Utilising the tactical interface
TEAM INSTRUCTIONS
Passing
Pass Into Space - It increases through balls so the players pass the ball in front of the receiver (and on the shoulder of the defending player) so he can run onto the ball. It’s great for creating space and forcing the opposition’s players to try and make a tackle. Good to use against slow defenders, when you're struggling to break down the opposition and generally in all tactics in FM 14 as through balls work pretty well in this version.
Width
Play Wider – Instructs the players to play wider. It can obviously work well with exploit the flanks but its a fallacy that exploit the flanks only works with play wider; it doesnt. Some combinations aiming to limit opposition space and press it mean its better to use play narrow with exploit the flanks. If the opposition are playing narrow it can be used to try and stretch them wider. Advisable to use if the midfield is cramped in the middle and you are outnumbered.
Play Narrower - Self explanatory. Useful if you want to pack the midfield and become more solid to get through or if you want to press opposition or if you want to be aggressive by getting stuck in and hassling.
Attacking
Run At Defence - Instructs all attacking players including attacking midfielders to run with the ball often. Normal midfielders on attack duty are not affected. This is imperative if you want your am (who can be anything, a treq/ap/ss etc) to be the main attacker because you play with a lone dlf support up front. This is best used when the opposition allows your attacking players time on the ball .i.e. not closing you down. It can be a great shout to use if the opposition is standing off you. It can be equally effective if the oppositions defence are bad at tackling as well.
Take A Breather - Decreases forward runs and tempo. You should use this is you don’t have players with good stamina or if condition is getting a bit low, or if comfortably winning and after the 70th minute and you have another (important) match coming up very soon. Couple it with retain possession.
Shooting
Shoot On Sight – Increases the long shots for your team. Can be used against sides that park the bus in front of the goal. Advisable to use if your attacking players have a good long shot attribute. Known to cause hysteria and hair pulling in the user after he has seen yet another shot from an impossible distance get wasted!
Work Ball Into Box – This tells players to use long shots rarely. This is useful if you think your players are shooting too often. Or if you find you want to keep possession and be more probing. Or if you want to stay sane by not having your players (all your players) shoot from stupid angles and impossible distances!
Wing Play
Hit Early Crosses – Tells fullbacks, wingbacks, complete wing backs, wide midfielders and wingers to cross the ball early. It puts run with ball on rarely and cross from on mixed. This can be used against sides that play with a high defensive line. This can also be used if you have a fast striker who can break defences with his pace and acceleration. Dont use if you are playing with (very) deep defensive line as the crosses are likely to have (next to) nothing to aim for.
Look For Overlap – Your fullbacks or (complete) wingbacks will be given a more attacking mentality, run from deep often, cross ball often and be asked to cross from byline. While your wingers will be given a more defensive mentality, run from deep rarely and hold up the ball. It’s great to use against sides who are proving difficult to break down. Can also be used against narrow formations that lack wide players. Very dangerous to use esp if you have cwbs against formations with wingers (eg 442) or opposition with pacy players on the wings.
Exploit The Flanks – Fullbacks/(complete) wingbacks and wingers become more attacking and play gets focussed down both flanks. Wing players run from deep and cross the ball more often. Use if middle of the pitch is congested or if opposition is parking the bus.
Possession - passing
Retain Possession – Shortens passing length and slows the tempo down. But it results to dithering on/with the ball and has the additional danger that the ball may be lost in dangerous positions. Dont use if your players arent skilled in ball holding. As noted in previous posts its good to use when you want to close a game out and hold onto the current result, but in that case only introduce it in the 85th minute.
Exploit The Middle – Defensive players will have their runs from deep increased to often. Tells your team to focus their passing through the middle and any defenders and defensive midfielders will have their mentality changed to a more attacking one and be told to attempt vertical through balls often. Obviously goes with narrow wingerless formations. Unless you play with a flat back five where the (c)wbs are supposed to bomb forward and offer width. Use against teams who leave holes in centre.
IM NOT IN FRONT OF THE GAME SO I DONT SEE THE OTHER OPTIONS (eg more direct etc) SO I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO UPDATE AT SOME POINT HOPEFULLY.
Pressing
Stand-Off Opponents – Changes marking to loose zonal, reduces closing down drastically and decreases tempo. Use when you play a technically superior side and don’t want your players to get skinned to ensure you keep your defensive shape.
Hassle Opponents – Increases the tempo, tells the team to tight man mark and also increases the closing down for your side. Use this if you want to reduce space and time that you allow the opposition to have. Works good with a very attacking strategy and against teams who are a lot weaker than yours.
Overload - Contain
Play Even Safer - Contain. It decreases all runs from deep (except for strikers) and through balls to rarely. It also tells all the players except wingers to run with the ball rarely. Imperative to use with contain.
Take More Risks – Overload. Sets run from deep to often for all players on a support duty. Increases through balls to often and run with the ball for all players. Doesnt work. Employing overload philosophy is enough.
TEAM INSTRUCTIONS
Passing
Pass Into Space - It increases through balls so the players pass the ball in front of the receiver (and on the shoulder of the defending player) so he can run onto the ball. It’s great for creating space and forcing the opposition’s players to try and make a tackle. Good to use against slow defenders, when you're struggling to break down the opposition and generally in all tactics in FM 14 as through balls work pretty well in this version.
Width
Play Wider – Instructs the players to play wider. It can obviously work well with exploit the flanks but its a fallacy that exploit the flanks only works with play wider; it doesnt. Some combinations aiming to limit opposition space and press it mean its better to use play narrow with exploit the flanks. If the opposition are playing narrow it can be used to try and stretch them wider. Advisable to use if the midfield is cramped in the middle and you are outnumbered.
Play Narrower - Self explanatory. Useful if you want to pack the midfield and become more solid to get through or if you want to press opposition or if you want to be aggressive by getting stuck in and hassling.
Attacking
Run At Defence - Instructs all attacking players including attacking midfielders to run with the ball often. Normal midfielders on attack duty are not affected. This is imperative if you want your am (who can be anything, a treq/ap/ss etc) to be the main attacker because you play with a lone dlf support up front. This is best used when the opposition allows your attacking players time on the ball .i.e. not closing you down. It can be a great shout to use if the opposition is standing off you. It can be equally effective if the oppositions defence are bad at tackling as well.
Take A Breather - Decreases forward runs and tempo. You should use this is you don’t have players with good stamina or if condition is getting a bit low, or if comfortably winning and after the 70th minute and you have another (important) match coming up very soon. Couple it with retain possession.
Shooting
Shoot On Sight – Increases the long shots for your team. Can be used against sides that park the bus in front of the goal. Advisable to use if your attacking players have a good long shot attribute. Known to cause hysteria and hair pulling in the user after he has seen yet another shot from an impossible distance get wasted!
Work Ball Into Box – This tells players to use long shots rarely. This is useful if you think your players are shooting too often. Or if you find you want to keep possession and be more probing. Or if you want to stay sane by not having your players (all your players) shoot from stupid angles and impossible distances!
Wing Play
Hit Early Crosses – Tells fullbacks, wingbacks, complete wing backs, wide midfielders and wingers to cross the ball early. It puts run with ball on rarely and cross from on mixed. This can be used against sides that play with a high defensive line. This can also be used if you have a fast striker who can break defences with his pace and acceleration. Dont use if you are playing with (very) deep defensive line as the crosses are likely to have (next to) nothing to aim for.
Look For Overlap – Your fullbacks or (complete) wingbacks will be given a more attacking mentality, run from deep often, cross ball often and be asked to cross from byline. While your wingers will be given a more defensive mentality, run from deep rarely and hold up the ball. It’s great to use against sides who are proving difficult to break down. Can also be used against narrow formations that lack wide players. Very dangerous to use esp if you have cwbs against formations with wingers (eg 442) or opposition with pacy players on the wings.
Exploit The Flanks – Fullbacks/(complete) wingbacks and wingers become more attacking and play gets focussed down both flanks. Wing players run from deep and cross the ball more often. Use if middle of the pitch is congested or if opposition is parking the bus.
Possession - passing
Retain Possession – Shortens passing length and slows the tempo down. But it results to dithering on/with the ball and has the additional danger that the ball may be lost in dangerous positions. Dont use if your players arent skilled in ball holding. As noted in previous posts its good to use when you want to close a game out and hold onto the current result, but in that case only introduce it in the 85th minute.
Exploit The Middle – Defensive players will have their runs from deep increased to often. Tells your team to focus their passing through the middle and any defenders and defensive midfielders will have their mentality changed to a more attacking one and be told to attempt vertical through balls often. Obviously goes with narrow wingerless formations. Unless you play with a flat back five where the (c)wbs are supposed to bomb forward and offer width. Use against teams who leave holes in centre.
IM NOT IN FRONT OF THE GAME SO I DONT SEE THE OTHER OPTIONS (eg more direct etc) SO I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO UPDATE AT SOME POINT HOPEFULLY.
Pressing
Stand-Off Opponents – Changes marking to loose zonal, reduces closing down drastically and decreases tempo. Use when you play a technically superior side and don’t want your players to get skinned to ensure you keep your defensive shape.
Hassle Opponents – Increases the tempo, tells the team to tight man mark and also increases the closing down for your side. Use this if you want to reduce space and time that you allow the opposition to have. Works good with a very attacking strategy and against teams who are a lot weaker than yours.
Overload - Contain
Play Even Safer - Contain. It decreases all runs from deep (except for strikers) and through balls to rarely. It also tells all the players except wingers to run with the ball rarely. Imperative to use with contain.
Take More Risks – Overload. Sets run from deep to often for all players on a support duty. Increases through balls to often and run with the ball for all players. Doesnt work. Employing overload philosophy is enough.
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