thank you for your constructive feedback. Wish you the same.
I think i ve found a way to play this game again. This site helped me a lot plus guides in SI forums.
Guide to Football Manager | FM 2014 Guide
1. I followed the 12 step guide in duties (one attack in defence (support to the wide man in front of him or the oppossite), one defence one support in midfield etc)
2. I edited personal instructions based on the players i have in my mind for first eleven.
3. I have chosen three different mentalities. Standard for most of times, Attacking for when need a goal, Defensive for when need to shut stop or for the entire game when i am underdog (and this could be helpfull in terms of the topic).
1 : I want solid defence even when i play in attack mentality so i chose the most defending of my favorite formations. 4-2-2-1-1.
-----------AFa
-----------EGa
WMs----------------WMa
---------Ad--DLPs
FBa-----CDx--LDc----FB(S)
A (D) is on the left to cover if needed the attacking full back. He is set to Close Down More and DLP to close down less. What i had in mind was the Nike defence in my midfield exept my Defence.
The same goes for the DCs. Close Down More for the left and close down less for the right (Limited Defender is the only role allows you to do that. Now i know cover-stopper should do that without tinkering with PIs, but wasnt happy with the results so far.).
2. I will write two examples. My full backs and my WMs.
My full backs are bad in attack but good in defence. So my left full back attack : Mark Tighter, Shorter Passing (generall rule of thumb, choose short for bad passers, direct for good ones), Dribble Less, Shoot Less, Close Down More (in Guide it says that usefull attributes for Close Down More are Anticipation, Decisions, Determination, Workrate, Accelaration, Pace, Stamina) Cross more often (both have 13 in crossing), Cross aim Far Post (because the other side WM is on Attack duty and he maybe get inside opposite area often), Cross from deep (because my front players are slow and quick, i dont care for float crosses), Tackle Harder (tackling, anticipation, decisions, concentration bravery. Thats the attributes needed for this PI. I though it needed only tackling. My full backs have those in descent value), Hold Position (because i want him to have attack duty to balance the tactic (1) but no TOO attack because he doesnt have the attributes.
My right back support has exactly the same exept that he aims his crosses center and not far (the left WM is on support duty).
My WMs. Those PIs are assymetric. The combination of duties and attributes helped me to achieve a good balance here. Me left ML is set to cut inside. Because he has mediocre crossing PLUS it will help the overlap from the attacking full back from behind. He also cross far (same reason as LB), He dribbles more because he can, he sits narrower (overlap again), he passes direct (passing technique, anticipation, creativity, decisions. Thats the attributes needed for Direct Passing. Choose it for every player that has those, if he hasnt choose shorter), he crosses less (bad crossing but again it fits the other instructions), and he tackles easy (again read the guide to see attributes needed for tackling. If he is good, hard if not, easy. Mine is bad in tackling).
My right MR is more a winger. Again he fits exactly with his near teammates. The DMCR (DLPs) will go forward so i dont need my MR to cut inside. The full back behind him is on support duty. They wont conflict. So he runs wide to cover the right wide side of the pitch. He Roams because he can (see guide again. It has needed attributes for every single PI), he tackles hard, he passes direct and more risky, he dribbles more (all those because he CAN), and on the other side he shoots less (bad long shots and finishing. He crosses center to find the Striker or the Engange.
Same goes for all the other roles. You choose roles that fit your players, then duties based on 12 step guide in SI forums to encourage movement between the lines and tight defence as the lines will be better connected each other.
3. Fluidity. Generall rule from what i ve read and understand. If your defenders are good also in attack (and your attackers good in defence, or just hard workers) you choose a FLuid-Very Fluid fluidity. If your defenders are only good in defence and attackers only good in attack you go for the opposite.
I chose Very Rigid for that reason.
Three different Mentalities.
Standard : Exploit the Middle (short and quick striker), (for that reason) Play Narrower, Lower Tempo (because of low passing attributes to my defenders and decisions to half of my squad), Be More Disciplined (again because of poor decisions and creativity to a lot of players. Again from the guide. Its all there), Drill Crosses (short-quick striker).
I dont touch Def Line. I leave it to be defined by the mentality itself
Defence. The same.
Attack. The same.
I have some solid wins in my league using the Standard tactic. 8 games, 12 scored, 5 conceed.
A solid performance against Chelsea away using Defensive (lost 1-0)
Two great home wins against Galatasary and Milan.
View attachment 388811View attachment 388810View attachment 388808
The bad results are my fault. Tactics were 60% fluid (have forgotten Very High to Fitness) and i fully rotate my squad to have everyone happy.
I still have issues in defence but things are a lot better for me.
again :
Guide to Football Manager | FM 2014 Guide
this is it
Hope it helps.