Joedi

For many-a-game the second season has always been hard for me. Now, this is not so, if you have just gained promotion and the like. But, say if you won the EPL, I always find it hard, coming into the second season. Now, I blame tactics, and as players attributes, and players themselves are key to tactics, its easy not to fail.

Now, this is somewhat of a article, to create talking points about tactics, and other such aspects about the game and its tactical side. Hopefully from this you can learn a few things, and if not from this from the discussion surrounding it.

Having one the first season with Manchester United, with a simple 4-4-2 formation, which know looks like it has been cracked, I still managed to win the league. Now this is were I save the game, and show you an example of how to make the most of a transfer window in relation to tactics.

a). Save a, in this save, I am going to tick with the same formation and buy players, who I think would strength the squad, and jump in, straight into the first team. With the likes of Giggs getting old and Scholes, along with Neville, I will look buy the following positions. LM,CM,RB. Having bought the players, the names of which are irrelevant. Its time to put it to the test. I got off to a turbulent time to say the least. Having left the tactics, without tweaking etc. I am currently sitting in the bottom half of the table having won one, drawn two and lost three. Its clear enough to say, that sticking with the formation is not the best idea.

b) Save b, in this save, I am going to buy players, who can fit into a new system for the next season. Only really having one major striker, I am going to adopt a 4-3-3 formation, much like the current Chelsea one. The back four is already sorted, apart from Neville looking old, so I bought in a new RB. I need a DMC to fit into that role, so I purchase one. I also decided to leave Scholes in as he will have cover, and playing him a long side Carrick will work well in this formation. Now I have Ronaldo wide, and need someone with great pace, stamina and certainly the ability to cross and run at players. So I purchased a wide man. I instantly saw a difference played 5, won 4, drew 1.

This has always worked for me, in carrying on a successful formation/tactic set. So a thing to do before you enter the transfer window is look at what formation you would like and then buy around that formation, including player instructions. So then you can tell what kind of player you need there also.

I don’t know how many of you do this, I don’t know how many of you stick with the same thing. Maybe its something you have thought about, maybe not thought about as the case maybe. Alternatively you could have been doing it for years.

Cleon

I always find it hard the seasons season if you win the league. If I didn't win the league I'm generally okay. But after I win the league teams set up against me differently and it becomes frustrating as a lot of sides just park the bus in front of the goals and make it really hard to break them down.

Tactics don't get cracked thats just an old wife's tale.

How do you set about getting the right player, do you go on name value? Or do you disregard that and look for the stats you want?

Joedi

For a, because the formation worked previously and I wanted to stick with it, just name value I suppose. Obviously I made exaggerations, but that was just to show the differences.

I agree with what you say about cracking, but like you said teams try and make it harder for you. You explained it in better terms than myself.

Cleon

What happens if you get a player then and he is a big named player with a big rep, yet his stats just don't fit into the tactic you created or for how you want to play? I'm only interested to know because as a rule normally I choose stats over a name, so its good to see what others do.

Joedi

For version a, I choice name over stats and that went arse over tit.

But then for version b, I choice stats over name and it seemed to work.

Version b is what I do, a was just an example of whatnot to do, if that makes sense.

micro-ice

i dont think cracked is the right word to explain it. however after a successful season teams start to know how your tactics work. they know how you attack and score goals etc. maybe adapt is the right word to use? so not only have you got to change, not so much the formation but you got change how it works especially how you attack because your tactics have become predictable. plus you also have to be more attacking against teams who park the bus. just my opinion

Joedi

Correct, obviously changing the defence is not key, hence why I stuck with the same flat back for, and only changed the formation in attacking positions.

Cracked, adapted, whatever, still works out. But maybe 'wise too' might be a correct term of use, if were going down that route.