i have only ever not finished top of div.3 twice, and i started the game straight from purchase on extreme mode, this is the best way cos although you get hammered in your first few games by the end of the season u will have cracked it. also i have finished top of the 2nd div every time and the first division. the closest i ever got to finishing 2nd was when if i lost my last game and the 2nd place team won i would concede the title. i lost but alas, so did they. this seems to be the problem with the difficulty of this game, the other teams are not consistent enough to challenge you. i think in the new game they should have some kind of system where 2 or three teams start buying players chelsea style if you are winning it by a mile every time and improve thier performances against you.