Backroom advice interpretation

[aquina]

Hi all!

Before a match, my assistant recommends playing with:
- a certain formation
- a certain defensive line
- a certain width
- a certain tempo

1. Should I trust him and change this before a match every time?
2. Because I keep changing formation following his advice, in Match Preparation my players never get the chance to fully learn a tactic. (and workload=high) Is this normal or can I improve this? I noticed that even the slightest change (ie: from slow tempo to fast) and they 'unlearn' the tactic and get Awkward levels.

Bonus question: Sometimes during a game, I'm playing with a short passing style and it is working well but my assistant suggests trying a more direct passing style. Should I stick to what's working or does he know something I don't?

What's the best way to deal with this?

For info, I play 4-2-3-1 (with 2 DM, 2 wingers and one AMC)

Thanks in advance.

 

[ajt09]

Depends how good he is. If I have a assistant manager with stats in tactical knowledge, player knowledge etc, I tend to follow the advice and 9 times out of 10 it pays off. But it's entirely down to you though. There's been a few times when I've dismissed it, and still won (albiet not playing very well).

 

[Mike]

Don't listen. You're the manager, play the game your own way. That's what I do and it's much, much more successful than listening to your Assistant Manager, trust me.

 

[Lazaru5]

I use the advice as simply that, ADVICE...

if you notice problems during the game then you have his pre-match advice and in-match feedback to give you ideas as to what might be the problem and what to do to combat it.

I always start with the same tactic, regardless, and change things only when necessary - usually without checking my assistant's advice though...

as Mike said, you're the manager and you 'should' know what to do, the assistant is there to help you to do your job, not to do your job for you!

 

[aquina]

I'm with you on that and of course I didn't say he'd do the job for me.

But it's obvious to me that there could be advantages in following his pre-match advice. I mean, if he says that the other team struggles against 4-5-1, deep line, fast tempo and narrow formations, why would i keep my normal tactic (supposing it's 4-2-3-1, push up, slow, wide)? One reason would be if I don't trust what he says. Another would be that my players would not adapt to such big changes (or would they?).. Hence my questions.

As for the advice during a match, again I know what I'm doing (generally) but the question was if I could trust him and make some changes during the game. My question was if his advice is good.
In the example, if i'm playing a short passing game which is working and i don't follow his advice, am i missing out or making the right decision?

Thx for your replies

 

[Montanaro]

You hit the hail on the head, switching your systems could make your players struggle.

It's better to take his advice and mold your current tactic to fit his advice. Small changes to take advantage of the other team. Big changes may be counter productive.

 

[daleowright]

I'm with you on that and of course I didn't say he'd do the job for me.

But it's obvious to me that there could be advantages in following his pre-match advice. I mean, if he says that the other team struggles against 4-5-1, deep line, fast tempo and narrow formations, why would i keep my normal tactic

I have found my Assistant Manager mentions this (or something along the same lines) where the week before he said our team performs poorly when playing a 4-5-1 formation or whatever, then the next week he's spruiking the team we are playing struggles against that. The only thing I use backroom advice for is to check what for scouting prospects only and training levels as I can praise players efforts. At then end of the day, if you've been perfroming well, you have to make the opposing team BEAT you. And who says they won't struggle against your formation???