This is the main problem. You don't have any vision of how you want to play. How on earth do you then know when a player isn't doing what he's supposed to be doing? You're throwing mud, hoping that something sticks.
Take a step back and think about what it is you want to create. Then which roles/duties to choose to get the movement you want.
I've got some sort of a ,let say "small" vision on how I want to play. It's a short passing play , with build up from the back, attack oriented ,
not interested in possession. All must start from the GK with a short pass to a defender or a deep midfielder, then we pass it shortly upfront. We focus on scoring goals and attacking not on retaining possession which I'm completely not interested into. This was my all time vision of how i would like to play but i never took it seriously. ( mostly because i don't really know how to set it up).
But i never focused on this , i just tried to find something that worked, counter , possession , no matter what... And also, from that small vision to a tactic it's a huge step for me.
And after re-reading what you told me yesterday I also decided on a formation- I'll go with the 41221 which is one of my favourite and it's the last formation i enjoyed success ( and also the game) a long time ago.
So all I have now it's this:
- the basic formation : 41221
- the shape: structured or highly structured
- that small vision on how i want to play
- this:
GK
Byram DC DC Taylor
DM
Cook Mowatt
AMR AML(Dallas)
ST
The written names are what I consider to be my best players and the ones I would like to build the team around.
I also have some basic information about them :
1. Byram- he is an offensive right back, who likes to get into opposition area. He's equally adept of playing the right midfielder role and also can step into AMR position where he is accomplished. My as man rate him as a full back or wing back. I would rather keep him at the back then play him in the midfield on a regular basis because i think he may have a longer future in the team in that spot.
2.Taylor, also an offensive left back, who likes to run with ball down left. I see him as my left back until retirement. He is also rated as a full back or wing back. ( but in my opinion he is less offensive then Byram, he is more the full back type).
3. Cook- the "future" heart of the team and my star player. He likes to run WITH ball through centre. Is natural in DM and CM position, He is rated by the as man as an advanced playmaker, DLP, BBM, CM, RPM and even BWM. This one I would like to play at his best and develop accordingly from the start.
4. Mowatt - a central midfielder whit no PPM's. He is rated as a DLP, AP, RPM, BBM, CM. So he can do everything in the midfield. I would like to give him any role which will also complement Cook.
5. Dallas , can play anywhere in the midfield in the wide positions. ON the left my assistant rate him as an IF and on the right as an W( he's a naturally right footed player). He has a few PPM's - gets into opp area, dwells on ball, runs with ball often, shots from distance.
Also, if i look at other players I would like in the starting eleven it seems a few likes to shot from distance and also run with the ball.( the reason for which i previously chose work ball into box , maybe some PI's were better and probably the reason my players keep hold onto ball until the opp player take it away- they try to dribble instead of playing one-twos as i would prefer).
And this is pretty much all I have. How i find the missing links, how I get from this to a balanced tactic I don't know.
Average users can come up with the ideas Cleon did if they take the time to watch the ME. They don't.
Actually i don't think you can come up with so much game understanding by simply watching the ME. In my opinion you have to know how it works. An average user won't figure this out by simply watching matches. And he shouldn't have to. He should have some understanding of the real word game and some clear in game instructions on how to apply -in game- the real football knowledge.
This I just don't understand. It's frustrating to read this, tbh. Why change to Counter if your team isn't suited to it? Why set up a counter attacking tactic in the first place? The point of a counter attacking tactic is to counter the attacks. That will mean sitting deep and keeping concentration as you'll be inviting more pressure than 'normal'. If it is a weak point in your team, the last thing you want is to put them into situations where they will be needed to concentrate even more.
I didn't thought i set up a counter tactic , i believed I set up a normal approach. You told me it was not such a bad counter setup. Personally I don't like counter attacking. I respect Mourinho but i like Wenger. And my players really don't have the concentration for a counter game. And also, my central defenders are my weak link. What should I have done for this to suit more a standard approach? ( but also, the standard approach is not what i truly want, I think deep inside i"m more of a control/attacking one).
You may find that you need subtle changes, like maybe a role switch
I find this to be the hardest to figure out.
Again, frustrating to read. You've quoted Cleon's thread and claimed that you did go for a counter attacking approach. How does closing down and push D-lines higher fit into that? You're now going more toward a 'normal' tactic, rather than a counter attacking one.
I've read all Cleon's thread I think, including the one you pointed today- thank you
i follow his blog and others. When i'm trying to create something, i'm really trying. I may be many things but lazy is not one of them.
With the 4231 , with closing down it was a control- attacking attempt, not a counter one. The chosen mentality was control. I tried a counter approach with a 4141 which seemed almost copy-paste from Cleon thread although I've got to it some other way.And also, sit there and invite pressure is not my thing. It took me a while to figure it up.
This sounds like you're not even bothering.
I'm bothering and believe me i'm bothering a lot. A sane person will have just given up by now and downloaded something. I'm still losing sleep , time, energy etc over this. i just don't get it. Something is missing.
But I noticed you left your AM to use your tactics and play for long time and cant get any success?
IF you do this you completley waste your time creating tactics and writing it here. You understand that u give him this tacitc, but he makes the changes in game, start of the game. He changes instructions and maybe even their roles. You only give him the formation to play in.
Am I wrong? It isint right to test how good is tactic just by going holiday and letting AM to play with it.
I made this thing only for the latest formation, the 4231 and just out of curiosity. It was just an experiment. When in despair people do all kind of stupid things. Anyway, thank you for the advice Bujakaa , i do appreciate every bit of help I can get.
