Just started an ML game this weekend (playing on normal level - yes, I'm a complete wuss.. well actually I'm just not that good at the game yet) as Aston Villa (I figured I'd pick the worst-rated team since I'm a bad player to begin with, just to make it more interesting). I finished dead last in my first season in Division 3. I only scored 4 goals in 14 games and allowed something like 23 (I scored the least and allowed the most. Yay me). I did have several 0-0 draws and got spanked a few times as well. Man, those default players are HORRIBLE. Many's the game I found myself cursing out load at the TV because of those guys.
The good news is that I made a run to the finals of the Tiny Cup before losing 2-1 to Ajax (I edited all the team names and players to the real ones). So I got a halfway decent amount of points to get some decent players (most notably some good forwards and defenders). Going into season two in Division 3, my team looks like this:
modified 4-4-2 diamond formation
GK - Chilavert/Schmeichel (sp?)
DF - Two default losers (doesn't matter which ones since they all suck) plus Marquez (Mexico) and Nadal (Spain).
MF - Babangida, Ginola (from original Aston Villa team), Carter (my created player with 99 speed, based on myself
), and some random default loser guy. I modified the midfield and placed the two outside MF's (Babangida and Carter) closer to the sideline, acting as MF/WG's. Their sole task is to make runs down the sidelines and cross the ball into the center for the forwards and OMF (Ginola). The other MF is a defensive stopper (the random dude).
CF - Denilson and Edilson (both from Brazil).
I played a 4-5-1 through the first season, using Edilson as a lone striker. I signed Denilson in the offseason to give some more support to the attack, and also added Marquez and Nadal. Ginola, Babangida, Chilavert, and Carter were all signed during season one. So far I've played one preseason game and won 1-0 (against the newly-relegated Marseilles). So maybe I can be more competitive in season two...
An interesting side note: I use Chilavert to take some of my free kicks and he actually scored our first goal in Season One. Kind of odd looking through the goalscorers list and seeing his name up there as the only GK among CF's and MF's.