Art Of Football - Tactic by Daz Swann

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Daz Swann

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The Art Of Football 14.3.1 by Daz Swann
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I'll start by saying I am by no means some tactical genius. After a lot of disappointing results in previous patches I decided to head back to the drawing board and try a different approach to FM14. Rather than trying to create a tactic that produced the style of play I wanted my team to play, I decided I would study the ME and try create a tactic to exploit the ME. I'm not sure I have succeeded with that, but I have created something that does work.

Over the last few days I have been testing my tactic with a few different teams to see if I could create something that would work with most sides. I have come up with, the Art Of Football.

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The Tactic
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View attachment 393435


The tactic is based around being solid in;
  • Defence
  • Set-Pieces
  • Possession
  • Counter-Attacking

The idea behind this tactic is hitting the ME in a three ways;
  • ME comes at you, turns the ball over and you hit them on the counter-attack.
  • When in possession, you pass the ball around probing forward & retaining possession. IF's break forward, BBM & F9 play through ball to them. They either take a shot resulting in a goal, corner or a deflection to an open net.
  • Jassars corner/FK setup keeps set pieces very efficient.

If you are a weaker side expect;
  • Will not break any records for goal scoring (A lot of games will end 0-0, 1-0)
  • Will probably draw a lot of games you probably should lose
  • Have the lowest goals against average in the league

If you are strong side expect;


  • Having the lowest goals against average
  • Depending on your offense, having a very good goal scoring record (2-3 a game)
  • Low amount of losses
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What you need?
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  • A decent GK (Good reflexes & Agility)
  • 2x CB that are tall, have good pace for your league (13+ in Premier League) & decent decision making
  • LB that has good offensive skills
  • RB that has good defensive skills
  • Anchor man that is good physically & defensively (Bender)
  • CM that is a good passer, tackler, & decisions (Carrick type player)
  • BBM is your engine, needs to be good all around (Honda or Oscar) Long shots a plus.
  • 2x Inside Forwards with good finishing & dribbling skills (Reus)
  • F9 with good creativity, passing, teamwork & decisions
  • Try to pick players with good decision making

Improving the GK & CB's is the most important things to do.


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Applying the Tactic
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  • This tactic will take at least 10 friendlies to become close to fluid. (I recommend not employing this tactic halfway through a season unless you can get it fluid quickly)

Pre-Season Training;
View attachment 393437


During Season;
View attachment 393436


In game;
  • I always start the game on Counter-Attack, unless I am a weak team which I will use Contain against a strong team.
  • I always gauge how the team is playing, if I am being dominated in possession when I am the better team then I will change to Control. If the other team is picking me a part I will change to Contain/Defensive.
  • In the last 20 mins of the game if I am drawing or winning I will change mentality to Contain to close out the game.
  • Only OI I use is show to weaker foot (I only apply this to any Strikers & AMC, not wide players).
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Results & Testing
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I have tested this tactic with three teams in three different leagues.

(No screen shots of the below - If anyone knows how to go in to history to view past league tables etc, let me know)
View attachment 393433


Norway
I took Start, ranked 10th out of 16 teams at the start of the season to win the Norwegian Premier League (close battle).


Russia
Took over Terek with 10 games left in the season. Won 5 of those games, drew 2 and lost 3. The board were unhappy with the results and questioned my position. I resigned and this is part of the reason I don't recommend playing this tactic unless you have a decent amount of preseason games. I was offered the Anji job, ranked 11th out of 16 teams at the start of the next season & I won the Russian Premier League title with a game to spare thanks to having a full preseason under my belt.


France
Current - Just took over Lille, hoping to break up the PSG dominance.


England
Tested with Swansea & finished 3rd in the Premier League, Won Capital One Cup, Semi-Finalist in both Europa League & FA Cup, results below.

RESULTS
- 3rd Premier League
View attachment 572407

- Won Capital One Cup
View attachment 572410

- Semi-Final loss to Tottenham in FA Cup
- Semi-Final loss to Tottenham in Europa League

SEASON STATS
View attachment 572411

CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFICATION
View attachment 572413


MAN CITY ONLINE SAVE
I am playing an online game with a friend and have had huge success so far with Man City.


Results/Table
View attachment 393432View attachment 393431View attachment 393388

Final Table
View attachment 387641

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Credits
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Jassar - Set pieces setup


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Download
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Download: ART OF FOOTBALL

I would be interested in any feedback you have if you choose to use/test this tactic.

Cheers,

Daz Swann
 
Last edited:
I use a tactic fairly similar to this, only more pressing orientated.

I'd be interested to know how well you find the "Drop Deeper" instruction works with "Hassle Opponents"? I might be wrong (I often am), but it seems to me that aggressive pressing works best with a higher defensive line? Obviously the reverse is true - high line requires good pressing - but does your pressing work with a deep line?
 
The short answer is no. Not how you are thinking.

The pressing doesn't happen high up the pitch.

What does happen, is once the ball is turned over, every player heads back into our own half and presses as a unit from there until the opposition turn the ball over. The settings are conflicting but they seem to work.
 
Last edited:
Would this work with a lower league team like Southend in League2?
 
Yes I think it would, make sure you follow the 10 game pre-season recommendation.

Make sure you have relatively quick CB's that are tall.
 
I made an account just to let you know that I've been using your tactic exclusively as Portsmouth in League 2. I'm not very good at the game, so I thought I'd use my man management skills and try to find low level players that I thought could fit into the system, and so far I'm in the battle for promotion. I'll post screenies at the end of the season. Very solid tactic!
 
How are people finding this? Won 2-0 at stoke with Leicester and I was outplayed: D

Sent from my XT890 using Tapatalk
 
Great to hear you are getting the results.

This tactic works good for underdog teams. It focuses on strong defence & set pieces and tries to punish the opposition when they make mistakes. I found I could win most games even without 50% possession, main thing is knowing when to switch mentality.
 
Got Leicester 3rd in the Premier League in my third season, second season in the PL. Only 7 defeats, mostly to the likes of Chelsea, City, United etc. I love it!
 
Glad you are succeeding with the tactic.

As your team gets better and better you will find that you win the games against the bigger clubs, you will convert a lot more chances.

As I said before, one of the most important part to tactics succeeding is recognising what is happening on the pitch & adjusting the team mentality accordingly. If you don't do this, it can lead to conceding goals & losing or drawing games that could have been won.
 
Currently testing with: Swansea
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Aim: 5th or higher in the Premier League / Win a domestic cup / Semi-Final Europa League
So far: Been a rough Premier League schedule so far but holding my own. Have a 70% win ratio in 20 games in all competitions.

- 5th Premier League
- Qtr Final of Capital One Cup - Playing Watford
- FA Cup - Not entered yet
- Europa League - Qualified from Group Stages


20 games played: 14 Wins
View attachment 388420

Premier League Table: After 10 games
View attachment 388419

Results: Had to play 4 of the top 6 teams in the first 10 Premier League Matches. (Crushing loss to Tottenham from poor mentality switching).
View attachment 388418

Transfers: 2 Million Budget - Brought in GK & Rotation MC
View attachment 388417
 
Last edited:
What mentality do you play when playing the really big teams, contain or defensive?
 
If at home I start off contain, but if I am being dominated in possession and losing possession too quickly, I will put it up to Defensive or sometimes counter. If I'm away, I leave it on contain, seems to work better as teams at home play a more attacking mentality than they do away.
 
TESTED WITH: Swansea
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AIM:
5th or higher in the Premier League - AchievedWin a domestic cup - Achieved
Semi-Final Europa League - Achieved

RESULTS
- 3rd Premier League
View attachment 387646

- Won Capital One Cup
View attachment 387645

- Semi-Final loss to Tottenham in FA Cup
- Semi-Final loss to Tottenham in Europa League

SEASON STATS
View attachment 387644

CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFICATION
View attachment 387643
 
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