Cloud9

No problem, happy to help out Sounds like you're transitioning to a bit of a Liverpool style of play? My only concern would be that might not play to Kane's strengths (ie. he provides great hold up play / end product) but less pressing than a younger forward. When Liverpool's front was firing a few years back, they had the extremely talented and hard working Firmino up front to knit things together (who played in a mix of the DLF(s) + PF(s) roles imo). In terms of Kane himself, I believe he'd benefit from keeping things a bit wider and having inside runners he can play off. If you do end up going with a gegenpress style, then high tempo, counter press, narrow width etc. makes a lot of sense, but an aging Harry Kane would struggle to lead the press from the front in such a system. A lower tempo is the type of play style (perhaps with hit crosses early from the wingbacks) that could help break down opposing sides. On other roles: The CM(a) has the potential to score a ton of goals with Kane's linking up the play, but I wouldn't want an IF(a) on his side, perhaps try a IF(s) and see how it goes?. My personal preference would be an Winger(a) on one side played on his off foot, who will operate like an IF that will drive to the byline a bit more often. I would also definitely keep Kane as an DLF(a). The role keeps the hold up play that DLF(s) offers and whenever you've got a star player like this (just looking at the stars he looks a much higher level than the rest of the squad), it's never a bad thing to ask him to score some himself. Off foot winger (a) + IF (s) + DLF(A) would be a very dynamic front 3, especially if supported by a runner from midfield. In both systems (esp w/ the gegenpress), with both wingbacks going forward and a fairly attacking front 3, you'll want a more industrious / workman like midfield to do the hard work for the team. I think the BBM is a fine choice for the high quality players, but a CAR pairing would cover the wide spaces if you choose a more attacking role on one of the wingbacks. A simple BWM(s) is another favorite of mine as one of the 8's. I'd save the AP as a utility player for when you need a role playing squad player off the bench to break down a deep sitting opposition. I usually prefer a CM(s) w/modified PIs for a technical 8 as opposed to the AP unless I'm specifically trying to trigger a rotation. Just to summarize on width: fairly narrow if going for a high press (not recommend with Kane up front) , middle of the line (what I'd recommended for now) , and fairly wide (only if the wingbacks are rapid, in which case I'd look to run this with hit crosses early, inside runners will become especially deadly here).

Sounds like Bruce can be a good utility player then to provide cover to the DM/FB. If I remember the pivot had two fairly industrious players in it. This can lead to buildup issues, esp if we've removed Kalala from the AP role to a more attacking runner role. Do you have anyone technical players you could pair with a physical player in the pivot? I would recommend looking at pass maps with Kalala (both as an AP and as an AMC(a) from previous matches). How is the team building up? Who is feeding him the ball? This is a good starting point to address problems like this. On loaning a player out, you're probably alright keeping them at the club. Your squad seems very young and lots of rotation will help develop them. I'd also trust my own development of players over a loan club.

You need to stop asking "is the game broken?" and start asking "how do I pull this off in the match engine?" Until you change this mindset we really can't help you out on the forum. @RDF Tactics is correct here, the tactical setup matters a great deal in what you're experiencing.

On the training schedule: Try to stagger your hard vs easy days. Ie. Working them hard Monday/Wednesday with a down day on Tuesday will help to reduce injuries and also it's how training IRL works Muscles need time to recover and grow stronger before you break them down again. I'd keep training schedules the day after the match, and just manually give the day off to anyone who started. Looks like a natural 8 in a 4-3-3 formation (ie. his best strengths are his running ability in Teamwork, Stamina, Natural Fitness and Stamina). In an ideal world I would just double down on these abilities and have him run himself into the ground for us. Presumably you haven't come across a complete 6 in a youth recruitment recently, so we will be looking at him as a 6 partnered with a Ball playing profile DM or as a FB(s). How good are your current player's in those positions? Is he a backup for both slots or is he going in as a first team starter in right back or DM? Having players that can play multiple positions is useful, but it will dictate how to develop him. Developing his physicals either way makes sense, his positioning can be covered by them and it will develop as he ages anyways. His pace is probably what you want to look at first, he's got excellent acceleration already but it's useless without a decent top gear to hit. After that, I'd likely look to train him w/str + jumping reach. Agi/balance is the third priority I'd give to training onto him. That would give you a strong physical profile for your DM pivot, and add some much needed physicality to midfield. If you intend to play him as a FB(s) the 13 jumping reach will still be decent, but then I'd go after upping his pace and agi/balance first. No matter the role you end up playing him in, I'd recommend training him as a BWM(d). Try to avoid developing his technicals, you'll want to address his shortcomings in his PIs when he plays to get around them. I'd recommend Pass it shorter + dribble less.

I think you would find more success trying to possess the ball with players like this, rather than playing on a mid block counter. Aside from that you've got good enough player's to the point where if the tactic isn't working you know its the tactic This can actually be quite useful when figuring out how you'd like to play, since you don't have to worry about other factors. Aside from that, give a Halfback a go. That will give you what you're looking for from the BWM(d) (playing out wide after) while being more defensively stable. I suspect you could use a bit more hard work in midfield from the 8's (AP + 2 wingbacks going forward is a lot). Also Complete Forwards are a pain and almost impossible to find. Kane has always been a bit slower, perhaps a DLF(a) would give you a much more successful attack and role for him to operate in. Personally I would move the lines up, get rid of the high tempo and counter and stuff like that and play around a bit.

I would recommend taking control of the u18 and micromanaging it as much as possible in the style of your first team if you're doing an academy save. On Kalala, it looks like he came in as a very solid template for an AP, but didn't really develop in the right direction as he grew. The holy trinity of Technique 15, Vision 12, and Passing 12 only progressed by 2 attributes in 5 years, which is a cause of concern. I'd label him as an AP at 15 due to those 3, first touch, decent mentals/flair, and poor physicals. I'd also say it looks like the technicals could be prioritized a bit more in their early development based on that. You can't entirely control the attribute progression, but trying to maximize his strengths instead of his weakness could have seen him progress into a capable AP for your side. His physicals were really poor when he started, so developing into an effective chance finisher/header of the ball would have been almost impossible. I would look up successful template training sessions and then tailor them for the attributes you want to see progressed. I usually use the Blue Attacking/Defending general training for growth along with one match practice + a heavy physical training session on top. I then fill the training schedule with the attributes I want to see developed onto the lads, and enough that offer "individual focus" for them to develop there as well. I also give the day off to anyone who played the day after a match, while the rest of the squad trains. Adequate rest time is essential. You'd need to tailor this to your own approach though. On overplaying a player, for a really young player I think around 15 starts of 60 minute game time is about what you're looking for to ensure development. I would say 35 games for a 20 year old is in the overplaying territory. I wouldn't feel good about asking a young player to start more than 25 games a year until he's a bit older? You can set your individualized training + a role training that highlights the attributes you wish to develop (not just the role you're looking to utilize him in). On figuring out what you'd like a player to develop into, you'll first need your style of play (which in this case you've already established). I quite like a 4-4-2 since the players operate in pairs around the pitch, and it makes space for more limited players as their partner can make up for their shortcomings. How I look at player's is dictated by my defence first midblock and so approaches will vary. I look first at : Physical profile This dictates where he can play on the pitch. Tall players are candidates for areas protecting/attacking central space, slow are primarily more central players, and quick players can use their speed best in wide areas. These are very general takes, but physicals are more inherent and make good starting points. Agi makes him dangerous running at opponents, balance is the defensive counterpart. If you've got both together, they can serve as a substitute for strength. A player w/out a Agi/balance combo or Str will be easily influenced by opposing players and have a difficult time influencing them himself. If you can get a combination of physicals at a young age on a player (tall/fast, strong/fast, agi/strong for example), these can signal key members of the squad going forward. I then look at other attributes that I can't train as easily, again more inherent traits. (Aggression, natural fitness, concentration, flair, bravery, teamwork, tackling etc). After that I look for attributes pairings that I can utilize for a specific job. (agi, dribbling + speed = 1v1 ability, Technique, passing, vision = a playmaker profile, Aggression/bravery/teamwork = enforcer). I don't look at the stars (CA or PA) when doing a first pass on a player. I see what he is now, and what he could do for me if he was playing in the first team. I then try to develop those strengths instead of chasing something that could never materialize. The PA is a good guide after you have established this first bit

Looks like a nice crop coming through Can you go to the development of Kalala over time to see how he's developed? You can see which attributes have progressed on him. In general on youth I prioritize technicals and physicals when they're younger, since mentals will improve as they age. I think streamlining your training/development could help to avoid Kalala situations in the future. If the player can focus his develop to be good at one thing, they can slot into a structured style of play the team has settled into. Or some specifically, focusing on developing a small number of attributes that in combination will make him capable of pulling off one aspect of the game (passing the ball, beating a man in a 1v1, ball winning, working hard, finishing chances etc.) The earlier you can identify what you'd like to mould that player into the better. If he can end up doing 2 things that's an additional bonus, but not the priority Adej looks like he could take over that AP spot, but he'd need to develop his passing/vision significantly to be impactful. I'd also prioritize improving his balance. I wouldn't train any traits onto him since he'll need that development time, although it would be worthwhile to get rid of that "knocks the ball past opponents" trait.

If things aren't working out w/Kalala as an AP (ie. over targeted), an approach to fixing this would be to play w/out a playmaker entirely (and doing a deep dive into PI passing meters within the squad instead). The other option would be to go with two playmakers (DLP + AP w/the SV could be interesting). I would personally start with no playmaker and Kalala as an AMC(a) (to see if we can kick start his poor performances). I would also like to see how many goals he can pick up via this role. Just a quick note on him: I'd consider removing "moves into channels" from him. The channels will take him wide, away from the goal and require an explosive player to successfully exploit the gaps between opposition defenders. You could give Burness a go at the SV role! He looks competent, I would look to upgrade him whenever you can get a more mobile option through the academy. What are your training schedules / squad rotation setups like? My other concern would be overplaying / overworking a 20 year old like Kalala and hampering his development. I would recommend setting up your squad selection with Injury risk, fatigue, and match load viewable to avoid such complications.

I agree with what's been said above, a way to progress the ball from the defence/midfield would help. On the SV, I wouldn't worry about the technicals too much. As long as he's got an engine and decent mentals he will make a great pairing with the DLP. If you keep the static two lines (no attack roles etc.), I'd go with an attack duty TF up top instead of the DLF and hit crosses early in the tactic. This would be pretty route one stuff to the isolated striker partnership.

Well I'm glad things are working, although frustrating that the player we tried to build around is struggling in the system. If he's underperforming like this I would take him out of the AP role for a bit. His mobility is actually pretty decent, it's just the quick turn of pace (which is a different kind of running) that he's lacking at the moment. However if the tactic is working really well overall (9 undefeated) I wouldn't make tactical changes aside from his role at the moment. We talked about a SV(s) for the double pivot above, if you ended up finding a mobile player to perform that role it could give some direct support to Kalala. I think as your star player you need to develop him in an intentional way a little bit before you can really take advantage of his attributes. He's got a great mental skill set to perform either as center of the wheel of your tactic or as a finishing goalscorer. However the 12 passing is a bit low for his ability to dictate the game and the 9 acceleration means he'll struggle to take advantage of his incredible goal scoring mentals to the full extent. Pushing his passing ability or quickness as much as possible can help him get past that barrier that's holding him back. Speed can be capped by player, so going with the passing is a safer bet at 20 years old. I am a bit mixed on this one, because if the speed did work out he could be an incredible goalscorer from midfield. I'd avoid training his dribbling ability, imo I prefer to double down on a player's strengths than have them be pretty okay at everything. You can put in his PIs "dribble less" as a quick fix. If you're watching matches in full, you can also see where things are going wrong for him in game and try to address those directly. Ie. is he performing badly because he's too isolated? Or is it because he's being targeted by the opposition? If he's being targeted then he can still be creating space for the players around him as he struggles, which could explain why the team is winning-- despite the player we've built around failing. He lacks the abilities that would make him press resistant (high anticipation/dribbling/pace) so if that ends up being the case, looking to protect him a bit more could help.

Yea, it's fantastic. High Pressure + Professionalism on the player. I rate pressure quite a bit for defensive approaches, especially on player's like a DLP for a pivot. Only drawback is it's like being "balanced" for Controversy where it's capped at like 1-14 or so? For me that's a non issue though (especially if they happen to be a living saint like Sanz here). Also I say drawback a bit harshly, it's quite nice to have a trait that guarantees he doesn't have high controversy.

What a find! Model Citizen, Evasive and Consistent at 16? I'll take one of those as well please

You could try a Shadow Striker, that's a role whose output will be greatly shaped by the profile you put in the role (consider using an atypical player, not just a goalscorer). I've seen a number of people struggling to get a lone AMC(s) involved in their setups. I've often focused on them as a customizable role where I do a deep dive into the PIs.

Sounds good, as long as there are a couple of players in there with pace already you should be fine. Hmm on player's to move on, I'd consider Vashon. Usually I'd look for player's who can fill a role in the team or perform at one aspect of the game well (even if that's just running with the ball). His attribute combinations don't synergies too well. For example: He can dribble with a great agi/balance combo which is brilliant but he lacks any pace to be a threat to beating his man. He physically can run a bit, but then his workrate is quite low and his mentals don't make him reliable as a soldier. I also don't see a clear creative or goalscoring element to his play. It doesn't seem like he's a good fit now and in the future it's unlikely he'll get there either? Personally I would look to move him on in favor of giving game time (and developmental time) to players who can do a job for you now, either in the starting 11 or as a squad player.

Usually you want your 8's to be a bit more mobile and a DLP(s) comes with hold position. This will create a lopsided pivot when the other 8 goes forward and can disjoint the connection between the midfielders to the frontline. In a 4-2-3-1 you could then utilize two 6's with hold position and end up with an symmetrical pivot instead, which is a much more defensively stable platform for the 10 to perform in front of.

Glad you found a tactical setup that suits what you're looking for, and with Athletico Bilbao! What a cool club they are 4-2-2-2 is interesting this year, I haven't experimented with it too much in a defensive approach, but I really enjoyed utilizing the positional play changes w/ that formation this year. The other trick that can be helpful in pushing the opposition where you want them, esp w/a PF, is to look at the pass maps. If the opposition GK is frequently distributing to one of the centerbacks you can set an OI for show onto his outside foot. This will frequently lead to the play naturally progressing into wide areas down that CBs flank. Just keep in mind that "show onto foot" is a pressing instruction in itself. You could also take a look at a 3-4-2-1, that's a formation that similarly crowds the central space. I've like trap inside + stop crosses in these setups w/tighter marking on the wingbacks to help push the opposition into the central mixer. I'm going to do some playing around with this type of system myself but in an Atletico Madrid 5-3-2 mould post winter patch (which is basically a Simeone evolution of the more classical 4-4-2 we were discussing before).

Swapping the CWB(s) for a Fullback(a) will help to address the compactness in the back 4. You can always bring the width of the tactic down a notch as well if you're finding the gaps between players to still be too wide for your liking. This will address that directly. Wingbacks will naturally sit wider than the fullback counterparts, and the CWB is a very aggressive variant. FB(s) + FB(a) is a dependable combo for a mid block back 4. On the WM, that's an excellent, defensively responsible role with the right player playing it. I personally like to run DWs when trapping outside as they will play more proactively but this is just my preference and others prioritize the WM. Spinazzola and El Shaarawy are fairly offensive minded players. If you don't like how they're playing those roles, I'd recommend getting a soldier out there to do the job. Putting flair attackers in areas you want to funnel the opposition into seems a little counter productive. I agree with @Fox-7- on the CM to DM switch as well, that will help you address crosses once you've actually forced them out wide. On Tis: I'd bin the counter press and reduce the trigger press a notch. This can make you easy to play through on a mid block (it's much better suited to high line approaches). It's a TI I'd use sparingly, usually I watch the match momentum and turn it on for 10-15 minutes where things our going are way. You want to set up compactly and press at the right moments as a team. I don't think you need to change formation as you mention. First of all, the 4-4-2 is very strong this year and utilizing traps as you're attempting to do is key to a successful mid block. The addition of Lukaku as a PF will help a lot in providing some pushback against the opposition (before you had very little pressure on their backline in possesion) and showing them wide. Dybala behind him is still just a warm body out of possession, which might be an area you look to address if things aren't working. It's a big ask for Lukaku to press and be the sole counter attacking threat. Again the profile of player's you put into these role's is really important. If you don't like how the defensive structure is after those tweaks, I would look to add mentally solid players to the midfield (which is where the midblock will primarily be doing it's work) who are capable of enforcing your gameplan on the opposition.

O'Reily looks like a quality player for your squad. Is he part of your starter center back pairing? If not, then I'd say he's a clear upgrade on either player in the current pivot. Rivdan looks like the bones of a solid addition to the squad! He will need to come on a little first though. Zerguinho I'm not sure about. He provides some much needed pace to the frontline. Could be a decent poacher option off the bench if you don't have other rotation strikers? I like the height/acceleration and okay off the ball combination there. Vashon has some nice attributes, but I don't see a clear way of getting the best out of them. Strange profile? Not a player I'd give a lot of game time to. On inconsistent player's: inconsistency doesn't impact physical attributes which can be a nice to keep in mind if you come across an inconsistent athlete! They can still be useful to your squad as you're relying on them for their athleticism, not the technicals or mentals. On that note, I would see if there's some physicality you can bring into the first team. A lot of these player's are pretty one gear / lacking a turn in pace (which can be difficult if it's most of the squad). If you're able to find 2-3 player's with a bit of mobility that would go a long way I think.

It sounds like you're asking your player's to force the opposition wide, but not setting them up to do so. The opposition also have their own gameplan which they are trying to execute, you need to force them to play your game. The issue on the attributes is not the tackling that I'm discussing. It's that you're running a passenger front 2 w/a midfield 4 with very low mentals. Tackling itself as an attribute is usually not make or break to a defensive approach. What is pivotal to a functioning defensive unit are player's with good mentals such as Teamwork, Workrate, Concentration, Anticipation, and Positioning. Your four midfielder's have low mentals for the level you're playing at in those areas and that will mean they will struggle to pull off the tactical instructions you're asking of them as a functioning defensive unit (such as operating together to recover the ball). PIs like mark tight can help funnel opposition areas into the pressing traps you're looking for, again you'll need player's with the mental attributes to reliably pull that off. This is compounded by the fact the front two are letting the opposition do whatever they want on the ball. A compact 4-4-2's forwards harry the opposition, either forcing them wide where you can press in the manner it sounds like you're interested in or the central box. Lukaku is capable of playing as a PF which would be a step in the right direction. I can't tell you for certain unless you post the actual tactic, but it looks like your players are 1. failing to follow your instructions 2. you're not setting them up to impact the opposition enough to change their play.

I would only add traits that directly address a specific weakness or clear strength, more than that can muddy the tactical structure and pull player's out of shape. It also takes away from key developmental periods on youngsters. For example: if you have a quick wide attacker with no end product, "rounds the goal keeper" can be a great addition. It deals with his lack of finishing ability and lets you focus his developmental time towards his strengths instead (compared to improving a weakness which will always be a bit poor). Allan Saint-Maximin was the perfect example of the type of player who, by adding a trait like this, you could turn into a real weapon. Aside from a strength or weakness, the other time I add a trait is when I have a clear tactical system, and the trait furthers that. For example in a counter attacking system asking my spearheading forward to break the offside trap more often can help me apply additional pressure onto the opposition. As a good rule of thumb, if you've got more than 2-3 traits on your player's you're probably overdoing it and causing additional problems to your side.

Height on your DM will help shore things up against counter attacks. Other changes: Have one of your wingbacks sit as a FB(s) and move ur DLP(s) to a non holding role. If you want to keep the DLP, switch to a 4-2-3-1. With this high quality player, a BPD could be a nice addition to the backline. Caicedo is a bit wasted on a CM(a) imo, SV could be a decent alternative. You could always try a flat 3 DMs, which would give you the platform to keep both wingbacks going forward.

So the problem isn't predetermination on why you're conceding leads, it's that you're running a MEZ as part of your double pivot.

Glad to hear things turned around a bit ! Cool to see McCormick get that goal of the month. On the other player's, they are all decent squad options but are really pretty limited: Niko - squad player to control games could come off the bench. The game suggests DLP(s) which I agree with, but basically Churches is a better option to him. Balanced personality isn't great. Boness - I think this guy is okay. Again a decent sub option for a bit of running. His best qualities are his combination of Agility/Balance which serve as a nice substitute for strength. I'd view him as a BWM type profile who can run around and do a bit of damage. Fairly professional is a good personality which will help him. Churchus - I like this guy. A decent profile of passing and running with some strong mentals in there. I'd say he could be a strong DLP(s) or CM(s). Out of the player's we've looked out here, he's a step up in quality. Kalala will need a lot of rest and this guy can come in to control a game, see it out, or put in a shift with some running. Resolute is brilliant. He's got the potential to start some games for you in the pivot where you want some more technical ability. Walsh - looks like a decent body to come in off the bench and do some running / tackling. Similar mould to Boness, I'm really not crazy about some of his mentals though. The one thing I can't see on these guys is their consistency, if they're in the red that can be a real issue for me. How are your youth recruitment/facilities/staff? Making sure you've got everything ship shape behind the scenes may be necessary to pushing on into the premier league. The squad is fairly limited, and while promotion to the Championship is possible once there that's a huge step up. Starting to generate a higher caliber of player will be important to compete there.

So what's the width? It's very difficult to diagnosis if you don't post the tactic in full (TIs etc.), it becomes a bit of a guessing game I agree with @-Jef- sentiments that you'll want higher quality ball winners (mentals + physicals) if you want to win tackles. Specific attribute combinations are especially important in successful defensive approaches. Compressing the lines will help, vertically and horizontally, as will the step up more TI. The staggered front two of Dyabala and Lukaku don't adhere to your principles of being the hardest hitting side in the league. They're essentially two passengers (Lukaku is isolated and will run in behind as an AF and Dyabala offers you nothing out of possession). If the goal of the tactic is to create a strong tackling system, look to a Spanish style 4-4-2 where the strikers and midfielders can then collapse onto the central pressing box. IW(a) is another role you'll want to address if you're after a defensive first approach. Again, you'll need players capable of executing your style of play.

No problem, happy to help out So after taking a look at the two tactics, if you've got the IF scoring a lot + a spearheading forward in the 9, I might be interested in gearing Kalala more towards a playmaker profile. If you stick him on AP(s) with roam behind the attack duty striker, the playmaker tag will help him serve as a ball magnet. This does sacrifice the goal scoring potential of his off the ball / height, but since you're playing on a midblock he may struggle to get into enough goal scoring opportunities anyways. He can still offer some good goal threat from set pieces, which you might think of playing for. The lack of mobility on the double pivot would make it difficult to push the lines higher where his height would lead to more goal scoring options as an AMC. Individualized training on his passing can go a long way into turning him into a more technical playmaker (but his mentals are super for a player who will dictate a lot your play). I'd also increase your passing directness by a notch, Kalala will be a roaming ball magnet capable of bringing the ball down from a more direct pass. Your defensive third doesn't have too many player's capable of progressing the ball via roles, so that can help you prevent getting pinned back which can happen on a mid block from time to time. Hold shape can be tricky in a midblock, I think you want to reserve the option for a counter if it's on (particularly with a quick winger). Simply leaving that TI blank could help make things a bit more dynamic. Dropping the trigger press a notch could be helpful as well. I'd recommend that anyways in a midblock approach, but specifically with a less explosive midfield you'll want to be more selective about when you go to win the ball back. On roles for the pivot, I think I'd prefer the first tactic's options to the second ones. DM(d) + DM(s) is a good utility option, although two DM(s) w/one hold position would be my personal preference for a higher passing option. I think the SV role could combine nicely with Kalala as an AP, but the profile of McCormick is fairly limited and I think he lacks the pace/off the ball to charge up the pitch. DM(s) without holding position is what I'd look for on him. He's dependable but I wouldn't ask too much of him. On the Halfback role, I'm not sure about this role in a double pivot on FM24. I was a big fan of the combo on FM23 where the pivot prevented him from dropping back and he acted as an aggressive ball playing DM/sweeper. In my limited testing w the role in a pivot in the new ME, things ended up feeling a little lopsided/awkward (just something to keep an eye on as you play). More importantly for the tactic is that the HB is a pretty demanding role in terms of attributes. The player utilizes strong mentals/physicality and a decent passing range. Pott is pretty slow and I would change his PIs to pass it shorter if possible, so I'd recommend to just use his him for his height in the pivot. A DM(s) w/ hold position would keep things simple for him as well. His height also gives you the option to trap outside in specific games where's its advantageous, as the DM partnership will be better equipped to deal with crosses played in. Utilizing pressing traps on mid blocks when possible can make a big difference throughout your season, this year especially. On AF vs PF, the PF can help you with executing your traps as well. I'd prefer the combination of the PF leading the line w/ the wide IF(s). He'll also help to screen Kalala which will be important. Aside from those changes I think things look good. I like the balanced approach / mentality and I think it's great that you're playing with all academy players. Whenever I've got more limited player's I'd recommend doing quite a bit in the passing meters of the squad, which can help you preserve possession a bit more efficiently and get the ball to Kalala quickly.