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I would like to start out by saying that I do not take full credit for these tactics as I have gathered most of the information on this forum, learning from the small bits of tactical theories and tested observations that many have contributed with. I have been dedicated to the split mentality thoery, that started a couple of seasons ago (RoT) which was explained through some enlightening posts from wwfan, which last year evolved into RoO (which was discovered by chance when some user -don't remember his name- was testing a split mentality theory that ranged from 1-7 on the slider). I made these tactics using relatively simple solutions, and have done enough testing to suggest that they are good base tactics to start out with, and how one evolves them from there is up to the user's preferences (for version 8.0.1. beta patch).
I would like to begin with the flat 4-4-2 formation which is relatively easy, basic tactic to set up. My personal preferences would include attacking full-backs, a defensive mid/offensive mid concelation in central midfield, and a strong striker/fast forward set-up in attack. Numbers on the sliders are from 1 (far left) to 20 (far right). Except Team Mentality Slider has 22 notches so let's say that this one ranges from 0 (ultra-defensive) to 21 (all out attack). NOTE: 0 and 21 in the Team Instructions are the only time that Team Mentality overrides Individual Instructions.
Most of the settings are on Team Instructions. I will explain which of the different players I will implement throughout the tactics and eventual changes I make. But as mentioned, these are base set-ups. If you have, for example, a defensive mid that has 20 in long shots why not give him Long Shots(often).
Offensive Formations:
High Pressure:Team Instructions High Pressure. 4-4-2 with long farrows on wingers. This is a tactic with a high d-line and high closing down aiming to break down ultra defensive formations with heavy timewasting. I would use this on home field against lowly opposition from the start, but always keep an eye on the match stats. I will also switch to this tactic during a game if I notice that the opposition is playing ultra-defensive with high timewasting.
Goalkeeper: Mentality(14), Distribution(defender collect).
Center Backs: Mentality(15)
Full Backs(attacking): Mentality(16), Crossing From Mixed.
Defensive Mid(normal): Mentality(17)
Wingers(attacking + long farrows): Mentality(18), Crossing From Byline.
Offensive Mid(normal/world class): Mentality(19)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(20)
Play Ball:Play Ball Team Instructions. 4-4-2 short/long farraows on wingers. This is my normal home field tactic. Usually it's good to start out with short farrows on wingers (crossing from mixed), but tweak it to the long farrow (crossing from byline) if need be. Use this tactic if you are strong favorites in one of the cup finals.
Goalkeeper: Mentality(11), Distribution(defender collect).
Center Back: Mentality(12)
Full Backs(attacking): Mentality(13), Crossing From Mixed.
Defensive Mid(normal): Mentality(14)
Wingers(attacking + short/long farrows): Mentality(15), Crossing From Mixed(short farrow) or Byline(long farrows).
Offensive Mid(normal): Mentality(16)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(17)
Offensive Balance:Team Instructions Offensive Balance. 4-4-2 short farrows on wingers. Normally a cautious home field tactic if you are newly promoted f.exs. and are up against top of the league teams. Use this tactic if you are slight favorite in one of the cup finals. Can also be used if you are on out field but in this case tweak the formation to long farrow on wingers crossing from byline, but your opposition must perferably be a division under you at least.
Goalkeeper: Mentality(8), Distibution(mixed).
Center Backs: Mentality(9)
Full Backs(attacking): Mentality(10), Crossing From Mixed.
Deffensive Mid(normal): Mentality(11)
Wingers(attacking + short farrows): Mentality(12), Crossing From Mixed.
Offensive Mid(normal): Menatlity(13)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(14)
Defensive Formations:
Defensive Balance:Defensive Balance Team Instructions. 4-4-2 with short farrows on wingers. This is your most attacking out field tactic. Used if you are f.ex. top of the league and you are playing one of the bottem teams. You can use it home if you are f.ex. a team like Norwich playing against a Premier League team. You are slight under-dog in one of the cup finals.
Goalkeepers: Mentality(7), Distribution(quick throw).
Center Backs: Mentality(8)
Full Backs(attacking): Mentality(9), Crossing From Mixed.
Defensive Mid(normal): Mentality(10)
Wingers(attacking + short farrows): Mentality(11), Crossing From Mixed.
Offensive(normal): Mentality(12)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(13)
Defensive Counter:Defensive Counter Team Instructions. 4-4-2 short farrow. My normal away from home tactic. Also used if I am strong under-dog in one of the cup finals. I am at home against a team that is two divisions above mine.
Goalkeeper: Mentality(4), Distribution(mixed).
Center Backs: Mentality(5)
Full Backs(normal): Mentality(6), Cross From Deep.
Defensive Mid(normal): Mentality(7)
Wingers(attacking + short farrows): Mentality(8), Cross From Mixed.
Offensive Mid(normal): Mentality(9)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(10)
Hold Back:Hold Back Team Instructions. 4-4-2 no farrows. My most defensive tactic. Used usually in the last 10-15 minutes of a match. Can be used if you are f.ex. Halifax home against Man U. Rarely used otherwise, mostly only at crucial times.
Goalkeeper: Mentality(1), Distribution(mixed).
Center Backs: Mentality(2), Closing Down(team).
Full Backs(defensive): Mentality(3), Cross from Deep.
Defensive Mid(defensive): Mentality(4)
Wingers(defensive + no farrows): Mentality(5), Cross From Mixed.
Offensive Mid(defensive): Mentality(6)
Striker/Forward: Mentality(7)
They are all quite simple and shouldn't take long to make. Using edit options and saving options make things easier. You have to start to get acquainted with how the AI is playing so then it becomes easy to know which tactic to start with or change to during a match. I might make a challenge at one point in this post explaining what I would do against different opponents. I've tried these tactics from the lowest teams to the biggest. Remember these are base rules when implementing tactics, but the bigger your reputation, and the better the team, the more attacking you start to play. Remember the different tweaks, like if you are playing against a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation it is recomended that you use the Normal or Defensive Full Back, so they are not running too much forward leaving the opposition's wingers to exploit the space left ungarded.
Reading the match machine and the match stats are essential to make sure you are using the right tactic. And some teams will be stronger than the pre-match-odds have indicated so you have to be ready to swich tactic. It's good to wait until 15-30 minutes before changing tactics unless you are seriously under-pressure.
4-2-4 High Pressure Tactics: You have to also tweak the High Pressure Tactic sometimes, and this can be done very simply. Move the Wingers to the Forward Right/Left positons to make the 4-2-4 formation. This is necessary when somehow you seem to be unable to score even though you are using the High Pressure tactic from the start of the match to break down the oppositions high timewasting, ultra-defensive formation. I would first use the 4-2-4 around (earliest) the 60 minute mark and I am either behind or drawing with the opposition, but would perferably wait until the 75-80 minute. Leave tactic Team Instruction as is if you are using it before the last ten minutes of the game, but if you are desparetly looking for a goal in the last ten minutes change Team Instructions: Team Mentality to (21 all out attack), Team Passing to (17), Tempo to (17) and Timewasting to (1).
Team talk and press handling is something I am very conservative with. Mostly it's just "win if we play our best" if we are comfortable favorites at home, and "will cause us problems" if I am strong under-dog away from home. Other than that "no comment". I leave most of the team talk to my Assistant Manager or at least Ask Assistant in the Tactics Screen and adjust from there. Important to get a good Assistant, as is getting other top coaches (read the FAQ by Rashidi1). Assigning them is also highly recomended so to get the most available stars for each category, along with some good training schedules that either is self-made can be easily downloaded (I personally use most of Seasoned Alcoholics training schedules).
Free roles are something I don't use as much as in FM07 and will only apply them on one or max two players, but for sure they must be world class for it to work optimal and restict them to the offensive mid or the fast forward positions. Swapping players positions is something I will for sure try to implement if I can: f.ex. two similar central midfields or strikers, or wingers that kan play on both sides. Get your best players to take corners/free kicks for optimal results, and it is a good idea to make a good corner routine. I personally try Long Shots with free kicks in the defensive tactics to try to get that odd goal.
You can use these ideologies to build other tactical formations. I have tried a few, but not that much recently as I have been working on the flat 4-4-2 formation. Would like to experiment when I get some more time, especially with a 4-5-1/4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Also get some good shortlists. You can either find them in the Good Players Forum or simply create a game for making shortlists exclusively (take over f.ex. Real Madrid with a large data base with you perfered leagues) and then export your shortlist so that you can import them into any other game you decide to play. Remember that there are other factors than just tactics if you want to have total success, and it's good to always upgrade everything as soon as there is room for improvement. Now I'm just hoping that the FM makers don't totally change the match machine in the next patch...
Nice post- good to see someone who has put work in to tactics rather than just posting a downlod link.
I do wonder whether there will need to be a rethink when the full patch comes out because a lot of the tactics specialists are waiting to see the new match engine before going to press.
Implementing tactics FM08... 
Linear Mode
