Proud Gloucester manager (english league 6),
aaaaaaand back with an update of how things are going. So after hard first season I was able to sign few brilliant players on preseason, also I had all summer to adapt my players with this new tactic and playing philosophy. Currently Ive played 12 league matches and I sit on 13th place with 4 wins 5 draws and 3 losses, I see real potential here and my main problems seems to be defending corners, opponents score a lot there and when Im winning I tend to give it away, also crosses are hard for my defenders. At the same time, I must admit that defense is my weakest link even on paper.
Anyway Im pretty pleased with how things are going, all the pressure of last year is gone, I dont have to be afraid of relegation as things stand and I only see an improvement here as the matches look good for me, its just the results that are not really reflecting this.
Offtopic part dont read if your not interested
Oh and I have to tell you all this even if its bit offtopic. Football is so beautiful at times and full of emotions. Well I was qualifying for FA cup, 4 th round q, I put my best eleven out there because I wanted to succeed, team could have used the money from cup games and maybe on next round I get lucky and get away match with a big club.
Anyway my opponent was one league step higher but I felt confident, I knew that on a good day I could pickpocket it and it was my home match, I anticipated good things, air felt light and everything looked ready. It was a very even match but I felt like I deserved a win, eventually it ended 1-1 and there was a reply. Now things were not as bright to start with as it was a stronger team and an away match so I really had to perform this time. Well match started and a big moist fish hit me right on my face with a red card right at the 15th minute, this was it surely? I had to take striker off? nonono, I cant lose my only striker and one of the big players on my team, what do I have to lose? "DMC get over here, lets continue fellas, just focus!" I had nothing to lose and we had to remain a threat. To my surprise my players were really playing well, I didnt have too much to worry, except the lack of goals but in the 88th minute opponent got a red card for taking my strikers shirt off when he would have been alone with the keeper, outside the box freekick did nothing this time so we headed for extra time.
Extra time didnt offer much but on the 115th minute I had a dejavu, again my fast striker was gonna brake trough and opponent was this time hanging on his boots and referee send him off. I felt proud, I was thinking, okey most likely penalties but if I lost there it was okey, cant really do much there. Just before penalties I had a fantastic scoring opportunity but my player hit the post! Penalties it was and I eventually lost with final 5th penalty taker after opponent missed their 2nd kick and gave me a real possibility.
Well sorry for a long post and all but I really liked that match, it had real emotion and football feeling all over it with lots of turns from a feeling where youve lost all hope to a feeling where you suddenly again see an open door.
Thanks all for a very nice thread and good feedback especially ofcourse Koflok, I cant understand how you are able to come up with a very good and successful tactic so soon after the release. Ive done these switches to original first post tactic and I look forward to continue my season from here and I keep posting how things develop:
1. Drill cross
2. Standard mentality
3. Normal d-line
4. Full back man mark - no tight - tackle normal (against crossing)
5. Central def man mark - tight
6. More direct passing style for attacking players
7. Man mark on defending corners (to concede less goals from corner)
Edit: Oh and this just in! After tweaking their tactics, on Gloucesters first match they dominated 3rd placed Bostin Utd! 2-0 home win with 62-38 posession and 10-8 shots, visitors didnt really pose any threat, very interesting to see where they go from here!