Help a brother pick a Starting XI - Brazil

I figured this might be a fun couple of threads to make on here and kill some time for those of you with time off (lucky bastards) over the next week or two. If you are in a tight spot with picking a squad I invite you to make your own thread and just title it with your team. I always find it fun to read what other people think as far as squad building. It also doesn't hurt when you suck... people are more inclined to help you out.

So as Broncos218 mentioned, I am in a pickle at striker match the talent of the rest of the squad. I've tried a bunch of different formations on-line (which I know is a totally different animal, but bare with me) be it your standard 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 (Attack), and 4-3-3 (2). Haven't found the perfect porridge yet though. For those of you ready to say... waaa I have Brazil...waaaaa. Save it. I look at building this team as I would a 2.5*, or a 4*. Building the perfect team is no easy task whether it's talented or not. Looking for constructive criticism here on the project.

If you are too secretive for this thread, I beg you to send me a PM

Here's where I sit so far with the lineup for a standard 4-3-3, starters in bold:

GK: Julio Cesar , Jefferson

LB: Marcelo , Luis
CB: Tiago Silva
CB: Dante , David Luiz
RB: Dani Alves

CDM: Luiz Gustavo , Ramires, Paulinho
LM: Oscar ,
RM: Lucas , Hernanes

LW: Neymar , Willian
ST: Fred , Pato, Leandro Damiao
RW: Hulk , Lucas, Bernard

Bench: Ronaldino, Willian, Bernard, Ramires, David Luiz, Pato

Left Out: CAM Diego, CF Jonas, CB Miranda, RB Maicon, CAM Kaka (painful but it's a numbers game with the GK requirement), CDM Fernandino, CDM Leiva, CAM Alex, CDM Sandro, CB Alex, ST Jo, CAM Coutinho

Id play a 4-1-2-1-2

Neymar and Hulk up top for speed and power.

id play Willian behind them both at CAM.

Oscar and Lucas at RM/LM

CDM is David Luiz - (His stats are awesome, and way too good to be left on the bench - hes actually a great CDM).

Sadly, this leaves Ramires out - although you can play him at LM over Lucas - actually, Id do that.

Back 4 - who cares.

If it was me, take advantage of what you've got (which is plenty, but specifically...) a plethora of creative midfield players. I'd do something to take advantage of the middle of the field, 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1

Might look something like this:

-------------------------------Hulk---------------------------------

----Neymar-------------Hernanes-----------Oscar-------------

-----------------David Luiz---------Fernandinho---------------

---Marcelo---------Thiago Silva------Dante-----Dani Alves--

------------------------------Julio Cesar---------------------------



You'd have no shortage of options to move around your midfield, or move hulk wide right, oscar into the middle, and someone else up top...but with a shortage of strikers this is the way i would go

Actually I was looking at the goalkeepers' you might want to go with Jefferson, because him and Julio have almost same numbers. Jefferson is 1 point ahead of Cesar on reflexes, and 4 ahead on handling, which means he won't be giving rebounds to the opponent much. All the others are about same.

Your RB and LB are set. I like playing with 2 CDMs, so I picked the 2 strongest I CDMs that might do the job for you.

Your RM and LM should be fast and smart, and there you have Neymar and Willian.
When you say Brazil Ronaldinho comes to mind first, so that's why I wouldn't leave him out. He would pass some killer balls to Hulk , and Hulk would finish it.

I hope picture is not upside down

Getting closer... sideways this time

I haven't looked in-depth at the GKs, but it isn't too difficult to compare that position when trying to decide between the highest rated overalls. And I think your defensive 4 of Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Dante, Dani Alves is set in stone.

I think I like Hulk the most at striker. I look at finishing first when I choose between my STs, and he has the highest finishing rating (86) among all Brazilians. Plus he has 92 shot power and 90 strength, which are great to have at ST. And even though he's fast, Brazil has plenty of other quick wingers to choose from, so I don't feel like you'd lose much by not putting him on the wing.

I also prefer 1-striker formations most of the time, and even more so in this FIFA so far. I'd love to see ex-Anzhi man Willian out there for you, and I liked him at both LW and CAM when I played with him (even though he could play RW too since he's right-footed). And looking a little deeper at some of your options, I really like Diego at CAM- comparing him to Oscar, Neymar, Lucas, and Bernard, Diego is the only guy with 80+ ratings in dribbling, long passing, short passing, and ball control (with all but long passing actually 87 or higher), and he still has plenty of quickness. Add in must-start Neymar and I guess I'm leaning toward a 4-2-3-1 form.

At CDM then, I like Luiz Gustavo the most as he has some great defensive ratings, but I'm not too sure who to pair next to him... I guess I'd go with Felipe Melo, as he has good defensive skills too, but I'm not in love with that pick. I guess you could easily switch to more of a 4-3-3 look with Luiz Gustavo as the lone CDM and have Diego at CM next to someone else that has good or decent attacking skills (like a Kaka, Hernanes, Oscar, or Paulinho).

---------------------------- Hulk -----------------------------

---- Neymar -------------- Diego ---------------- Willian ----

--------- Luiz Gustavo --------------- Felipe Melo -----------

-- Marcelo ----- Thiago Silva ----- Dante ----- Dani Alves --

------------------------- Julio Cesar? ------------------------

Diego over Ronaldinho?

I would put Ramires instead of Melo , because his stamina is a lot better than Melo, and he is stronger. Other than those 2 we suggested same players.

Forgot to compare Ronaldinho... I still like Diego a bit more, but it's close. Ronaldinho is trying to approach van Buyten speed as each year passes, but I don't think his speed is of much concern at center mid at the same time. I think Ronaldinho is better on the ball, but it is nice to at least have some pace with only a small loss in ball skills.

Thanks for all the input guys. I like Ronaldinho off the bench for set pieces. He just doesn't have the stamina anymore. Kinda plays the Beck-HAM role on this team for me with all the other skill. I kind of agree with you all with Hulk playing up top.

Now it's just a matter of picking a CDM to play alongside Luis Gustavo and if Lucas gets the RM spot with Willian shifting to CAM. Diego is the wild card as the highest rated player not originally in my starting lineup.

If you decide to go 2 strikers or put Hulk out wide, I really enjoy playing with Pato. Pacey as hell and decent in the air. I scored some great goals with him. Really should have been all-TFS best XI my one season in Corinthians.

Pato is one of a lost love with me. The promise he came with to Milan was one of the biggest catch of your early years... the total package. Then he dates your owner's daughter, gets hurt a lot, develops an attitude, and then you can't sell the guy. Ughhhhh

But he IS fun to play with in FIFA.

Youre silly not playing ramires and david luiz.

I dont care what their stats are ---- in the game they feel like studs....

My problem running the 3-man back in 14 is that you welcome in getting crossed to death. And that's especially the case with the strikers playing in my group.

MiaFLSurf Ramires plays like a deer as a CDM in this game. Makes runs all over the field. Awesome when planned for. I think he forgets his role sometimes, kinda like David Luiz as a CB.

I have had a man crush on Felipe Melo since he played at Juve. He's such a skilled CDM. He's kinda like Hernandes but can defend and tackle like a son of a bitch.

Fascinating discussion so far fellas... Thanks for all the reading.

Late to the party but I'd go with Jefferson at goal, my short time playing 14 I found he gave up less goals than Cesar. I'd go with the back line of Filipe Luis, Dante, Silva and Dani. In the mid go with Ramires and Paulinho as CDM's. Go with Diego at CAM. Put Neymar and Robinho on the wings. Up top go with Diego Costa. Also for subs you can easily bring in Bernard or Lucas for speed in the 2nd half when the other team is fatigued. Bernard is speedy quick. Also would go with Hernanes over Oscar if you do replace Diego.

Diego Costa is Spanish in the game. No Hulk?