My smash and grab tactic can be downloaded HERE
**** Please note this is by no means a plug and play tactic. It will need tweaking to your players abilities to see the full benefit. ****
This is my lower league smash and grab tactic made famous in my Cultural Leonesa story, check it out to see my results.
I have used it Spains 2B1 Division. I gained promotion in my first season and then spent 2 seasons in Spains equivalent of The Championship, finishing mid table both times and vastly exceeding board expectation. In my 4th season ive just been promoted to Spains top flight using a tweaked version of this tactic, which allows my wingers and full backs slightly more freedom, but on the whole it is the same tactic that i started with. Ive only tested it in Spain, but its a very English style of play so i see no reason why it wouldnt work in England, or anywhere else really.
The tactic is suitable for the following types of teams:
Teams in League 1 and lower, or equivalent in the nation of your choice.
Small reputation/underdog teams in higher leagues.
Its not really suitable for:
Strong teams in the lower leagues. If you have a vastly better playing staff than everyone else then i would advise going on the attack.
Mid-table/top teams in the higher leagues. You may win with this tactic against weaker opposition, but only having 2 or 3 attack minded players will cost you against teams of similar or better ability.
You dont need any outstanding players other than a good AMC if possible, although a good GK definitely helps. Your wingers dont need to be great dribblers or crossers, they just need to support the attacks well, and more importantly defend and hassle when possession is lost, think of park ji-sung.
This tactic involves shutting up shop with a defensive back four, 2 defensive midfielders, wingers to support only and then a ''gerrard-torres' style front pairing. The tactic relies on defending everything the opposition can throw at you, then getting the ball to the front 2 as quick as possible and only offering limited support so as to protect your own goal. It sounds very negative but has proved very effective on lower league files in the past. You should concede rarely and nick alot of games 1-0 or 2-1.
This tactic will see your entire back four defend at all times, your midfield four will also defend when you dont ahve the ball. Your Striker will hassle when you dont have the ball, but ultimately will stay high up the field. Your AMC wont defend, but will roam the field looking for a good postion to be found with a pass to launch the counter.
When you have the ball your back four will still defend and will not venture forward. You centre mids will offer very limited support. Your wingers will attmept to get forward to help the counter but ultimately its down to your AMC and striker to get forward quickly using direct passing and hold up play and catch the other team out of position. Obviously the default mentality setting is counter.
Set pieces are very important and i currently have the corners and free kicks set up to allow the CB's and the right sided centre mid to score goals. Those players need to have good stats in the following areas to be effective though:
Heading, Strength, Anticipation, Jumping, Bravery, Positioning and Balance. They ideally should be tall and heavy too.
If you have a player with good stats in those fields who isnt a CB or DMC then change the set piece settings to accomodate him.
Touchline Shouts. I use ''get stuck in'' and ''get ball forward'' from the off in every game. Occasionally i will use ''look for overlap.'' If i am a goal or 2 behind and chasing the game i will switch the play to overload and ''take more risks'' if i want to protect a lead i switch to contain and ''play even safer'' and ''pump ball into box.''
Reccomended tweaks:
If you have a player with a decent long shot, then set his long shots to often, regardless of his position.
I use centre backs who are accomplished as full back, they are purely defensive players. If your full backs have the stats to get forward then tweak their settings to allow this, but not much or you will get caught out!
The settings for the striker are currently for a complete striker or a pacey finisher. But if you have a big unit up front who isnt any good aside from heading/hold up paly then change his settings accordingly.
REMEMBER, your AMC is the trequarista and your creative outlet. He should be burdened with zero defensive duties, just allow him to create your attacks. This is why its ideal to have a good player in this position, the others dont really matter as long as they are solid.
Thats all for now, i would love to hear how you fare using my tactic. Any constructive feedback will be great as it will help me adapt to life in Spains top flight in my story. Any **** like 'this tactic is **** ive lost 10 games in a row' wont be tolerated. If it doesnt work for you then im sorry, maybe try designing your own.
**** Please note this is by no means a plug and play tactic. It will need tweaking to your players abilities to see the full benefit. ****
This is my lower league smash and grab tactic made famous in my Cultural Leonesa story, check it out to see my results.
I have used it Spains 2B1 Division. I gained promotion in my first season and then spent 2 seasons in Spains equivalent of The Championship, finishing mid table both times and vastly exceeding board expectation. In my 4th season ive just been promoted to Spains top flight using a tweaked version of this tactic, which allows my wingers and full backs slightly more freedom, but on the whole it is the same tactic that i started with. Ive only tested it in Spain, but its a very English style of play so i see no reason why it wouldnt work in England, or anywhere else really.
The tactic is suitable for the following types of teams:
Teams in League 1 and lower, or equivalent in the nation of your choice.
Small reputation/underdog teams in higher leagues.
Its not really suitable for:
Strong teams in the lower leagues. If you have a vastly better playing staff than everyone else then i would advise going on the attack.
Mid-table/top teams in the higher leagues. You may win with this tactic against weaker opposition, but only having 2 or 3 attack minded players will cost you against teams of similar or better ability.
You dont need any outstanding players other than a good AMC if possible, although a good GK definitely helps. Your wingers dont need to be great dribblers or crossers, they just need to support the attacks well, and more importantly defend and hassle when possession is lost, think of park ji-sung.
This tactic involves shutting up shop with a defensive back four, 2 defensive midfielders, wingers to support only and then a ''gerrard-torres' style front pairing. The tactic relies on defending everything the opposition can throw at you, then getting the ball to the front 2 as quick as possible and only offering limited support so as to protect your own goal. It sounds very negative but has proved very effective on lower league files in the past. You should concede rarely and nick alot of games 1-0 or 2-1.
This tactic will see your entire back four defend at all times, your midfield four will also defend when you dont ahve the ball. Your Striker will hassle when you dont have the ball, but ultimately will stay high up the field. Your AMC wont defend, but will roam the field looking for a good postion to be found with a pass to launch the counter.
When you have the ball your back four will still defend and will not venture forward. You centre mids will offer very limited support. Your wingers will attmept to get forward to help the counter but ultimately its down to your AMC and striker to get forward quickly using direct passing and hold up play and catch the other team out of position. Obviously the default mentality setting is counter.
Set pieces are very important and i currently have the corners and free kicks set up to allow the CB's and the right sided centre mid to score goals. Those players need to have good stats in the following areas to be effective though:
Heading, Strength, Anticipation, Jumping, Bravery, Positioning and Balance. They ideally should be tall and heavy too.
If you have a player with good stats in those fields who isnt a CB or DMC then change the set piece settings to accomodate him.
Touchline Shouts. I use ''get stuck in'' and ''get ball forward'' from the off in every game. Occasionally i will use ''look for overlap.'' If i am a goal or 2 behind and chasing the game i will switch the play to overload and ''take more risks'' if i want to protect a lead i switch to contain and ''play even safer'' and ''pump ball into box.''
Reccomended tweaks:
If you have a player with a decent long shot, then set his long shots to often, regardless of his position.
I use centre backs who are accomplished as full back, they are purely defensive players. If your full backs have the stats to get forward then tweak their settings to allow this, but not much or you will get caught out!
The settings for the striker are currently for a complete striker or a pacey finisher. But if you have a big unit up front who isnt any good aside from heading/hold up paly then change his settings accordingly.
REMEMBER, your AMC is the trequarista and your creative outlet. He should be burdened with zero defensive duties, just allow him to create your attacks. This is why its ideal to have a good player in this position, the others dont really matter as long as they are solid.
Thats all for now, i would love to hear how you fare using my tactic. Any constructive feedback will be great as it will help me adapt to life in Spains top flight in my story. Any **** like 'this tactic is **** ive lost 10 games in a row' wont be tolerated. If it doesnt work for you then im sorry, maybe try designing your own.
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