In FML 2.0, each side has to pick their starting squad from around 50 pre-selected players. This ensures balance and stops the first managers in from taking all the best players. The initial pools are balanced to give a fairly strong first XI and a bunch of backup players. I have now confirmed FC Vaduz's squad after several different incarnations, and I like the balance of my team. I have focused on players that will fit my narrow 4-3-3 formation and mainly gone for players who can step in and do a job for me straight away. My plan is for my youth academies to start providing youngsters after a couple of seasons who can contribute to my youth structure and later on to my first team. Eventually, I would like to go all home-grown, but that is still a way off!
So here is the squad I chose, along with one trialist I brought in for some competition at centre back, and a Liechtensteiner who I had to bring in for sentimentality's sake!
The star of my team is Ghanaian Prince Agyemang. The versatile 24-year old started off as my supporting midfelder but soon graduated to my front line, and hasn't looked back since, with 8 goals in his last 8 games. Here's how he looks:
The other player worth a mention is veteran Costa Rica centre forward Carlos Alfaro, still going strong at 36 years of age:
With quite a high wage I was unsure whether or not to pick Alfaro in my opening squad, but he has repaid my faith so far with some important goals.
Beyond these two players I like the mix of youth and experience I have. My side are sitting mid-table in their first unofficial competition, which I'm perfectly happy with at the moment. My focus on youth will mean that I won't be looking to start dominating for at least 6 or 7 seasons. And speaking of my youth policy, now is probably a good time to go over it!
My plan, as I said above, is to eventually go all home-grown. I currently have the skills to construct 4 academies (out of a maximum of 6) and have one academy in construction in Ukraine. I'm planning to focus my academies in Eastern Europe so that I only need to learn one set of skills to improve my scouting and academy efficiency, although one academy is ear-marked for Liechtenstein, obviously!
Hopefully, once I get a couple of academies up, I can start selling a few players off in order to help pay for my youth operations. As time passes, I should be able to slot graduates into my youth system (I'm planning on under-17, 18, 19 and 21 teams) and then my full side, lowering the amount of money I need to spend on signing new players.
Like I say, that's the plan, and I really plan on sticking to it. As this blog goes on, I will keep you up to date with new academy graduates and their levels of potential.
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