I got to give you cred,
@Gagi, I am still playing with my Brescia and in the beginning of year two. Incredibly hard to do anything. Big kudos to you for sticking and having the patience to manage your teams and running them up that hill.
I used up my entire transfer budget of 8m and feel like I didn't achieve anything with. In particularly, because I am the dumbest person alive. I signed Tonelli, Pardo, Proper, Maroni, Mansilla, Allan, and two regens for my youth team, for free. Then I signed Giannetti, Cortes, Abram, Vignato and Reinier. Balotelli didn't want to extend his contract initially and while he over time became more willing to do so, I did not. I tried everything, but the man is kind of pointless in my save. Since I knew I would let his contract expire I was searching all over the world for a year for a striker that was young, CHEAP and willing to come to us.
Finally I found Cortes and Reinier and signed them come the end of season 1. Then... during the pre-season the game asked me to prioritize non-EU players or something and I couldn't click on anything or chose anything so I just clicked continue. Then I learned that mr smarty-pants had signed too many non-EU players. So I figured - OK - I'll sell some, so I sold Mansilla even though he was actually registered, because I wanted to give his spot to Cortes. That didn't work so then I sold my young CB, my only signing year 1, Salcedo. That didn't work either. So I panicked. Sold Ndoj. Didn't work. Spent weeks trying to send them on loans (Reinier and Cortes). No one wanted them. Some days before the season would begin I went mental. Purchased the in-game editor and shipped Cortes on loan to Parma and Reinier off to Cagliari. So my starting striker/s and/or AMC are now off somewhere else and I am playing my last year backup strikers (last year I even deemed one of them not good enough as my backup and just loaned him out) are now my first choice strikers. I had a budget of 300k left and couldn't find anyone better than Donnarumma and Ayé, who are competing for my striker position.
I am happy though that we survived our first year, ended up 12th. If Balotelli knew how to kick the ball and score from his 2-3 chances 1on1 each game, then I think we would have been more successful and maybe even landed around like 8th or something.
Started second season so and so. Played Crotone in Coppa, first game of the season. Won on PKs with my starting team! Got real scared about how the season turn out considering the team at my disposal (for example, I have no RB backup because I couldn't find one). We went on to lose against Milan at home. Fairly even game though, so that calmed me down. Travelled to Fiorentina where Vignato scored on his debut on over time (90+3) and it was so very much undeserved.
Next game (and last game) was against Napoli at home. Almost everyone ended up with a yellow. Niang ran from outside their box right through the middle and through everyone and scored 1-0 - amazing run where not one single Brescia player even tried to stop him. Occasionally someone rushed beside him for a few meters and then decided he was too pacy so they just started walking. Cred to my GK Joronen for trying to save the ball. Donnarumma then managed to score a wonderful volley in 76th minute and, of course, Vignato scored the final goal in 90+4th minute. Was it a fair result? Well I would argue - Kind of! We always have possession, but like any tiki-taka team we don't always create something from it or we try to pass our way to the finish line instead of just shooting within the PK area. In this game we had three half chances, somewhat possession (58%) and 14 shots (8 on goal). Enough to score a goal, at least. Napoli had 7 shots (4 on goal) but 1 half chance and 1 clear chance. But our shots came in more dangerous areas so I'd say we won somewhat fair and square.
One thing that is I am doing very much wrong in my tactic is that a lot of attacks end up passing up and down and sideways on our right flank just outside PK area. Now, I am ok with that happening every now and then my it's happening too much and it is asking my RB to take on 1on1. I've asked him not to do that because he'd even have a hard time dribble a cone, so he then passes it back to my MCR. He in turn passes it back, and so forth, until my RB is offside. Obviously it is a tactical issue, but do you have any suggestions?
I play 41221.
Sweeper keeper (support)
RB (fullback, attack), CB, CB, LB (fullback/wingback support)
Tonali (deep lying playmaker, defend)
advanced playmaker (attack) - B2B
Winger (attack) - inverted winger (support)
advanced forward
Positive mentality
Shorter passing, pass into space, play out of defense, run at defense, be more expressive, higher tempo
take short kicks, distribute to CBs and FBs and quickly so, counter, counter press
Higher defensive line (changing to normal if they play direct), much higher line of engagement, extremely urgent, prevent GK, tighter marking and offside trap
I am still tossing it around so I am open to everything. didn't use to have a advanced playmaker but my plan was originally to play with Reinier in and AMC but I killed that off obviously. So now I playing Pardo in AP attack/support there. During the games I often also flick from positive to attack if I am going for goal, or to cautious if we're away against e.g. Milan. Since I fancy possession, I regularly change to lower tempo and even shorter passes. I have run at defense on because I am afraid we might be too static with our passing otherwise, but I am undecided.