retired_thehpsleb

*Basic Formation*


Possession is the main characteristics of the Ajax System.
Advantage being that the opponent has to do a lot of running after the ball. This and the wide style of play means the players use less energy. They can simple allow the ball to circulate at speed, one-touch soccer, while keeping its shape as the tactic naturally has lots of triangles.
Ajax trains it’s players to run as little as possible on the field. That is why positional games are always centre to training sessions - Ajax always plays in a small area of the field in the oppositions half, good positioning and off the ball skills are vital (creating space for others is important).
If Ajax lose the ball there is always someone who can can support and tackle or intercept the ball immediately.
In this system you need hard working players; who not only must do their tactical work without mistakes but must also help to correct the mistakes of others.
They need to be creative, have ball skills and know when to close down space, as they have to cover a lot of ground during the game. Important stats are : workrate, determination, creativity, decisions, bravery, aggression, balance and loads of stamina.

*The Ajax Youth System*
Ajax’s youth academy is world famous. The goal of Ajax is to form talented young players into top football players. Only the very best will reach the top after a difficult and often long road.
Ajax always look and try out players brought up in their own ranks first. All teams are trained in the Ajax style 4-3-3(1 striker, 2 wingers, 1 diamond man, 2 midfielders, 4 defenders), which makes it easier for them to fit straight into the first team. The youth team is made up of 16 players - having just 16 players will increase the players values of stats faster.

Ajax has developed the so-called TIPS model, which stands for Technique, Insight, Personality and Speed.
T – technique (all the technical stats)
I - intelligence & insight (anticipation, decision, positioning, off the ball)
P - personality (aggression, bravery, creativity, determination, influence, flair, teamwork, workrate)
S – speed & mobility (acceleration, agility, speed, balance, jumping)

Stats which you should look out for when deciding on positions:
Aggression: Defenders 12, Midfielders 14 and Forwards 12
Bravery: Defenders 13, Midfielder 14, Wing 7 and Striker 12
Creativity: Central Defenders 12, Backs 7 and Rest 14+
Determination: Defenders 14, Backs 12, Midfielders 14 and Forwards 12
Workrate: Central Defender 12, Backs 14, Midfielders 16, AMs 14 and forwards 12
Pace: Central Defenders 14, Midfielders 10, AMs 14, Wing 17 and Striker 14

*Training and the staff*

Ajax focus on technical and tactical work. Every member in the team need high workload in Aerobic, tactic and ball control. Keep rest on medium and low.
For the youth team, use lower setting - Keep Aerobic, tactic and ball control slider inbetween medium and heavy.
The Assistant Manager needs to be 5 star (unless you have the time to control it fulltime)
Important stats for him are ; man management, working with youngsters, level of dicipline, motivating and tactical knowledge.
All of the coaches should have high value in level of dicipline and motivating, and if players are not training hard enough put them on the bench or out of the match team - dont hisitate to dicipline players for violent, unprofessional behavior in games!


*Team instructions*

Tempo on 10. Set it higher or lower depending on the opponent and your players ability. Mentality, Creative Freedom, closing down and Passing style all on 10 (I just use Individual settings).
Set "width" on 18 so the wings hugs the line. The defensive line is on 4 - this give them more space and time to build up play . Focus passing is on "mixed", they should use all passing option...not only down the flanks.
Tight marking, target man, playmaker, offside and counter attack is off.

First 2 season I uses the regular tactic, but now this one is my favorite :


This asymmetric diamond in the center of the pitch create alot more movement and some triangles which helps maintain possession.

When playing against different formations you have to adjust the tactic abit, just copying the tactic is pointless.
But here are my best default settings for each positions:

*Player instructions*

Goalkeeper
Passing: Short
Closing down: 1
Tackling: Easy
Mentality: Normal 10
Creative Freedom: 4
Distribution: Ask Defender to collect

Central Defender(Left side)
Passing: Short 4
Closing down: 3
Tackling: Hard( switch to normal if he get a card)
Marking: Zonal
Mentality: Defensive 3-5
Creative Freedom: 4
Try through balls: mixed
Hold up ball: NO

Central Defender/DMC(Right side)
Passing: Mixed - wide range of passes; short to the midfielders and direct to the AM (if passing, creativity and decisions 16+= put on direct)
Closing down: 10
Tackling: Normal (Hard if he has good tackling stat)
Marking: Man
Mentality: 10
Creative Freedom: 10
Long shots: yes (if he’s a good shot)
Forward Runs: Mixed
Try through balls: Often
Hold up ball: yes (balance, strength, technique are vital here)

DRC & DLC (Backs)
Passing: Mixed
Closing down: 17
Tackling: Normal
Marking: zonal (if opponents play with 3 strikers use Man)
Mentality: 10
Creative Freedom: 4
Cross from: Deep
Cross: mixed
Forward Runs: Often

MC(Midfielders)
Passing: Mixed
Closing down: 15
Tackling: normal or hard they have great tacking stats
Marking: Zonal
Mentality: LMC 13, RMC 8
Creative Freedom: 15
Cross from: Deep
Cross ball: If high stats; on mixed
Long shots: above 16 then often otherwise mixed.
Forward runs: mixed
Run with ball: mixed or often( depends on the players skills if they run past their opposite midfielder they should be in a position to create an assist or score themselves)
Try through ball: often (if they have good passing, creativity and decisions)

Diamond Man
Passing: 4
Close down: 15
Tackling: normal or hard if tacking is 15+
Marking: Zonal
Mentality: 16 (he acts as second striker)
Creative Freedom: 15
Cross from: Mixed
Long Shots: yes (if he’s good at long shots)
Forward runs: Often
Run with ball: mixed
Try through ball: mixed

AM/FR & AM/FL (Wings)
Passing: 4
Close down: 17
Tackling: Team (switch to easy when booked)
Marking: Man-mark opposing fullback out the game, to disturb opponents build-up play
Mentality: 16
Creative Freedom: 10
Cross from: byline if they dominate
Cross ball: often
Long shots: mixed
Forward runs: mixed
Run with ball: often

S (Striker)
Passing: 4
Closing down: 17( pressure the opponents defence )
Tackling: normal
Marking: Zonal
Mentality: 17
Creative Freedom: 10
Hold up ball: yes
Long Shots: depends on hes stats
Forward runs: often
Run with ball: mixed
Hold up ball: yes

Some pictures from my 3rd season:

retired_jissca812

Those are pretty impressive stats. I've been interested in reading about the Ajax system for a while now. Have you got any links where I can read a bit more about the actual system?

retired_curly123

Joor, I am having tremendous success with a very similar tactic to yours in FM06 based on the legendary Ajax System.

What I was wondering though is what kind of success have you had with the DC/DMC contributing in attack? In my game he is a DC with an arrow to DMC but seems very reluctant to take up this DMC role in attack.

The DC/DMC's mentality on my game is 10 by the way, has normal creative freedom, mixed passing, mixed closing down and normal tackling.

So got any tips on how he can get himself involved in the attack a bit more and how much luck are you having with this player in an attacking role?

retired_theadlee

Just bin tryin this tactic with man c with mixed success, but micah richards as my dc/dmc has played outstandingly preforming both will in defence & attack contributing with some goals (if that helps)

retired_curly123

Thanks for the tip Carlosbabie and very ironically I am actually using Micah Richards at Forest for that very same role.

I did just realise however that I had his forward runs set to mixed so I put them on often now and will see if this makes a difference.

Will report back later after work to tell you if I had any success with often forward runs.

retired_kellyk

I love shapes that make no sense especially to people more accustomed to the orthodox ones. I do think that your tactic looks good and is performing well, simply because of your goals scored vs your conceding rate. Very impressive

RisingTide

I also believe one of the characteristics of our system is to play on the opponent's half, thus allowing number 4 (dc/dmc) to go forward. And to play the 'dominating' football Cruijff and Van Gaal are always talking about.

retired_chink

i added ur mentality to my back four in 4-5-1 and seems to be good at helping attack abit more. dont want to alter my formation though. Currently 3rd in the championship with Leicester.

retired_ronpatel

when some1 says mentality on 10 or creative freedom on 15 how can you judge this?

there are no numbers on the actual game are there?

retired_sweet_sorrow123

does anyone have this as a download?