Warm-up

So all smart footballers warm up before they start. Decreases the chance of injury and what-not. In this light, and to help me through the seemingly endless wait for my CD to show up, I downloaded the demo version to get back into it. Check out tactics and stuff.

I think tactically it'll be a choice between a solid, if boring 4132 formation and the more adventurous 3412 that I used to favor back in the day. The advantage of the second one is that I wouldn't have to hunt down full backs, which is a pain in the arse because most of them are crap.

I tried this formation for 16 games with Juventus and only conceded 5 goals, so if you have 3 quality center-backs, you're solid defensively too. Until Paolo Montero gets an 8 game ban for headbutting someone at least. Obviously, this standard of defender will be unavailable to a team in Serie C2, but I think I may have discovered someone who could do an awesome job at that level. A certain Nelson Akwari, 19 year-old American available on a free at the start. Transfer target number 1. Sign him up on a long contract and I'll be laughing.

Also did a spot of research online and was surprised to find that one of my stalwarts from the old game; To Madeira, is considered cheating by many because he doesn't exist. Personally, he's in the game, so I have no problem signing him up. Although literally I may have a problem securing his signature, as many teams in Serie C2 have no funds available to buy players at the start.

To Madeira was a regular in my old Foggia side for 12 years and was top scorer in all but 1. The horrible 3rd season, where successive promotions had left me with a side woefully inadequate for the challenges of Serie B, and relegation was avoided, literally on the last day of the season. It's entirely possible my top scorer that season was a CB, I can't remember.

Anyway, this was supposed to be a brief post, so I'll wrap up. What have I learnt from a brief stint on the demo game? I think I'll be much better at it this this time. I'll have a smaller squad, focus even more on youngsters and not be so harsh on players that look a bit crap. Fabian O'Neill at Juve for example. I remember transfer listing him on day 1 when I played as them back in the day. He's a very competent back-up for Pavel Nedved, I dunno what I was thinking. Maybe this new attitude will prevent me repeatedly bankrupting my new club!