Some observations.
Note using 7.0.2 with Arsenal, in the 08/09 season, where I have just started using this tactic.
Strikers Henry, Baptista, RVP, Palacio
Midfild Marcelo/Rosicky left, Fab/Palacio AMC, Gilberto/Gago DMC, Hleb/Freddie/Walcott right
Defence Clichy Left, Gallas/Toure/Felipe/Albiol centre, van Borre/Hoyte right
My main problems with this tactic:
Too many air balls to Henry (left side striker) despite short pass instructions, he loses those battles. I also find annoyingly he tends to get tackled way too easily by inferior defenders, either whilst on the break or if he has his back to the defender to receive the ball (which happens quite a bit due to the nature of this tactic) Quitw often Henry will struggle to get a 7 rating. However on some occassions he will bag 2 goals and get a 8-9 rating, and against a good team (Everton, who are very good in this season)I have given him a free role instruction and lowered his mentality slightly to try and get him to come deeper to receive the ball so he doesn't have a defender glued to his backside, I think it needs a few more games like this but I think that is helping. This also applies to Palacio if I play him here (but his problem is he is not particularly strong)
Baptista as the right sided attacker is playing well, but hardly ever gets hit a high ball (compared to Henry) however reading some other threads regarding setting target men but not ticking the use target man box have given me some ideas here. The fact that he is strong means he is good at receiving the ball with a defender on him I find. RVP plays here too, but so far I haven't used him much so won't comment on his performance.
I am using Fabregas mainly as the AMC, but run with ball changed to somwtimes rather than often as he is not a dribbler. I have also made him a playmaker and am using 'use playmaker' instruction - it wasn;t flash at first but after a few games he is getting a LOT of completed passes and many key ones as well. As he is on the left-central side he makes a lot of passes to Marcelo and Clichy, and has set Marcelo for some brilliant runs curling around the left side for a shot on goal leaving his marker in his dust. I am considering reducing Fabs attacking mentality to keep him in space more to make good passes, as he not a fantastic goal scorer. If I use palacio tho I do keep him on dribbling often, and more attacking, as he is a striker as well , tho he plays well in the AMC role.
Gilberto is solid in the middle, and I find he makes a lot of good through balls to the right side, or back and forth with the AMC.
Hleb since I started using this tactic has been OUTSTANDING. (And is now touted by opposition coaches as our main threat) I think because he is less selfish than Marcelo he makes better passes, and has also scored a couple of nice 'late run into the box to receive the short cross whipped in from the left' style goals.
The wingbacks are solid but I tend to reduce their mentality a couple notches away from home or against serious big club opposition. The central defence have been making some big time big tackles inside our box which has given me many grey hairs but so far they have done well and no fouls inside (This may be because of their quality rather than the tactic - no are exposed to a quick counter attack with this tactic hence me lowering the wingback mentality)
I did notice that the goalie had basically the default team mentality? Is this on purpose? I have changed it to much more defensive.
So to summarise:
Hard to release your fast strikers with this tactic. A strong striker plays ok but your smaller faster strker may need a bit of room (Free role if he's good enough, else lower mentality slightly)
Might need to adjust AMC depending on his skills, but if he can shoot and dribble leave as is, if more of a playmaker type lower mentality to give him room for passing
Wingbacks may need to lower mentality depending on how good opponents wingers are/ counter attacking ability.
Goalie settings??
One other thing - I have so far been awarded 4 penalties with this tactic in like a month. I think I only got given 6 or 7 all of last season!! Must be due to the more bodies in the box. This is a Good Thing!
@ BobbyBamber - I like it, but needed to tweak it (and will need to still) but welcome any rebuttal/feedback from my observations (esp the goalie bit) in any case KUTGW cause I have long wanted an Arsenal style tactic for Arsenal! (IE not an aerial target man style tactic like so many others out there)
Good on the ball wingers will excell
Marcelo is playing very well, as is Rosicky on the left. They interact well with the AMC, and make some nice runs into the box. I have been struggling to get the best out of Rosicky and this tactic looks like it works for him.
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