Was wondering if you would mind making a couple of recommendations? Always enjoy your thread and I figure it can't hurt to ask. I enjoying digging around in the data myself but I'm stuck at work so thought I would ask for suggestions for players to check out. Trying to get one more FM16 game in, using Lokomotiv Moscow. Using a data update with some tweaks of my own, including a bit more starting money since Russia basically got ignored on the winter data update.
A bit of context.... Loko have a solid starting squad (by Russian Premier League standards) with only one real notable weakness - the striker position, since Niasse was sold and replaced with a very mediocre winger, Henty (even with a bit of a stat bump, he's still very mediocre). Loko have a promising 17 year striker old but he's not exactly a wonderkid so he probably won't contribute much in the first season and is probably 3 years away from being a legit starting caliber player. Another area I'd like to address is DC - the starting pair are solid and can both play the ball, but they are kind slow. Plus the third CB is actually a DM. So a DC with a bit of pace would be a nice addition as well.
Now my intent is to have 3 different version of a 4-1-4-1 DM tactic - pressing, possession, and counter. I have some decent CM/DM options - Manuel Fernandes (very attacking Portuguese player on high wages), Miranchuk (one of the most promising Russian prospects), N'Dinga (DM but can play CM, well rounded), Mykhalyk (defensive DM, my backup DC), Tarasov (starting DM), and Kolomeytsev (mediocre Russian depth player). Plus I have two fringe prospects I'd like to develop, and should be able to sign a third (Val Gvila, promising Ukrainian CM) but this trio should probably not be counted on to start matches. I'm debating Fernandes and whether to sell him. He's very one-dimensionally attacking, without strong mental attributes. Best attacking player on the squad but I've never got him to perform to a high level in previous saves, likely due to the mental aspect. He would probably perform okay in the possession tactic but he would be a problem in the other two versions. He's a Key Player on high wages, meaning he will want to play every match, and he's 29 years old. He has good starting value but in test saves, I've been able to sell him for about 3m.... not a lot but a bit of additional money. Plus it would give me a chance to feature Miranchuk a bit more, who isn't as good for attacking skills but is much better overall. One concern if I do sell Fernandes - beyond the annoyed fans - is it leaves me a bit light in the CM department.
Without selling Fernandes, the club starts with just shy of 5m Euros. Russia doesn't have foreign player limits except in the match-day squad, and Russian prospects are valued so expensive. I typically look to Eastern Europe and South America for players, though Scandinavia and Africa are also options. Its tougher to get players from most other parts of Europe to come. I typically defer to younger players with good potential, but the ones that are already good enough to start tend to be expensive so I'm open to veterans with quality, good personality, and who could hopefully contribute for a couple of seasons. So all of that for two questions....
1. Suggestions for a starting caliber forward and a backup caliber central defender? For the ST, hard-working and well rounded is preferable, capable of playing as a Complete Forward, DLF, or even DF.
2. Would you sell Fernandes for whatever you can get? And if so, suggestions for a reasonably well rounded CM, who can contribute in both attacking and defensive phases? If I do sell, I would end up with just over 7m Euros total so relatively inexpensive.
