Helped needed, formation for England

[mccollio09]

Hi all, I'll give you the story quickly, still on my current Derby County save and now into the 2017/18 season, I applied for the England job and got it. They've got a few decent regens and I'm already experienced with most of the players in the current squad (as I've bought a decent portion of them for my domestic club.)

Anyway, according to the overview screen (and I agree with it completely), the best players are as follows in this order:
1. Wayne Rooney
2. Jack Wilshere
3. Jonjo Shelvey
4. Phil Jones (currently with my Derby)
5. Jack Rodwell (bought for Derby the beginning of current season)
6. Joe Hart

All in all, I believe the squad is a decent enough one to challenge for the World Cup (just as well because that's what the board has given me as an objective).

Now then, the main problem I have, and you could say it is arguably similar to the current England problem of how to play Gerrard and Lampard together, is that two of my best players are virtually identical - ie. Shelvey and Wilshere.

Other problems that I have to bear in mind are: no real wingers (top class wingers) exist at the moment (the ones that were any decent at start of the game haven't realised their potential due to dumbass coaches not using them).

No second striker anywhere near to Rooney's ability, a few half decent poachers but nothing special for international level.

Positive things: 3 class keepers (Hart, Smithies, Butland), good quality marauding fullbacks on both sides, and abundance of good central midfielders for any role.

The best formation I have come up with so far is a narrow 4-4-2 diamond, with the fullbacks attacking to provide the width. The worst thing about this is that, at the moment, I'm going to have to rotate Shelvey and Wilshere in the amc advanced playmaker slot. If anyone can think of a decent formation with player roles included where I can get the best out of Rooney, Wilshere and Shelvey, I'd be very happy indeed

Oh minor point, Rooney is now 32 in the game, something I'll have to consider in a season or two, but world cup is at the end of this one so he should be ok.

 

[DonVilla]

Maybe play Wilshere as a CM, maybe box-to-box or deep-lying playmaker, and Shelvey as AMC?

 

[mccollio09]

Maybe play Wilshere as a CM, maybe box-to-box or deep-lying playmaker, and Shelvey as AMC?

I've considered that, but both Shelvey and Wilshere are **** poor defensively - Wilshere has 7 marking and 11 tackling, Shelvey has 8 marking and 9 tackling. Both of them are awesome attacking so I'd really like to focus on their attacking skills.

 

[mccollio09]

Just tried the tactic that I'm using in my first friendly, 2-0 solid win against Algeria. Ok I guess... good average ratings, decent amount of shot and not too many of them from long distance... passes completed needs to be better.

 

[alisfans123]

look for some good wingers and strikers then play a 4 - 4 - 2 i would

 

[mccollio09]

look for some good wingers and strikers then play a 4 - 4 - 2 i would

There aren't any that are up to scratch, Milner is ok but getting on a bit, there are a few decent players I could use for inside forwards though, but they wouldn't really fit into a 442.

 

[Robert Clough]

Raikan007s tactic should work, you can use wilshere as a winger or even rooney, albrighton etc

 

[macca72]

I would give a 4-2-3-1 a try.

ST - Rooney - Complete Forward (Support)
AMC - Shelvey - Attacking Midfielder (Attack)
MCL - Wilshere - Deep Lying Playmaker (Support)
MCR - Rodwell - Ball Winning Midfielder (Defend / Support)

Then fit the regens in around (probably with either Attacking Wingers or Inside Forwards, whatever you've got).

You've then got the best players in the spine of the team, might even be tempted to focus passing through the middle.

Let us know how you get on...

EDIT: Seen your post regarding no wingers but a couple of decent inside forwards. I would line up as above with Attacking inside forwards and focus through the middle. If Rooney is by far and away the best, you could even try and set him as Target Man (Don't change his role, just select him in the box) and add the pass to feet instruction. Hopefully you'll get him getting the ball to feet and sending through the IF's and Shelvey.