1. Introduction
I'm making this guide because I found tactics creator thingy implemented in FM11 to be very usefull. It may be of use to long time managers and newbies alike if you know what you are doing. Newbies may not know exactly what is it all for and how to make their team win, so I'm gonna do some explaining.
2. Tactic Creation
Start the tactic creator, and click next. You will be asked for formation.
You may have a vision in your mind of what tactic you need and I don't blame you for that, but there are some ground rules to choosing a proper tactic. First of all, you need to know where you are and what you are up against. If you are managing a good club with good players, you need to choose a tactic that will be with wide players. Wide players and ergo wide play, allows you to stretch your opponents defense and ergo, easily score a goal. Vice versa also applies, if you are managing a low club with very bad players, you need to give up on your wide players and play a narrow game, through the middle. 4-1-2-1-2 is an example of narrow play tactic, while 4-5-1 is an example of wide tactic. Second, if you do have good wide players, or for some reason don't want to leave them out, you may employ a wide tactic, but with worse results. If you are managing a good club, it is better to use a wide tactic with wide players and direct passing. But it may be better for both kind of teams to use what your advisors have suggested, as those are the tactics your players are familiar with.
3. Philosophy
I think you will all agree the objective of the game is winning. So, having that in mind, I will proclaim that possesion and domination over your opponent is the key to victory. And I will of course be damned for it, for it is not always true. But, if your team manages to have the ball more then your opponent, chances of you scoring a goal, and them not, are at your side. So if you are attacking it would be logical to set philosophy to fluid. But, it will leave your defense open and you will probably receive a goal. Tactic creator doesn't move the slider that much in any direction with any setting, and it is my opinion that rigid philosophy gives best results....your team keeps shape, you dont easily receive a goal, and you prolly will score if your strategy is set to attack, which is also my recommended strategy. Some may say that you need to defend yourself against better teams, but I disagree. Your players are much more agressive at defending with their mentality on attack and they fight for the ball more.
4. Playing Style
Passing should be set to default, no matter what kind of team you are managing. Your defenders need to do short passes, and your attackers need to do direct, so default is the best option.
Creative Freedom should be set to more disciplined by all teams. Being creative usually only means giving the ball to your opponent or shooting long shots miles away from their goal.
Closing Down should be set to press more by all teams. Don't worry about your players lacking stamina, the tactic creator doesn't push the slider that much high. If you stand off, you will ceirtanly have a chance to see opponent player come near your goal and take a shot at it with your players doing nothing about it. Press more means gaining more possesion by making your opponent make more mistakes. You only go stand off if you are using a defensive strategy.
Tackling should be left at harder by all teams. Easy tackling isnt sufficient to get that ball, meaning losing posession. You will prolly gain a few red cards at start, but when your players get used to this setting in a few games, it will be ok.
Marking should be set to default by all teams. With default marking, your two defending CB's are on man marking, and the rest of team is at zonal. Zonal is great when defending and intercepting their passes, while man marking allows your CB to stay with their ST and making it harder for him to score. It also allows you to implement offside trap. If for some reason, you want your CB's on stopper/cover duty, you need to turn off offside trap and set marking to zonal.
Crossing can be set either to drill or to float, and it's really up to you. If you set it to drill, your winger will prolly try a direct shot at goal or a cross to the nearer post, which is good since in doesn't require that high crossing attribute such as float crosses. Be sure to set your set pieces accordingly after you create the tactic.
Roaming will be best set to more roaming, If you set it to more roaming, it will give opponent a tough time guarding your players.
5. Player Roles & Player Duties
Think what you want to do on the pitch. If you are playing a 4-4-2, it is a good idea to have 2 CB's on defend, 2 FB's on support and 2 wide midfielders on support duty. You need to stop them from attacking through the middle, sou you need a ball wining CM in the middle, and you also need someone creative to start your own attacks, like adv. playmaker. I would set both of these 2 on support. In attack you need someone who will come deep for the ball, and someone who will score. DLF on support and advanced forward on attack are a good combo. Target man on support and a poacher are a good combo. Complete forward on support and poacher are a good combo.
I'm making this guide because I found tactics creator thingy implemented in FM11 to be very usefull. It may be of use to long time managers and newbies alike if you know what you are doing. Newbies may not know exactly what is it all for and how to make their team win, so I'm gonna do some explaining.
2. Tactic Creation
Start the tactic creator, and click next. You will be asked for formation.
You may have a vision in your mind of what tactic you need and I don't blame you for that, but there are some ground rules to choosing a proper tactic. First of all, you need to know where you are and what you are up against. If you are managing a good club with good players, you need to choose a tactic that will be with wide players. Wide players and ergo wide play, allows you to stretch your opponents defense and ergo, easily score a goal. Vice versa also applies, if you are managing a low club with very bad players, you need to give up on your wide players and play a narrow game, through the middle. 4-1-2-1-2 is an example of narrow play tactic, while 4-5-1 is an example of wide tactic. Second, if you do have good wide players, or for some reason don't want to leave them out, you may employ a wide tactic, but with worse results. If you are managing a good club, it is better to use a wide tactic with wide players and direct passing. But it may be better for both kind of teams to use what your advisors have suggested, as those are the tactics your players are familiar with.
3. Philosophy
I think you will all agree the objective of the game is winning. So, having that in mind, I will proclaim that possesion and domination over your opponent is the key to victory. And I will of course be damned for it, for it is not always true. But, if your team manages to have the ball more then your opponent, chances of you scoring a goal, and them not, are at your side. So if you are attacking it would be logical to set philosophy to fluid. But, it will leave your defense open and you will probably receive a goal. Tactic creator doesn't move the slider that much in any direction with any setting, and it is my opinion that rigid philosophy gives best results....your team keeps shape, you dont easily receive a goal, and you prolly will score if your strategy is set to attack, which is also my recommended strategy. Some may say that you need to defend yourself against better teams, but I disagree. Your players are much more agressive at defending with their mentality on attack and they fight for the ball more.
4. Playing Style
Passing should be set to default, no matter what kind of team you are managing. Your defenders need to do short passes, and your attackers need to do direct, so default is the best option.
Creative Freedom should be set to more disciplined by all teams. Being creative usually only means giving the ball to your opponent or shooting long shots miles away from their goal.
Closing Down should be set to press more by all teams. Don't worry about your players lacking stamina, the tactic creator doesn't push the slider that much high. If you stand off, you will ceirtanly have a chance to see opponent player come near your goal and take a shot at it with your players doing nothing about it. Press more means gaining more possesion by making your opponent make more mistakes. You only go stand off if you are using a defensive strategy.
Tackling should be left at harder by all teams. Easy tackling isnt sufficient to get that ball, meaning losing posession. You will prolly gain a few red cards at start, but when your players get used to this setting in a few games, it will be ok.
Marking should be set to default by all teams. With default marking, your two defending CB's are on man marking, and the rest of team is at zonal. Zonal is great when defending and intercepting their passes, while man marking allows your CB to stay with their ST and making it harder for him to score. It also allows you to implement offside trap. If for some reason, you want your CB's on stopper/cover duty, you need to turn off offside trap and set marking to zonal.
Crossing can be set either to drill or to float, and it's really up to you. If you set it to drill, your winger will prolly try a direct shot at goal or a cross to the nearer post, which is good since in doesn't require that high crossing attribute such as float crosses. Be sure to set your set pieces accordingly after you create the tactic.
Roaming will be best set to more roaming, If you set it to more roaming, it will give opponent a tough time guarding your players.
5. Player Roles & Player Duties
Think what you want to do on the pitch. If you are playing a 4-4-2, it is a good idea to have 2 CB's on defend, 2 FB's on support and 2 wide midfielders on support duty. You need to stop them from attacking through the middle, sou you need a ball wining CM in the middle, and you also need someone creative to start your own attacks, like adv. playmaker. I would set both of these 2 on support. In attack you need someone who will come deep for the ball, and someone who will score. DLF on support and advanced forward on attack are a good combo. Target man on support and a poacher are a good combo. Complete forward on support and poacher are a good combo.
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