Inconsistent - Tactics Problem?

[jstu9]

I am on season 12 of playing Sheffield United. Made mistakes, almost got fired a couple of times, but I am in season 4 in the Premier League. The last 2 seasons I finished in 8th and this season I am in 8th.

But I am wildly inconsistent. I will beat Chelsea one week followed by losing to teams in the bottom of the league the next.

I have changed my tactics every season trying to get something that works. But the inconsistency remains. I think I have the talent. My team for the most part is young. So they should be getting better. But my results aren't.

Is it youth? Is it my tactics holding them back? Bad luck? Maybe I'm not putting players in the right position?

Here are the main 2 tactics I am using now. One, defensive and it seems to be the better one. The other balanced.

View attachment 338465
View attachment 338464

Any ideas?

 

[Aarøe95]

Your problem is the starter-11's average age (23.54), it's okay to play some youngsters, u-23, but you need some more experienced players. Players that young doesn't have the needed experience, and will be more likely to make mistakes. Something that your average ratings also show, is that your best u-23 players has a 6.95 rating.

Hope this was, or maybe just part of, answer you were looking for

 

[MANUMAD]

Try substituting your set of instructions with the other - ie leave the formations as is but change the instructions around.

 

[rocheyb]

Hanise95 is right - but to make it slightly more tangible, it's the difference between a player's scouted Current Ability and his Potential Ability. Your squad might be comprised of players with 4 and 4.5 star potential but being so young, most of them probably only have a Current Ability of 3 stars or less, so you're not quite seeing the best of them yet.

If you persevere with training your young players to fit your system(s) - including teaching them whichever Preferred Moves are appropriate for each position - and allow the bulk of the squad to mature into their mid-20s together while managing the departure of older players and the recruitment of younger replacements, you will see an overall improvement in performances and consistency.

You're in a good position with a club like Sheffield United, who you have obviously already bettered by taking them into the Premier League and establishing them as a top-half side. The Board shouldn't give you too much hassle now - so I'd say you're on the right track; you just need to be patient in allowing your squad to develop, tweak it for the better where you can, and you should start to find that you need fewer and fewer new players each season so you can concentrate your transfer funds on landing one or two ready-made superstars to take you to the next level.