retired_tega

i keep reading that if you make a new tactic, then you need to give your players a few games or more to get used to the new formation. thats fine, makes sense. but have a couple of questions about that if anyone could help?

1. obviously the best thing to do is play friendlies to get your team used to tactic as results are less important. but does it matter about the standard of oppostion? if its an easy run out, or a hard fought game with a top team, will it make any difference for how much the players learn about the tactic?

2. if you have a player who is only on the fringe of your first team, so he doesnt get much playing time, will he learn the tactic as the whole team does, or will he need longer as a bit part player? guess i'm saying, do players need a certain period of time, or the match time to learn a new tactic?

3. if you set your reserves to play in the same way, will it help your reserve players in case you need to call upon them for the first team? they should then alreasy know your tactic well?

retired_redhotxpress

I would think that players learn your tactics by playing time, not so much by who they play against. I always used to do friendlies against noname teams to boost the confidence, even so I nowadays prefer reasonable competition. I cannot say I have seen my team perform better or worse in either case once the season started.

regarding question 2: I think match time is the key here, using your tactics... because you can have tactics set in your tactics menu, but always completely alter them on match day, in the match screen already. so definitely match time on this one.

which kinda goes hand in hand with question 3: I always would recommend using the same tactics (if you stick to one general style at least) for your reserves/youth teams (thanks to the "use current tactics" option for those teams it works well without being in charge of their games). It only makes sense that the players are already used to the way you play if they have to fill a spot due to injury or even if they only get some playing time.

By doing this I think you won't encounter problem number 2 anymore, by just giving them reserves playing time (now easier with the great "make available for reserve games" option).