I've been using Allen T's tweak (page 41 #401 I think), with some happy success. But, like most, even winning is not enough. I find my regista and advanced playmaker get low ratings and they're two position's that I think if you could squeeze more life out of them the formation could be more lethal.
I'm currently playing a joint web game with a friend, we're in our fourth season and I took over at Milan two and a half years ago from Arsenal, having previously been at Ternana and Bresica.
Current starting line up:
View attachment 235884
As can be seen, Cristante and Veratti are the only players avg less than 7. I've read through most of this thread and Allan T couldn't seem to find an answer (if there is one), and I've been trying to think of a way to get the AP playing better - not just a higher rating but assists and goals. Veratti has zero assists in 8 starts, which behind a pacy striker like Vietto I'd expect at least one through ball.
This Seasons results:
View attachment 235883
First thing to add here, the end game for me and my mate is to win Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 first. So, I've been playing my 2nd XI in the UCL - which has worked nice as I've been drawn amongst a seriously hard group. This is also Milans first European competition.
Anyway, The reason I'm posting is, in the last match @ Palermo, we were 1-0 up early, and the game stagnated a little, then my young 18 year old CB got sent off, and I swapped Veratti (AP) for a CB. After this we came to life a bit more, and without any extra attacking instructions. I was happy to let the tactic do its defensive best and crowd the central final third. I think, and could be wrong, and have only this one match to go on, but, but the AP is slowing the game down and drawing passes from near by players as he's in the middle, and passing is set to short and retain. This is acting like a sponge soaking up passes that without him, would be naturally more direct to wingers to the striker, or would allow the attacking players to be more direct in their own play, by dribbling or hitting a cross into the box. I also think that based on the short retained passing, the AP is unlikely to get assists as he won't be advanced enough, early enough to get through balls to the forward, so most/all of his passes will be to the wingers or when the striker has his back to goal.
Below is the movement report from our previous two games:
View attachment 235882
(Palermo left 6th 4-2-2)
(Cesena right 19th 1-0-7)
We can see here, on the game on the left (Palermo, no AP from 30mins on), that both the wingers and the full backs are much more lively in their dribbling, getting to the byline and hopefully behind the opposition defence.
Now, you'll have to take my word for it, as I'm not going to load up the video, but we won 3-2, and our second goal was El Shaarwary cutting in and striking the ball into the corner. I'm fairly convinced that had Veratti been there S.E.S. would have passed instead of dribbling and taking a shot.
So, moving on, this leads me to think that whilst the AP does a very good job, albeit over looked by the M.E. rating, in making and completing passes and recycling play, perhaps he is somewhat wasted and absorbing much of the attacking instincts of those around him.
Which leads to THE big question. What do you do with the AP? A second striker? Perhaps a deep lying forward or false nine? - Will this be the same as the AP but leaving a much bigger game in midfield? Perhaps dropping the AP back into MC and making him AP or DLP. Again, will this have the same effect, but magnified due to his deepness.
I'd love to know if any of you - Allen T? - have had similar thoughts or tried anything like this? I may make a spin off, with a MC to see how it progresses.