Here's the current first team.
The ideal starting 11 and our team tactics
This is a tactic I created based on Barca and the Brendan Rodgers tiki-taka philosophy. It's the same tactic I use with Sevilla as well. Obviously this is based on my own observations and information found in this...
http://www.thepathismadebywalking.com/005 Tiki Taka Handbook/tiki-taka-handbook.html
My teams dominate possession and my passing stats are through the roof. We also score our fair share of goals, while being solid defensively, mainly because the other team rarely has the ball. Most if not all of the goals we concede are on the counter, which why a good sweeper keeper who is willing to rush out is essentially required. I have Butland who is a great sweeper keeper but I'm slightly disappointed with his rushing out.
Striker-
Advanced forward. Needs to have pace, be a good dribbler, and needs to be able to pass. Target men need not apply. Most of my teams consist of players who are forward/winger hybrids. He'll be in a lot of one on one situations on the break so composure is a plus.
Wingers-
Inside forwards. Basically strikers playing out wide. I would push these guys up as wide strikers, but that restricts me a little more tactically. They cut inside, and rarely cross. Squad wise, my strikers generally have the ability to play as wingers, and my wingers have the ability to play as strikers and I tend to rotate them around and allow them to swap positions in game.
Midfield-
Advanced playmaker (attack). This guy has to, HAS TO, get forward and support the striker. Look how Xavi gets forward for Barcelona and provides a diagonal ball to cutting wingers or puts Messi through. That's what you want. Obviously he's always looking to play a through ball.
Central midfielder (support). He'll sit back a bit and do it all. With him set to support he'll still get forward but he'll also keep with his defensive responsibilities. He still looks to play killer balls.
Deep Lying Playmaker (defensive). This guy will sit in front of the back three and break up the opposition attack. He needs to be really good on the ball as he'll be the one to receive the ball from the keeper quite often and springs the counter attack by playing the ball forward.
Defense-
Wingbacks (support). When we have the ball these guys push forward changing the formation to more of a 3-4-3. If you read up on the Barca philosophy in the piece I linked, you'll see that they tend to simply find wingers and train them as wingbacks. That should tell you all you need to know about their responsibility. They ensure that with the wingers cutting inside, you still maintain width in the attack. They better be quick, and they better have massive lungs.
Ball playing defender (defensive) Daniel Agger fills this role at Liverpool IRL. I'll play a defensive mid here quite often. I don't really care about his size, I just care about his marking/tackling, and can he pass the ball. Basically the centerback pairing is based on the Barca model. One is good on the ball, the other is a physical presence.
Central defender (defensive). I want someone big, strong, and good in the air here. Obviously tackling and marking are key as well. But he doesn't really do much other than defend.
Keeper-
Sweeper keeper (defensive). Needs to be able to distribute the ball. He doesn't hoof it up the field so throwing is key, as is passing. A slow keeper is a death wish if you're playing with a sweeper keeper. Obviously positioning, composure, and concentration are key. Creativity is a plus.
Here are a few of the younger players and how they've developed.
Jack Butland (after a lot of training from Reina)
Raheem Sterling
Jordan Ibe
Dale Sale (newgen, Joe Allen clone)
Jermaine West (newgen)
Jack Scott (newgen)
