retired_kellyk

Wayne'o

Whenever I make a tactic I usually follow on from a successful template. In this case most of my tactics are based on the 4132...from this base I generate other back four formations. Though i do have one 3133 formation which I use at times, and that's down to the tactic itself.

FM is still very much a challenge more so now than before as there are facets of the game I'm still coming to terms with and its still a bit of challenge in certain areas.

The knowledge of the engine and how it gels together comes from having played a lot of FM in the past. I've played every single edition of this game from the launch of CM, back in the days when the internet was just up and coming as well. I also used to produce football shows for sky as well which helped me come in contact with some really intelligent commentators and a lot of logic in what they say I applied to the game as well...like defending from the front and changing tempos in a game. I'm no genius on the forums, I tend to act as a sieve listening to and discussing things with a really small group of people which include most of the old skool who apply a lot of logic to making tactics.

I get involved in discussions in GQ too and discuss the game with the designers as well....erm.....my work well it involves IT too in a large way.

We all started out the same way. All of us struggled to understand the game, but the one thing we all did alike was to set up solid defensive units first. Then work on improving the attacking side of the game slowly. Work to get the draws first and know how to defend well and keep the ball before you embark on getting those big scorelines..

Its not hard to become good at this game, but it does involve paying a lot of attention to little details in the game. The most impt aspect is understanding how your formation will behave.

Incidentally its only a run of good luck, I fully expect this run to come undone soon..I'm playing Arsenal again in the Carling Cup

retired_Cat1123

I'm not being funny Rashidi(although i'm pretty sure people will think i am), but you obviously seem to find this game VERY easy, whilst others around you struggle and some like me swear the game has a few simple parameters set, as the depth of the game is simply not what it seems?, so why not help your fellow man out with some simple step by step instructions?.

Unbeaten with West Ham after 10 games or so, with the Demo as it is, makes you either an absolute genius or a cheat?, so what i'm saying is, i'm prepared to believe your a genius, but for Gods sake prove it?.

If i found the game as easy as yourself, i'd be prepared to share the knowledge no matter how little time i claimed to have spare for such a thing, yet YOU throw little snippets at us that has everyone thinking "wow, this guy is so insightful", yet there is no end product.

Cleon does exactly the same thing, posting the odd screenshot of just how well he's doing, yet its like your holding onto some big secret that you refuse to share with the rest of us dummies?.

I think what you are doing is just frustrating and i'm sure other people would feel the same, so why not stop beating around the bush showing us just how clever you are and help people out who genuinely want to know the secret to your success.

Demi God status is in your hands?.


personally, you could just give me enough info to show me this game is'nt what i think it is and i would be happy, others would settle for less, whilst some might want even more?, with your position as Moderator on the board, surely its up to you to put up or shut up?.

retired_roshawnda82

Rashidi: Nice post, I'd be very interested to know the signings you made (although obviously not prices etc as that would be belong in another thread) and consequently the team line ups for the matches you highlight

Hammer:

I understand what you're saying, and perhaps I agree. Then again, perhaps I don't. Either way, from my experiences at the elite end of the education spectrum, it is often the case that the tutors (whilst being amazing at what they do), sometimes find it difficult to explain at a suitable level, often difficult concepts. The reason for this is that they often can't understand why the students don't get it (as they just got it first time when they studied it) and thus find it difficult to know where to start when trying to explain it.

To relate this to your post, it is likely the case that Rashidi (and others) will miss key basic fundamental points that (in their mind) are just that - basic - and should be taken as read. So there is that point to remember.

Secondly, in practical terms, even if they didn't fall foul of the above pitfall, to list every single basic step from everything from tactics, to tweaks, to media, to training, to transfers etc would be a mammoth task, and one which I wouldn't envy, demi-god status or not.

Thirdly, whilst the game is still in its early stages and they are still testing tactics and in all fairness, might not be THAT far ahead of some of us at this early stage, they sensibly might not want to put their heads on the block before they have thoroughly tested things out.

Lastly, well, it's always nice to keep some juicy bits of info to yourself, at least for a little while. And some people need to retain mythical status within the forums, or else who will the next generation of young'uns have to look up to? ;-)

Hope that makes sense to all concerned

retired_kellyk

Hammer1000

So I'm supposed to give you a detailed step by step of what I do in a game to determine exactly how I do what and when?.. what I'm listing out is vague? Even if I give you as much infor as possible short of posting my tactics you still won't believe anyone. And that's based on your history. You approach the game by downloading someones tactics and then you proceed to critique the game, which honestly doesn't impress me the least bit.

My approach to the game is holistic, I look at everything from prematch preps, training, player selections, scout reports and studying their previous matches. So I would say my approach is completely different. To insinuate that I cheat is a personal insult. My involvement with this game is far beyond any involvement you've had and this has included discussions with PaulC over the development of this engine. So I do know what this engine can do. Incidentally there are areas of this engine that need work and I can understand the frustrations of many people when it comes to defending. For now at least until I firm up a lot of other thoughts, this is about as good as it gets.

Even if I upload a tactic you still won't get it, cos you have never adopted a methodology of playing the game by treating this game as a sum total of modules. Your approach has been to download everything from training schedules to tactics. So don't even come to me and assert that I am cheating. Its ironical that you can pass judgment on a demo without even being able to create your own tactic to judge it by.


This is the best i can do for now. If its a tactic you want, you ain't getting one. Its an approach to show people its possible to make a tactic fundamentally sound. There are tonnes of things I do within a game... and I won't dignify your responses by going out to prove my approach to the game.

I'm going into detail in how I set up my tactics from game to game. Its the same approach I've used for a long time. It works for some people, especially those who try to create their own tactics and is meant to give people an idea.

West Ham v Arsenal Carling Cup 4th Round

My last home game against Arsenal produced a 0-0 result. Going into this match I maintained the same 433 tactic since it plays more like a 451 when i lose possession...but this time I wanted to make small changes to the tactic. It may have produced chances but I needed to reduce some of the riskier aspects.

Defense

The set up was the same in terms of closing down, but this time i reduced mentality for the fullbacks and made them slightly higher than the DCs who were on last notch of normal.

The fullbacks who in the last match were told to make fwr often were now told to be on mixed. No tightmarking..I'm slowing becoming less of a fan of this...too often my fullback picks up a new target and this is increasingly annoying me.

TTBs were set on fullbacks but in the last game they struggled to make any impact. So their passing is set to short with one DC as usual on direct and the rest of the team on direct as well.

Midfield

Now the midfielders are more challenging. I will go for tightmarking on the outer MCs, against Arsenal I may elect to keep some hardmen on the bench and bring them on. For now I decided that my FWR on often for the two outer MCs weren't looking so good. Attacks were there, they'd go up but too often it looked like a whole line of mids going up in a row which is odd looking. So the central MC who is on defensive is told to
FWR none, while the two outer ones are on mixed. The wingforwards are on often, ttb normal, cross ball mixed.

I just want the wingers to bolt early to break behind the dline I do not expect them to beat the defenders on the dribble. This way I can get in some decent crosses.

Upfront one lone striker. Last match I used pace and I will stick to that. I have a TM on standby.

Player selections

The players need to have good anticipation at the back, pace and composure at least. In midfield good tackling, positioning, determination, decisions for most. The ability to pass is also important. Mullins will anchor the centre while my two purchases take the left and right.

As wingforwards I'll stick freddie L and on the right Dyer. Upfront Bellamy.

Tempo has been set to quick, dline is a notch above normal and team mentality is attacking. The attack pattern is mixed.

We weren't expected to win the game so the odds are short. Arsenal to win by just. I tell the players to play for the fans.

Roundup of game...

As the game wears on it becomes clear to me, this slightly more defensive posture may have given me more quality chances. I do get a good goal, but I concede one from a very well taken set-piece that leaves my keeper floundering.

The game goes into extratime with both sides level and i tell my players I'm disappointed. There's a bunch who are superb and on 6 and I throw the boot at them.

Towards the end of the first period of extra time I notice one of my wingforwards is getting a six, he's not playing well so I bring on Solano who is good at penalities as well. I can't believe it when he scores a goal from a corner.

I immediately drop team mentality to normal, reduce tempo and narrow my width, in hopes to choke out the opposition I also increase timewasting.. My other wingforward now appears to look a bit jaded and I turn to the bench and bring on a holding midfielder, whom I move into midfield.

With around 10 mins to go the wingforward picks up an injury and his condition drops to 40, I immediately pull my striker who was subbed earlier on and ask him to play in that role..with a limping wingforward playing now as the striker.

The Hammers may not have won the possession battle at home finishing with 48% but their shots on target have improved.

retired_kellyk

My signings were Nacer Barazite..who hardly gets a foot in the game now..Gerrado Torrado and Nigel de jong.

retired_roshawnda82

Great insight into the in-game thought process of someone who knows what they're doing. I think things like this will help a lot of people out (despite the fact that if you've ever watched/played football before a lot of it is common sense!).

Thanks for taking more time out of your day to do this, even if what you were writing wasn't useful at all (it is though obviously), you're taking the time out of your day to help others with no gain for yourself.

retired_jtibbetts

rashidi1,

I'm employing my interpretation of what you've said with Liverpool and it's the best I've done in the demo so far, so a big thank you for that.

I'm not one for watching the 2D pitch, though I enjoy the goals we score and get to see the few that we concede!

---------------Reina---------------

Finnan---Carragher---Agger----Riise

-------------Mascherano------------

----Gerrard-----Alonso-----Babel----

---------Adriano---Torres-----------


Bench:

ST: Kuyt
ST/MC: Pandev
M RLC:Afellay
DM: Sissoko
GK: Itandje
D LC: Barry
M RLC: Benayoun

Scoring aout 1.5 per game so far and conceding 0.4 per game, 100% in the EPL so far (six games) so it's looking good.

retired_Cat1123

I have always attempted to create my own tactics, sometimes i base them on other peoples examples(including your own) and have tried every possible way to work out how and why the game plays and how to counteract it.

I have tried the in depth approach, but always found that i could do just as well, if not better throwing in a tactic and getting the Ass Man to do teamtalks.

To me it shows how hollow the game is and there are a 1000 different bugs in the match engine, just take a look in the Bugs Forum!, many are still remaining from 07.

All i'm saying is, teach me your wisdom and i will gladly share it with everyone?.

If it works, it proves that i'm a mug and if it does'nt you can always say i was doing something wrong still and your integrity remains intact.

I'm more than willing to be made a fool of(i manage it myself often enough), can you imagine if you could actually turn the games biggest critic into a believer?, i'm not asking you how to win every game, i just want to get to a point where i can see what i may be doing wrong and do something about it?.

retired_weeha

That might not work... many people spend plenty of time in the transfer market/training pitch/board room.

retired_kellyk

Wayne'o thats a really difficult question to answer. I can't really specify the amount of time spent, I do watch quite a number of matches in full nowadays, especially when I know that my tactic needs tweaking.

Recap of preparations for a season with the hammers

Hmm I don't think I did this adequately enough so here are the key things that I did.

<LI>Fired half the backroom and brought in coaches, I know have 6-7 stars for most schedules

<LI>Preseason training was set to emphasise aerobics and stamina both of which are on intensive and tactical training only.

<LI>Sold off 1 player who was surprisingly bad, and used the money to bring in Barazite, Nigel de jong and one other AMC an argentinian..

<LI>Pre-season warm up matches only saw me use one base tactic - a 4132.

<LI>Looked at my reserves and my youth squad and juggled players around, Hayden Mullins and one or two other players are added to make a 22 squad fo pre-season training.

<LI>Having filtered out players earlier to search for buys I now begin fielding my first choice 11 for one friendly

<LI> I rotate around and then leave the rest of the preseason matches to my assman, while I concentrate on refining other things

<LI> New custom schedules are created, after preseason the players will all be moved into a general training schedule for the next 5 months, this training schedule will be managed in terms of physical training to ensure no physical burnout

<LI>Some players have their own customised training schedules

<LI> Take notes on player personalities and update the notebook ingame. Divide players into strong and weak.
Strong players are going to get "boots" for 6 and superb in future, while "weak" will get encouraged as much.

<LI>Teamtalks - At all costs encourage as much as possible and save the boot for when morale improves.

Playing on pitches

Cat A Teams = Teams much better than me
Cat B Teams = Teams on par with me
Cat C Teams = Teams weaker than me

Home matches -
I have a standard pitch..good width so:
For Cat A teams I tend to play a normal width/normal dline and a formation that allows me to use wingers. So far I've been using the 433 in most games.

For Cat B teams, who are on the same level as me, I generally don't change my approach but I do consider sometimes playing with an extra man upfront, so a formation like the 4312 is considered, this gives me more width and a AMC in the centre who can create a lot of problems. In terms of width and tempo, I tend to take the game to them more and pay attention to the 2Dscreen and to player ratings to ensure that I'm not caught out.

For Cat C teams, I park the bus. I play a 433 formation which allows me the fullwidth of the pitch and I play on a normal tempo


Away from home

This is harder and requires a lot more work.

1. I check their last few matches.
2. I study their teams strengths
3. I then look at their pitch and determine what kind of attack pattern works better.

Scout reports are key here...if my scout warns me of a congested pitch I usually play with a wingless formation, and punch through the centre, sometimes getting as many as 4 players into the box. For these kind of matches I can play with formations such as the 4231 (Xmas Tree) I think and a 3133 which has no wingers. The goal here is to play through the middle/high tempo/short or direct passing and a narrow to normal width.

I think the challenge for most people is playing on different kind of pitches. You need to take into account the different size pitches, the weather and the quality in the other side to determine how you should approach the game. You can change tactics, but you need to maintain your general style. I have an adventurous streak in me, and I rarely if ever play a deep formation or have defensive tactics.