If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
M442 v. 1.0 !THE SET - DOWNLOAD! This is a set of five tactics designed for teams expected to finish in the lower reaches of their division and lower league teams. It could work with better teams, but is yet to be tested at that level.
The Set:
M442 was designed primarily on the principles of the TT&F theory threads and Tactical Bible at FM-Britain. The biggest departure from these theories and frameworks, however, is the rejection of Rule of One in favour of a more global mentality and more global team instructions. In part, this was down to the discoveries of Asmodeus in his ground-breaking thread on AI tactical behaviour.
M442 was created to be used with Vauxhall Motors in the English Conference North, and has developed to a stage now where it can be released for further testing and refinement by the community. It is a tight, defensive 4-4-2 set, with an emphasis on hard work and counter-attacking football. Although primarily designed with defence in mind, it does score a fair few goals, but works best when employed with a defensive mindset with teams who are perhaps expected to struggle yet have a playing staff capable of more.
The set in its BETA phase just narrowly missed out on the ECN championship in season 1, primarily because it had no attacking variant. Now in season 2, the team have gone on a far longer cup run, are averaging two points a game and are chasing down the leaders hard. Preliminary tests with Newcastle United and West Ham United showed some promise, but again, without an attacking variant the early run of good form could not be sustained once teams lined up more cautiously against them. Now, with the addition of the attacking variant, these tactics are ready for wider testing.
The variants:
There are three "normal" tactics for most situations: Tight: The original tactic with a narrow width, low mentality and low creative freedom. Designed to keep a tight ship and feel out the opposition. Open: A slightly wider and slightly more attacking version of tight, designed to afford the team a little more space and spread the play. Press: The most attacking "normal" tactic, with more creative freedom and higher closing down to put pressure on the opposition defence.
And two "extreme" tactics for defending and attacking: Kill: A 4-5-1 with high closing down in the centre to try and dominate possession in the midfield and force the attacking opposition out wide where they can do least harm. Works well against the 4-2-4. Chase: A 4-2-4, all-out-attack, extremely wide designed to crash the net and force a late equaliser/winner.
Using the set:
As a rule of thumb, I usually use Press when favourites to start a game at home, and Tight when I'm not. Away, I tend to use Open or Press when favourites, and Tight when not.
During the game, pay attention to the formation and match stat screens. If you're losing out to the AI in terms of possession and pass completion, move down the scale of the tactics towards Kill in order of defensiveness (the order being Chase-Press-Open-Tight-Kill).
If the opposition is getting too many chances by coming through the middle, shift down to Tight or Open. Alternatively, narrow the press tactic to try and close the gaps (see Known Tweaks below)
If you're being easily beaten in the midfield for possession (check the "action zones" screen), don't be afraid to shift directly down to Kill. This will even out the contest in the middle, and you should be able to counter attack the opposition who will try and pile more and more pressure onto you. Kill has won me a number of games which, had they gone against me, I might have been tempted to call the AI a cheat - yet I never felt in danger of losing.
The Chase option is the human equivalent to the 4-2-4. Use sparingly as it tires out your players and leaves massive gaps. I tend to only use it at the earliest around the 65 minute mark, and only if I feel the result is not satisfactory. If you're not favourites to win a game, don't try and win it using chase - you'll get mugged. Similarly, if away from home, a draw can be a good result. If the AI thinks it can win the game, it will pile men forward and may give you an opening for a lightening counter.
Known Tweaks:
With a side that has a slow defence, or against a side with a quick attack, lower the defensive line by one or two (1-2) notches.
If a team is coming through the middle too much, but your pass completion and possession look good enough, narrow the formation by three or four (3-4) notches.
In wet weather, it can pay to lower the defensive line slightly as some "hollywood balls" over the top that would usually go out for a goal kick will hold on the surface and leave you in trouble.
Opposition Instructions
If you are letting the opposition full backs (usually the left back) put crosses in, use Close Down: Always and Tackling: Hard on the DL and DR. This should stop them having so much time and force the AI to take a different route.
For wingers that are causing too many problems, try Tight Marking: Always and Tackling: Hard.
View the Readme file for this post, plus an overview of which players are best for the tactic
If anybody uses these tactics, please tell me how you get on and, most importantly, where these tactics fall down. These are still under development, and any help from others, no matter how small, will help me iron out difficulties as they come up.
I have tried your tactics and my conclusion is that your tactics rock! I have beaten The Big Four and is currently on a 9 matches unbeaten run. Good job! :thup:
Thanks Millie: FM07 is now so much more than just providing formations. You given an idea of some tools and how and when to use them, pity SI didn't do a similar thing.
Anyway after going away from the game for a few weeks you've atleast inspired me to come back. I'm not thinking that suddenly i'm going start winning all my games but you've given some indication as to how to understand and try to adapt. Thanks for shinning some light in the dark areas of the game! WELL DONE :thup:
When it suggests one player should be a fast one in the readme, is it the left or right one? Because i have a lighting fast player and is AMC/FC but with poor passing. So if he should be the left hand player does this make him less efficient because he can't pass as well?
Do you only use the Kill tactic for playing out a game against 4-2-4?
I only ask as I am managing Stalybridge in the Confernece and we are losing every game. I think we didn't win in about 13 games. I was using the tight tactic but it didn't work. I started using Kill instead and actually started getting some draws and gain some points. It was too late though and we got relegated.
I'm trying it now in the ECN and hope to win the title.
I've just tried this with NYRB's and I've mangaed to beat New England for the first ever time. What's more I completely domiated the game in possesion and chances despite missing 3 of my key players!. I'll keep on using this and let you know how I get on. Cheers
Thank you for the positive feedback - my own game was starting to wobble, so I was beginning to doubt their efficiency, but I'm glad there's been some decent success out there.
A few questions:
Quote:
When it suggests one player should be a fast one in the readme, is it the left or right one? Because i have a lighting fast player and is AMC/FC but with poor passing. So if he should be the left hand player does this make him less efficient because he can't pass as well?
Ideally, I have the faster striker as the one with the higher mentality (the left one, I believe), and the more creative one as the lower mentality one. However, I've had some striker combos which have worked the other way round. I have no idea why.
As a rule of thumb, I try and get the skilful striker as the one that recieves the ball, and the quick one as the one who then runs ahead. Usually, that leaves the quick one on the left and the skillful one on the right, but if that's not working for you, try playing around with it. I must admit, I don't know why or how this works, and I apologise wholeheartedly for this. I've not been playing much recently (exam tomorrow!), so I will have a deeper look when I get back to it.
Quote:
Do you only use the Kill tactic for playing out a game against 4-2-4?
I only ask as I am managing Stalybridge in the Confernece and we are losing every game. I think we didn't win in about 13 games. I was using the tight tactic but it didn't work. I started using Kill instead and actually started getting some draws and gain some points. It was too late though and we got relegated.
No. The Kill version is really interesting, because although I intended it as a counter to the 4-2-4, with teams going through a bad run or expecting to lose, it seems to out-perform the more "normal" sets. Don't be afraid to use it - I have many times just to grind out a few points and improve morale before moving to the more traditional sets.
I'm glad you've found this out too - I thought it was just coincidence.
Quote:
How far have you got with this tactic Millie?
Only half way through season two, but still at the higher end of the ECN. Again, I've been playing very little because of exams and whatnot, so it's not getting tested as much as I'd like, however, it worked so well with (frankly) s**t players, that I wanted people to test it for me. Thankfully, it didn't fall flat on its face.
Again, I'd like to stress these tactics aren't really finished yet. I'm sure that for sustained success, I'm going to need at least one, if not two, new variants, but so far, so good. Thanks for the feedback. :thup:
you rock! :thup:
awesome tactics. playing with swindon. i am on third season and already in 2nd place in championship.
still 6 matches to play but i am already promoted.
thanks to your tactics.
i used:
Home matches (Tight/Press)
Away matches (Tight)
:thup:
Originally posted by Arijit:
you rock! :thup:
awesome tactics. playing with swindon. i am on third season and already in 2nd place in championship.
still 6 matches to play but i am already promoted.
thanks to your tactics.
i used:
Home matches (Tight/Press)
Away matches (Tight)
:thup:
The tactics only been out 3 days, yet you managed to play almost 3 seasons already?
Solid Tactic Set - M442 (TT&F Based) 
Linear Mode
