Tactic Help

[Raykillz]

Hey, so I have created a decent tactic, came 3rd in the BPL with Southampton and only signed Ospina and Balanta. I'm the type of guy that downloads tactics because I'm terrible and clueless when it comes to it, this year I was determined to learn. So I did.

Offensively, this tactic is very good. Defensively, it's a bit sloppy.
I am currently 5 games into my second season. I have won all five.
4-1 Spurs
4-2 Blackburn
4-1 Swansea
5-4 Newcastle
4-3 Stoke

As you can see, this tactic can score goals. But I would like to stop conceding. I am not trying to emulate any sort of team.
1. What team instructions are key to keeping possession?
2. How can I make my defense better?

I have been watching my team play and we are usually conceding goals when we do stupid passes.

I call this tactic "The Anchor"

View attachment 434954
View attachment 434953

Let me know if some team instructions are not needed.
I'm playing Attacking and Rigid.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Edit: Lost 4-1 to Chelsea, but that's understandable considering it's Chelsea

 

[bluebird123]

I'd say attacking with that formation and the roles you've assigned is overkill. Rigid is a good way to go with the roles you've chosen so no fault there. Maybe bring it down to control.

I'm not a fan of retain possession because I don't see it as a standard shout. I'd use it if I were closing games out. You do not need look for overlap on while having CWB and exploit the flanks. It will just ask your wingers to hold to ball up and wait for the overlap (duh) making your play very, very slow.

Not too sure about hassle & stay on feet. Are you chasing your opponent around but not trying to win the ball back? It will tire your team out quickly. The point of pressing teams is winning the ball back not just chasing them for the sake of it.

Now that is out of the way your roles are a little unbalanced somewhat. A preference of mine (take of it as you will) is when I play with attacking wing backs I have my wingers on support. He drops a little deeper while the full back overlaps causing problems and more movement. So if you are going to play CWB (which you do not need to, put them to WB-A or even FB-A) make your wingers IF-S, W-S or AP-S. Plus you have exploit the flanks on while having very attacking wingers, forcing your play wide and making you very predictable but you did the smart thing in making your DM a HB to help with the attacking FB's but at a cost which brings me to my next point.

Basically you have no-one in midfield to hold position. Every player in the attacking third is on attack duty (meaning it will be congested and no-one will drop back to help) your BWM will just run around looking for the ball leaving a huge hole in your midfield considering your HB drops into a 3rd CB you have no-one holding position change to simply a CM-S/D. You have literally 3 players in defence to defend against the onslaught you are going to face.

You do not need a T-A then an attacking duty up front. Your treq is the main attacking outlet, but then so is your CF so how does it balance it self properly? If you insist on playing a treq then make your striker a DLF so he can pull the defence forward leaving your treq to cause havoc with passing or roaming (change a winger to an IF-S/A) If you insist on playing a CF then play a simple AP-S behind him.

I have never played with two at the back (nor will I try it) so I don't like your shape and pretty shocked at how you've won all of your games thus far (no offence intended, just a peculiar shape which has far too many glaring flaws for it to ever succeed consistently) but you're not used to making your own tactics so kudos for going for something a little...unorthodox and getting it to win you 5 games straight.

I'm sorry this may seem a little disjointed in parts and it is a little incoherent but it is 7am so I hope you find this helpful. Basically, balance your roles throughout your team and don't over-complicate it with shouts.


EDIT: Higher tempo and short passing is a no go for me. It just results in too many misplaces passes resulting in your teaming forcing the play which you do not need. It contradicts having retain possession if you are going to want to play it at neck break speed.

 

[Raykillz]

I'd say attacking with that formation and the roles you've assigned is overkill. Rigid is a good way to go with the roles you've chosen so no fault there. Maybe bring it down to control.

I'm not a fan of retain possession because I don't see it as a standard shout. I'd use it if I were closing games out. You do not need look for overlap on while having CWB and exploit the flanks. It will just ask your wingers to hold to ball up and wait for the overlap (duh) making your play very, very slow.

Not too sure about hassle & stay on feet. Are you chasing your opponent around but not trying to win the ball back? It will tire your team out quickly. The point of pressing teams is winning the ball back not just chasing them for the sake of it.

Now that is out of the way your roles are a little unbalanced somewhat. A preference of mine (take of it as you will) is when I play with attacking wing backs I have my wingers on support. He drops a little deeper while the full back overlaps causing problems and more movement. So if you are going to play CWB (which you do not need to, put them to WB-A or even FB-A) make your wingers IF-S, W-S or AP-S. Plus you have exploit the flanks on while having very attacking wingers, forcing your play wide and making you very predictable but you did the smart thing in making your DM a HB to help with the attacking FB's but at a cost which brings me to my next point.

Basically you have no-one in midfield to hold position. Every player in the attacking third is on attack duty (meaning it will be congested and no-one will drop back to help) your BWM will just run around looking for the ball leaving a huge hole in your midfield considering your HB drops into a 3rd CB you have no-one holding position change to simply a CM-S/D. You have literally 3 players in defence to defend against the onslaught you are going to face.

You do not need a T-A then an attacking duty up front. Your treq is the main attacking outlet, but then so is your CF so how does it balance it self properly? If you insist on playing a treq then make your striker a DLF so he can pull the defence forward leaving your treq to cause havoc with passing or roaming (change a winger to an IF-S/A) If you insist on playing a CF then play a simple AP-S behind him.

I have never played with two at the back (nor will I try it) so I don't like your shape and pretty shocked at how you've won all of your games thus far (no offence intended, just a peculiar shape which has far too many glaring flaws for it to ever succeed consistently) but you're not used to making your own tactics so kudos for going for something a little...unorthodox and getting it to win you 5 games straight.

I'm sorry this may seem a little disjointed in parts and it is a little incoherent but it is 7am so I hope you find this helpful. Basically, balance your roles throughout your team and don't over-complicate it with shouts.


EDIT: Higher tempo and short passing is a no go for me. It just results in too many misplaces passes resulting in your teaming forcing the play which you do not need. It contradicts having retain possession if you are going to want to play it at neck break speed.

Thanks!

 

[iota4u]

basically, to make it more rigid at the back, change the complete wing backs to normal wing backs. Be more more defensive with out sacrificing any of your attacking movements.