retired_HAdvocate

Game three Arsenal - West Ham. I know (after glancing at Information) that Arsenal are one of my rivals. I am slight underdog in this match so pre-match I have decided to go with a mind-playing statement: "I am wary of...". Dry weather 22c. Used tactic#5 with Mullins and Reo-Coker(my captain by the way) in midfield so (as I explained earlier) changed Reo-Cokers run with ball to mixed.
(25) took away the free roles from the wingers and gave in to Tevez as I have Aston holding up on ball.

Result 0-0. Possession 51%-49%.



Good game, and a good result. Here is a look at the action zones in that match:

retired_HAdvocate

As a ritual I always have tactic#2 displayed in tactics going into a game and once I've had a look at the weather and opponents formation I will change or tweak the tactic to suit the game. The next couple of games:

Wigan-West Ham
Odds were firmly stacked against wigan in this one. My reply to the pre-match question was "we are unbeaten in three games so we have to gaurd against complancency". Dry weather 18c. Started out with tactic#5 as I was a little unsure of Wigans strengths yet.
(6) 1-0 Heskey
(10) 1-1 Tevez
Half time changed to tactic#4.
(53) 1-2 Ashton. Changed to tactic#5.
(59) 2-2 Cotterill. Changed to tactic#4.
(64) 2-3 Tevez. Changed back to tactic#5.
(69) 2-4 Delgado.
No more changes as I ran the game out.
Possession 50-50 but I did have some element of control in this match.

West Ham - FC Haka (UEFA Cup)
Dry weather 23c. Started out with tactic#2 and I saw an oppertunity to use some of my new signings.
(29) 1-0 Barnes.
(54) 1-1 Kvisto?. I changed to tactic#1.
(75) Tweaked tactic#1 to the 4-2-4 formation.
(91) 2-1 Bowyer.
Possession 56%-44%. The many new players struggled alittle, but an ok victory. I should have maybe used tactic#1 from the start.

West Ham - Middelsboro
I was slight favorites and there was no pre-match question and I couldn't find a comment that fitted the situation. Dry weather 28c. Started with tactic#2.
(4) 1-0 Reo-Coker.
(52) Tweaked to the short farrow version.
(79) Middelsboro switched to 4-2-4. I tried to counter this but then...
(81) 1-1 Arca. Tweaked again to the long farrow version.

Possesion 56%-44%. Daylight robery as I saw them change to 4-2-4 and didn't have enough time to switch to tactic#6. But, hey, I'm a rookie manager and I can only see this team getting better and better.

Portsmouth - West Ham
The odds were firmly stacked against Portsmouth. Rednapp "speaks highly of Stiles" before the match (sneaky devil) so I've decided to counter him by "praising his manager skills". Started out with tactic#4 as in the game against Wigan I was stronger than I had hoped for.
(15) Had to change to tactic#5 as I was losing possession (at that point 60%-40%).
(28) 1-0 Douala. Changed to tactic#3 and tweaked it to the long farrow version.
(32) 1-1 Own goal Glen Johnson. Changed back to tactic#5.
(82) 1-2 Eddie Johnson. No more changes.

Possesion 49%-51%. Tough game as I have also lost Tevez out to injury (one month).

How it's going so far:

retired_HAdvocate

FC Haka - West Ham
Weather: downpour and gale 19c. I have to take this into account so I've decided to go with tactic#4 with the following tweaks: changed passing from (4) to (7) and target man supply to feet. This time I've also used my strongest team so not to make any mistakes.
(10) o-1 Delgado.
(33) 0-2 Bowyer.
(43) 0-3 Ferdinand (penalty).
(68) 0-4 Benayoun (penalty).
(89) 0-5 Reo-Coker.
(90) 1-5 Luode?.

Possession 46%-54%.

West Ham - Watford
Sure fire favorites going into this game so "win if we play our best" statement. Dry weather 11c. Started with tactic#2.
(12) Delgado.
(29) Konchesky (penalty). Tweaked to the short farrow version.
No further changes as Watfords Tommy Smith was sent off at (64) minutes.

Possession 56%-44%.

Sheffield United - West Ham
I was comfortable favorites but I go for the "no comment" because this will be a difficult game. Sheff U played a 4-5-1 so I will start out with tactic#4. Dry weather 10c.
0-0 Possession 43%-57%.
Dominated them but it wasen't enough. I have Aston and Tevez out injured and Delgado-E.Johnson aren't quite played into the team yet.

West Ham - Fulham
Comfortable favorites with the "win if we play our best". Dry weather 10c. Start tactic#2.
(8) 0-1 Bullard.
(15) Changed to tactic#1.
(72) Tweaked tactic#1 to the 4-2-4 formation.
(87) Delgado. Stayed with 4-2-4 to go for the winner.

Possession 56%-44%. Again should have won but I am really suffering without Tevez-Aston so I will just have to be patient as my new players will hopefully start settling in the next month. Reflecting on the match I could have started with tactic#1 as Fulham also played very defensivly (4-5-1) from the start of the match with time wasting.

West Ham - Everton (League Cup)
Slight favorites so I start with tactic#2 with short farrows (teams tend to play more attacking in the cups). Dry weather 11c.
(26) 1-0 Benayoun.
(45) 2-0 E.Johnson.
(55) 2-1 Beattie.
(80) 2-2 A.Johnson. Tweaked back to the long farrow version.

Possession 53%-47%. Won 3-1 on penalties. Should have changed to tactic#4 at halftime but it didn't cost me the game.

Everton - West Ham
I am slight underdog going into this one so "no comment" to the press. Dry weather 18c. I start with tactic#5.
(36) E.Johnson.
(69) E.Johnson.

Possession 50%-50%. Nice when you don't have to change or tweak tactics though I could have taken away the free roles from the wingers and given it to Delgado, but I felt I was in good control.

Leverkusen - West Ham (UEFA Cup)
Slight underdogs playing away in Germany. Dry weather 8c. Tactic #5 from start.
(75) 0-1 Boa Morte. Took away free roles winger and gave it to the forward not holding up on ball.
(84) 0-2 Ashton. Changed to tactic#6.

Possession 50%-50%. Great news as Tevez and Aston came on late in the game and are just about ready after a month on the sidlines.


Looking back I could have done some things differently especially with my transfers in. I could have brought in a few class players and maybe would have been doing better in the league. But I've brought in a lot of new players to see if it does effect the club as much as some posts suggest and I have now three players to every position (just in case of injuries you need competent backup).

There are several Players I need to get rid of. The immediate ones: Harewood, Sheringham, Caroll, Gabbidon, C.Cole, Spector and McCartney.
In the long run: Boa Morte, Benayoun, Upson, Mullins and Neill but all these players are in my perferred formation, so I need a class player in hand before I replace them. Already looking forward to next transfer window. I don't know how to get Corluka to West Ham as he kept on getting blocked by the work permit...

retired_Balanchinegal

Why has everybody got the correct stadium picture for their team, except me?
I want one.

Good game Loversleaper, KUTGW :thup:

retired_HAdvocate

West Ham - Tottenham
Tottenham are one of my fierce rivals. Being a slight favorite I of course make "no comment" to the pre match question, but I've decided to make a manager interraction mind-playing comment: "Like nothing better than to record a victory over rivals". Weather wet 11c. Started with tactic#2 short farrow version and because of the rainy condition changed passing to (7).
(77) Tweaked to the long farrow version (passing still 7).

Possession 55%-45%. Tight match, Jol played incredible defensive matbe due to my manager interraction comment. Got thrown slighty off balance with two injuries in the first 15 minutes.

Screen shot of match stats:


Action zones:

retired_HAdvocate

West Ham - Norwich (League Cup)
Comfortable favorites. Weather wet 8c. Started tactic#2 with passing set on (7).
(12) Changed to tactic#1 team passing set to (7).
(25) 1-0 E.Johnson.
(33) 2-0 Barnes. Changed to tactic#2 short farrow version with passing set to (7).
(69) 3-0 Ashton.
(81) 4-0 Ashton (penalty).
(90) 4-1 Fortherington.

Possession 56%-44%. Used alot of reserves.

Manchester United - West Ham
I'm slight underdog, of course. I will attempt to relax the United players by giving a manager interaction comment: "Man U are amongst the favorites for the title". Weather wet 11c. Started with tactic#5 with passing set to (7).
(9) 0-1 Ashton.
(31) Tevez injured
(54) 1-1 Saha.
(68) 1-2 Reo-Coker.
(73) Upson injured
(78) 2-2 Vidic.
(82) 3-2 Rooney.

Possession 54%-46%. I had Enyeama injured before the match and Green was unfit. Losing Upson was a shocker as I had a young B. Jones to replace him against superstars.

Match stats:


Lots going on in this match. I really do need better players to match the Man U team, especially in defense. I may have used another manager interaction comment as I noticed that Sir Alex had a low oppinion of me and considered me a rival.

Action zones:

retired_HAdvocate

West Ham - Bolton
In this game I need to bounce right back and not lose sight of the leaders as I'm just hanging on. I'm slight favorite so "no comment" before the match. Weather wet 11c. Started with tactic#2 with passing set to (7). Autumn rain misery.
(3) Ferdinand missed penalty.
(9) 1-0 Delgado.
(13) 2-0 Delgado. Tweaked to the short farrow version, tweaked full backs forward runs and run with ball to mixed. (Big Sam and other managers sometimes switch to a 4-3-3 and I do this to counter that or to tighten up the deffense).
Halftime I changed to tactic#4 with passing(7) and the full back tweak as mentioned above.
(51) 3-0 Ashton (penalty).

Possession 55%-45%. Didn't suffer from the aftershocks of the Man U game (maybe due to the comment before the Man U game?).

Match stats:


Action zones:


The good thing is that Bolton played with 5 in midfield and I still controlled that part of the field.

After match chairman response:


West Ham - Wizla Plock (EUFA Cup)
Comfortable favorites. Weather wet 8c. Start tactic#2 with passing again to (7).
(3) 1-0 Upson.
(67) 2-0 Ashton.

Possession 57%-43%. Already qualified from group G. Have now some future matches for some of my subs.

retired_HAdvocate

So disaster strikes as I'd just uploaded and right before the game against Besiktas Enyeama is out injured for several months.

Besiktas - West Ham (EUFA Cup)
Slight underdogs so I go with tactic#5 with target man supply to feet due to the weather: gale 19c.
(1) 0-1 Tevez.
(75) 1-1 Serdar?.
(77) Serdar sent off. Changed to tactic#3 plus target man supply to feet.

Possession 47%-53%.

Just for a quick note this my perferred line-up.

retired_HAdvocate

Newcastle - West Ham
I was slight favorites, but Newcastle is a "sleeping giant" so I want to be a little carefull so I say to the press "they will fancy their chances..." ("they will cause us problems"). Dry weather 15c. Start out with tactic#5 and in team opposition instructions I have tight marking on O.Martins (The only other time I did this was out against Arsenal and did the same to T.Henry which I'm sorry I didn't mention earlier).
(19) 0-1 Tevez.
(35) 0-2 Tevez. Took away free roles from wingers and gave it to Tevez.
(72) 1-2 O.Martins.
(82) Newcastle change to 4-2-4 and I change to tactic#6.

Possession 50%-50%.

Match states

Action zones

Blackburn - West Ham
Slight favorites so "no comment". Dry 9c. Started with tactic#5.
(5) Khizanishivili sent off.
(21) Changed to tactic#4 and gave Tevez a free role.
(60) 1-0 Savage (free kick). Changed to tactic#3 and tweaked it to the long farrow version.
(72) Changed to tactic#1 and tweaked it to the 4-2-4 version and time waste to minimum.
(81) 1-1 Delgado. Changed to tactic#3 long farrow version.

Possession 44%-56&. Several things I did wrong here. First, Blackburn are playing in Europe so I should have said "will cause us problems" instead of "no comment" pre-match. When Khizan was sent off I should have played tactic#3. But that's just looking with a critical view and who knows what the outcome could have been?

How it's going so far...

West Ham - Charlton
Comfortable favorites so "win if we play our best". Breezy wet weather 3c. Started with tactic#2 and passing set to (7). I've always had a problem with D.Bent so I'm tight marking him in team opposition instructions.
(11) 1-0 Ashton.
(43) 2-0 Ashton. Changed to the short farrow version.
Halftime switched to tactic#4 passing (7) and tight mark D.Bent.

Possession 54%-46%.

West Ham - Auxerre (EUFA Cup)
Slight favorites. Wet weather 3c. Tactic#2 short farrow version with passing set to (7).
(38) 1-0 E.Johnson.
(40) 2-0 Bejbl(own goal)
(44) 3-0 Delgado.
Halftime changed to tactic#4 passing (7).

Possession 59%-41%.

Reading - West Ham
Odds firmly stack against Reading, no pre-match question and no manager interaction worth the effort. Breezy 6c. Tactic#5 as I don't think that Reading are that bad a team and Jewell is a competant manager.
(5) 0-1 Murty(own goal).
(74) 1-1 Lita. Changed to tactic#4.
(81) Changed to tactic#3 long farrow version.

Possession 52%-48% but I had many more chances (especially on target) than them, c'est la vie.

West Ham - Reading (League Cup Qtr Final)
Comfortable favorites. Breezy wet weather 3c. Tactic#2 short farrow version (as teams play more attacking in these cups) with passing set to (7).
(8) Tevez injured
(33) 0-1 Shorey(penalty). Tweaked to long farrow version.
Halftime changed to tactic#1 passing (7).
(71) Tweaked tactic#1 to the 4-2-4 with passing(7).
(90) 1-1 Ashton.
Extratime changed to tactic#2 passing (7).
(102) 1-2 Ashton. Changed to short farrow version.
(114) Reading change to 4-2-4 and I change to tactic#6.

Possession 56%-44%. Tevez out for a month or two.

Chelsea - West Ham
Unbelievable. The odds are firmly stacked against Chelsea(look here). As they are a fierce rival I've decided for a mind-playing statement "like nothing better than to record a victory over rivals". Weather wet 9c. Tactic#5 with passing set to (7).
(21) 0-1 Ashton.
(51) 1-1 Drogba.

Possession 52%-48%.I don't know why Chelsea are in the middle of the League Table.

Match stats

Halfway through the season and there is no way I will win the title unless a miracle happens. For sure I should have done better transfers in but I have invested for the future. All lot of these players will be stars in the (near) future. But I am satisfied as I have been pretty much been using the original squad and I'm actually a little surprised that they are stronger than I though they would be.

retired_tbone

hi loverleaper.I have just adopted u'r tactic for my fisrt season with Stuttgart.I must say it is impressiv.I only ended 2 behind Munich but manly because of some beginners mistakes and some very slow centerbacks.I had a lot of trouble selling some of my so called big names that were using a huge part of the wage budget and therefore I could not give my future signings a reasonable salary;so I had to do with what I had.
keep on doing these awsome posts.
ps.maybe a screen shot of u'r taining shedules despite of what u said about all the other excellent posts on that field
thanks a lot loversleaper.
best regards Sygko