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Recently I have been following Rashadi's and Cleon's thread with the aim of being able to create and manipulate a tactic successfully througout a season.
Im still playing on FM 07 as I want to wait for the patched version of 08 before I begin playing. However the approach I use here I hope to carry though into FM 08.
Now keep in mind that this is my first attempt at this, but I feel I have enough of an understanding to at least attepmt this without getting too frustrated.
Im going to attempt to make a single tactic that I will tweak for different situations.
The Setting
Im heading into my second season with Arsenal, we won the FA Cup and Champions League in great form, however while we were dominant in the FA Cup and seemed to easily handle the competition in Europe, we couldn't seem to play consistantly in the league ending up third.
I brought in a few players during the first season, but the make up of the squad remains pretty much the same so I wont list the squad but will state any personel changes that could effect the style of the team.
This offseason I brought in David Villa to play up front, this could potentially change how I want to play as I may decide to go with two fast strikers in Villa and RVP or I may choose to go with a Targetman in Adebayor to play alongside Villa and move RVP to the wing.
The defense has been strengthend with Micah Richards and Chivu being brought in, along with Chiellini to bring some offense to the back line.
Note: Everything now on is what im assuming from what ive read, its highly likely ive taken it in wrong, so please correct me on any wrong assumptions.
Formation
While im a fan of playing more creatvie formations such as the Barca 4-3-3 or a 4-1-3-2, ive decided to go with a 4-4-2 as it sounds like it suits the style of play that I want to create. Im toying with the idea of dropping a MC back into a DMC or even pushing Fabregas into an AMC, but I think the player better suit a flat Midfield with different instructions.
Style
Im going to play a short passing, high tempo with a Narrow width and focused passing through center. I want the width to be narrow so the ball will be feed to Fabregas often. Also I hope that a more Narrow width will hopefully allow the two wingers to come inside more.
Team Instructions
Mentality I set about midway between normal and all out attack.
I set the creative freedom to a bit more than Normal, this will be set individually anyway for most players. Passing Style is set to 1 or one touch.
Tempo I set to halfway between Normal and furthest right setting on Quicks, once again im just being cautious.
Width I set about clicks away from the most Narrow setting.
Closing Down is set on Often, about halfway between the center and most extreme setting of often.
Time Wasting is set to rarely, but this will be changed during games depending on the situation.
Tackling is left at normal, most players will have individual instructions.
Focus passing is set through the middle.
Marking is one thing im unsure on. I just left it on Zonal for the time being and will probably assing individual instructions.
Target Man Supply is left to mixed as I havent set on yet.
Tight marking will be player specific.
I havent decided whether to go with a playmaker yet as I dont really want anyone player to get targeted by the other teams defense and most of the midfield are capable of initiating play.
Play offside trap is ticked for the time being.
So the questions I have from that are:
Firstly, to what extreme can I afford to set the team mentality? I know all out attack would be too risky but I get the feeling I could be reigning in the team a bit. I will set individual mentality, but I will use the teams as a base with some players being left on team.
Secondly, Im assuming Defensive line should be kept relative to mentality, and what about closing down? The quality of my players should be high enough that I can afford to, but since im attacking a lot maybe I should reduce closing down incase my defenders get beaten and are left too far up the pitch. Once again this will probably be set individually as well.
Thirdly I can't decide what to do with marking, is it more effective to have the team all on the same setting, hoping to get them defending more as a unit? If so which would best suit a team like Arsenal? or is it better to give the more attacking players Zonal marking and then make the defense man mark?
Anyway that will be all for tonight, tomorrow I will go through what i'm planning on setting for the individual player instructions.
Be careful with setting too much one touch passing. across the backline
I can see you want a really quick passing game..one touch, quick and narrow..
Your mentality and your defensive line shouldn't be too far apart for now, at least for the demo. If you are attacking a lot consider setting a lower mentality for your defenders and your fullbacks. lower than the midfield players at least.
Honestly for defensive instructions for the demo at least I would consider zonal marking for most players, perhaps non specific manmarking for DCs if they have the attributes.
Ah ok, so maybe move the passing to a more mixed approach for the backline?
So if im setting the mentality for the defenders lower should I be trying to keep the Defensive line closer to that level or closer to the mentality of the attacking players, or try keep it in the middle?
I am still playing 07 so it might be a bit different in relation to the defensive instructions.
My Tactic Approach - Opinions/Help Needed 
Yeah still quite devastated 
Linear Mode
