My story
Well, after reading all of your stories, I am glad most of you are enjoying the mode as much as I am!
As for me, I have a CF(main)/SS/CF(it's rare for me to be used as anything else than CF, and since Higuan was sold, Real Madrid really need a spearhead) on Real Madrid currently with many soccer superstars (Ribery, Arshavin, Silva). It's really great having to play CF with these guys on SS and WF positions because you see a lot of wonderful goals with great passing, understanding and finishing. They can score goals without me, but it is rare, and usually I have to get the game started with a goal or an assist.
I'm playing on Regular difficulty currently, and realize that is a big mistake considering my goal is to make it as realistic as possible. Like some of you said, a CF in Real Madrid scoring 29 goals in overall 20 games is a bit unreal. And seeing the guy who scored twice as much as games played, I will change to Top Player or Professional IMMEDIATELY. Although it might still continue being easy considering my fellow strikers.
But anyway, I do have a few questions.
What camera do you guys use for BAL mode? I feel like the default camera was containment, since you could never really see who is around you and who you can pass to. It would be more realistic if the camera moved depending on where your character was looking. So I play on Wide cam and it is much easier when looking for a pass or assist, since you see most (if not all) of the choices. There is a bad side to playing on wide cam though, like when you're 1-1 with the goalkeeper and have to finish. I feel like it's more confusing with wide cam. Also, when shooting from far away, you can't even see the goal ( just cross your fingers). This is a big dealing considering that my character is a prolific goal scorer card and has high goal accuracy and power.
When did you guys get called up for international duty and what team were you in then? I'm really confused about what being called on is based on. But concluding on when I was called up (playing at Madrid in my 4th season), I feel like it's a combination of how popular your team is, how well you're doing in that team and your popularity overall. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, going back on the topic of the changing formations problem, it's never happened to me. Did your character's team get new players before the formation switch? I feel like that would be the reason formation would change (so that the manager can make use of all of his new bought players). And, if they were better than you(higher overall stats and popularity), you were probably overlooked on the formation change.
I have a lot of things to say on more of the topics you guys talked about, but I really didn't want to write a very long post (eh, too late but it could have been longer) and bore y'all.