I totally understand that you want it to be perfect and so on but this is getting ridiculous, you´ve been working on it for like 7 weeks now. Will it even be released? Not sure I´ll even bother to play it now.
Shinji Kagawa has made an excellent season in Dortmund, might be something. Would be a great guy to have since he can pretty much play on all the offensive positions, central being his most natural environment.
McEachran is like half Scottish I think?
Otherwise there is McCarthy, Bannan or Cairney.
They´re more creative though. Not ball winners really.
Have a look at Kevin McDonald, I´ve bought him some times as a hard working midfielder.
A bit older then you want but he is pretty good!
I´ve been struggling quite a bit with this as well, been trying to get the best combination of:
float/drill crosses
aim target man/center/far post
So far nothing has really struck me as "the best" combination.
I like the manager part, where you build a team, make suitable tactics for it and takes your team to the top. Also having your young players slowly getting into the team and at some point being a regular starter.
I´m not really that found of the matches itself, other than that I love every bit.