This is a tactic with which I have begun to find success with only a small amount of tweaks, I have continued tweaking it with PI changes etc but I'm not sure how much I can improve it... due to the fact I am a novice at creating decent tactics.
I have played this tactic with Brentford, Portsmouth, Dover (only for a few games), and Chelsea (only a few games). I haven't had time to thoroughly test it for over a season but I think the signs are encouraging. You may notice that some of the screenshots (esp. Brentford) are only narrow wins, or I haven't even got all 3 points. I completely blame my rubbish strike force for this, and have uploaded the screenshots to show the match stats, and how dominant my team was. It has been pretty rare that the opposition has more CCC's than me.
Records and Stats
Longest Win Streak - 12 - Portsmouth - 17.9.2011-5.11.2011
Longest Unbeaten Streak - 20 - Portsmouth - 23.8.2011-3.12.2011
Consecutive Games Scoring A Goal - 26 - Portsmouth - 23.8.2011-?
Most Consecutive Clean Sheets - 4 - Chelsea - 28.8.2011-17.9.2011
The main idea is to keep possession of the ball, frustrating the opposition with patient build up. This can lead to them overcommitting and making mistakes when they get the ball, which is when the counter comes.
The first thing I changed from most tactics was to set the full backs' roles as Defend, as I was getting sick of them being a few yards ahead of the CB's and leaving gaping channels to be exploited. Doing this has (most of the time) stopped the wingers getting in behind and carving you open.
The midfield looks to keep the ball and play a simple game, long shots are discouraged, but if you have a Thomas Hitzlsperger in your team then it may be wise to tweak this!
I haven't done anything particularly special with the wingers, but I will say that in my Chelsea game Mata has been absolutely immense on the left wing. Maybe it's just because he's really good, but I think it's also because he is the type of player suited to the formation.
The strikers are simply set up as DLF and AF, it's a combination I like, and find it works well in many formations. Tweaks include focusing a lot of crosses to the AF, so it may be worth playing a big man there. Drogba and Anelka have both banged them in from this role for me.
One thing to note is that, of the CB's, the stronger in the air should be at RCB, as they will be the focus of attacking corners. I also have the Advanced Forward set to 'Challenge Keeper', so if the RCB can only get a knock-down from the ball in, he is there to tap in. For Chelsea, John Terry has 2 or 3 goals in 4 games, with a couple of assists to Drogba as well.
When playing with Brentford, I encountered problems playing against teams with 5 across the middle, but I think this was more bad luck than a tactical flaw, as I would usually still have higher possession and more CCC's, but no points to show for it. The same seemed to happen when playing away with Brentford, but I haven't found this problem with Chelsea, even when playing strong teams away from home.
From what I have learned through testing, this tactic will work best for top half of the table teams, propelling them to be real challengers for the title.
Whilst I have slated the Brentford team that I inherited, I have them sitting just outside the playoffs at the moment, so I am still performing above expectations.
Misc. Info
I have played this tactic with Brentford, Portsmouth, Dover (only for a few games), and Chelsea (only a few games). I haven't had time to thoroughly test it for over a season but I think the signs are encouraging. You may notice that some of the screenshots (esp. Brentford) are only narrow wins, or I haven't even got all 3 points. I completely blame my rubbish strike force for this, and have uploaded the screenshots to show the match stats, and how dominant my team was. It has been pretty rare that the opposition has more CCC's than me.
Records and Stats
Longest Win Streak - 12 - Portsmouth - 17.9.2011-5.11.2011
Longest Unbeaten Streak - 20 - Portsmouth - 23.8.2011-3.12.2011
Consecutive Games Scoring A Goal - 26 - Portsmouth - 23.8.2011-?
Most Consecutive Clean Sheets - 4 - Chelsea - 28.8.2011-17.9.2011
The main idea is to keep possession of the ball, frustrating the opposition with patient build up. This can lead to them overcommitting and making mistakes when they get the ball, which is when the counter comes.
The first thing I changed from most tactics was to set the full backs' roles as Defend, as I was getting sick of them being a few yards ahead of the CB's and leaving gaping channels to be exploited. Doing this has (most of the time) stopped the wingers getting in behind and carving you open.
The midfield looks to keep the ball and play a simple game, long shots are discouraged, but if you have a Thomas Hitzlsperger in your team then it may be wise to tweak this!
I haven't done anything particularly special with the wingers, but I will say that in my Chelsea game Mata has been absolutely immense on the left wing. Maybe it's just because he's really good, but I think it's also because he is the type of player suited to the formation.
The strikers are simply set up as DLF and AF, it's a combination I like, and find it works well in many formations. Tweaks include focusing a lot of crosses to the AF, so it may be worth playing a big man there. Drogba and Anelka have both banged them in from this role for me.
One thing to note is that, of the CB's, the stronger in the air should be at RCB, as they will be the focus of attacking corners. I also have the Advanced Forward set to 'Challenge Keeper', so if the RCB can only get a knock-down from the ball in, he is there to tap in. For Chelsea, John Terry has 2 or 3 goals in 4 games, with a couple of assists to Drogba as well.
When playing with Brentford, I encountered problems playing against teams with 5 across the middle, but I think this was more bad luck than a tactical flaw, as I would usually still have higher possession and more CCC's, but no points to show for it. The same seemed to happen when playing away with Brentford, but I haven't found this problem with Chelsea, even when playing strong teams away from home.
From what I have learned through testing, this tactic will work best for top half of the table teams, propelling them to be real challengers for the title.
Whilst I have slated the Brentford team that I inherited, I have them sitting just outside the playoffs at the moment, so I am still performing above expectations.
Misc. Info
- Opposition Instructions are set for the Assistant Manager to take care of them.
- Team talks vary, I usually just tell the Assistant to take them but sometimes I will set my own to try and boost morale.
- Touchline shouts I use are - 'work ball into box', 'retain possession' and 'pass into space'. I don't know if they have much of an effect but every little helps!!
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This is by no means a finished article and would appreciate any feedback, or constructive advice on how to improve aspects of the tactic.
I won't appreciate people just coming on this thread and saying "Your tactic is rubbish, I lost every game 23-0 with 11% possession," or words to that effect.
I will continue to add screenshots of performances as I carry on the testing.
Download:
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=5808
***The Chelsea game: I have a save game where I take over the top 6 clubs in England and test 3-5 different tactics from other users against each other/against my own tactics. Obviously this also tests these tactics against AI teams as well. This means that I was in control of Man City as well for this game, and I was using a tactic which I downloaded from this site. I am not telling anyone whose tactic it was, no reputations should be tarnished. I also had a full strength Man City side out (except Aguero injured), and didn't purposefully sabotage the City team to make my tactic look better, as that is very sad. Since I have switched Chelsea to this tactic they have played 4, scored 12, and conceded 0. This has been 3 PL games (Che4-0Bol, MC0-3Che, Che3-0WB) and one Champions League game (2-0 win at Olympiakos). I had been using a similar tactic with Chelsea before this so familiarity was already high.***
This is by no means a finished article and would appreciate any feedback, or constructive advice on how to improve aspects of the tactic.
I won't appreciate people just coming on this thread and saying "Your tactic is rubbish, I lost every game 23-0 with 11% possession," or words to that effect.
I will continue to add screenshots of performances as I carry on the testing.
Download:
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=5808
***The Chelsea game: I have a save game where I take over the top 6 clubs in England and test 3-5 different tactics from other users against each other/against my own tactics. Obviously this also tests these tactics against AI teams as well. This means that I was in control of Man City as well for this game, and I was using a tactic which I downloaded from this site. I am not telling anyone whose tactic it was, no reputations should be tarnished. I also had a full strength Man City side out (except Aguero injured), and didn't purposefully sabotage the City team to make my tactic look better, as that is very sad. Since I have switched Chelsea to this tactic they have played 4, scored 12, and conceded 0. This has been 3 PL games (Che4-0Bol, MC0-3Che, Che3-0WB) and one Champions League game (2-0 win at Olympiakos). I had been using a similar tactic with Chelsea before this so familiarity was already high.***
Last edited:
1st game in prem lost to arsenal 1-0 will add screens at end of prem season.