How do you great tacticians start off?

[liverpoolmanager]

im sorry if this is a stupid question but i am just wondering in how do you guys start making your own tactics? do you guys just do trial and error and see what works then post it or do you just think of a great tactic for hours and then post it...i am really interested with comming up with my own tactic so any tips would be greatly appreciated...thank you

 

[huggleman]

I always have a good look at my players using my assistant manager and trying different pre-set formations, see which 1 they seem to fit better to (how many high stars rather than what they say in the meeting) and then once I found my "prefered" formation I go into the tactic creator and bring it to life.

For the playmaker, winger etc... settings most of mine is either guesswork or knowing what the player is like to start with and if that doesn't work I then try something different. (e.g. I used to play Dean Hammond as defensive Ball Winning Midfielder but after a few minor problems I changed him to a box to box and he plays alot better)

Hope I've helped rather than confused lol

 

[damian fichardo]

when i first start i base my tactics of type of players i have, the strength and weeknesses
Ie Arsenal have alot of top quality attacking midfielders but lack defensive midfielders and strikers. So I play 4231, with slight alterations

Almunia GK
Sagna RB (support)
Clichy LB (attacking)
Venmarlern CB
Mexes CB
Senna DM
Fabregas (Deep Lying Playmaker)
Arshavin Left Attacking Midfielder
Nasri Central Attacking Midfielder
Walcott Right Winger
Van Persie Complete Forward

I also make sure my playing pitch is as narrow as possible, more aggresive in tackles and closing down all over pitch. Works well for me

p.s no question is stupid, if your willing to learn from it

 

[CorvetteC3]

I guess each of us has one or two preferred formations and a certain style of football they like. I like a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 and a quick, strong team. The first thing to do is to evaluate your team. Most importantly the presence of wide players, that pretty much determines your initial formation. If you don't have wingers you'll be better of playing something like 4-1-2-1-2 diamond until you get some wingers. Often it will remain your preferred formation especially if you have good attacking full-backs. Then when I go into the transfer market I try to be systematical, building from the back but I usually buy one good attacking player too at the start. Then when developing the tactic and the team to suit each other I start with a more rigid counter attacking system, usually with two DMs, then when the team develops and understands it I give them more freedom and move the DMs to CM position to give more support when attacking.

That's my approach to the game, shortly I would say this: Make the tactics suit your team, then when things are working make your team suit your tactics.

 

[Raphael.]

First I look at what type of football I want to play, Counter maybe 4-3-2-1, Attacking 4-2-2-2, 4-3-3, balanced 4-4-2, defensive 4-2(WB)-3-1
Then I see what type of players I have. I wont use a formation with wingers when I don't have any.
Then I set thier roles depending on their stats.
Then I decide on things like defending line, temp, directness, width!

 

[Burkie7]

Very good thread, I have being playing Football Manager for 3 years now but have never used my own tactic, I used to do it in CM but I find it very complicated in the game, I know my football but have no experience of making tactics, I also never do my own training or team-talks and I dont do in this years addition Match-Prepration, Am I missing out on the real fun of the game by doing this ?

 

[Alcaraz]

you got to have a good look at ur team and the most important thing that comes with creating a new tactic is patience, u have to be really patient and observe ur team play carefully before u can develop the perfect tactic for ur team

 

[Raphael.]

Very good thread, I have being playing Football Manager for 3 years now but have never used my own tactic, I used to do it in CM but I find it very complicated in the game, I know my football but have no experience of making tactics, I also never do my own training or team-talks and I dont do in this years addition Match-Prepration, Am I missing out on the real fun of the game by doing this ?

Well sort of. Match Prep not really as all it is, is pressing a button.
Making tactics more so as your sort of just being 3/4 of a manager. If you get what I'm trying to say oO)

 

[Mike.]

the one thing lots of new players do is sign a bunch of players. In my opinion thats the worst thing you can do.

Most FMers who have been playing for a while tend to have a certain way they play (mine is a 5x5 4-4-2, switching to 4-2-3-1 if needed). i look at the players i have, their strengths and weaknesses, and i ask my myself if they can play my play, or do i need to play another way. either way you must make a decision, and stick to it. tactics need to evolve, you cannot dismiss a tactic too quickly

For example if you have quick players, but not particularly intelligent ones, you want a low freedom direct game, based on width, get you runner stretching the opposition.

 

[liverpoolmanager]

ya the problem with me at the moment is that im playing with liverpool and am playing my own 4-2-3-1 formation but i keep doubting if i should have lucas and poulsen as my DM's or have gerrard back there but as a deep lying playmaker or do i have miereles back there with lucas/poulsen and gerrard as AM?

 

[Mike]

Find a base formation for your team. Study your teams strengths and also (vital!) to know their weaknesses. I usually stick to the 4-4-2 as I'm more familiar with it and try to work around it.

JP Woody's viewing this thread so I'll leave it to him.

(A)

 

[Tharros]

Tactics are about balance. The formation is just a means to an end - it is just the base of what you wish to achieve. One 4-4-2 could be very different from another. You need to have the right amount of players attacking, supporting and defending, with roles that work well together, within your formation to achieve your overall tactical vision. Read Tactical Theorems '10 and you should have a better understanding

 

[JonoMUFC]

the one thing lots of new players do is sign a bunch of players. In my opinion thats the worst thing you can do.

Most FMers who have been playing for a while tend to have a certain way they play (mine is a 5x5 4-4-2, switching to 4-2-3-1 if needed). i look at the players i have, their strengths and weaknesses, and i ask my myself if they can play my play, or do i need to play another way. either way you must make a decision, and stick to it. tactics need to evolve, you cannot dismiss a tactic too quickly

For example if you have quick players, but not particularly intelligent ones, you want a low freedom direct game, based on width, get you runner stretching the opposition.

Its amazing how ive been struggling with my own tactics for so long and one post from you seems to have given a greater understanding. i thank you

 

[Impz]

the one thing lots of new players do is sign a bunch of players. In my opinion thats the worst thing you can do.

Most FMers who have been playing for a while tend to have a certain way they play (mine is a 5x5 4-4-2, switching to 4-2-3-1 if needed). i look at the players i have, their strengths and weaknesses, and i ask my myself if they can play my play, or do i need to play another way. either way you must make a decision, and stick to it. tactics need to evolve, you cannot dismiss a tactic too quickly

For example if you have quick players, but not particularly intelligent ones, you want a low freedom direct game, based on width, get you runner stretching the opposition.

I have to agree with you. I actually took some time to read up on some of the pre-made tactics and understand the rationale why they did it as such in Fm09. After that, I started creating my own tactics based on the players I have. I do have a preferred formation system (a staggered 4-1-1-3-1 formation - 4 defenders, 1 defensive midfielder, 1 central midfielder, 2 wings, 1 trequista, 1 poacher) as both Middlesbourgh and Manchester United suit those formations.

Particularly with FM11, as a new manager, your tactics are more likely to require some time to stick. Buying a ton of players simply mean that it will take them a season or so to gel. Witjh the fickle manager world, you might be sacked before the effects come through.

That is where the match preparation helps. Also, apply some football sense. If your whole team is devoid of creativity and speed, do you really want to put a overload/attacking formation where you will be exploited silly? Better to keep it compact and rely on different tactics to survive.

I should upload my new FM11 tactics. It's not the greatest out there, but maybe it can help others as it is pretty much a plug-in type.

 

[Gribster]

im sorry if this is a stupid question but i am just wondering in how do you guys start making your own tactics? do you guys just do trial and error and see what works then post it or do you just think of a great tactic for hours and then post it...i am really interested with comming up with my own tactic so any tips would be greatly appreciated...thank you

Theres obviously not one way to go about it, all above works well.

Personally i take a tactic from real life that i like and/or feel i understand. I've done this successfully with the united of 07-08 ish with a 4-4-2 with an advanced winger and various other player instructions. And more recently with barca's 4-3-3 (or 4-5-1 as some might see it)

Once you've got you ground work put in place then its just a case of tweaking tweaking tweaking until youre happy with the product, my united one for expample went through many many tweaks.
(on a note if you are making tweaks with a formation you should save each version incase you take a few bad turns, then you can always return)

 

[oneunited]

i tend to have a good look at my players' pros and cons, spend hours tweaking the tactics, then post or keep to myself for network games

 

[rephlex]

Go into view settings, switch it to 'Full Match', and just watch. Learn how your players play, and understand when something doesn't come off it may be because your team structure doesn't let the players use their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. I recall it took me many hours of play with the old CM to create a truly amazing tactic, but the reward came from knowing how every player could play in the system, and a much more "in depth feel" to the game.

 

[Dicko1878]

I have a question which is: are formations such as 4-2-4 more difficult to create a balance between Attacking and Defending?

 

[DMF]

I just kind of do it tbh.

I'll pick a team, and look at the players. I'll see who the ***.Man thinks my best players are, and I'll try and create a formation to fit around them. Also, I always use the exact same settings no matter what team I am and it usually seems to work to be honest.

 

[Lazaru5]

im sorry if this is a stupid question but i am just wondering in how do you guys start making your own tactics? do you guys just do trial and error and see what works then post it or do you just think of a great tactic for hours and then post it...i am really interested with comming up with my own tactic so any tips would be greatly appreciated...thank you

I started by reading TT9 (now 10)

I then did all the above - looked at my squad and created a tactic that fitted my players then watched the whole 90 minutes of every game tweaking the tactic as I did so to correct errors within it. I also watched my youth and reserve teams (who had different coaches) and noted what they did differently before incorporating some of the differences into my tactic.

Eventually I got to the point where I felt the tactic was 'perfect' and now I just buy players to fit the tactic...