retired_cbonazza

Well im quite new to the game, ive had it for a week and a bit and i know quite a bit about it, but i dont know how to do the following very well

A). How do i give team talks? lets say if i was 2 goals down and i wanted to motivate my team to win the match, or if im already winning a match how to keep my players motivated and not lose concentration so they can carry on scoring goals, or if im going into a big match that i might lose how would i give them confidence to win it?

B). The whole target man and play maker thing, what do they do? i think a target man is someone who will try header it in a lot so ill probably need someone with good aerial skill? and does a playmaker set up goals? im looking to start a new season but want to understand the game more, so if anyone can givbe me a better understanding of this feature and maybe some players that will be able to do the job well.

C). i dont know what attributes are most important for each position, my formation will probably consist of two FCS, one AMC and a AML and AMR, Also a DMC and 4 defenders, wind backs or maybe right/left backs with 2 centre defenders, can anyone give me a brief explanation on what attributes i should look into to fill these positions well.

D). When i buy up and coming stars like anderson and nani sometimes there not ready to come into my starting 11 straight away, and sometimes no clubs will take them on loan so will i get good experience out of them by putting them on intense training programs? and if they do can anyone give me some advice on what training programmes different positions will need, i presume ill need a Goalkeeper, Defensive, Midfield, Wingers/Striker training scheme.

E). Formations, i like to play offensive football, id like to get alot of goals, i realise that would mean a weak defense but i guess that wouldnt be to much of a problem if i spent alot on a decent keeper, but what kind of formations and tactical changes should i make to get a good offensive formation.

Thats all for now, thanks in advice for any advice anyone gives me.

retired_e_fores

A) I've found making your Ass Man do teamtalks to be far and away the most consistant method of getting results. When I was doing teams talks I was very inconsistant as occasionaly I would give the wrong one and thus even though my tactics were right I would loose or draw when I should have not.

B) A target man is a striker who your players will look to hit the ball to so he can bring others into play or create his own oppurtunities. They don't have to be good in the air, it depends on their supply which you can set yourself. Target men with good heading, jumping and balance and their supply set to head are incredibly effective (IMO too effective) on FM07 and will often be the best player in your team. They get flick on's for a fast partner and can easily head in crosses themselves. Good target men for the air include:
-Klose
-Eddie Johnson (american one)
-Toni
-Crouch
-Drogba
You get the idea. Jumping is the most important att for this type of target man, but others are important if you have a different supply.
A playmaker is someone who your team will look to pass to so he can set up offensive plays. He is often a creative player with good passing, decisions, creativity... Most people have their playmaker as a DMC (ala Pirlo, Makalele, Xabi Alonso, Fabregas) who will start attacks from the back and have lots of space, or they'll have him at AMC (Riquelme, Kaka, Diego) who can create oppurtuities themselves with throughballs or dribbling past defenders.

C) Briefly:
-GK: all gk atts, concentration, positioning, agility, bravery.
-DC: Tackling, Positioning, Concentration, Marking, Jumping, Heading, Bravery, and a few others
-FB: Stamina, Work rate, Crossing, Marking/Tackling, Passing, Anticipation, Pace and accel are useful too.
DMC: Depends on the type. A destructive DMC (Gattuso) will have Work Rate, Team Work, Stamina, Tackling, Positioning, Aggression, Determination. A constructive one (Pirlo) will have Passing, Technique, Creativity, Decisions, Anticipation, Teamwork, Positioning, First touch...
AMC: Same as costructive DMC plus Dribbling, Agility, Off the Ball, Flair, Pace and Accel are good
Wingers: Pace, Accel, Agility, Dribbling, Crossing, Passing, Anticipation, Flair, Creativity, First touch
Fast striker: First touch, Dribbling, Pace, Accel, Determination, Technique, Finishing, Composure, Heading, Off the Ball, Creativity, Flair,
Target Striker: Jumping, Heading, Strength, Finishing, Off the Ball, Bravery, Composure

Determination I have recently discovered appears to make a good player a great player or a seemingly mediocre player good, particularly for those in attacking positions (though it doesn't seem to matter as much for target men, that being said target men are almost always effective). It seems that all the most effective players on FM have high determination.

D) Search for Seasoned Alcoholic's training schedules (in the tactics bible). I personally turn all of the intensities down a bit on them though as they originally gave me too many injuries.

E)A decent keeper is always great but won't save you if you are too offensive. Regarding formations, you've just got to choose one which fits your players, and then setyour indiv instructions correctly and it will work. Obviously if you choose to use an offensive minded formation (note the difference between formation and tactic) you might have problems away from home. You want your tactic to be flexible so you can play well home and away (even the best teams excersise a lot more caution and sit more deep away) or you may choose to use a home tactic and an away one.

Thats my 2 cents anyway...

retired_cbonazza

ok thanks alot for the post, really helped alot, another question ive just thought up, players ages, i sort of panic when players hit the 28+ mark and try and sell them, what age does a player start to lose his skills and want to retire?

retired_Myoplex

a players peak is different for each player, i think a goalkeepers peak is about 28-32 if you can get into the fm2007 folder and find the hints and tips then you will find the notepad of it and just read through that, it helps

retired_e_fores

Gk's peak around 32.
DC's around 30.
FB's, DM's and MC's around 29.
Wingers and FC's around 27-28.

However may can carry on playing well past their peak (of course - look at Maldini, Canizares) and many before (Cech, Rooney, Ronaldo).

retired_cbonazza

what do you mean by peak?

retired_janellewood86

Reach their height. That is to say, they won't get any better, and it's all downhill from then on. Before that point, they should get better.