Attacking:
If you are up against a team weaker then you, you should attack them. The execution is fairly simple. Press high up the pitch, win the ball before it gets to your third, and then attack fast. Higher tempo will help catch the opponent off guard and tire them out after a while, probably helping you score late in the game. You should be pushing up the defence line and use more agressive defending and offside trap and limited defenders in this case.
Countering:
If you feel you are up against a stronger opponent, I suggest you attack them on the break and primarly defend. This is done by dropping the defence line and ordering your defenders to keep hold of the ball to invite opposition forward, and then sending a killer ball forward when opponent has commited enough players forward. That means being more patient and using a lower tempo to keep your defenders passing amongst themselves. You can either use a DLP to send those killer balls, or use pass into space instruction to order everyone be in charge of unlocking defence. A DM player or even two of them are needed to releive pressure on your defence. Less agressive defending is needed for this style.
Standard mentality:
By going more agressive, you will build a positive spirit in your team, and is probably necessary against weaker sides. Going less agressive might be usefull against better sides, but will probably demoralise your team against lesser sides. If you really want a one size fits all tactic, you should order your players to play their natural game against everyone, and that means standard. I would suggest slightly more agressive TI's with this approach, to try control at least 50% of the game against everyone, and not let the opponent have initiative.
For both styles:
Going fluid will ask the players to give 110%. It may be difficult to motivate them against lesser sides. Very fluid means giving 150%. Going more structured will probably not yield good results, except maybe in LLM. Flexible means asking players to give 100% and is a safe choice for most sides.
Stick to position and be more disciplined will work for all clubs, it will help them create triangles and keep possession, while more roaming, more expressive and run at defence will work if you have great players and will add to unpredictability of your attack helping you to brake down the best defences.
Going route one or more direct passing will work on a long pitch. Shorter passing or retaining possession will work everywhere. However, shorter passing might be difficult with more agressive mentalities for weaker sides.
Shoot on sight will work against poor defences or opponents parking the bus. If your scout suggests attacking movement training it might be usefull to use it, otherwise work ball into box to reduce waste.
Harder tackling might work with more agressive, attacking style, and will win you the ball early, however playing with ten men is no good. Staying on feet might help you pack your box with bodies and not conceede, however it will make your players make many fouls. Therefore I suggest not touching tackling instruction.
I suggest not using crossing instruction. Float will work if you are taller, drill will work if you are faster, and whipped will work if you are smaller. Either you adapt this with each sub or not touch it.
If you opt for a target man role, either wide or central, you will not need to use any exploit options, the players will automatically send the ball to him. Otherwise it might be beneficial to use exploit middle if you want to focus passes to your great striker, or exploit flank to focus passes to your great winger, regardless of your playing width.
Playing narrower will focus passess to central players. Your striker will be more involved and will have more support from other players. It will also help you defend the middle, and press more efficiently. You will also be less reliant on crossess.
Playing wider will focus passess to your wide players. Your sidebacks and your wingers will get more support from central players and will be your main source for creating attacks. You will be more reliant on crosess.
Tempo is an instruction that determines how fast will your players do things on the pitch. Be it closing down, passing, decisions, everything. They will either do everything more patiently if you order them lower tempo, or be quicker. If you want the fans to fall asleep, use very low tempo, if you want the opposition on their toes, use very high tempo. It usually goes hand in hand with team mentality, with more agressive mentality meaning higher tempo and vice versa, and should be set accordingly.
If you are up against a team weaker then you, you should attack them. The execution is fairly simple. Press high up the pitch, win the ball before it gets to your third, and then attack fast. Higher tempo will help catch the opponent off guard and tire them out after a while, probably helping you score late in the game. You should be pushing up the defence line and use more agressive defending and offside trap and limited defenders in this case.
Countering:
If you feel you are up against a stronger opponent, I suggest you attack them on the break and primarly defend. This is done by dropping the defence line and ordering your defenders to keep hold of the ball to invite opposition forward, and then sending a killer ball forward when opponent has commited enough players forward. That means being more patient and using a lower tempo to keep your defenders passing amongst themselves. You can either use a DLP to send those killer balls, or use pass into space instruction to order everyone be in charge of unlocking defence. A DM player or even two of them are needed to releive pressure on your defence. Less agressive defending is needed for this style.
Standard mentality:
By going more agressive, you will build a positive spirit in your team, and is probably necessary against weaker sides. Going less agressive might be usefull against better sides, but will probably demoralise your team against lesser sides. If you really want a one size fits all tactic, you should order your players to play their natural game against everyone, and that means standard. I would suggest slightly more agressive TI's with this approach, to try control at least 50% of the game against everyone, and not let the opponent have initiative.
For both styles:
Going fluid will ask the players to give 110%. It may be difficult to motivate them against lesser sides. Very fluid means giving 150%. Going more structured will probably not yield good results, except maybe in LLM. Flexible means asking players to give 100% and is a safe choice for most sides.
Stick to position and be more disciplined will work for all clubs, it will help them create triangles and keep possession, while more roaming, more expressive and run at defence will work if you have great players and will add to unpredictability of your attack helping you to brake down the best defences.
Going route one or more direct passing will work on a long pitch. Shorter passing or retaining possession will work everywhere. However, shorter passing might be difficult with more agressive mentalities for weaker sides.
Shoot on sight will work against poor defences or opponents parking the bus. If your scout suggests attacking movement training it might be usefull to use it, otherwise work ball into box to reduce waste.
Harder tackling might work with more agressive, attacking style, and will win you the ball early, however playing with ten men is no good. Staying on feet might help you pack your box with bodies and not conceede, however it will make your players make many fouls. Therefore I suggest not touching tackling instruction.
I suggest not using crossing instruction. Float will work if you are taller, drill will work if you are faster, and whipped will work if you are smaller. Either you adapt this with each sub or not touch it.
If you opt for a target man role, either wide or central, you will not need to use any exploit options, the players will automatically send the ball to him. Otherwise it might be beneficial to use exploit middle if you want to focus passes to your great striker, or exploit flank to focus passes to your great winger, regardless of your playing width.
Playing narrower will focus passess to central players. Your striker will be more involved and will have more support from other players. It will also help you defend the middle, and press more efficiently. You will also be less reliant on crossess.
Playing wider will focus passess to your wide players. Your sidebacks and your wingers will get more support from central players and will be your main source for creating attacks. You will be more reliant on crosess.
Tempo is an instruction that determines how fast will your players do things on the pitch. Be it closing down, passing, decisions, everything. They will either do everything more patiently if you order them lower tempo, or be quicker. If you want the fans to fall asleep, use very low tempo, if you want the opposition on their toes, use very high tempo. It usually goes hand in hand with team mentality, with more agressive mentality meaning higher tempo and vice versa, and should be set accordingly.
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