achilles elbow

I'm refering to many years of CM/FM, and most recently FM'07 as I haven't got my hands on 08 yet, but the principle is the same I think.

In reading various other posts about tactics when you begin your career with a new club, quite rightly the tips are to play to your best players strengths, and base your formation and tactics around them.

After a number of seasons though, players in / players out, and refinements to your favoured tactic, do you buy players specifically to suit an existing tactic, rather than just based on their skills?

I'm thinking, for example, at full back. You may scout a superb young full back, but if you play with wing backs and the FB's attacking stats are low, would you pass on them?

There is another point to my question. FM is a detailed game, and it only takes a peek on this tactics forum to see how in depth we go with individual player and team tactics. To go so deep means games/seasons take ages, and while personal choice is the decider in the end.

Therefore, do you look for simular players for X position so you can keep to a simular (prefered) tactic for each match, or do you like to refine your player and team tactics for each game, even if this means your FM season is almost as long as a real one?

Maybe I'm a little lazy, but after a couple of seasons the players have to fit in with me, not the other way round... and before you ask, I have had success

achilles elbow

Should have said - To go so deep means games/seasons take ages, however personal choice is the decider in the end.

Abramovic

Well its all about making compromises. When taking a side over you have to create tactics based on what you have unless your lucky to have a big transfer budget to buy necessary players to make your preferred style to work. So in a way it takes me several seasons to be truly happy with my squad, but the seasons don't take ages to complete.

rashidi1

It really depends on your style of play and who you like to manage.

Personally I prefer playing the LLM way. Managing there is very different from managing a top side, the approach is always different and definitely more challenging. With teams like that you really need to make a compromise. You need to know what your players are capable off and design tactics that take their attributes into consideration.

With sides like this you need to know what to do and what to expect out of them. When you manage top sides, it becomes more easier. Players there have the attributes for you to make them play any kind of tactic you have. In the end you just need to make sure your players are good enough to do what you ask them off. Being a top side you have the luxury of riches to purchase players and that often makes it interesting and allows you to take liberties like asking a player to dribble down the flanks...or play a game of quick one touch passing through the middle with a "kaka'

Different strokes for different TEAMS.

kolobok

WHS. Moreover, even if you have a big budget, buying a lot of new players is not the best option as they may not gel for a while. To me "to buy or not to buy" depends on two questions: 1. Will the player improve my team and to what degree (short term); 2. Does the player have potential to fit in my "ideal" style (long term). In the example with FB I may consider buying him if: a)I want to be able to play more defenively from time to time (eg. playing against ManU's Ronaldo) but my current FBs are too attacking; b) My "ideal" style implies rock solid back 4 but currently I lack quality FBs so have to play more attacking even though likely to give up more goals.

As for the season lenghts it depends what you enjoy the most in the game. If you want to make your team playing exactly how you want, then it takes more in depth thinking and hence more time, but not ages If you just want to win competitions, it is relatively easy so less time needed.

Myst_

Always make tactics that suits players. For example, if you begin your career at Milan go for 4x3x2x1 or 4x4x2 diamond. It´s not good ideia buying wingers just to play 4x3x3.

And, is much more fun creating new tactics that suits players. This way you´ll learn more about the game cause you could managed different formations.

Then, off course, when buying new players those should suit a tactic. Nevertheless, try to have 2 players each position. There is no point to have 3 great AMC if you only got 1 LB.

swede

I usually try to find the best formation for the players I have available when I play with lower league teams without money. In my first game on 08 however, I decided I wanted to play a narrow 4-1-3-2 formation with relegation canditates Redditch and got rid of a few players that didn't fit into my system. I brought in a few free transfers and loan players, and after 13 games played we've lost just one and sits first in the league with an 8 point gap between us and the scond placed team.

I'm fully expecting a severe backlash any moment now, with a run of 20 games without a win lurking just around the corner.