[FM17] Sliema Wanderers - A tactical identity, youth only journey in Malta

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SLIEMA WANDERERS
A TACTICAL IDENTITY, YOUTH ONLY JOURNEY IN MALTA

INTRODUCTION

This thread will tell the story of ex-Sevilla FC U19 manager, Ricardo Van Alphen, in his journey to make Sliema Wanderers' youth academy into the Maltese version of La Masia.
There is no specific goal to this save - Just to try and enjoy my second ever try in youth only challenges.

I also want to give a shout-out to @LPQR - His tactic threads and analysis brought me into this save. I originally started a test save with Sevilla, got quite the results over there. This is the first actual test I'm doing with this tactic. 

Enjoy the thread, everyone!

EX SEVILLA U19 MAN APPOINTED AS SLIEMA WANDERERS' HEAD COACH

Sliema Wanderers have confirmed appointing 20 years old Ricardo Van Alphen as the club's new head coach. Van Alphen, who turns 21 in September, has expressed his joy to join his favorite club. He is holding Maltese citizenship, after living in Malta with his family during his childhood. The Sliema Wanderers spokeperson announced the Dutchman arrival and sparked mayhem in social networks. Van Alphen is known mainly for his work as Sevilla under 19's manager, and as an assistant to head coach Unai Emery, who left for PSG at the end of the season.

Sliema Wanderers' supporters can't wait to see Van Alphen's tactical apprach, said to be 'fresh and innovative' by former associates at Sevilla. During his time in Andalusia, Van Alphen favored his own version of the famous 'Christmas Tree' tactic, the 4-3-2-1. The dutchman also seems to take a liking towards the 4-2-3-1, using it as an attacking option against weaker opponents. Van Alphen's tactical method recieved praise from other managers in Spain, such as Zinedine Zidane during his time in Real Madrid Castilla.

Van Alphen once said he considers his tactical mentors to be Marcelo Bielsa and Jorge Sampaoli. Similar to the latter, Van Alphen's football career came into a painful halt when he was 17, playing for Ajax Amsterdam U18s. Since then, the Amsterdam born head coach took the reins at Sevilla's Juvenil C team before getting promoted to Juvenil A following his success. He now starts his first ever senior club job, and we'll definitely follow.

MANAGER PROFILE:

 

Good luck, I suppose!

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Reserved for Tactical Analysis.

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SLIEMA WANDERERS
A TACTICAL IDENTITY, YOUTH ONLY JOURNEY IN MALTA

FIRST YOUTH INTAKE!

All in all, it's not bad. I'll show you the first four, but all of them will probably be signed.

Sean Caruana - Best player of this intake :

Justin Zerafa

Miguel Spiteri

Ryan Zammit Montebello

As for our results? Not bad at all. Currently leading the table with 70 points. Quite surprisingly, my tactic works great.

We are also in the cup semis :

 

That'd be it for now!

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Proud moment for Sean Caruana, making his debut appearance for the senior team at just 14 and 306 days old. Pretty solid for him.

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Seeing as Sliema Wanderers are too easy for me, I'm gonna look for a tougher challenge.