Ask UNCLE MAD (UNCLE MAD'S BOX OF CHOCCY'S)
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Tactics 101
1. Do not leave your defense without a defensive screen in midfield.
The most defensive way to do this is by having an anchorman sat in front of your cb(s).Other more complex permutations including eg a dlp defend (or enganche/regista) are not as defensive but offer smoother transitions from defence to attack. Do NOT put a roaming pm in the DM position as he, erm, will roam and provide little if any protection. Also do NOT use the BWM role for such purposes as he will always chase the opposition's ball holding player, so he ll mostly be out of position!
2. Always make sure your system has a logical balance. Do not have too many people defending/supporting/attacking/doing the same thing.
3. Have a 'staggered' midfield. If you have two players there, they should support one another. Its ok having two/more players with same roles (eg dlp) but dont give them the same duties.
4. Try to keep players out of each other's way - eg if you play with wingers dont instruct a cm to run wide with ball.
5. Think where your threat will emanate from. eg: a formation/tactic with only one player on support from mf upwards can easily be negated. So try to offer as many avenues for threats.
For example in a 442 system you could move the rw further up and make him an IF with attack duties, have the lw as a winger support and the two cms a BWM support and a BWM defend (or CM defend) and the two attackers a P attack and DLF support. That offers "playmaking" variety as well as threat potential variety.
Note: In defensive mentalities/formations, forwards on support DONT WORK as they drop deep and your set up is already deep so this results in NO PENETRATION.
5. Learn to use team instructions to achieve different aims - go here (its on FM13 but still very helpful) :Football Manager Touchline Instructions - Adapt Tactics | Passion forFootball Manager
Use the preset team instructions facility in the tactics screen to make quick changes in matches. For example have a "contain" preset to use with contain philosophy near the end of matches when you want to shut up shop.
6. Try to have a solid spine - ie your best players should be gk-rcb or lcb-mf (defend) or mf (support) -cf.
7. Dont be lazy. Or if you choose to be then dont complain. Do proper and meticulous work from day one.
8. Watch the highlights at least on extensive. Understand what they are showing you. eg:
-look whether your players are making space for each other.
-if your players are always going offside reduce their forward runs or press less or drop deeper.
-If your defenders are not intercepting through balls then look for whether your midfield is getting bypassed too early. If yes, make sure you have a staggered midfield and reduce their closing down either from player instructions or/and team instructions.
-If you keep being on the back foot you ll soon be breached. Be proactive.
-Identify weak links in opposition eg injured players/not brave players and tackle hard etc
9. Do not listen to your assman all the time . Even if 5 star, he's still AI.
10. Always set GK's instructions to distribute to cbs (if they re good with ball to feet) or fbs (which seems safer). NEVER to a particular player.
11. Keep things as simple as possible with player instructions (too many instructions confuse the players/ME and/or are counter productive).
12.The matches are NOT scripted - its all YOU!
1. Do not leave your defense without a defensive screen in midfield.
The most defensive way to do this is by having an anchorman sat in front of your cb(s).Other more complex permutations including eg a dlp defend (or enganche/regista) are not as defensive but offer smoother transitions from defence to attack. Do NOT put a roaming pm in the DM position as he, erm, will roam and provide little if any protection. Also do NOT use the BWM role for such purposes as he will always chase the opposition's ball holding player, so he ll mostly be out of position!
2. Always make sure your system has a logical balance. Do not have too many people defending/supporting/attacking/doing the same thing.
3. Have a 'staggered' midfield. If you have two players there, they should support one another. Its ok having two/more players with same roles (eg dlp) but dont give them the same duties.
4. Try to keep players out of each other's way - eg if you play with wingers dont instruct a cm to run wide with ball.
5. Think where your threat will emanate from. eg: a formation/tactic with only one player on support from mf upwards can easily be negated. So try to offer as many avenues for threats.
For example in a 442 system you could move the rw further up and make him an IF with attack duties, have the lw as a winger support and the two cms a BWM support and a BWM defend (or CM defend) and the two attackers a P attack and DLF support. That offers "playmaking" variety as well as threat potential variety.
Note: In defensive mentalities/formations, forwards on support DONT WORK as they drop deep and your set up is already deep so this results in NO PENETRATION.
5. Learn to use team instructions to achieve different aims - go here (its on FM13 but still very helpful) :Football Manager Touchline Instructions - Adapt Tactics | Passion forFootball Manager
Use the preset team instructions facility in the tactics screen to make quick changes in matches. For example have a "contain" preset to use with contain philosophy near the end of matches when you want to shut up shop.
6. Try to have a solid spine - ie your best players should be gk-rcb or lcb-mf (defend) or mf (support) -cf.
7. Dont be lazy. Or if you choose to be then dont complain. Do proper and meticulous work from day one.
8. Watch the highlights at least on extensive. Understand what they are showing you. eg:
-look whether your players are making space for each other.
-if your players are always going offside reduce their forward runs or press less or drop deeper.
-If your defenders are not intercepting through balls then look for whether your midfield is getting bypassed too early. If yes, make sure you have a staggered midfield and reduce their closing down either from player instructions or/and team instructions.
-If you keep being on the back foot you ll soon be breached. Be proactive.
-Identify weak links in opposition eg injured players/not brave players and tackle hard etc
9. Do not listen to your assman all the time . Even if 5 star, he's still AI.
10. Always set GK's instructions to distribute to cbs (if they re good with ball to feet) or fbs (which seems safer). NEVER to a particular player.
11. Keep things as simple as possible with player instructions (too many instructions confuse the players/ME and/or are counter productive).
12.The matches are NOT scripted - its all YOU!
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I luuuuurve PASSION4FM!
A link to PASSION4FM blog and specifically to his brand new player shortlist download thingy:
Best Football Manager 2015 Wonderkids & Promising Talents | Passion4FM.com
A link to PASSION4FM blog and specifically to his brand new player shortlist download thingy:
Best Football Manager 2015 Wonderkids & Promising Talents | Passion4FM.com
How to avoid injuries
1. Forget about the previous versions' training systems and/or habits. FM15 apparently has a new training system that is more realistic in that it is gradual.
2. From the coaches' point of view its no longer ideal to have only one coach doing a specific job but its better to have him doing more than one.
3. Understand that training is gradual. Gone are the days where you started training very heavily from the get go. Instead, do the following:
(a) First week fitness general training - tactics match training (focus bar should be all the way to the left) plus rest after match. Intensity: Average. Actually its even better to start season earlier (you gain a couple of weeks which you can use just for fitness training without playing friendlies)
(b) Second week increase intensity to high
(c) Third week gen training team cohesion - Intensity high. No rest after matches
(d) Fourth week gen training team cohesion - Intensity high + rest after matches.
(e) Fifth week till start of season team cohesion and intensity high + rest after matches
(f) From start of season: intensity low + rest after matches (lose tactics/team cohesion when your tactics bars are 3/4 or as you did in previous versions. Also intensity low).
(g) Do not individually train your first team squad players in pre- season. Very high intensity is too dangerous for injuries and you should avoid it.
(h) MATCH FITNESS is VERY important. Monitor it and utilise the much improved system of utilising the reserve team to build up player's match fitness. If possible DO NOT play people with less than 85 match fitness for more than 45 minutes. Non match fit players are more susceptible to injury.
I initially experimented with individual training. In order to avoid injuries and for the first time in my FM life I was training individuals not on intense (1st season). But took one player at the start of season 2 - who Ive had for a season already trained on average (HOU SAETER)- and given him intense individual training and Im monitoring his injury record to see if individual training should also be gradual - ANSWER IS YES: Start on average for a couple of months with every new first team squad player and only after that increase it to high (pair low team training with high individual as you can tell from all the above)
1. Forget about the previous versions' training systems and/or habits. FM15 apparently has a new training system that is more realistic in that it is gradual.
2. From the coaches' point of view its no longer ideal to have only one coach doing a specific job but its better to have him doing more than one.
3. Understand that training is gradual. Gone are the days where you started training very heavily from the get go. Instead, do the following:
(a) First week fitness general training - tactics match training (focus bar should be all the way to the left) plus rest after match. Intensity: Average. Actually its even better to start season earlier (you gain a couple of weeks which you can use just for fitness training without playing friendlies)
(b) Second week increase intensity to high
(c) Third week gen training team cohesion - Intensity high. No rest after matches
(d) Fourth week gen training team cohesion - Intensity high + rest after matches.
(e) Fifth week till start of season team cohesion and intensity high + rest after matches
(f) From start of season: intensity low + rest after matches (lose tactics/team cohesion when your tactics bars are 3/4 or as you did in previous versions. Also intensity low).
(g) Do not individually train your first team squad players in pre- season. Very high intensity is too dangerous for injuries and you should avoid it.
(h) MATCH FITNESS is VERY important. Monitor it and utilise the much improved system of utilising the reserve team to build up player's match fitness. If possible DO NOT play people with less than 85 match fitness for more than 45 minutes. Non match fit players are more susceptible to injury.
I initially experimented with individual training. In order to avoid injuries and for the first time in my FM life I was training individuals not on intense (1st season). But took one player at the start of season 2 - who Ive had for a season already trained on average (HOU SAETER)- and given him intense individual training and Im monitoring his injury record to see if individual training should also be gradual - ANSWER IS YES: Start on average for a couple of months with every new first team squad player and only after that increase it to high (pair low team training with high individual as you can tell from all the above)
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Cleon is GOD
Look for posts by him in SI forums and here: SI Sports Centre | Home of FM Training and Tactics
Read and learn!
Look for posts by him in SI forums and here: SI Sports Centre | Home of FM Training and Tactics
Read and learn!
Financial Stability Part 1
1. Play at as high a level of football as is possible. Its all good "developing" teams etc but, the truth is, financially, if playing in the lower leagues, you need to get promoted sharpish. The money you make in doing so is worth it even if you drop back down the next season.
2.The higher up your respective country's league system you go, the more money you will make as: prize money, gate receipts, higher valued players etc.
3. DO NOT buy what you cannot afford. Look at your balance sheet and esp whether your club has (large) debts to repay. Resist the temptation to go on a spending frenzy UNLESS you are sure in your ability to win at least one of the cups (even with a low team). You CAN develop a club, build a squad slowly and prudently AND AT THE SAME TIME win things from the get go. To achieve this you "just" need to get everything else right: tactics, training, man management etc. Instalments are helpful but dont overdo it. Use them only sparingly and to bring in players who will help accelerate your growth (who will not necessarily be young). One way to decrease the initial transfer fee of a player is to use the Favoured Personnel mechanism.
Do not fall in the usual trap of thinking that the only way to go forward is to buy only young players. The best way to go forward esp with low league/rep teams is actually to win stuff and you win stuff by having mainly developed older players.
4. If in lower leagues buy more older players than you otherwise would. They cost less and deliver stuff quicker.
5. To get players cheaper try to make friends. Praise other managers as often as you can as, this way they may well accept a lower transfer fee for one oftheir players.
6. Sell players at the right time. Look at your squad and divide it into:
-players you will never sell cos they are young, players you dont mind not making any money out of (ie oldies who are there to help you win stuff, tutor your players, have much better stats than your youths), and
-players who have good value but who you are willing to make some money from cos their value will soon start to drop/keep getting injured/dont fit in your formation etc).
7. If a player isn't playing first team football, he's likely to depreciate in value, so you should be looking to offload him.
8. Dont get emotionally attached to players. If you receive big offers then sell. But ONLY if you have first identified a BETTER player who would cost LESS than what you will receive by selling. Once you accept a bid make a bid of your own for the said player and, only when you are sure you will pay less for him than the money you receive allow the sale of your player to proceed.
9. Negotiate to your advantage. Try to offer lower wages with higher appearance fees, esp for the more injury-prone players in the squad, as well as the backup and rotation players. Before you start negotiating for new contracts for your own players/new players, have a look at the agent's stats to see how patient he is and use it to your advantage. DO NOT FORGET IF YOU VE ALLOWED STUFF SUCH AS MIN RELEASE CLAUSES IN CONTRACTS AS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF DEVELOPING A PLAYER ONLY TO LOSE HIM EASILY
10. When buying a player refer to the scout report and particularly at the wage range suggestion. Keep to it. Do NOT EVER offer match highest earner clauses and try to avoid percentage increases (of more than 15%). Offer useless bonuses such as score at least 25 goals to a cb. You know he ll never do that but apparently he doesnt and gets swayed by such things.
11. Use the principles in 9 and 10 above to construct incentive-based contracts. The easiest way to get a player to accept lower wages especially one you dont plan to sell (any time soon) is to offer him a high sell on (profit) percentage plus perhaps a high loyalty fee.
12.If at a low league team, organise home friendlies against the big teams. Whilst these are often expensive to organise, the revenue generated will more than make up for it, provided you have a big enough stadium. Also/alternatively organise away friendlies to bigger teams (choose which by the fee offered). This is a handy way to increase revenue whatever level your team is at. Do it IN season as well and either use youth/reserve teams if you must or blood in players.
13. Remember you re the boss! Be strict. Dont sell a player UNLESS YOU WANT TO. Even if a player is unhappy/wants to leave/makes a transfer request dont budge if he s somebody you dont want to lose. Keep playing him as you d normally do and sooner rather than later he ll come round. Dont worry about performances - ive routinely had unhappy players score goals get 7.00+ ratings etc.
1. Play at as high a level of football as is possible. Its all good "developing" teams etc but, the truth is, financially, if playing in the lower leagues, you need to get promoted sharpish. The money you make in doing so is worth it even if you drop back down the next season.
2.The higher up your respective country's league system you go, the more money you will make as: prize money, gate receipts, higher valued players etc.
3. DO NOT buy what you cannot afford. Look at your balance sheet and esp whether your club has (large) debts to repay. Resist the temptation to go on a spending frenzy UNLESS you are sure in your ability to win at least one of the cups (even with a low team). You CAN develop a club, build a squad slowly and prudently AND AT THE SAME TIME win things from the get go. To achieve this you "just" need to get everything else right: tactics, training, man management etc. Instalments are helpful but dont overdo it. Use them only sparingly and to bring in players who will help accelerate your growth (who will not necessarily be young). One way to decrease the initial transfer fee of a player is to use the Favoured Personnel mechanism.
Do not fall in the usual trap of thinking that the only way to go forward is to buy only young players. The best way to go forward esp with low league/rep teams is actually to win stuff and you win stuff by having mainly developed older players.
4. If in lower leagues buy more older players than you otherwise would. They cost less and deliver stuff quicker.
5. To get players cheaper try to make friends. Praise other managers as often as you can as, this way they may well accept a lower transfer fee for one oftheir players.
6. Sell players at the right time. Look at your squad and divide it into:
-players you will never sell cos they are young, players you dont mind not making any money out of (ie oldies who are there to help you win stuff, tutor your players, have much better stats than your youths), and
-players who have good value but who you are willing to make some money from cos their value will soon start to drop/keep getting injured/dont fit in your formation etc).
7. If a player isn't playing first team football, he's likely to depreciate in value, so you should be looking to offload him.
8. Dont get emotionally attached to players. If you receive big offers then sell. But ONLY if you have first identified a BETTER player who would cost LESS than what you will receive by selling. Once you accept a bid make a bid of your own for the said player and, only when you are sure you will pay less for him than the money you receive allow the sale of your player to proceed.
9. Negotiate to your advantage. Try to offer lower wages with higher appearance fees, esp for the more injury-prone players in the squad, as well as the backup and rotation players. Before you start negotiating for new contracts for your own players/new players, have a look at the agent's stats to see how patient he is and use it to your advantage. DO NOT FORGET IF YOU VE ALLOWED STUFF SUCH AS MIN RELEASE CLAUSES IN CONTRACTS AS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF DEVELOPING A PLAYER ONLY TO LOSE HIM EASILY
10. When buying a player refer to the scout report and particularly at the wage range suggestion. Keep to it. Do NOT EVER offer match highest earner clauses and try to avoid percentage increases (of more than 15%). Offer useless bonuses such as score at least 25 goals to a cb. You know he ll never do that but apparently he doesnt and gets swayed by such things.
11. Use the principles in 9 and 10 above to construct incentive-based contracts. The easiest way to get a player to accept lower wages especially one you dont plan to sell (any time soon) is to offer him a high sell on (profit) percentage plus perhaps a high loyalty fee.
12.If at a low league team, organise home friendlies against the big teams. Whilst these are often expensive to organise, the revenue generated will more than make up for it, provided you have a big enough stadium. Also/alternatively organise away friendlies to bigger teams (choose which by the fee offered). This is a handy way to increase revenue whatever level your team is at. Do it IN season as well and either use youth/reserve teams if you must or blood in players.
13. Remember you re the boss! Be strict. Dont sell a player UNLESS YOU WANT TO. Even if a player is unhappy/wants to leave/makes a transfer request dont budge if he s somebody you dont want to lose. Keep playing him as you d normally do and sooner rather than later he ll come round. Dont worry about performances - ive routinely had unhappy players score goals get 7.00+ ratings etc.
Financial Stability Part 2
1. If you are a lower league club or a club that is poor and/or who is in one of the 2/3*** leagues, try to find parent clubs. Choose wisely (look at the reserve/youth teams to see if there are nice players to loan) AND remember the parent club will also pay you an annual fee.
2. With lower league teams there's no need to go overboard with the number of scouts. Have 3/4 only and utilise wisely. Use the search engine extensively to find players.
3. Forget about youth coaches. Your coaching allocation will be low with lower league teams so bring in vanilla coaches only. Also, no need to make people head scouts and head physios as they command bigger salaries. Dont skim on fitness/physiotherapy though especially if you have a small squad cos you dont need to be having too many injuries. No need to have more than one coach fo reach area and sometimes even one for two at first.
4. Get players in on frees with the intention to sell them asap.
5. From the staff responsibilities page go to personal assistant and have the offer player for 200% of his value chosen. On the first day of each transfer window offer the players you want to sell with this in use. Every day then reduce fee you offer him out by a few bob. This is the RAIKAN method of selling players -linked in a post below - and you will be surprised how many players you will sell for double/near it of their value.
6. Win stuff. Especially cup matches or even cups. ASAP. This will mean you will be participating in Europe which means more money.
7. Dont feel you need to spend all the transfer budget. Remember that in FM15 team cohesion is paramount and that bringing in more than 3/4 players at a time will mean team will take much longer to gel and the results will suffer. Also,small squads perform better in FM. Balance is the key based on how many trophies you ll be competing for.
8. If you have any transfer budget left then put it all on wages as you seem to get interest this way.
1. If you are a lower league club or a club that is poor and/or who is in one of the 2/3*** leagues, try to find parent clubs. Choose wisely (look at the reserve/youth teams to see if there are nice players to loan) AND remember the parent club will also pay you an annual fee.
2. With lower league teams there's no need to go overboard with the number of scouts. Have 3/4 only and utilise wisely. Use the search engine extensively to find players.
3. Forget about youth coaches. Your coaching allocation will be low with lower league teams so bring in vanilla coaches only. Also, no need to make people head scouts and head physios as they command bigger salaries. Dont skim on fitness/physiotherapy though especially if you have a small squad cos you dont need to be having too many injuries. No need to have more than one coach fo reach area and sometimes even one for two at first.
4. Get players in on frees with the intention to sell them asap.
5. From the staff responsibilities page go to personal assistant and have the offer player for 200% of his value chosen. On the first day of each transfer window offer the players you want to sell with this in use. Every day then reduce fee you offer him out by a few bob. This is the RAIKAN method of selling players -linked in a post below - and you will be surprised how many players you will sell for double/near it of their value.
6. Win stuff. Especially cup matches or even cups. ASAP. This will mean you will be participating in Europe which means more money.
7. Dont feel you need to spend all the transfer budget. Remember that in FM15 team cohesion is paramount and that bringing in more than 3/4 players at a time will mean team will take much longer to gel and the results will suffer. Also,small squads perform better in FM. Balance is the key based on how many trophies you ll be competing for.
8. If you have any transfer budget left then put it all on wages as you seem to get interest this way.
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Playing strikerless formations is very interesting. Have a look at these babies:
Counterpressing variations | Spielverlagerung.com
The Whitehouse Address: Football's New Era - The Rise of 'Counter-Pressing'
Utilizing Pressing in Football Manager | Passion for Football Manager
And this idea for TIs
Mentality: Attacking/overload
Fluid
Counterpressing variations | Spielverlagerung.com
The Whitehouse Address: Football's New Era - The Rise of 'Counter-Pressing'
Utilizing Pressing in Football Manager | Passion for Football Manager
And this idea for TIs
Mentality: Attacking/overload
Fluid
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Dunno how many of you know about this but there's a nice free FM magazine out there called CLEAR CUT CHANCE with contributors who KNOW a LOT about FM. You can find it here:
Clear Cut Chance Magazine
Clear Cut Chance Magazine
epic terrorist
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Will defo give this a look, me and the mrs just moved in together so pc is not setup but will be in the next week or so, so this will give me some homework in the meantime thanks a lot mate for sharing.
How not to concede in the last minutes of matches
The most popular approach to wind down the clock and hang on to a result is to adopt a Contain strategy together with a combination of team instructions, such as Drop (much) Deeper, Stay On Feet, play narrower and close down (much) less (also waste time - retain possession).
But actually such changes may actually be counter-productive. Also you sometimes dont necessarily need to be so defensive. It may even be making it more likely that the opposition will score. Dont forget that "retain possession" in combination to those other instructions equates to dithering on the ball, so if your team is not technically up to it or can be out muscled by the opposition it may be a recipe for disaster - better to employ the clear ball to flanks instruction instead provided you have wingers/ifs.
Before I move on to discuss the matter further I want to share what I found with the FM15 tactics system in this respect: On top of the above team instructions Going very rigid and the additional instructions: stick to positions and be more disciplined are extremely effective.
The main issue to bear in mind when adopting an extremely defensive mentality is that it invites pressure. The opposition is allowed to advance at will quite deep in your half until they are met with any resistance (drop (much) deeper/ close down (much) less/ stay on feet exacerbate this). So, this approach should be far from your mind if you have had the upper-hand for the vast majority of the match, or if the opposition happens to be a significantly weaker team that have been defending up until this point. If you have been able to control the match and peg the other team back, why would you drop back and finally giving them enough space to create chances?! In this situation, a slightly reduced mentality (ie from attacking to standard) and a modified approach geared towards keeping the ball can more than suffice. Not only is this likely to be a more practical way of thwarting the opposition under the circumstances, but it's also likely to represent less of a change compared with your starting tactic. Also, sudden changes in mentality are problematic. So, if you started the match with a positive approach involving an Attacking or Control strategy, your team may struggle more when suddenly switching to a Contain strategy, much more so than if you were going from Standard to Contain, for example.
Not only is the team being asked to do something drastically different, but it's also inviting unnecessary pressure on top of that. This logic strongly advocates only slight modification when you're defending against a weaker team. So, possibly a Standard mentality, alongside instruction such as Get Stuck In or Retain Possession. This would ensure that your team eases off slightly and comfortably holds onto the ball, allowing you to still control the game and at the same time be more than stable enough defensively, even if its at the expense of attacking intent. The logic in not dropping back more than that is that if the smaller opposition haven't been able to be particularly threatening throughout the game, then they're going to struggle just as much to do so now, even when getting more players forward. No need to back off and gift them the space on a plate that they've not been able to find otherwise.
Naturally, it's different if you are the smaller team attempting to maintain a flattering scoreline against better opposition, or if you have been outplayed and outfought (in which case as early as possible in the match look to substitute in stronger/more aggressive players and have the team tackle and press more and harder and close space -esp midfield space- better and in this respect tweaking your formation may also help). If you still have struggled to contain a team over the course of a match, it's inevitable that when they turn up the pressure you'll be even more overrun than you were before the final minutes. THIS is when you should drop back and shut-up-shop (but do it carefully, gradually and only for the last 5-10 minutes). There is little to no chance of suddenly pressuring the opposition in ways that you've been unable to previously, so better to get men behind the ball, maintain the team's shape and try to weather the storm by being as difficult as possible to break down. So, a Contain or Defensive strategy, supplemented by instructions such as Drop (much) Deeper,Close down (much) less, Stay On Feet, and Play Narrower is advisable.
An alternative way of approaching this stage of a match is to be counter-attacking. Generally speaking, this method will only be as effective as your team is at counter-attacking in general. So, if you haven't built a tactic around counter-attacking and been successful with it, this approach is most likely not your best option now when such an approach would need to be at its most effective. In general I dont like counter tactics and cant seem to make them work in FM15. Anyway, a Standard, Counter or Defensive (depending on how far you're deviating from your starting tactic, as well as your team's performance on the day) mentality, in addition to the team instructions of Drop Deeper, and Clear Ball To Flanksand Pass Into Space in order to encourage longer balls that play your wingers into space, which can be especially effective if the other team has adopted a desperate 4-2-4 shape.
Another thing to do is to be reactive to what the opposition does in another way: you must in any case always have the opposition formation on screen during matches. Usually when the opposition is chasing matches it changes formation to extremely attacking such as 424. This presents a golden opportunity for you to take control of the most crucial area: the midfield. So change your own formation to pack the midfield so that the opposition two players there will be inundated by your players. When opposition teams try to break you down they do so trying to exploit width and space on the shoulder of your defenders. So look at your left defender and right defender (turn both of them into full backs and have them on defend with instructions to hold position).
The most popular approach to wind down the clock and hang on to a result is to adopt a Contain strategy together with a combination of team instructions, such as Drop (much) Deeper, Stay On Feet, play narrower and close down (much) less (also waste time - retain possession).
But actually such changes may actually be counter-productive. Also you sometimes dont necessarily need to be so defensive. It may even be making it more likely that the opposition will score. Dont forget that "retain possession" in combination to those other instructions equates to dithering on the ball, so if your team is not technically up to it or can be out muscled by the opposition it may be a recipe for disaster - better to employ the clear ball to flanks instruction instead provided you have wingers/ifs.
Before I move on to discuss the matter further I want to share what I found with the FM15 tactics system in this respect: On top of the above team instructions Going very rigid and the additional instructions: stick to positions and be more disciplined are extremely effective.
The main issue to bear in mind when adopting an extremely defensive mentality is that it invites pressure. The opposition is allowed to advance at will quite deep in your half until they are met with any resistance (drop (much) deeper/ close down (much) less/ stay on feet exacerbate this). So, this approach should be far from your mind if you have had the upper-hand for the vast majority of the match, or if the opposition happens to be a significantly weaker team that have been defending up until this point. If you have been able to control the match and peg the other team back, why would you drop back and finally giving them enough space to create chances?! In this situation, a slightly reduced mentality (ie from attacking to standard) and a modified approach geared towards keeping the ball can more than suffice. Not only is this likely to be a more practical way of thwarting the opposition under the circumstances, but it's also likely to represent less of a change compared with your starting tactic. Also, sudden changes in mentality are problematic. So, if you started the match with a positive approach involving an Attacking or Control strategy, your team may struggle more when suddenly switching to a Contain strategy, much more so than if you were going from Standard to Contain, for example.
Not only is the team being asked to do something drastically different, but it's also inviting unnecessary pressure on top of that. This logic strongly advocates only slight modification when you're defending against a weaker team. So, possibly a Standard mentality, alongside instruction such as Get Stuck In or Retain Possession. This would ensure that your team eases off slightly and comfortably holds onto the ball, allowing you to still control the game and at the same time be more than stable enough defensively, even if its at the expense of attacking intent. The logic in not dropping back more than that is that if the smaller opposition haven't been able to be particularly threatening throughout the game, then they're going to struggle just as much to do so now, even when getting more players forward. No need to back off and gift them the space on a plate that they've not been able to find otherwise.
Naturally, it's different if you are the smaller team attempting to maintain a flattering scoreline against better opposition, or if you have been outplayed and outfought (in which case as early as possible in the match look to substitute in stronger/more aggressive players and have the team tackle and press more and harder and close space -esp midfield space- better and in this respect tweaking your formation may also help). If you still have struggled to contain a team over the course of a match, it's inevitable that when they turn up the pressure you'll be even more overrun than you were before the final minutes. THIS is when you should drop back and shut-up-shop (but do it carefully, gradually and only for the last 5-10 minutes). There is little to no chance of suddenly pressuring the opposition in ways that you've been unable to previously, so better to get men behind the ball, maintain the team's shape and try to weather the storm by being as difficult as possible to break down. So, a Contain or Defensive strategy, supplemented by instructions such as Drop (much) Deeper,Close down (much) less, Stay On Feet, and Play Narrower is advisable.
An alternative way of approaching this stage of a match is to be counter-attacking. Generally speaking, this method will only be as effective as your team is at counter-attacking in general. So, if you haven't built a tactic around counter-attacking and been successful with it, this approach is most likely not your best option now when such an approach would need to be at its most effective. In general I dont like counter tactics and cant seem to make them work in FM15. Anyway, a Standard, Counter or Defensive (depending on how far you're deviating from your starting tactic, as well as your team's performance on the day) mentality, in addition to the team instructions of Drop Deeper, and Clear Ball To Flanksand Pass Into Space in order to encourage longer balls that play your wingers into space, which can be especially effective if the other team has adopted a desperate 4-2-4 shape.
Another thing to do is to be reactive to what the opposition does in another way: you must in any case always have the opposition formation on screen during matches. Usually when the opposition is chasing matches it changes formation to extremely attacking such as 424. This presents a golden opportunity for you to take control of the most crucial area: the midfield. So change your own formation to pack the midfield so that the opposition two players there will be inundated by your players. When opposition teams try to break you down they do so trying to exploit width and space on the shoulder of your defenders. So look at your left defender and right defender (turn both of them into full backs and have them on defend with instructions to hold position).
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How not to concede in the dying minutes - part deux
If a Standard strategy is used, it makes more sense for your team to not be backing off so much.
In contrast, if you choose a Counter strategy, lower closing down becomes more important, so drop down (much) less should be considered, as this mentality requires more emphasis on team shape than Standard. With Defensive though, you may as well use both drop down (much) less and Stay On Feet. After all, your players are sitting so deep that they may as well be looking to force the other team to break them. Otherwise, if midfielders in particular are too readily leaving their defensive positions, opposition midfielders and forwards may find enough space to go unchallenged and have enough time to produce dangerous shots just outside the penalty area. Allowing such attacks defeats the purpose and compromises the strength of sitting so deep within your own half.
With the right balance,you'll defend opposition attacks and give them something to struggle with on the other end. If you don't have a direct threat that's causing problems to the opposition then you're simply allowing the opposition to swiftly get the ball back, allowing them to attack you again. Its not only a question of altering team/player mentality and instructions however. Only doing that is dangerous and may well result in you conceding. Equally if not more important are formational tweaks. You should be watching matches at least on extensive and have the formation of the opposing team on screen at all times. This is to know immediately about formational changes they may employ so that you can negate or even exploit them.
For example:
a. If you play with wingbacks / fullbacks with attacking /automatic duty it would be good between the 80th and 85th minute to pull them back to be in line with your cbs and have them DEFEND. Even more drastic but quite effective is to also pull the "wingers" back to the wb position so that you have two banks of players on the left and right side of your defence. But NEVER forget having alsways a player who can get the ball and move it (swiftly) to opposition territory as explained above.
b. If the opposition possesses good wingers/employs wing tactics such as 442/you see a wing thread, then identify it and maybe have your own wingers man markt heir wingers (or if their wingbacks are the threat point have them man mark them instead). Of course if you employ Ifs, in order to do that you need to change them to wide players instead so that they occupy the same areas as their target players.
c. If the opposition changes formation to one using an am then pull one cm back, make him dm or anchorman and have him man mark their am.
d. The most common AI tactic to seek goals is to employ a 424. This is very easy to tackle. All you have to do is a. above plus pack the midfield by either employing a 4141 or a 451 (but not with a flat 5 cos that is not conducive to defending better nor to having an outlet for your own attacks). Also remember that a mf which has a dlp (even on defend) as well as an AP will hold the ball better.
e. Make sure whatever you do to leave attacking outlets of your own as if you dont have any whenever your players have the ball they wont have players in mf/attack seeking openings resulting instead in loss of possession. Generally speaking the one time when you unavoidably MUST be REACTIVE to what the opposition does is when you are trying to hold on to a slender lead.
If when watching matches you see the other team attacking in waves and yours defending/being unable to keep possession you are deffo not playing well defensively. This means that you are employing the wrong approach combination towards safety (the wrong tactics for the match) and its an indication that alternative tweaks are necessary.
Shutting up shop in a few clear steps:
1. There is no substitute for watching matches on extensive at least. If there is a time to be reactive to what you have seen its in the last 10 minutes of matches.
2. Bear in mind what all instructions actually do. Close down (much) less for example can be a dangerous counter productive instruction to suddenly introduce. If you have quick defenders to the other teams not so quick attacking players or if you are the much more reputable team DO NOT employ this shout in its extreme version (ie much less).
3. Following on from 2. above, do not blindly introduce stuff that make your team more defensive/less ambitious. Always do it in relation to what you have seen in the match as well as your players vs opposition players.
4. On the 80th minute pause the match and make your formation more defensive: eg pull back wbs to fb position giving them defend instructions/pull back a cm sit him in front of your cbs make him an anchor man etc.
5. On 84/5th minute pause match again and give defensive instructions:- contain mentality drop deep (much deeper if you are the weaker team)/narrower/retain possession/stay on feet/close down (much) less/waste time/play even safer/be more disciplined/stay in position/clear ball to flanks and exploit flanks. If you dont have wide players in the tactic you are using then pull one player on the wing so that you can have an avenue to release pressure cos otherwise you will be hemmed in as your players wont have anyone to pass the ball from deep/defence and clearing ball to flanks has more chance of releasing players for counter attacks.
6. Dont use counter unless you re sure you know what you re doing as its very difficult to make it work.
I employ the above and I very rarely concede in the last 5/10 minutes as aresult - not only that but mostly I score! (mishaps do happen but then THATS FOOTIE for you!).
If a Standard strategy is used, it makes more sense for your team to not be backing off so much.
In contrast, if you choose a Counter strategy, lower closing down becomes more important, so drop down (much) less should be considered, as this mentality requires more emphasis on team shape than Standard. With Defensive though, you may as well use both drop down (much) less and Stay On Feet. After all, your players are sitting so deep that they may as well be looking to force the other team to break them. Otherwise, if midfielders in particular are too readily leaving their defensive positions, opposition midfielders and forwards may find enough space to go unchallenged and have enough time to produce dangerous shots just outside the penalty area. Allowing such attacks defeats the purpose and compromises the strength of sitting so deep within your own half.
With the right balance,you'll defend opposition attacks and give them something to struggle with on the other end. If you don't have a direct threat that's causing problems to the opposition then you're simply allowing the opposition to swiftly get the ball back, allowing them to attack you again. Its not only a question of altering team/player mentality and instructions however. Only doing that is dangerous and may well result in you conceding. Equally if not more important are formational tweaks. You should be watching matches at least on extensive and have the formation of the opposing team on screen at all times. This is to know immediately about formational changes they may employ so that you can negate or even exploit them.
For example:
a. If you play with wingbacks / fullbacks with attacking /automatic duty it would be good between the 80th and 85th minute to pull them back to be in line with your cbs and have them DEFEND. Even more drastic but quite effective is to also pull the "wingers" back to the wb position so that you have two banks of players on the left and right side of your defence. But NEVER forget having alsways a player who can get the ball and move it (swiftly) to opposition territory as explained above.
b. If the opposition possesses good wingers/employs wing tactics such as 442/you see a wing thread, then identify it and maybe have your own wingers man markt heir wingers (or if their wingbacks are the threat point have them man mark them instead). Of course if you employ Ifs, in order to do that you need to change them to wide players instead so that they occupy the same areas as their target players.
c. If the opposition changes formation to one using an am then pull one cm back, make him dm or anchorman and have him man mark their am.
d. The most common AI tactic to seek goals is to employ a 424. This is very easy to tackle. All you have to do is a. above plus pack the midfield by either employing a 4141 or a 451 (but not with a flat 5 cos that is not conducive to defending better nor to having an outlet for your own attacks). Also remember that a mf which has a dlp (even on defend) as well as an AP will hold the ball better.
e. Make sure whatever you do to leave attacking outlets of your own as if you dont have any whenever your players have the ball they wont have players in mf/attack seeking openings resulting instead in loss of possession. Generally speaking the one time when you unavoidably MUST be REACTIVE to what the opposition does is when you are trying to hold on to a slender lead.
If when watching matches you see the other team attacking in waves and yours defending/being unable to keep possession you are deffo not playing well defensively. This means that you are employing the wrong approach combination towards safety (the wrong tactics for the match) and its an indication that alternative tweaks are necessary.
Shutting up shop in a few clear steps:
1. There is no substitute for watching matches on extensive at least. If there is a time to be reactive to what you have seen its in the last 10 minutes of matches.
2. Bear in mind what all instructions actually do. Close down (much) less for example can be a dangerous counter productive instruction to suddenly introduce. If you have quick defenders to the other teams not so quick attacking players or if you are the much more reputable team DO NOT employ this shout in its extreme version (ie much less).
3. Following on from 2. above, do not blindly introduce stuff that make your team more defensive/less ambitious. Always do it in relation to what you have seen in the match as well as your players vs opposition players.
4. On the 80th minute pause the match and make your formation more defensive: eg pull back wbs to fb position giving them defend instructions/pull back a cm sit him in front of your cbs make him an anchor man etc.
5. On 84/5th minute pause match again and give defensive instructions:- contain mentality drop deep (much deeper if you are the weaker team)/narrower/retain possession/stay on feet/close down (much) less/waste time/play even safer/be more disciplined/stay in position/clear ball to flanks and exploit flanks. If you dont have wide players in the tactic you are using then pull one player on the wing so that you can have an avenue to release pressure cos otherwise you will be hemmed in as your players wont have anyone to pass the ball from deep/defence and clearing ball to flanks has more chance of releasing players for counter attacks.
6. Dont use counter unless you re sure you know what you re doing as its very difficult to make it work.
I employ the above and I very rarely concede in the last 5/10 minutes as aresult - not only that but mostly I score! (mishaps do happen but then THATS FOOTIE for you!).
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Very useful advice on tactics:
Pairs & Combinations Part 1: Central Midfielders
Pairs & Combinations Part 2: Central Defenders
Pairs & Combinations Part 1: Central Midfielders
Pairs & Combinations Part 2: Central Defenders
epic terrorist
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just wanna say mate clear cut chance magazine is excellent even the older versions cannot put it down!
I know! I keep going back to it and re reading older editions. Fifth edition is taking forever.
Cleon Hobson especially is THE FM god!
Btw, just to clarify: I AM NOT IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH CLEAR CUT CHANCE MAG! Im just directing people's attention to what I think is excellent and very helpful work.
Second season syndrome avoidance technique
- Remember that chances are that in the second season your reputation will have risen, so now your team is much more of a threat in the eyes of your opponents.
This may have the following results:
1. Teams will often be happier to take a draw against you.
2. Deeper defensive lines: the space behind the lines that you were exploiting will get smaller.
3. Man-marking of your star players will be much more common - so tweak your tactics to have more varied danger sources (see comments in other posts in this thread).
One cannot be too specific about any recommended tactical changes because you must consider what will work best for the players at your disposal, but I would advise doing the following:
(a) Only recruit players you are sure you need.
(b) Look for players with good Creativity, Determination, Off The Ball, Composure, Vision and Anticipation, as these are the types of player who will help you to stay in games, break down narrow defences and retain possession.
(c) Look for pace as well - even where you wouldnt think that its that important (eg starting xi/back up cbs with less than 11/12 pace should be avoided. The ideal is at least 14).
(d) If you got promoted in the previous season, you have turned from one of the top teams in the previous division to one of the lesser ones in the division you now find yourself in so: tweak your tactics to reflect this.
(e) Understand your reputation has changed and play according to it.
(f) It is reasonable to want to build on your squad after the first season in a better divison (or after a season of success) but being too busy in the transfer market will damage your team more than improve it. Do NOT go on spending sprees. Rather decide what you need and buy the best players you can for it. Buy quality not quantity. Not more than 3/4 players per summer (up to two in January). Even if you do buy with restraint you still have to introduce your new players gradually (one per starting lineup for a couple of months plus one more as a sub).
(g) Conversely dont offload too many players at once. Remember TEAM COHESION is very important. Aim for a gradual shift towards a more balanced team. A team which stays together for long will play better than a team which keeps changing even with the introduction of better players. Language is also very important. It takes players about 6 months to learn the language and this will affect their performances.
(h) Look at the candidates you want to buy and esp their character. Dont bring in disruptive players.
(i) Are players who previously played tremendously now looking lazy or demotivated (watch the games closely: who is misplacing passes they shouldnt, who is getting caught on the ball, who is skying shots from 6 yards?)? Remember that motivation issues emanate from the way you approach press conferences, team talks, private chats and media comments as well.
(j) Match train (and general train) to combat specific issues. Or try attacking training for longer periods as Ive found this works quite well.
- Remember that chances are that in the second season your reputation will have risen, so now your team is much more of a threat in the eyes of your opponents.
This may have the following results:
1. Teams will often be happier to take a draw against you.
2. Deeper defensive lines: the space behind the lines that you were exploiting will get smaller.
3. Man-marking of your star players will be much more common - so tweak your tactics to have more varied danger sources (see comments in other posts in this thread).
One cannot be too specific about any recommended tactical changes because you must consider what will work best for the players at your disposal, but I would advise doing the following:
(a) Only recruit players you are sure you need.
(b) Look for players with good Creativity, Determination, Off The Ball, Composure, Vision and Anticipation, as these are the types of player who will help you to stay in games, break down narrow defences and retain possession.
(c) Look for pace as well - even where you wouldnt think that its that important (eg starting xi/back up cbs with less than 11/12 pace should be avoided. The ideal is at least 14).
(d) If you got promoted in the previous season, you have turned from one of the top teams in the previous division to one of the lesser ones in the division you now find yourself in so: tweak your tactics to reflect this.
(e) Understand your reputation has changed and play according to it.
(f) It is reasonable to want to build on your squad after the first season in a better divison (or after a season of success) but being too busy in the transfer market will damage your team more than improve it. Do NOT go on spending sprees. Rather decide what you need and buy the best players you can for it. Buy quality not quantity. Not more than 3/4 players per summer (up to two in January). Even if you do buy with restraint you still have to introduce your new players gradually (one per starting lineup for a couple of months plus one more as a sub).
(g) Conversely dont offload too many players at once. Remember TEAM COHESION is very important. Aim for a gradual shift towards a more balanced team. A team which stays together for long will play better than a team which keeps changing even with the introduction of better players. Language is also very important. It takes players about 6 months to learn the language and this will affect their performances.
(h) Look at the candidates you want to buy and esp their character. Dont bring in disruptive players.
(i) Are players who previously played tremendously now looking lazy or demotivated (watch the games closely: who is misplacing passes they shouldnt, who is getting caught on the ball, who is skying shots from 6 yards?)? Remember that motivation issues emanate from the way you approach press conferences, team talks, private chats and media comments as well.
(j) Match train (and general train) to combat specific issues. Or try attacking training for longer periods as Ive found this works quite well.
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AVOID EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWNS FROM CRUSH DUMPS, FREEZES, PARSING ERRORS ETC
Time and again I see people doing stories, long saves etc and then GET heart broken cos their save is corrupted etc. Truth is that unless you ve got loads of RAM (and god knows maybe even if you do) you WILL suffer from many of these. So here is some advice on how to avoid it:
1. Parsing errors - these are curable. Google it and you ll find the solution. It involves deleting the contents of a file once in a while. Easy peasy.
2. Game freezes, crashes:
a) If game refuses to move past a date try holidaying. Usually does the trick.
b) Generally do the following:
i. Dont load up useless leagues (eg no China if you dont intend to managethere). Also note that you still get the main players if you load a league but"view only".
ii. From preferences choose a weekly 3 file rolling save. This way if one of the files corrupt you have another one starting from a few days before.
iii. This wont be popular but it helps A LOT: from preferences - match, untick show stadium and show scenery.
iv. DO NOT under any circumstances use the PC to do other stuff such as browse the internet while waiting for game holidays to pass.
v. If you play and then leave the game for longer than about half an hour dont pick up where you started from when you return. Rather quit game (not to start screen but fully) and reload.
These will all save you a lot of tears. I know it cos they' ve saved me the same!!!!
1. Parsing errors - these are curable. Google it and you ll find the solution. It involves deleting the contents of a file once in a while. Easy peasy.
2. Game freezes, crashes:
a) If game refuses to move past a date try holidaying. Usually does the trick.
b) Generally do the following:
i. Dont load up useless leagues (eg no China if you dont intend to managethere). Also note that you still get the main players if you load a league but"view only".
ii. From preferences choose a weekly 3 file rolling save. This way if one of the files corrupt you have another one starting from a few days before.
iii. This wont be popular but it helps A LOT: from preferences - match, untick show stadium and show scenery.
iv. DO NOT under any circumstances use the PC to do other stuff such as browse the internet while waiting for game holidays to pass.
v. If you play and then leave the game for longer than about half an hour dont pick up where you started from when you return. Rather quit game (not to start screen but fully) and reload.
These will all save you a lot of tears. I know it cos they' ve saved me the same!!!!
Sunny Nayak
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Thanks a million for all your useful and extremely insights on tactics, training setups and these minor but very tips for the best FM experience..! Cheers... 
Thanks a million for all your useful and extremely insights on tactics, training setups and these minor but very tips for the best FM experience..! Cheers...
My pleasure always mate!
Cheap players good for top leagues
Ørjan Nyland - 700k purchase price (pp)
Pavel Kadeřábek - D(R)/WB/M/AM(R) - 3.4million pp.
Rasmus Thelander - CB
Tore Reginiussen - D(C) 475k pp . Already at peak, so should a a solid signing for lower league sides.
Fabian Noguera - D(C) -3.7m pp.
Samir - D(C) 8m pp. Used him with UTD. He was great
Lucas Olaza - D(L)/WB(L), 900k pp.
Edson Mendoza - D(R)/WB(R) 70kpp.
Benjamín Vidal - D(C)/SW 3.1m pp.
Andrea Ferrando - D(C) 525k pp.
Aïssa Mandi - D(R)/D(L)/WB(R)/WB(L) 8m pp.
Dennys Quinonez - DM/D(C)/M(C) 900K pp.
Kristoffer Ajer - DM/M(C) 10k only! only 16 yo
Laste Dombaxe - AM(R)/M(R)/AM(C)/ST(C)
Isaac Sackey - DM/M(C)
Daniel Amartey - DM/D(C)/M(C) 6m Awesome.
Federico Bravo - DM/M(C) 4.3m.
Glorgian de Arrascaeta - AM(C)/ST(C) 3m
Robert Piris - DM 45k PP.
Leandro Desábato - DM/M(C) 2.8 million.
Adam Vass - DM 425K Awesome stats. Powerhouse of a player
Simone Muratore - M(R)/AM(R) 375k pp.
Grzegorz Krychowiak - DM/D(C)
Alexandru Tudorie cf 1m PP
Guido Carillo cf 2.5m pp
Ørjan Nyland - 700k purchase price (pp)
Pavel Kadeřábek - D(R)/WB/M/AM(R) - 3.4million pp.
Rasmus Thelander - CB
Tore Reginiussen - D(C) 475k pp . Already at peak, so should a a solid signing for lower league sides.
Fabian Noguera - D(C) -3.7m pp.
Samir - D(C) 8m pp. Used him with UTD. He was great
Lucas Olaza - D(L)/WB(L), 900k pp.
Edson Mendoza - D(R)/WB(R) 70kpp.
Benjamín Vidal - D(C)/SW 3.1m pp.
Andrea Ferrando - D(C) 525k pp.
Aïssa Mandi - D(R)/D(L)/WB(R)/WB(L) 8m pp.
Dennys Quinonez - DM/D(C)/M(C) 900K pp.
Kristoffer Ajer - DM/M(C) 10k only! only 16 yo
Laste Dombaxe - AM(R)/M(R)/AM(C)/ST(C)
Isaac Sackey - DM/M(C)
Daniel Amartey - DM/D(C)/M(C) 6m Awesome.
Federico Bravo - DM/M(C) 4.3m.
Glorgian de Arrascaeta - AM(C)/ST(C) 3m
Robert Piris - DM 45k PP.
Leandro Desábato - DM/M(C) 2.8 million.
Adam Vass - DM 425K Awesome stats. Powerhouse of a player
Simone Muratore - M(R)/AM(R) 375k pp.
Grzegorz Krychowiak - DM/D(C)
Alexandru Tudorie cf 1m PP
Guido Carillo cf 2.5m pp
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