I just think that's unlogical that it should take him at least one season before he start's to play well? Maybe you are right, I don't know, but I have never experinced something like this before.
I'm at level 7, my average teamrating is 51.1 atm, and I play several formations depending on how my opponent plays. I always play with two CMs at least, in some games I even play with three CM, because my other two CM has corner-kick and free-kick specialities, and they always perform well.