I was curious to understand how many tweaks and changes everyone makes to their tactics on a regular basis? I've been guilty in the past of sticking rigidly to a tactic and not really changing much but, this year, I wanna try going all Guardiola and analyse each game and opponent before deciding on tactics. For the tactically gifted out there:
- do you set a base formation and just change roles/instructions here and there or do you change the formation (home form and away form, for example?)
- do you change things regularly during the game itself?
- what stats (if any) do you look at for the opposition and how does this effect your own plan going into the game?
Interested to here your thoughts and discussions.
Cheers
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I have my squad training on three sets of tactics, which - in order of the frequency I use them - are: 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-4-1-1. I particularly like to take on sides in the Championship just after they have been relegated from the Premier League, because all the players start demanding transfers so you can build up quite a nice war-chest-o'cash to then quickly build your new squad in your own image.
I want specialists in every position, as much as possible, so to make that work within a 25-man squad I have worked out that I need two players per position for the Goalkeeper, Back-4 and Midfield-4, plus a tough tackling DM, a False-9, a tall, strong Target Man, a fast, quality-finisher of an Advanced Forward and a tall, energetic Shadow Striker, then another DM who can also cover one of the full-back positions and an AM(R/L/C) who can play as an Inside Forward on one wing and as a winger on the other. I'm always trying to develop younger players, so a couple of U21s who don't have to be registered in the squad provide extra cover. Among my 4 centre backs, I always have one Ball-Playing Defender, one Limited Defender and one Central Defender. In the midfield, 2 x Deep-Lying Playmakers and 2 x Advanced Playmakers. The wingers have to be able to play in both the M and AM positions. I'm not interested in Enganches, Registas, Ramdeuters or whatever they're called. So my squad stipulations are quite strict but they give me tactical flexibility.
I have one of my scouts provide Next Opposition reports and I check which formations they have struggled against. I also check the previous matches against that team (though that becomes irrelevant if they have changed manager during that time) and consider who among my players is fit and performing at the time. Now that my Aston Villa team are in the Europa League, I also look at the schedule and plan two/three games ahead so that individual players don't get worn out and others don't lose their match fitness.
So once I have chosen the formation, I will adjust specific roles to suit the player. For example, the left side of my front two in the 4-4-2 can be the False-9 or the Target Man so I will switch it to suit whoever is going to play - and when I make substitutions. I watch the matches in the Comprehensive View so I can see what is working and what is not. When I play 4-4-2, I'm always looking out for how much room the opposition is getting in the No.10 area and if I'm playing 4-3-3 but not getting anywhere with crosses, I have my Advanced Forward on the bench who, particularly in combination with the False-9, can stretch their defence through the middle of the pitch. So I'll switch from one formation to the other mid-match if I think it will give me an advantage or nullify a potent threat from the opposition.
From the Next Oppo report, I try to remember what periods of the match they are most likely to concede goals and will sometimes opt to attack more during those periods. I'm also happy to shut up shop, go on the defensive and waste time for the last 5 minutes to protect a lead, or even if we're well ahead but the other team is looking more likely to get a late consolation rather than us add another, to protect my goal difference in the league. Sometimes I use the Take a Breather option if we're well ahead, too. I was defending a 1-0 lead against Manchester City the other day. I moved my Complete Forward to the left as an Inside Forward and brought on the Target Man. We hacked the ball clear late on in the match, the TM held it up in the centre circle and released the IF for a run on goal. We didn't score because he got tackled at the last second, but that one moment has put the idea in my mind that bringing on a Target Man can be effective as part of a defensive tactic.
