Do tactics get 'cracked'?

[menyustham]

Hi FM fans,

I have played FM11 for the first time since my vast experiences with CM03/04 and FM05 - that was a long time ago I have to admit. ^^) I have been playing Tottenham in the first season with my two self-made tactics (winning with 'stolen' tactics isn't sweet for me somehow ) - an attacking 4-1(DM)-3(centre, not wingers/AM)-2 at home and a 4-2(DM)-3(AM/wingers)-1 away. For the first ~50 games I did awesomly well: scored on 32 games in a row and led the Prem, qualified as group leaders from CL and got through to the semis, won League Cup, got to the FA Cup semis, my AM got almost always MOM and scored / assisted every game with average ratings of 7,5+ (no matter who played in that position - VdV or a Brazilian guy called Thiago Neves or someone else)...

...then something happened. I have _absolutely no idea_ what it was - none of my important players got injured, no tensions within the team, they were carefully rotated and none of them became jaded, I did not change anything, used the very same two tactics ... but I began to lose / draw games in a row, my AM got an average of 6.1, and I could clearly see from the match extracts that I am being far less dangerous (mainly from set pieces only). In the end I managed to salvage the season and was lucky enough to win the Prem by 1 point (lost 8 points advantage in only 6 rounds, even though the runner up played two draws at the last 2 games!), lost the FA quarter and the CL semi (1-2 on aggregates agains Real Madrid with a missed penalty on the first game away at 0-0 - shame on you VdV...! :'().

You can see the absolute contrast in the two attached screenshots.

My question is: what could have happened? Do tactics get 'cracked' in FM11 - ie. the AI finds a formation that prevents it from being successful after some time as in previous versions (I remember there has been an everlasting debate if this indeed happens in previous versions as well)? Do you have to find out new tactics every 3/4 seasons or what? Or am I missing someting?

Many thanks for your answers in advance. (H)

weasel

 

[adman278]

what your saying about tactics being cracked could be true in my time managing athletic bilbao i was playing 4-5-1 and basically just kick the ball at fernando llorentes head i came 4th 2 points behind real madrid which i could have changed if i didnt lose my last game and beat barcelona once and real madrid twice. then in my second season i cant even achieve what i did first season and they sacked me

 

[Mike.]

tactics dont get cracked, but the ai will adjust its approach to based on reputation etc. yo

 

[Pigeonman13]

in all fairness mate you had a hard run of games...double header against madrid and chelsea,also matches and united and arsenal.. pick yourself up, stick to the tactic and you will prevail

 

[menyustham]

tactics dont get cracked, but the ai will adjust its approach to based on reputation etc. yo

OK, but does this explain the tremendous difference in the results of the first 50 games of the season and the last 9?

Btw the team's reputation changed from National to Continental on the run - but could _this_ make a difference and should therefore a new tactic be deployed? That would be rather strange...

 

[Mike.]

OK, but does this explain the tremendous difference in the results of the first 50 games of the season and the last 9?

Btw the team's reputation changed from National to Continental on the run - but could _this_ make a difference and should therefore a new tactic be deployed? That would be rather strange...

lots of things, overconfidence loss of form etc can make the difference

 

[lazlow]

In my opinion tactics dont get cracked per se, when youre winning a lot more teams you play switch to playing a more defensive style of play for example when i played arsenal in my first season they lined up in an attacking 4-4-2 second and third seasons after im winning most games and winning premier div the line up with 2 CDM in an effort to shut my team out ,i run with 2-3 tactics per season and switch regulary between them but ive found the biggest reason i lose a game is i pick the wrong teamtalk and mess up the game , from there if your too harsh in your closing team talk this can start a bad run off too.

Sometimes teams get lucky and win games such is real life football, for me id rather lose a few games a season to keep my teams feet on the ground , and besides winning every game isnt boring for you?.

If a player starts playing terribly for me il warn him first then fine him , then if still no decent form in next few games il private chat with him , leaving a player out fro a few games can work too instead of rortating them every game ..leave him out for 3-5 games .

I think it was said somewere(i could be wrong ) that the AI cant learn youre tactic and counter it...since its not smart enough , only if youre team carries a good rep they will play deeper and more defensive, forcing you to go at them even more and perhaps conceding on the break, anouther thing i try is to play standerd mentality pre game and switch some small things around after kick off, dunno if it helps ...seems to.

 

[brendan_]

I've found even with using slight variations during matches that I need to have an overhawl of tactics every 1 and a half seasons at max.

 

[sammyt]

i've used basically the same tactic for 4 seasons and the ai hasn't "cracked" it, i think the key is to keep them guessing over the little things like whether you're playing a poacher or a treq, making sure that you don't tire out your players and making sure that every so often you drop one of you're main players for a couple of games to give a fringe player a chance to shine which if done right they normally take well and play really well in an attempt to break into the team but also making sure that maybe the 60 or 75 min mark bringing that star name back so you've got one of your best players fresh off teh bench when the other team is starting to tire.

you can find success with the same tactic over a number of seasons however you have to evolve it just like you would in real life and you have to make sure that you keep all of your players hungry for games. this helps to stop them getting complacent aswell because if a player starts to get complacent you should drop them and then they will learn that if tehy don't respect the opponents they don't get a game and then when you bring them back in they will want to prove you wrong for dropping them.

i also think that the type of player you have will effect how effective your tactic is. e.g. an ambitous or a determined player is more likely to want to win every game and is more likely to go into games looking to put in a performance, a professional player is less likely to under estimate an opponent and then a player liek balotelli is more likely to get arrogant and think that there's no way you can lose, then throw a strop when you do.

so in conclusion the tactic can be just as effective 4 or more seasons down the line as long as you keep your squad happy and keep both the squad and tactic slowly evolving. also aslong as the majority of players on teh pitch have high moral tehy will perform then you'll get a good result and that will bring up the moral of the unhappy players taht started.

 

[GodCubed]

Had a 4-3-3 with a staggered midfield, attacking left fullback supporting Lavezzi the inside forward and Cavani up top dropping into space and moving wide. Didn't have to change the tactics in three seasons, and results only got better.

The AI cracking tactics is a myth, simple as.

 

[willster947]

you've been majorly unlucky with the fixtures. its not the tactic in my opinion on why you are losing now its because of the morale etc...its hard to get your team winning again...but i find picking players with higher morale can get you a much needed win even if there not the best players in your team!! hopefully it will start back a run of wins...its is possible but very hard on fm11 to do.

if anything changing your tactic will make things work as you will lower the match preperation therefor your team won't be as good at the tactic employed,.

 

[Mike.]

Had a 4-3-3 with a staggered midfield, attacking left fullback supporting Lavezzi the inside forward and Cavani up top dropping into space and moving wide. Didn't have to change the tactics in three seasons, and results only got better.

The AI cracking tactics is a myth, simple as.

i still play the same 3 tactics that i built in fm10, still work all the way through

 

[sammyt]

the only 2 changes i've made to mine in 4 seasons is to drop my am to cm with exactly the same roles and exactly the same player due to ineffectiveness and me wanting a slightly more defensive tactic, adn teh other chagne was to make my dm a anchorman instead of a deep lying playmaker as it fitted him better ad i felt i had enough creative players anyway.

 

[JP Woody]

Tactics do not get cracked, its a total myth. Players do get complacent though and team harmony does get easily upset by new signings or if influential players get sold.