A Few Questions for a Beginner (So that I don't pull a Pompey/Leeds)

[HotFootMcCook]

Hello there again, FM-Base. I've just got a few questions to throw around since this is my first go at FM ever. Loving it so far, but I'm concerned about a few things, namely financial/futureproofing/tactical issues for my Chelsea team.

So far, I've brought in Landon Donovan and Karim Benzema (well that was a mistake) and while the board and the fans are happy, I have a sense that tactically, I'm not playing it correctly. As it stands, I've been employing a 4-3-3 pretty effectively, using a rotation between Drogba/Anelka/Benzema at my striker position and Malouda/Donovan/Benayoun/Zhirkov out on the wings. I feel like my team scores a goal or two and despite substitutions, I can't get too much more out of them, even when I tell them to go on the attack and to push higher up. Any tips in terms of getting the most out of my players?

Next, I just allocated some funds to bring in Jack Rodwell from Everton and am also looking to Yann M'Vila of Stade Rennes if I can get more funds from the board in the 2011 summer. Would these kids be good starts to replacing Frank Lampard in a few seasons?

Next, I've asked and successfully gotten the Chelsea Board to sign off on an improved youth academy and expansions to Stamford Bridge, but I keep raking in about $8-13m losses each month and don't really know how to keep these down. In terms of selling out Stamford Bridge, I think that I'm doing that, but is there a concrete way to ensure that?

At any rate, I'm loving the game so far and I think my best achievement so far was beating Tottenham 1-4 at White Hart Lane...hehe.

Much love and thanks in advance.

 

[iNickStuff]

1. Play Malouda/Benayoun/Zhirkov as either Winger on Attack or Inside Forward on Attack. They'll cut inside and cross the ball in and provide the lone man with aerial ability.
2. Yann M'Vila and Jack Rodwell are players that turn into almost industrial midfielders, and will be good at tackling and marking. Rodwell has the possibility of becoming a playmaker if you train him right. I would suggest Dzagoev, Hamsik and Thiago as replacements.
3. Search for some threads that look on making profits. I know there is one by rafmarinello called Tips on making a Profit.

Hope this helped.