For the first few weeks of playing FM14, I've been frustrated, infuriated, angered, annoyed, (insert relevant synonym) at my lack of success. In previous versions, I've simply had to input a short passing, slow tempo gamestyle, coupled with a strong Centre Forward and a few pacey wide men to achieve positive results. But this year's version has upped the difficulty, and then some!
As problematic as the match engine is at the moment (and I'm sure I speak for everybody on here when I say this), nothing will stop me from finding a way around it. I've played as a handful of teams now, mostly middle to lower tiered English leagues, before giving it away halfway through the season, fed up with my players inabilities to play to my structures!
However - at Portsmouth now in League Two - and into March 2014 now, I've come across a few findings that will hopefully assist you in creating your tactic! 12-15 games into the season, my form was fluctuating to say the least, and my job was threatened on more than one occasion! But things have changed, and a lot of it points to a few things.
Fluidity is the key.
In previous years, it hasn't taken long for your side to adapt to your tactic and play the way you want. A strong pre-season with plenty of match practice usually does the trick. But this year, you're lucky to even be close to a fluid formation by December! My advice is simple.. Don't get frustrated. Persevere with a tactic if you know it will bring you success. By March now, I'm unbeaten in about 15, and it all boils down to the fact that my team are now fluid in my possession based style of play. 70% of the ball, 90% passing is pretty much the norm, and for any side, let alone one in League Two, that's impressive.
In one recent game I out-passed the opponent 689 to 200. At the beginning of the year, my players refused to play out from the back. Every 2nd ball went long to an isolated striker, which came straight back at my dysfunctional structure. But months of hard work pay off, trust me! Don't listen to the people who tell you that you can't play a possession game and not get success in FM14, it's more than possible.
Don't be afraid to change.
When things aren't working in a match, don't be afraid to adapt your game. But at the same time, don't adapt everything at once. Simple changes are often the most effective. ie. Pushing a midfielder further forward, bringing one of your strikers deeper into the midfield. These subtle changes won't effect your gamestyle a great deal, but they will drag your opponent out of their shape - particularly useful if you're dominating a game but can't create any clear cut chances to show for it.
One of the most effective changes you can make is to your tempo. If you're consistent with your pace, then your opponent will realise it. They'll put up a wall and hit you on the break - I've experienced it plenty of times. If you're dominating a game but haven't put the ball in the back of the net, change the tempo! Dictate the way the game is played.
Experiment!
Just because you think a certain player is suited to a certain role, or a certain position does not make it so. Don't hesitate to change your players roles and your formation until you can find one that works for you, and for your players! I personally had my heart set on playing with a False Nine up top, as its effectiveness (when used properly) is fantastic. But I feel that FM14 hasn't quite captured the movements and the nature of the False Nine, so I've disbanded it in favour of the tried-and-tested Advanced Forward. Although this goes against my initial gameplan, it works perfectly for my team. Since changing this, my forward (Matt Derbyshire) has exploded for 14 goals in about as many matches.
Also, experiment with opposition instructions. If a winger is playing on the right and he is a left footed player only, guess what? Show him outside! Duh! A failure to make a simple change like this will cost you eventually it's inevitable! The only opposition instruction that I have each game is to show the full backs onto the inside, forcing them into my congested midfield where my ball winners will take it 9 times out of 10. Everything else varies, dependant on the particular opposition as well as my own starting 11.
Don't be stagnant with your tactic. Always be willing to change and to improve it.
On an end note, my advice is pretty straight forward.. If you want to play a possession based, short passing, pressing style of play (as the majority of you do on FM), it is all about fluidity. Don't become frustrated at your players for not playing to the structures, it will come. Provided that your tactic is effective (Mine certainly is, for anybody interested), this version of FM, one of the most difficult to date, can be mastered.
Don't pay any attention to those who condemn their own failures to the match engine. It's very easy to give up when things don't go your way, don't be one of those people (although, I'm usually one)! Persevere!
If at first you don't succeed, try, and try again!
As problematic as the match engine is at the moment (and I'm sure I speak for everybody on here when I say this), nothing will stop me from finding a way around it. I've played as a handful of teams now, mostly middle to lower tiered English leagues, before giving it away halfway through the season, fed up with my players inabilities to play to my structures!
However - at Portsmouth now in League Two - and into March 2014 now, I've come across a few findings that will hopefully assist you in creating your tactic! 12-15 games into the season, my form was fluctuating to say the least, and my job was threatened on more than one occasion! But things have changed, and a lot of it points to a few things.
Fluidity is the key.
In previous years, it hasn't taken long for your side to adapt to your tactic and play the way you want. A strong pre-season with plenty of match practice usually does the trick. But this year, you're lucky to even be close to a fluid formation by December! My advice is simple.. Don't get frustrated. Persevere with a tactic if you know it will bring you success. By March now, I'm unbeaten in about 15, and it all boils down to the fact that my team are now fluid in my possession based style of play. 70% of the ball, 90% passing is pretty much the norm, and for any side, let alone one in League Two, that's impressive.
In one recent game I out-passed the opponent 689 to 200. At the beginning of the year, my players refused to play out from the back. Every 2nd ball went long to an isolated striker, which came straight back at my dysfunctional structure. But months of hard work pay off, trust me! Don't listen to the people who tell you that you can't play a possession game and not get success in FM14, it's more than possible.
Don't be afraid to change.
When things aren't working in a match, don't be afraid to adapt your game. But at the same time, don't adapt everything at once. Simple changes are often the most effective. ie. Pushing a midfielder further forward, bringing one of your strikers deeper into the midfield. These subtle changes won't effect your gamestyle a great deal, but they will drag your opponent out of their shape - particularly useful if you're dominating a game but can't create any clear cut chances to show for it.
One of the most effective changes you can make is to your tempo. If you're consistent with your pace, then your opponent will realise it. They'll put up a wall and hit you on the break - I've experienced it plenty of times. If you're dominating a game but haven't put the ball in the back of the net, change the tempo! Dictate the way the game is played.
Experiment!
Just because you think a certain player is suited to a certain role, or a certain position does not make it so. Don't hesitate to change your players roles and your formation until you can find one that works for you, and for your players! I personally had my heart set on playing with a False Nine up top, as its effectiveness (when used properly) is fantastic. But I feel that FM14 hasn't quite captured the movements and the nature of the False Nine, so I've disbanded it in favour of the tried-and-tested Advanced Forward. Although this goes against my initial gameplan, it works perfectly for my team. Since changing this, my forward (Matt Derbyshire) has exploded for 14 goals in about as many matches.
Also, experiment with opposition instructions. If a winger is playing on the right and he is a left footed player only, guess what? Show him outside! Duh! A failure to make a simple change like this will cost you eventually it's inevitable! The only opposition instruction that I have each game is to show the full backs onto the inside, forcing them into my congested midfield where my ball winners will take it 9 times out of 10. Everything else varies, dependant on the particular opposition as well as my own starting 11.
Don't be stagnant with your tactic. Always be willing to change and to improve it.
On an end note, my advice is pretty straight forward.. If you want to play a possession based, short passing, pressing style of play (as the majority of you do on FM), it is all about fluidity. Don't become frustrated at your players for not playing to the structures, it will come. Provided that your tactic is effective (Mine certainly is, for anybody interested), this version of FM, one of the most difficult to date, can be mastered.
Don't pay any attention to those who condemn their own failures to the match engine. It's very easy to give up when things don't go your way, don't be one of those people (although, I'm usually one)! Persevere!
If at first you don't succeed, try, and try again!