Next season I like to have a solid/solid trainer. I should be strong enough by then to survive the first cup rounds by PiC-ing and I hope to considerably improve my team spirit with a great coach.

Is it still the best way forward to buy a player that fits the requirements, keep him for a season and then make him the coach? Prices are so high that I could imagine that something has changed there.

a solid leadership coach is going to be expensive either way. But finding an old jovial bum that can sit on the bench for a year is the cheaper route.

a semi-usable passable leadership guy can be had for ~ 300k.

I have seen such players with solid/solid at about 500K or a little more some days ago.

AFAICS that is still by far cheaper than buying a solid/solid coach.

I think you shouldn't buy one with passable leadership as they cost the same when making him the coach. And there is no negative effect for non-clowns anymore anyway.

is it worth trying to find a > brilliant experience guy when looking for a coach?

Making a solid coach out of a guy with solid experience:
€ 681.800 - 794.100,-

solid coach with brillant experience:
€ 432.600 - 472.000,-

That means, that you shouldn't pay much more for him. If he costs roughly the same then go for it.

I'm planning on switching to 3-5-2 and aim to be competing in V in England divisions. I have one supernatural, 1 world class and one magnificent striker. Will that be enough? i.e. is that above average?

I don't know the strenght of div V in England. But AFAICS it is not stronger than div V in germany.
I have 1 SN, 1 WC and 1 magn. striker as well (they all have passing) and I am doing fairly well. So, yes, I think it should be enough for you if you plan on playing 3-5-2.

If they have no passing then it might be different, but probably not.

I still need somebody to acept my cdz-cup freidnlies for me or I would have to give up weeks of CDZ-cup. 23-25 an 30-1. any volunteers?

No problemo!

A question: what should I be looking for in offensive set pieces? Only set pieces or scoring as well?

OK I will change the password to the same as last time.

I think both for the indirect stuff