Middlesbrough Tactics Help =]

[nodster]

Hi Guys.

I'm new here so go easy on me and if you need any more information I'll be willing to answer and I'll try to provide as much information as possible here.

Currently I'm in my first season, pretty standard and only 4 games in so far with 3 wins and 1 loss in the Premiership and 1 Win in the League Cup (albeit against Huddersfield with Extra Time).

I'm getting worried though as although I've been getting half decent results it's only been against mediocre teams, my wins came as follows;

2-1 vs Sunderland (home)
2-1 vs West Brom (home)
3-2 vs Huddersfield (Away with Extra Time)
1-0 vs Stoke (Away)

I'm worried as my team doesn't seem to be playing well. I've got Blackburn coming up and I know they can be a challenge. I already use Tugstrainer for my training which I've scanned through these forums for already and have been since pre-season. I also use Tactical Sets by The Better Half which may work better with patch 9.3 I'm unsure (I only have patch 9.1 as I have a slow internet connection Patch 9.3 would take at least 4 hours to download and use up a lot of my Monthly Usage).

My only loss this season was a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City away from home. They're a different calibre to Stoke etc on the game and although I was shocked with the size of the result I wasn't extremely displeased with losing.

This is my team btw; http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9404/fm09.jpg

I only have had 3 additions to the squad since I've started, Davide Santon, Ricardo Brosco and Adrien (on loan). I only really use Davide Santon and Adrien out of those as Brosco was bought with the view to sell in a couple of seasons (got him for 50k could sell for 2m in a couple of years, nice little profit). They don't seem to have trouble blending in with the squad either really.

I was wondering if anyone has a view tips for me that could better the performances from my players really? I've tried to give as much detail as I can and I'm sure it's a lot of dribble. I don't really have any views on what my team are best at, as when we're attacking we leak goals and when we're on a more balanced tactic we can't seem to score.

 

[Tonas579]

Hello there, I am a firm believer in signings over tactics. Obviously you need both good signings and tactics but you can have an amazing tactic and still perform **** because of the players you have. Signing one good player (Santon) just isn't gonna be enough to succeed. You need to be selling all the **** (pretty much the whole team) and buying a whole new team. Get yourself an amazing striker e.g. Keirrison, Marquinhos, Laurito, Paloschi.... an amazing winger e.g. Alexis Sanchez.... theres many threads for wonderkids as im sure you know. Once you've got 4 or 5 cheap wonderkids then you can go about getting a good tactic.

Well thats my opinion in anyway and if you check my Newcastle stats below you can see its obviously worked. Anyway hope that helps :\

 

[leeumoconnor69]

with a team like boro id pretty much say to you to play a normal style, and hit on a wide counter game.

with your main player obviously being downing focus on getting the ball out to him

buy a player with good heading stats like oscar cardozo for the man to recieve the crosses in the middle from downing, and you should be onto half a winner there mate

 

[Tonas579]

with a team like boro id pretty much say to you to play a normal style, and hit on a wide counter game.

with your main player obviously being downing focus on getting the ball out to him

buy a player with good heading stats like oscar cardozo for the man to recieve the crosses in the middle from downing, and you should be onto half a winner there mate

That right there will get you alot of goals. Although you can get even better strikers than Cardozo for the same price

 

[leeumoconnor69]

That right there will get you alot of goals. Although you can get even better strikers than Cardozo for the same price

ye, you probally can, but cardozo is a decent player scored me many goals for different clubs, also signing a pacey striker like tonas mentioned such as keirson or marquinhos (WHO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND) is a very good idea also.

 

[nodster]

Hello there, I am a firm believer in signings over tactics. Obviously you need both good signings and tactics but you can have an amazing tactic and still perform **** because of the players you have. Signing one good player (Santon) just isn't gonna be enough to succeed. You need to be selling all the **** (pretty much the whole team) and buying a whole new team. Get yourself an amazing striker e.g. Keirrison, Marquinhos, Laurito, Paloschi.... an amazing winger e.g. Alexis Sanchez.... theres many threads for wonderkids as im sure you know. Once you've got 4 or 5 cheap wonderkids then you can go about getting a good tactic.

Well thats my opinion in anyway and if you check my Newcastle stats below you can see its obviously worked. Anyway hope that helps :\

I thought that when buying Santon (he cost me an arm and a leg) but it was an opportunity I couldn't miss really as I know how good he can become in 3/4 seasons. I was going to do more sales/buying in the Jan transfer window and offload Aliadiere/Mido/Brad Jones and possibly Shawky or Emnes and replace them with younger stars.

Cheers for the tips though! Suppose I'll have to play through and just hope I can keep pushing on with a few good results until I hit that transfer window. I set a goal for myself at top 8 although my board is expecting mid-table.

Thanks aswell leeumo I'll look into Cardozo in the Jan transfer window and see if I can grab him. Although for some reason Downing isn't swinging the ball in aswell as I'd hope!

 

[Tonas579]

ye, you probally can, but cardozo is a decent player scored me many goals for different clubs, also signing a pacey striker like tonas mentioned such as keirson or marquinhos (WHO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND) is a very good idea also.

I just noticed Marquinhos in my sixth season (already knew about him but was too expensive) he was at real madrid. His stats are sky high and his minimum release was 13 mil. I snapped him up straight away and he has been awesome.

 

[leeumoconnor69]

Thanks aswell leeumo I'll look into Cardozo in the Jan transfer window and see if I can grab him. Although for some reason Downing isn't swinging the ball in aswell as I'd hope!

well set him as your playmaker

set passing out to the left wing

and play a wide game.

he will improve as the matches go by.

and yes tonas, marquinhos is Sh*t hot

 

[Tonas579]

As for Santon he cost me about 5 million in my first season... played him none stop for 5 seasons and he never turned out good, sold him on for 8 at the end. He's the only wonderkid that i've ever had turn out **** with first team football. Dunno why it happened.

 

[Preston85]

Maybe its just me but i'd spend on your defense, look at those teams you've conceeded against... I spent ony my defense and am currently 2nd, I think i've conceeded the least in the league (January 2009). You don't have the creativity in midfield to create chances for a amazing striker. Hence I started at the back and will work forward as the seasons go on.

I tried that tactics pack but didn't like it, I prefer to use my own creations using the info from TFF guide.

GK's - Was the first thing I addressed. Make's a massive difference.
Mido - Don't know why people say buy a player with good heading, he's done pretty good for me.
Shawky - Done good as a MCd for most of first half of the season after Digard picked up two month long injuries.
Aliadiere - Been awful for me.
Emnes - Selling, I have pleanty of flexibility to cover the midfield so can get a better youngster or spend the money on a forward.
Downing - He started slow for me, I think he is form player, does nothing when poor but when on form is world class. Might also be he plays best when counter attacking and he can get the ball and run at people.


I brought in a GK, young LB, quality in prime CB, good RB, youth AMC, young FC. Thats it, not going to create some creative high scoring machine right away, especially not without leaving the back like a wet towel. I prefer the if they don't score we can't lose approach rather than lets hope we can score one more than them. While most of the midfield arn't very creative or great passers with only Downing really a great winger, they are all hard working with good teamwork which I rate. I think the good work rate makes up for a lot and helps the defense by pressuring defenders/midfielders into giving the ball away besides being more eager to track back or quickly get forward for a counter. The forwards do enough, my theory being I should only need 1 goal so between them, supporting midfields and set peices I have a good chance.


Tactics? I have a range of 4-4-2 based on the TFF guide.
Defensive Counter Attack, Possession, Attacking, Attacking Pressure, and Assault. I guess 'Standard' would go between possession and attacking but really my possession is standard as most of my players arn't great passes or very creative hence would just lose the ball at to high a tempo. Crossing and counter attacking are where the majority of the my goals come from.