retired_SactownRunner23

Excellent read, thanks :thup:

retired_SASSY STARLA

I've tried making many tactics in the past and my downfall has always been on the defensive side of things, this idea seems to make perfect sense and has got me interested in attempting to make my own tactic again, i'm now about to implement your idea in a 4-5-1 formation with flat back four, dm, mc amc, 2 wingers and 1 up front. Will be interesting to see if it makes things look much tighter, i'll report back in due course.

JohnSWA

The following screenshots should make it clear to anyone of what the DL actually does. Also how CD and mentality works together with it.

We start of by showing a picture of the pitch. This shows how the yellow team, playing from right to left could set their DL. The black lines shows approximitly where on the pitch the different numbers places the DL.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

The second picture shows the team starts to defend to try to win the ball back, at the same moment the oppositon enters the team`s own half. Notice this is the second half and the teams have changed sides.

Player No.25 and 9 has individual mentality set to 12. Two notches below the set DL. This makes them position a little deeper than the half-line. The whole team is taking up defensive positions according to the DL.

Still their closing down is set to higher than the DL. This ensures that they will close down. They also have two notches higher CD than the No.8(DMC). Combined with one notch higher mentality. In the build up to the screenshot. The No.25 and 9 were wider, and if the DMC had been given higher mentality and closing down. He would might go in for the tackle. But as soon as the player with the ball entered their half, they closed in to him. This makes the DMC stays behind them and act more as a safety if the player with the ball should dribble past No.25 and 9. Also this way the DMC is able to secure the space behind the two MC`s and the defenders.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

What is important to understand is that the DL(the black line) set will make every player on your team start to defend from it. The next screenshot from another match will explain further.

Here we see the whole team has moved into the opposition half during an attack. They regain the ball and quickly start an attack. With a DL set to 14 we see that the defenders action is to stay close to the DL and defend from there. Whilst a deeper DL setting would suggest that they immeaditely should move back to defend from that area.

This is a major guideline for all your players on the pitch. The players will follow this instruction stricter than individual mentality and closing down.

If you don`t get the players positioning(with formation) and individual mentality/closing down set right in adjactence with DL you will face tactical problems.

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

I would say first set your DL. Then set your individual mentality and closing dwon instructions accordingly. This way you can shape your players positioning and formation. Also it gives you the ability to choose wich players will close down in what order.

JohnSWA

I would appreciate feedback on how things are working out.

numpty01: thanks

There will be more to come, now that I am able to put up pictures.

retired_TUMMY TUCK

i kind of understand it.

retired_TUMMY TUCK

could you give a few framework ideas

retired_vsoukup

quick question if you set a mentality below the DL do u compensate by making their closing down higher to compensate for thier lower mentality?i can see from ur screen shots and explanation ur doing very close to what im doing but im just following ur theory so i dont exactly get why its all coming together if you get me.

the one thing i do know is that if you can really get this to work then the imagination u can use on it is almost endless and hence endless tactical set up ideas. in my opinion if you can get this right i.e the DL and CD and really understand it then the rest just follows suit and u are atleast set up stable in accordance with ur tactic.

please keep working on this and anybody else trying it out please post ur ideas, i have in fact stopped worrying bout my results in the game just to make this work according to my high defensive line philosophy. ilove this thread lol

retired_jenna22

Very nice guide. This is what i have done according to your guide. Please enlighten me if i've gotten anything wrong, or misunderstood.

Im trying to limit the openings behind my defence as im too open to through balls from the flank to the back of my CBs. And my players are closing down in the wrong manner, thus at times having only 1 centre back against 2 strikers.

DL set to 14.
Individual mentality as in the guide.

(Striker-10, winger-9, midfielders-8, defensive midfielder-7, fullbacks-6, defenders-5, goalkeeper-4.)

Closing down as in the guide as well.

(Striker - 20, Midfielders-14, wingers-13, defensive midfielder-12, fullbacks-11, defenders-10 and goalkeeper-9)

Is this right? I've seen u made several tweaks, so this could be outdated / less efficient. I've got a good crop of players, so i should do fine with the setting you have on your liverpool side. I've conceeded for my last 5 games.

And good job on your league with 0 loss.

retired_kellyk

I wholeheartedly agree. I've been preaching this line since FM07 and now in FM08. Fundamentally the game is really once you understand these relationships, allowing you to build tactics easily quickly and efficiently,.

retired_jenna22

Faeron, perhaps if you could, post your 4-1-4-1's tactic for us to download, so we can study from there.