Using the Auto-Suggested Lineup
Overview
Every time you open the lineup builder for a fixture, Squadd automatically generates a suggested starting XI based on your squad's confirmed availability and each player's primary position. You can accept it as-is, tweak it, or start fresh — but you never begin from a blank slate.
How the Auto-Suggestion Works
When the lineup screen opens, Squadd runs through your confirmed-available players and assigns them to slots in four passes:
- Primary position match — players whose primary position matches the slot (e.g. a DEF player goes to a defensive slot)
- Secondary position match — players whose secondary position matches an unfilled slot
- All-Rounders — players with the ALL position fill any remaining open slot
- Any available player — if slots remain empty, any available player is placed regardless of position
The result is the best position-aware lineup Squadd can build from who said they're coming. The formation you've set as your team default (or the format's first preset if you haven't set one) determines how many slots exist at each position.
💡 The suggestion is based on confirmed available players only. Players who responded Maybe or who haven't responded are not included in the starting XI — but you can manually add them if you expect them to attend.
Accepting the Suggestion
If the auto-suggested lineup looks good:
- Review it on the lineup screen — pitch view shows starting XI, bench shows remaining available players
- Scroll down to check the Projected Minutes and Fairness score
- Tap Save Lineup & Rotation
Done. The lineup and substitution rotation are saved and you're ready for match day.
Making Adjustments
The suggestion is a starting point, not a lock. Common adjustments:
Swap two players — tap one player to select them (they highlight), then tap a second to swap their positions. The fairness score and projected minutes update immediately.
Change the formation — tap the formation label to pick a different preset or enter custom DEF/MID/FWD counts. The suggestion recalculates to fit the new shape.
Lock a player — tap the padlock icon next to any starter to prevent them from being rotated off. Useful for a player returning from injury who needs guaranteed minutes.
See Selecting Your Lineup for a full walkthrough of all lineup adjustments.
Starting Fresh with the 🔄 Button
If you've made several manual adjustments and want to go back to the original suggestion:
Tap the 🔄 refresh icon (top-right of the lineup screen).
This clears every manual swap, lock, and position override and re-runs the auto-suggestion from scratch using the current available player list.
⚠️ There is no undo. All your manual adjustments are cleared immediately. Only tap refresh if you're sure you want to discard your changes.
When the Suggestion Needs Manual Help
The auto-suggestion will always do its best, but there are situations where you'll want to review it carefully:
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| You're short on a position | See Cover by Position — the suggestion fills gaps with All-Rounders or out-of-position players |
| A key player is in the wrong slot | Swap them manually — the algorithm doesn't know your tactical preferences |
| You have a trialist or returning player | They may appear on the bench — drag or swap them into the starting XI |
| Squad is larger than the pitch format | Surplus players automatically go to bench; check the rotation plan is fair |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the suggestion account for which players have played the most minutes this season?
Not currently — the starting XI is decided by position matching, not season minutes debt. Season minutes are used in the substitution rotation plan (to decide who comes off first), but the initial starting XI is position-driven.
A player is showing in the wrong position — why?
Either their primary position on their player profile doesn't match where you play them, or there were too few players at their preferred position to fill the formation. Update their primary position via Squad → Edit to improve future suggestions.
Can I save a lineup without following the suggestion at all?
Yes — swap players freely and save. The suggestion is just a starting point; Squadd doesn't enforce it.
The suggestion put a midfielder in a defensive slot — is that normal?
If you didn't have enough DEF-positioned players confirmed available, the algorithm falls through to secondary positions, then All-Rounders, then anyone. Check the Cover by Position breakdown on the fixture detail to understand the shortfall.