Ive seen a few threads pop up recently, asking how to create good tactics and how to win games. There has also been a few threads offering advice, but they have been fairly small ones. So the aim of this thread is to give you an insight on how I approach tactics on FM14.
Firstly, I will say, that like many people, I often download tactics from here and plug them in and play. While there are good tactics out there, I have recently not found it satisfying, and have now set out on saves using my own tactics. This is what I have been doing.
Setting Up A Basic Tactic
Once you have taken charge of a club, the first thing you want to do is establish a basic formation. It is up to you if you want to fit your tactic to the players, or your players to the tactic. For me, I do a little bit of both. I like to choose a balanced formation, but try to fit it in as best possible with the players I have. There is no right or wrong way to do this. I create two tactics, one more defensive/counter and one attacking (So far I have only had two saves doing this, one as Japan, and one as Crewe, so they are both underdog teams, so I have only worked on setting up a solid defence, and not focused so much on attack). Whilst it is good to set up instructions now, you will be changing them every game. This is my tactic on my Japan save.
![Getting The Perfect Formula-japan_-tactics-overview.png]()
Opposition Report
![Getting The Perfect Formula-ecuador_-report-summary.png]()
This is something many people seem to underestimate. It provides vital information on how to stop the opponents team. For me, my motto is "Stop the supply, Stop the goals", So I am most interested in the "Most Common Assist Type" and "Most Common Assist Area" and also the player with the most assists. In the example above, Ecuador get most of their assists from the passes on the right wing. Knowing this, I need to think of a way of cutting the supply. Again, there is no right or wrong way, but what I would normally do is set my left midfielder up as a defensive winger with instructions to mark their right midfielder/winger. I will also set up the instructions to close him down quickly and mark him tightly.
In my Japan example, I dont have any wide players in my formation, so what I will do is ask my left centre midfielder to make their right midfielder/winger tightly. The problem with this though, is it will pull him out of position. So again, I need to think how to combat this. Either I can change my formation, or what I am going to do is get my right centre midfielder marking their right midfielder/winger, and then get my right and left centre attacking midfielders marking their two centre midfielders. This in theory should keep all their midfielders marked, and due to our pace, leave us unmarked when breaking quickly.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at an opponent is what is their predicted position, and where are they currently in the table. If you are of a much higher reputation, your opponents are likely to sit back and soak up pressure, making it hard to play through them. It is important then to play a slow, patient game. If you are the team with the lower reputation though, the opposite counts, look to soak up pressure and counter quickly.
Also, take note of where your opposition are weakest. If it is one the wing, give your winger licence to push forward to really try and expose your opponents. Another thing I take note of is when they conceded most of their goals. If they are early on, look to play fast, direct football to try and put them on the back foot from the start. If they concede most of their goals nearer the end, try to conserve your players, and with the use of substitutions, quicken the pace right at the end of the game.
During The Game
I cannot stress how important it is to watch games on comprehensive. You will need to keep a close eye on how the game is playing out and make changes accordingly. Every game is different obviously, so it is very hard for me to tell you what to do, but here are a few scenarios to look out for.
Scenario: Your players are often being tackled, and your opponents break quickly.
Solution: Speed up the tempo. Especially if you are trying to play possession football. The amount of times my midfielder has dawdled on the ball and got tackled and resulted in a change is so frustrating. Doing this should reduce the chances they get.
Scenario: Their striker is getting to many chances.
Solution: Stop the supply. As I said before, you need to work out where the supply is coming from. Close the man down quickly and get someone man marking him.
Scenario: One of the opposition players has a minor injury
Solution: Target him. Even more so if he in a wide player. Get your team to attack down his wing, giving your right back licence to help create a 2 vs 1 situation again the injured player.
Scenario: My players arent getting shots on target
Solution: Get your players to shoot less. Work the ball into the box. Perhaps lower the tempo slightly too.
These are just a few scenarios I can think of, but if you can think of any more, feel free to post them, and I will try to answer the best I can. There is probably lots of information that I have missed, so please ask if you want any extra information, or if you think I have missed things, please let me know.
Firstly, I will say, that like many people, I often download tactics from here and plug them in and play. While there are good tactics out there, I have recently not found it satisfying, and have now set out on saves using my own tactics. This is what I have been doing.
Setting Up A Basic Tactic
Once you have taken charge of a club, the first thing you want to do is establish a basic formation. It is up to you if you want to fit your tactic to the players, or your players to the tactic. For me, I do a little bit of both. I like to choose a balanced formation, but try to fit it in as best possible with the players I have. There is no right or wrong way to do this. I create two tactics, one more defensive/counter and one attacking (So far I have only had two saves doing this, one as Japan, and one as Crewe, so they are both underdog teams, so I have only worked on setting up a solid defence, and not focused so much on attack). Whilst it is good to set up instructions now, you will be changing them every game. This is my tactic on my Japan save.
Opposition Report
This is something many people seem to underestimate. It provides vital information on how to stop the opponents team. For me, my motto is "Stop the supply, Stop the goals", So I am most interested in the "Most Common Assist Type" and "Most Common Assist Area" and also the player with the most assists. In the example above, Ecuador get most of their assists from the passes on the right wing. Knowing this, I need to think of a way of cutting the supply. Again, there is no right or wrong way, but what I would normally do is set my left midfielder up as a defensive winger with instructions to mark their right midfielder/winger. I will also set up the instructions to close him down quickly and mark him tightly.
In my Japan example, I dont have any wide players in my formation, so what I will do is ask my left centre midfielder to make their right midfielder/winger tightly. The problem with this though, is it will pull him out of position. So again, I need to think how to combat this. Either I can change my formation, or what I am going to do is get my right centre midfielder marking their right midfielder/winger, and then get my right and left centre attacking midfielders marking their two centre midfielders. This in theory should keep all their midfielders marked, and due to our pace, leave us unmarked when breaking quickly.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at an opponent is what is their predicted position, and where are they currently in the table. If you are of a much higher reputation, your opponents are likely to sit back and soak up pressure, making it hard to play through them. It is important then to play a slow, patient game. If you are the team with the lower reputation though, the opposite counts, look to soak up pressure and counter quickly.
Also, take note of where your opposition are weakest. If it is one the wing, give your winger licence to push forward to really try and expose your opponents. Another thing I take note of is when they conceded most of their goals. If they are early on, look to play fast, direct football to try and put them on the back foot from the start. If they concede most of their goals nearer the end, try to conserve your players, and with the use of substitutions, quicken the pace right at the end of the game.
During The Game
I cannot stress how important it is to watch games on comprehensive. You will need to keep a close eye on how the game is playing out and make changes accordingly. Every game is different obviously, so it is very hard for me to tell you what to do, but here are a few scenarios to look out for.
Scenario: Your players are often being tackled, and your opponents break quickly.
Solution: Speed up the tempo. Especially if you are trying to play possession football. The amount of times my midfielder has dawdled on the ball and got tackled and resulted in a change is so frustrating. Doing this should reduce the chances they get.
Scenario: Their striker is getting to many chances.
Solution: Stop the supply. As I said before, you need to work out where the supply is coming from. Close the man down quickly and get someone man marking him.
Scenario: One of the opposition players has a minor injury
Solution: Target him. Even more so if he in a wide player. Get your team to attack down his wing, giving your right back licence to help create a 2 vs 1 situation again the injured player.
Scenario: My players arent getting shots on target
Solution: Get your players to shoot less. Work the ball into the box. Perhaps lower the tempo slightly too.
These are just a few scenarios I can think of, but if you can think of any more, feel free to post them, and I will try to answer the best I can. There is probably lots of information that I have missed, so please ask if you want any extra information, or if you think I have missed things, please let me know.