players can be moved between the two squads freely throughout the season. However, at the seasons end any player who is no longer eligible for your Youth Squad will be promoted automatically to the first team.

Your club will also have the option to participate in loans. You could decide to loan players in/out for a number of reasons. You might decide to take a player on loan to help cover an injury crisis or suspension and you might decide to loan out a player for him to gain first team football or to lower your wage bill.

Your club can loan out as many players as you wish. However, there is a limit to how many players you can have on loan though as you can only loan in three players at any one time. Also your club Chairman will not allow you to loan out any player who is classed as an important player within their squad. Your loan offer will not be submitted and it will be blocked immediately. A message will also be displayed stating “(Name of club)’s Chairman will not loan out this player so the bid has not been submitted”.

The financial screen within your squad will show every player within your club (whether he is a first team player, a youth player or on loan) and the finances associated with them. You will see how many players are on your clubs books in total, and you will see your clubs average weekly wage as well as your total wage bill each week. This is important reading as it will have an impact on your clubs budget and finances.

The statistical screen within your squad will show every player within your club (whether he is a first team player, a youth player or on loan) and the various statistics associated with them. The Player Profile page will show an individuals players statistics for the current season as well as his career statistics.

The physical screen within your squad will show every player within your club (whether he is a first team player, a youth player or on loan) and the foot the player is stronger with and the players condition.

The reports screen within your squad will show every player within your club (whether he is a first team player, a youth player, on loan or out on loan) and display any concerns they have developed, any positional or rating changes, their injury status and any suspensions.

Within your own squad you can request a Manager Report from your Assistant Manager and they will then draw up a list of recommendations about which players that they believe you should keep or sell.