***THE BETTER HALFS TACTIC UPLOAD & DISCUSSION

[TheBetterHalf]

Opening post up to date with links ( at least for the FM13 tactics)

 

[TheBetterHalf]

DIRECT COUNTER FOR UNDERDOGS

THE 41221 BOX

View attachment 378405

Here, you will find a(2) TACTIC(s) made for underdogs and lesser teams. As always, one should use the formation that gets the best out of the team and here, it’s for those that have many central midfielders but lack in quality wingers.

The concept is really simple as we play a direct counter approach. Don’t expect to see beautiful football, no matter what team you use as this is mostly made for lesser gifted squads. We flood the midfield and try to grind out results by either playing really aggressive or standing off slightly more.

The 2 Versions
One version is called HIGH PRESS and is more aggressive and one is called LOWER PRESS and here we are les aggressive and play more compact. Just use the version that suits your team and the circumstances the best. Maybe you face a team where you need to be more aggressive, the use the HIGH PRESS

If you are more scared of the opponent or if your players are not putting in the effort as a unit, then use the LOWER PRESS

PLAYERS
Nothing fancy at all.
DMC – Strong
MCL – Better Decision, Passing
MCRight – Hardworking normal CM
AMC´s – Attacking Mids.
FC – The Best you have

​

 

[havanaclue]

Playing the compact box narrow diamond and the press says the jury is still out on my managerial skills ( and I must say my jury is still out on the plug and play tactic)

View attachment 378416View attachment 378417View attachment 378418

I don't know which Boro team will turn up, the great play one or the totally hopeless one.....

It's just too easy to score againstme, the oppo just has to cross the ball in and hey presto, Bobs your uncle, it's a goal

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Direct Counter for Underdogs / Lesser Teams
Wide 451

The Versions
This small set consist of 3 versions that are to be used as plug & play tactics. The first version is called "High Press", the 2nd "Lower press. If you feel that you have the ability to disturb the opponent by putting a **** of a lot more pressure on them, then use the high press and if you are more scared that you might be dragged out of position by this superior team, then use the lower press version. The Lower Press version in also good to revert to when some of the plaers are not putting in the effort of closing down. This way, we dont get so stretched

Formation & Team settings
View attachment 378419




The flow
using Underdogs
As soon as a counter attack is launched, we keep a directgame and channel t-balls from the middle onto the flanks for our 3 attackingplayers to run onto/to their feet after they have taken a run wide. Our single DMC keeps a restricted game and in front of him we have 2 more attacking minded MCs that always seeks free space. When ourfullbacksget into possession deep down field, they hold on to the ball to drag theopposition onto them. This means that if we face a tea sitting deep and defend,
our attacking players are likely to make a run forward in vain and the FBs holdonto the ball, making these attacking players easy to mark as the oppositionsimply denies us space to play these direct t-balls into. This is why this approach is for underdogs and perhaps middle teams.




The players
All players:
Determination, Team Work, Work rate and DecisionAlso notice that I have not brought the "common sense stats" in any of the players beneath, like finishing for the strikers or passing for all players etc.

Fullbacks
Style of play
When not launching an counter attack, they should stay back so no ppms like " get forward" etc. These player act like holding players and when seeing fit, they will try to beat their man
Stats
Here, we are looking for pace, anticipation, positioning, stamina and tackling. Dribbling is a huge plus to.-

----------


Central Defenders
Style of play
As we use loose zonal marking, make sure that they don't have the ppm " like to tight mark"
Stats:
The normal ones: Remember that Anticipation are crucial for any top team and that pace is needed if the opponent launches balls over the top of the defenders. Remember that the worse concentration they have, the more likely you are to concede late in games and when you are dominating but not scoring yourself


DMC - The Ballwinner
Style of play
Here we use a more limited DMC that is used mainly as a ballwinner.

Stats
Stamina, Strength, anticipation, tackling,
Concentration

MC´s – Central Mids
Style of play
Here we use 2 central Mids that roam to seek free space. The left is the more creative with higher flair and decision stats.
Stats
Positioning, anticipation, tackling,
Concentration, Creativity, Off the ball

-----------

AMR/LWingers - Complete Wing forwards
Style of play:
As the wingers are used as both pacey Wingforwards AND defensive
hardworking wingers, its naturally COMPLETE players that will do the best of
job. But as these players are really hard to find, I crucial that they most of
all are physical classic English Wingers, that they know how to close down and
tackle. I prefer using players that likes to run down their “own “ flank, using left on left etc. This way, when the left AML hugs the touchline WITH the ball, the 2 MCs and the AMR can run into the box providing him many passing options ( and vice versa on the right flank)
Stats
Pace, off the ball, flair, crossing

-----------

Forward - The Pacey or Smart Poacher
Style of play:
This is the main goalscorer. He
needs to be able to find space, break free from his marker by dribbling past
him. When he moves down the line into channels, its also good if he has good
team work stat so he cross the ball to a tam mate instead of taking the poor
angle. At higher level, this player can actually be a player like Tevez or
Aguero, RVP, a player that likes to come deep to get the ball
Stats:
Off the all, Flair, Agility, First touch, Technique


Tweaks and Shouts
As its a plug & play Tactic using classic mode, I use no tweaks(apart from the mentioned focusplay) and shouts are enabled
Opposition instruction
I have not used any at all but feel free to use them in a manor that suit the actual formation. ( i.e NOT showing MR/L wingers inside if they use overlaping fullbacks

Playmaker & Target Man
None is used

Match prep
There is no focus area that i crucial for the flow of the tactic. If you face a team that are great at set pieces and might focus on attacking set pieces as their only chance, use defensive set pieces. If up against a team you know are going to play really deep and compact BUT have poor attackers, then use attacking movement. If up against a team with really pacey and agile FCs, then use defensive positioning etc etc. Naturally, I use Team Work on a heavy workload in preseason but remember that when using a focus area that relates to the match plan ( like def positioning), the workload have no impact what so ever.

Pitch Size
Looking at the tactic and the circumstance, and you will see the following

•-Close down heavily: Meaning that the bigger pitch, in theory the bigger area to close down. So teams with players lacking in stamina would prefer a smaller pitch.

•Focus the play through the middle: If the pitch is really short, there will be congestion in the middle will struggle to find space.

•- Its a tactic for underdogs, hence opponents are likely to push up and use the width or the field, : Here, a really wide pitch means that these quality players will get too much space

•- The deep d-line and the balls into channels - AS we play a deep d-line, we can actually use a long pitch and as we play a more direct game, putting those t-balls into channels, we would benefit from this long pitch in our attacks to. That is if our 3 attacking players does have great pace and good stamina
So, in short, I would go for a Longer but more narrow pitch​

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Thread no longer a sticked one

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Playing the compact box narrow diamond and the press says the jury is still out on my managerial skills ( and I must say my jury is still out on the plug and play tactic)

View attachment 378416View attachment 378417View attachment 378418

I don't know which Boro team will turn up, the great play one or the totally hopeless one.....

It's just too easy to score againstme, the oppo just has to cross the ball in and hey presto, Bobs your uncle, it's a goal

I know you really like playing without wingers..but are your fullbacks good enough ?


Off Topic: What do you think of the new Opening post ? Do you think its better this way to have all my tactics in the same thread ?

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Off Topic: What do you think of the new Opening post ? Do you think its better this way to have all my tactics in the same thread ?
I mainly ask this for future references

 

[Nickbonista]

Love all of your tactics, but with the gyroscope seems to create few chances. Playing with Newcastle second season, full familiarity, lineup is Krul Bochetti Alderweireld Coloccini Cabaye M'Vila Armero Ben Arfa Pjanic Jovetic Ba/Cisse. So why am I only winning games 1 or 2-0, usually from set pieces. Match prep is attacking movement.

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Love all of your tactics, but with the gyroscope seems to create few chances. Playing with Newcastle second season, full familiarity, lineup is Krul Bochetti Alderweireld Coloccini Cabaye M'Vila Armero Ben Arfa Pjanic Jovetic Ba/Cisse. So why am I only winning games 1 or 2-0, usually from set pieces. Match prep is attacking movement.

Becasue its a probing tactic with the aim to win. When I use this with my top notch team, I tend to win bigger but thats because I have a better team than you. I to score a lot from set pieces but thats becasue we get about 12 corners every game, 0,5 pens/match and many dangerous free kicks.

It can also depend on what kind of players you use on the wings. If having hardworking players rather than flairfull ones, then you will get the ball back earlier and can lauch dangerous conter attacks.

Armero, likes to get forward when ever possible and is perhaps not the correct player for the role if wanting to be a true top team. As he also lacks decision, he will make many misstakes. Arfa might be better used in the AMC position as he is not god enough to play as a lone wide player in the MR position for a top team with the aim to get to the top of the world.

Match Prep: Dont be fooled by the attacking movement being the best choice if wanting to score more goals. HOw d you see your best chnaces of scoring? Is it by counter attacks ? Then its actually better to use Defensive positioning to be able to break up more attacks. IN the end, there are no easy answers here though.

How many matches have you used it for and whats your overall result ? Remember that this is a tactic that tries to emulate a realistci style of football so if scoring less than 2 goals in average, then its because that how teams mostly do in real life.

 

[Jimmy_x_]

Hey,

Really like your new thread now, I always thought having it stickied was to your detriment. Hopefully now you're tactics get the attention they deserve.

Random off topic question:

I'm playing a network game with my friend atm and we are playing with LFC Marshalls latest update. My friend asked me the other day if i noticed that when playing with a custom update the strength of the tactic decreases. He said that on his personal save without the custom update the same tactic he was using was banging in goals and keeping possession and then in our network game with the custom database it wasn't working. He is united in his personal game, whom i have noticed are quite overpowered on the game, but then he is barca in our network game so in effect the tactic should work even better. Not. just in this instance, however, as he has stated on other network games with various other teams he has experienced the same issues with the custom database. He said it has something to do with all the changes to stats and attributes unbalancing the game (apparently Raikan told him that a few years back)

I was just wondering if this is actually real issue or whether something else is going on here?

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Hey,

Really like your new thread now, I always thought having it stickied was to your detriment. Hopefully now you're tactics get the attention they deserve.

Random off topic question:

I'm playing a network game with my friend atm and we are playing with LFC Marshalls latest update. My friend asked me the other day if i noticed that when playing with a custom update the strength of the tactic decreases. He said that on his personal save without the custom update the same tactic he was using was banging in goals and keeping possession and then in our network game with the custom database it wasn't working. He is united in his personal game, whom i have noticed are quite overpowered on the game, but then he is barca in our network game so in effect the tactic should work even better. Not. just in this instance, however, as he has stated on other network games with various other teams he has experienced the same issues with the custom database. He said it has something to do with all the changes to stats and attributes unbalancing the game (apparently Raikan told him that a few years back)

I was just wondering if this is actually real issue or whether something else is going on here?

If using a custom databas that has the players for the 2013/14 season, this will effect the amount of players the game considers new to the club. Imagine starting with a club that have 4 new signings for the 2012/13 season. This team will have little problem gelling. Now imagine the same team but this time with 4 more new players for the 2013/14 season. Now imagine this team with 4 new players that your friend has brought in. NOw imagen that many of them dont speak English.. This will make him have a team with 12 (!!) new players and perhaps 6 of them dont speak English at all. Here, he will struggle big time

 

[Jimmy_x_]

If using a custom databas that has the players for the 2013/14 season, this will effect the amount of players the game considers new to the club. Imagine starting with a club that have 4 new signings for the 2012/13 season. This team will have little problem gelling. Now imagine the same team but this time with 4 more new players for the 2013/14 season. Now imagine this team with 4 new players that your friend has brought in. NOw imagen that many of them dont speak English.. This will make him have a team with 12 (!!) new players and perhaps 6 of them dont speak English at all. Here, he will struggle big time

Ohhhhh! Okay, now i understand, that actually makes a lot of sense. So it takes a longer time for the team to gel so the tactic wont reach its full potential until later on in the season, right?

Thankyou

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Ohhhhh! Okay, now i understand, that actually makes a lot of sense. So it takes a longer time for the team to gel so the tactic wont reach its full potential until later on in the season, right?

Thankyou

Correct.

This is directly connected to the results in multiple ways. If he is a good manager when things go well, handling the man management etc, then its all fine and dandy. But if he is unexperienced ( rather than poor) as a FM-player in handling the team when results dont go his way, thsi may produce even worse results.

 

[Nickbonista]

Becasue its a probing tactic with the aim to win. When I use this with my top notch team, I tend to win bigger but thats because I have a better team than you. I to score a lot from set pieces but thats becasue we get about 12 corners every game, 0,5 pens/match and many dangerous free kicks.

It can also depend on what kind of players you use on the wings. If having hardworking players rather than flairfull ones, then you will get the ball back earlier and can lauch dangerous conter attacks.

Armero, likes to get forward when ever possible and is perhaps not the correct player for the role if wanting to be a true top team. As he also lacks decision, he will make many misstakes. Arfa might be better used in the AMC position as he is not god enough to play as a lone wide player in the MR position for a top team with the aim to get to the top of the world.

Match Prep: Dont be fooled by the attacking movement being the best choice if wanting to score more goals. HOw d you see your best chnaces of scoring? Is it by counter attacks ? Then its actually better to use Defensive positioning to be able to break up more attacks. IN the end, there are no easy answers here though.

How many matches have you used it for and whats your overall result ? Remember that this is a tactic that tries to emulate a realistci style of football so if scoring less than 2 goals in average, then its because that how teams mostly do in real life.

I do admit I could have better wide players for the role, but transfer budget dictated that I had versatile players. Results in the league are as follows

Chelsea away lost 2-1
Swansea away won 1-0
Norwich home won 2-0
Man United away drew 1-1
West Brom home won 1-0

 

[TheBetterHalf]

I do admit I could have better wide players for the role, but transfer budget dictated that I had versatile players. Results in the league are as follows

Chelsea away lost 2-1
Swansea away won 1-0
Norwich home won 2-0
Man United away drew 1-1
West Brom home won 1-0

Well, I would be rather happy with those results. Looking at those matches, its really only one of the games where I would have wished for more goals ( WBA home )

 

[Jimmy_x_]

Correct.

This is directly connected to the results in multiple ways. If he is a good manager when things go well, handling the man management etc, then its all fine and dandy. But if he is unexperienced ( rather than poor) as a FM-player in handling the team when results dont go his way, thsi may produce even worse results.

Interesting. Do you normally play without the custom updates then? I'm almost tempted to pick up the tactics I've been discarding due to playing with them on the updates.

Thanks for the help btw

 

[TheBetterHalf]

Interesting. Do you normally play without the custom updates then? I'm almost tempted to pick up the tactics I've been discarding due to playing with them on the updates.

Thanks for the help btw

Well, I normally never play with dbs made by users due to the reason above and the fact that the makers just make too many players too good.

 

[Crane]

Well, I normally never play with dbs made due to the reason above and the fact that the makers just make too many players too good.

I always prefer to use a db which doesn't have CA/PA updates (WeeGiE being the best by far). Also, if you know your squad is going to be really ungelled, you could start in January 2012 (think the USA allows you to do this. This gives you time to have match prep & training gelling the team while playing a friendly or so every week. It also "cleanses" all the players that have moved, so in the transfer window you won't have anyone not wanting to move to you because they've just joined a club.

 

[havanaclue]

I know you really like playing without wingers..but are your fullbacks good enough ?


Off Topic: What do you think of the new Opening post ? Do you think its better this way to have all my tactics in the same thread ?

On the contrary, I have tried to play the 4-5-1 but goal scoring becomes more extinct than the dinosaurs when I do. I tried your 4-5-1 split it didn't work, I've tried my own and it didn't work. What I do prefer is the TC tactics so I know what type of player I should be looking for.

And yes the thread is much better now, just remind people to name which tactic they are using that's all

 

[TheBetterHalf]

On the contrary, I have tried to play the 4-5-1 but goal scoring becomes more extinct than the dinosaurs when I do. I tried your 4-5-1 split it didn't work, I've tried my own and it didn't work.

And yes the thread is much better now, just remind people to name which tactic they are using that's all

-doomed for supporting Boro then

- yeah, one has to do that