Dayle Wood

It's all good mate, not having a go at you.

This thread is my thinly veiled attempt to get knowledge out of you chaps surreptitiously.

Cleon

On FM08 I think these things work slighty different than they do now though. People might find it easier to use the info that is given

Dayle Wood

or not.

Badboy500

i dont believe passing and tempo should be changed just because of scout report. IRL teams play a certain passing style and stick to it. Arsenal dont play fast and direct because AC Milan play short and slow.

evrything else is gud.

Cleon

You normally find all top teams don't change unless they play each other. This is because they force teams to adapt to them instead. The same thing applies to FM really. As you find IRL the smaller clubs adapt and change how they play from game to game.

Dayle Wood

Thanks for you comments. With respect though there is a discernable difference betweent the game and real life. Using the same tactic against everyone on the game is doomed to failure.

Even in real life I suspect most sides flexible enough to change to meet certain challenges.

Bob

Thanks for you comments. With respect though there is a discernable difference betweent the game and real life. Using the same tactic against everyone on the game is doomed to failure.

Even in real life I suspect most sides flexible enough to change to meet certain challenges. </BLOCKQUOTE>

not necessarily!

i have a tactic that has won all 7 cups in 1 season with not one tweak, in the prem in 09/10 season. so it can be done! although on inspection, the tac is so flawed its untrue. yet it works! (even with lesser teams!)

on the odds! i use them for the purpose of teamtalks as its a good indicator of how to approach the game! as you say if your fav you can go and attack them from the start if not then a take it easy approach is better! but then again, i think i'm the only one who uses teamtalks! ...arent i...?

ps. is not 2. a contradiction?

Chandaman

I'll take a stab at this. I'm not an expert, so this will be hit or miss. Just like the way I play

I bother with this, but only at the beginnings of the game (the first 4-5 game years), and the first year or two if I land a job in a different league just to get used to the new styles. After that, I found the AI tends over time to use the same formations anyway, regardless of the team. My priority for anticipating formations (pre-match, not during match) has always been low.

Personally I never bother with this either. I think the theory of playing 'opposite' of what the other team plays is sound on paper, but every time I tried to do it the results were not good. I'd rather stick to my own way of playing, have my players understand their own system to the last comma (even if that means not taking the 'ideal' style of countering the opposition), and if we have to lose or tie a few games because of this learning experience, then so be it.

To me, having my players understand their own style to perfection is a long term plan and worth more than resigning a few points here and there just to try and catch the AI. Others might differ.

Now this I do bother with, but maybe not as much as I should, and certainly not as much as other people do

My approach is simple:

Always tight mark the FC (regardless if they come out with 1 or 2 FCs)
Always close down the AMC/MCa (choke their creative player)
In addition, close down their wingers, if necessary (if they're marked as threat, or I know beforehand they are problematic)

Most games I get by just by marking the FCs and closing down the AMC/MCa. I'd say only once every four, five games I bother closing down their wings.

This does not work regardless of your formation. This is adapted to how I usually play (4-1-3-2), and the player stats I like for my players.

This is tied to the above.

If the threat is a FC, he'll be tight marked as per the above.
If the threat is a AMC/Winger/FC masquerading as winger, he'll be closed down as per the above.
If a threat is the GK/CB/FB/DMC, I never bother.

Yes, it stands to reason but I never personally bother with it

With some games I play and some teams I manage, I bother with this. With some others, I don't. If I feel I'm managing a side of enough quality (in itself, not related to any other team), then I don't bother to alter my playing style. Let the other team do it to match me.

If I'm a smaller team, yes, I take odds into consideration.

Dayle Wood

Something else I have noticed while playing lately is that tight marking entire midfields in touch games (chelsea, Arsenal etc) can play dividends.

I am having much success using this via opposition instructions.

To be clear the tight marking is preferred to closing down. It keeps your players between them at the goal and puts pressure on passes they are trying to recieve.

rashidi1

Like Cleon certain things that worked one way may not work the same way for FM2008, so you'll need to wait on certain elements of what you've written, in fact I can see a large chunk being relevant immediately.

Certain areas that can be enhanced.

The assman- does give some decent reports provided he has the skills in player ability and tac knowledge

For a scout, tac knowledge is very important so is player ability, that way they give you a better assessment of the match.

Yeah I think on the whole it makes sense...

There is generally more that affects how a team plays against you and many don't seem to see the value of scouting a team themselves...

a. The AI Manager - ALWAYS check his motivational and tac knowledge. They will both give you an indication of how the team will play especially in derby matches. High tactical knowledge managers seem to throw more tactics at ya and motivational ones are dangerous for their halftime turnarounds.

b. You need to look at their last few games, the media prediction and to assess whether they are under/over performing in your eyes. A team could be on a 3 game winning streak and then they come and bite your butt off with an inspired play. Scout the other team, check their morales out. And don't say something stupid before the game. In these kind of matches do a no comment.

The AI doesn't always stick to a set format of tactics, an AI may have one 442 but play 10 variations in a game, people need to learn how to spot this. Looking at a tactical shape is not enough.