retired_shella12

I have recently started something I havent tried yet. Believe I have tried just about everythign. wwfans tactics, Cleons Tactic, Rashidis tactics and ect...

Nothing ever worked consistantly though. Untill recently I started scouting the opposition myself. And found out myself how they play and what theyre weakness is.

What I do. I go into their fixtures and I watch the goals they got scored on recently. I watch as much as I need untill I can figure out a pattern of the kind of goals they concede. And there always is one. Theres always some kind of clear way that other teams seem to beat them with.

What I do, is simply copy it. I started a season with Stalybridge or something like that in the conference. That team sucks. With poor defenders and not the greatest strikers. I also barely signes anyone and I am predicted to finnish midtable.

After 7 games I am top of the table. 7 games isnt a lot. But I have never dominated so many games in a row.

I was just curious to know who else does this and in a few season, if this works well. Than maybe I could post a topic on how to use it. So everybody can see.

retired_rjw13838

I dont think many people will have the patience for this.

Would be so much better if the scout would actually tell us this, no? Hopefully for FM08 will have specific scout reports, rather then the generic lines we now get.

retired_Balanchinegal

I've done this for really important matches like when I was Barca about to play "El Classico"
Never worked for me though, strangely, but then I'm stupid. :p

retired_shella12

Benoit2: It really doesnt take me that long. I am not addicted to the game or anything. It takes about 5-7 minutes before each match to try and figure out how to crack them. Than maybe 3-5 minutes to set up after that. Maybe its a little long for some people. But you know how many addicts this game has. And many of those addicts struggle like me. So if I can master this and have it more in detail it could help.

Starr-Man5: Theres no need to do this with Barca. But most people now adays like to start low. Down here we give very little freedom so the players actually listen to the instructions. When you're managing such a world class team as Barca. Its more about getting the right players to fit a certain formation and press play.

retired_Balanchinegal

Well that was then, and this is now. :p

retired_lourdes

It sound reallt interesting!! Could you give a few examples on how you figure out what to do. Maybe two diffrent scenarions, how you made your conclusions and so on....just to make peple get an idea...

retired_shella12

That is what I will do today. Its kind of early now in Jersey(Im 5 hours back). But I will do a few examples of how I set up for a game.

retired_hope

I sometimes use the view scouted match option to try to determine depth of line.

However most of the other info I can get from the scout report or the managers profile.

Also remember that the oppositon may not play the same against you as they did against the other team.

E.g If you are Man Utd and are playing Arsenal next game you probably won't get much from viewing the match between Arsenal and Wigan the week before as the odds are so different.

Think of the scout report as being how the oppositon normally plays and then take into account the odds of the match. If the bookmakers are against you big time then expect the other team to be more attacking and play wider.

retired_shella12

Yes I understand that. When I scout the other team, all I look at how other teams played them, not how they played the other teams. To see what the weakness in their deffense is.

My scouting is to adjust the offense. I never touch the defensive instuctions. I play Wide at Home and Tight away at all times. ALso before each match I check to see who the leading goalscorer and assister is and close those two down. That is my defensice philosophy and it works quite well.

I think that once I put up the examples you will know what I'm talking about. Im getting right to it.

retired_shella12

How To Scout the Opposition

In these next two examples I will try and explain how to scout the opposition, what conclusions you can draw from viewing, and how to adjust the instructions accordingly. The lengthy post may make it seem like its a long and boring process. Which most people wouldnt like. But once you can good at doing it it's not that bad and actually fun. If it turns into wins you will feel like a really good manager.

First, let's start by showing you my original tactics. This is important. Because if you set up a very detailed set of tactics, with lots on indivisual instructions, like the one of wwfans, than this will be tough. Make sure you leave passing on global. The rest can be indivisual. The only things that will change from game to game is the following: Passing Style, Tempo, Width, Def Line, Cross Ball, Throughball, Forward Runs, and Run With Ball. Now don't panic. Not every game every single thing changes. And certainly not for every player.

My Original Home Instructions
That is my original Home Instructions for my team. The formations is a flat 4-4-2 with short farrows on wingers. I personally go for global Mentallity and Cretive Freedom as well but that doesnt matter. The forward run system at home is Forward Runs Often for Full-backs, Winger, MCa, and Strikers. Rarely for Defenders and Mixed for DM. I leave RWB, TB, and CB mixed for all the players. Leaving that for adjustments.

Original Away Instructions
This formations is also a flat 4-4-2 but with no arrows on the wingers. The forward run system is different. Mixed on Winger, MCa, and Strikers. Rarely on Fullbacks, Defenders, and DM. Again, Leaving RWB, TB, and CB on mix till after the scouting.

Now that we are clear on that. Let's get ready for the next game.

Example 1

Leigh RMI(Away) Stalybridge 4-5 Fav

I am on a run of 4 wins in a row. Leaigh RMI are right in the middle at 12th place. I am still going to start with my Away Tactic. The odds are still not big enough. Now I am going to go into their Fixtures.
I watched all the goals the conceded from Worcester down to Gainsborough. Which is 14 of the 16 they conceded this season. I must say this is the first time I couldnt figure out a pattern. They were getting kiled with through balls, crosses, and even set-prices. Which is a good thing. I know that they are vulnerable to everything. So not much adjustment is needed. All I'm gonna dow is move up the Passing, Tempo, and Width 3 notched. So they are all on about 7 or 8 now. I will also change focus passing to mix. This way will attack them in a veriety of ways. We're ready to go.

No wait. Just one more thing. They have a striker that scored 6 goals. He's a speedy one. I made sure to close him down in the team instructions. And with my deep line we should be able to minimize his danger.

Result: 3-3 Tie

I was already leaing 3-1. Than I switched back to the original away tactic. With 5 passing, width, and tempo. To try and kill the game off. They came back with two goals though. Than I switched to my original Home Tactic to try and score one. I created some good chances but missed them.

My problem was, I payed them too much respect. I could have used my Home Tactic earlier in the game and not let them attack me so much. I also failed in stopping their Speedy Striker, who scored and assistem. Next time I should tight mark him. The good thing I can take from this game, is the attack. I got that right. We lookes dangerous from crosses and throughballs. Scored one from a header and two from the ground. Just like the other teams.

Now don't think that just because you dont win one game, than you should completely abadon a certain style. Such as this one. Yes, I coul have one that game. But, try to stop and think what you can learn from the mistakes and fix them next time. Just like I did.



Example 2

Hinckely(Away) Stalybridge 6-4 Fav

Hinckely are struggling. They are 18th. Havent won in 5 straight games. The odds clearly show it. Now let's get scouting. Here are their Fixtures. I only watched the last 3 games. Which I think was something like 5 or 6 goals. That is enough for me. They were all exactly the same. Direct throughballs right down the middle. The Strikers were dribbling their defenders like they were cones. So this is how I am going to set up. First, let's remember the mistake I made. Dont pay too much respect. I am going to start with my Away Tactic but change it a bit.

Mentallity: 10(Moved up 5 notched)
Passing: 12(Up 7)
Tempo: 10(Up 5)
Width: 10(Up 5)
Closing Down: 8(Up 3)
Time-Waste: 10(Down 5)
Def Line: 8(Up 3)
Focus Pass: Down Middle.

I went into indivisual instructions. Reduced Crossing to Rare on all players. Left throughballs Mix on Defenders, Fullbacks, DM, and Strikers. Often on MCa and Wingers. I also increased RWB to often on my Strikers. Now I am ready to go.

Let's just take a look if there is anyone especially dangerous in their squad. Yes, there is. They have a striker with 4 goals. He is sort of a descent overall striker. With descent acceleration an aerial ability. Will mark him tightly and close him down.

Result 3-4 Stalybridge

We didnt play well at all in the firs half. The score was 1-1 at Halftime. I still think we are paying too much respect. I switch to the home tactic and we come out firing with two goals. Than they scored to make it 3-2. I switched to the away tactic again to shut up shop. I scored a corner and they scored again. But it wasnt enough and we won.

What I can fix next time: I dont know what is happening to my defense. It was good so far. I think I just need better defenders thats all.

What I got right: The attack again looked perfect. 3 of the 4 goals came from direct throughballs to my strikers. But that defense is looking ugly at the back.

This win puts me back in 1st place after 9 games.



Conclusion
I hope these two examples helpes a bit to undrstand where I am going with this. Like I said, I am far from being the perfect manager. But, you cant deny that so far it is over acheiving. At least I think it is. I definately need to play a little more to see how effective it is. If you guys have any questions, want me to upload any of the games, or maybe give a few more examples, I will be more than happy to. Also suggestions are very welcome.