retired_Turk

When creating individual training regimes for players, what is the most important thing to focus on: a player's strengths or a player's weaknesses?

I've always thought about this one and could never come up with a definite answer, of course both are important but one of them needs more work than the other, and in my opinion I think that maybe that should be a player's weaknesses.

Moderately train their strengths to keep them high and improve them slightly, but focus highly on the weaknesses to improve them and make them overall better players and more well rounded players.

What's your opinion, and what have you found works best?

Thanks!

retired_safarivista

I normally train them up using their strengths. also looking at what position they normally play in. For example, someone like daniel sturridge at man city, i would train him up with his finishing, off the ball etc, but also because he is young, his strength and aerobic attributes.

hope that helps

retired_hope

I always used to set up regimes for the different positions.

However, now I leave them all on the general regime as I think they will naturally train harder in the areas more important to their position.

If I was using custom training then I would try to improve a player by focusing on any deficient attributes for their position. E.g. if I had a defender who was good at marking, tackling and concentration, but was poor in positioning I would concentrate on improving this aspect of their game, as you say to make them a more rounded player.

When I use a general regime, I can still focus more on a particular type of training by changing the amount of regimes each coach is responsible for. In pre-season I will set my best fitness coach to work just on strength training, switching him to both strength and aerobics when the season begins in earnest.

I would recommend taking a look at
Seasoned Alcoholic's FM2007 Training Schedules as an excellent place to start.

retired_Turk

Thanks for the help!

retired_Siwash

What I personally do is focus on their weaknesses if they're *really* weak there, and if it's a relevant weakness. For example I've been training a young AMC/FC who when I started had 7 stamina, 9 natural fitness and 7 strength. While his qualities lies elsewhere, he still needs better physique than that to play in the Serie A. He's now up to 12 stamina, 10 NF and 11 strength, which is more acceptable.

retired_Siwash

Bah, accidentally submitted it too early. What I forgot to add was basically that the way I see it you should first focus on making sure the player isn't lacking in any key stat; to at least make all his relevant stats decent. Once you've done so, then focus on improving their key attributes as much as you can, such as dribbling/crossing for wingers, tackling/marking/positioning for defenders and so on.

It's also worth looking at what kind of qualities your tactic requires. In some cases you might not rely much at all on your MR or ML to defend, while in some cases you do. Likewise with the training of your full backs, and central midfielders (Want them to be anchormen, playmakers or "box-to-box" midfielders?).