Please help me cope with Sheffield Wednesday in the EPL.

[^Goose^]

I had a save in FM22 with Wednesday where I just used various RDF tactics since i've never really had much success creating my own. We went up to the Championship in season 1 and it then took three seasons to get promoted to the EPL which ended up as a disaster because I just couldn't get enough quality players in and we got relegated. 

In FM23 I thought i'd have another go and this time i'd have crack at using my own tactic. It's pretty straightforward really, just a slight variation of the 4231 Gegenpress but it's been unexpectedly successful and I dont really know why. We got promoted to the Championship in the first season again with 119 points and to my great surprise we just came top of the Championship in our first season with 101 points.  I really wasn't expecting to go up in the first season and i'd really like to be able to survive the EPL but I suspect my Gegenpress isn't work too well in that league with the players I have. 

I'm going to include screenshots below of the tactic and the 1st choice players i've used  and if anyone could offer any advice on how to use these players in the EPL i'd really appreciate it. Obviously, i'm going to try and strengthen my team but i've only got £35m to spend which doesn't seem like a lot given how many Championship level players I have. Any advice on tactics and recruitment would be great.

 

Goalkeeper:

 

Right Fullbacks: Both garbage.

 

Left Fullbacks: Larios is on loan and I dont think i'll be able to keep him another year, Brown is getting release because he sucks.

 

CB's: Cardoso and Ihiekwe were 1st choice, Diagne and Famewo were 2nd choice (not pictured, being released).

DM's (defensive):

 

DM's (Offensive):

 

AM: Vasco is a loan, would often use Bakinson here too.

 

AMR: I also had Kaide Gordon on loan from Liverpool, dont know if i'll try and get him again.

 

AML: 

 

ST's: Archer is a loan.

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by ^Goose^

[LincolnCanary]

Congrats on the unexpected promotion. You've done well to build a team that seem to fit well with the tactic you've set up with some really underrated players (Sinani is a player I really do rate in the Championship). 

I'd be interested to know your pressing instructions. I don't play with a BWM because I don't like how they aggressively close down players to seek to win the ball back. Paired with a volante (again, not a role I use often, but I understand is another role that seeks space higher up the pitch a little like a box to box midfielder) I would be worried that your team tries to get forward a bit too much and leaves lots of room between midfield and defence? 

Maybe change your BWM to an anchor? Maybe as well drop the AM to MC to have someone else sitting naturally a bit deeper? 

Again, not knowing how much you got to spend over the summer, I think my priority would be the full backs, an anchor and a striker. Make sure you're getting in to the big clubs early and see if you can get some decent loanees in. 

Good luck!