I would like to know the LOD advise
I must honestly admit that you have far more experience in merchandising then I have.
My team hasn't gone through many changes over the seasons at all, so my merchandising was prety stable all the time.
But I think the most important diffrence between obira and the other tea is in deed the drafts.
keeping a draft you made in your own team, helps merchandising (a lot?).
I'm not sure, but I think the effect of having (many) belgian players in the team, weighs less heavy then to keep 1 of your draftees in your team. So I guess if you can keep several draftees , the merchandising might be a lot higher (unless it's not cumulative, and 1 or more has the same effect).
I'm not sure how fanmood works on merchandising (fanmood is strongly affected by loosing games, especialy TV games, rival games or being kicked out of the cup early). But as this already has a big effect on your game rvenue, I'm not sure if this is altering merchandising. Indirect it has an effect, as I believe standings has effect on merchanidsing, and thus, loosing games makes you drop the ranks and loose merchandising. But I'm not sure if tv or rival games have extra effect, I'm leaning towards not.
PR man also definatly has effect, but I don't know how much.
And also having a star player in the team (I think they did this to compensate for the high wages they get, and the more they are lowering those extreme wages, the less influence these men will have no merchandising). I'm not sure it NEEDS to be a NT player, of just a player with enourmous wage would be enough?
That's about all I can say about it. And I'm not even sure how much is true.
They are not your friends; they dispise you. I am the only one you can count on. Trust me.