retired_blessed77

// The tactic can be found at FM Downloads, just search for Hellicious tactic. //

Good day folks,

I have been playing with my tactic 'Hellicious' for a while (don't ask me where I got the name... because I don't know and it doesn't mean anything) and I feel curious on how other FM07 players feel about it. I'm going to outline the basics of the tactics below:

The formation:

The formation is based on a 4-3-3 tactic, with a 4-line defence, 1 DM, 2 MCs, 2 AML/R and 1 ST. The tactic uses 3 different set-ups:

- 'Normal' where only the DM has an arrow up to MC position (I usually take away the arrow during games where they get a lot of possesion under my MCs). Use at home when you need more possesion and away against weaker teams.
- 'Attack' where DM has an arrow up to MC position and OML/R have arrows up. Use at home games.
- 'Defend' where AMR/L have arrows pointing down. Use on away games and when you want to hold the lead in the last minutes at home.

I would advice you not to always follow my instructions on when to use the appropiate tactic. If you can change the outcome of the game altering tactic, then you have no choice but to do so. I.e. I have faced minor teams away and both used the normal and attack tactic but failed to reach the ability that my team was capable of and then changing to the defend tactic and suddenly got out the most of my team.
Same goes for home games where I face a good team. I have started with the normal tactic, failed to have possesion and changed to defend. Not seeing any change of possesion I have changed to attack and totally outplayed them. Read the AI!

Link: Formations + players
(I know it's bad quality but hey... it's phoobucket)

DCs always have arrows pointing down.

The tactics:

- The tactic uses both long and short passing style. From the defence to the striker, it goes from long-ball and crossing to a short and through ball passing style.
- There are no players who are target men or playmakers. Altough I'm positive that you can make the striker target man, setting passing options to 'Run onto ball' if you have a really quick one.
- Counter attack
- No hard tackling which makes you gain less yellow and red cards
- Changes to corner and freekick tactics, making your team to gain extra goals during the season

The players:

Now for the fun part. What kind of players to play at the different positions?

GK: Well, a good goalkeeper is a good goalkeeper and a bad goalkeeper is a bad goalkeeper. Just try to hit the most important attributes: Communication, reflexes, handling, positioning and jumping.

DCs: Tall defenders with good heading attributes are a big plus. It's not a minus either if they have ok pace and good anticipation. And don't forget the concentration attribute...

DL/R: Just regular full backs with good crossing, pace, marking and tackling.

DM: A really important role as he will act like a "cleaner" on the midfield. Good tackling, work rate and aggression and very good if he has good passing and long shot skills. On offensive corners he is set to lurk outside the penalty area, increasing the possibility of you to win the 2nd ball.

MCs: I'd like to say they should have the stats of a playmaker, but try to hit good attributes on long shots, passing and composure. As the MCs will join in attacks and mostly be just on the edge of the penalty area it's pretty important with good attributes on long shots. The left midfielder should have the best ones, as he is set to lurk on offensive corners together with the DM.

AMR/L: Offensive qualities! They will often get into the box so good finishing and composure are a big plus. But never, ever, forget to have good crossing abilities.

ST: A pacy goal machine. Do I need to say anything else? I have not been successful with the typical target man in this role. It could, however, be very posible if you change the team's style of play (see aditional information).

Achievements:

This is where I lack and this is where I hope you come in. I have only played this tactic with IFK Göteborg in the Swedish Premiership and started with this tactic in 2010 when I had built a pretty good team (altough an average age of 22...). The swedish premiership lacks good teams (I have won it 5 years in a row, swedish cup also 5 years in a row and royal league 5 years in a row...). However, here are some of my results against better teams when i have used the Hellicious tactic:

Roma (H) 3-1 Champions league - Tactic used: Attack
Ajax (A) 3-0 Champions league - Tactic used: Defend
Panathinaikos (A) 1-0 Champions league - Tactic used: Defend
Panathinaikos (H) 4-0 Champions league - Tactic used: Attack

Last season: 20W 6D 0L - For: 59 Ag: 15 GD: +44 Pts: 66p

Link: Match stats

Additional information

Changing player instructions: I recommend you to alter the indivudual instructions, mostly if you are playing a very good team with players who can change the outcome of the game. Especially the creative freedom, if you have a player like Ronaldinho in your team, not increasing his creative freedom and assigning him a free role will probably be a big mistake.

Instructions during match day: I have found it very good to use this one, especially against more difficult teams. I mostly just put tight marking on their strikers and any OMC. All wingers should have "Show weaker foot" and before the game I take a look at their defenders, checking who lacks concentration and put "Pressing: Always" to increase the chance of them making mistakes.

Using a target man up front: Sometimes it can be worthwile to set the ST as target man and set passing to target man: run onto ball. Especially if you opponent have slow defenders.
If you have pretty slow target men in your squad it would be a good try to focus passing down the flanks and set their crossing aim to the target man (with target man supply set to head). Since the MCs are offensive they should be able to pick up the balls the ST loses in the air. I have yet not tried this with this tactic so this is just theory... but it has worked for me before.

Problems encountered

The only real problem I have encountered is the one with shooting. I have always gotten a lot of shots towards goal, but seem to lack the ability to hit the goal at times. And when I do, their goalkeeper just turns to a wall, making impossible saves at times. In my last season I had 20 wins and 6 draws where 3 of the draws were 0-0 games and 2 were 1-1 and still outnumbering them in shots on goal. And not just any shots, but shots on goal from good positions where "my granny would have scored that one!".

Although, I have a tendancy to give very young and inexperianced players the chance in the league. Especially if I have an important game coming up and I want to rest my best players. The lack of experiance may be a factor for the above mentioned.

Conclusion

Well I hope I made at least some players interested in trying out my tactic. I know there will probably be changes when playing with better teams, facing better opposition and having better players, but I am open for all feedback, good or bad.

// The tactic can be found at FM Downloads, just search for Hellicious tactic. //

retired_delpark

Ill give this tactic a go later on with Villarreal ..

retired_delpark

At home this was good - but even though I used the defend tactic it was still poor away