retired_B-Scott

Socks 4 4 2 giant-killer
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Full screenshots and tac file available at
http://www.fm-britain.co.uk/forums/i...0&gopid=67940&
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The aim:

To take a league one side and establish it in premiership

The results:

Season 1:
FA Cup winner
promotion into the championship
Season 2:
promotion into the premiership
Euro Cup runner up
Euro Super Cup runner up
Season 3 - onwards
Various FA/League cup semi finals
Euro Cup winner 2012
premiership #1 at time of publication 2016

Technical Information

1. I used defensively minded tactics to win the FA Cup and Premiership in seasons 1 and 2 and I recommend this setting for small clubs before they grow, the settings are as follows:
a) mentality down to 25%
b) counterattack style on
The reason I did not continue these settings as is produces few goals and is not suitable for the top division

2. You will need to assign
a) a playmaker, the DM arrowed position
b) Assign your best header of the ball with good positioning to near post flick ons. Ideally this should be a defender as it adds weight to corners. This produced on average an extra 10 goals a season and both the semi final and final of the 1st season Euro Cup was a result of this strategy.

Overview

1. I used a previous game with Nott Forest to establish this tactic, as i wanted to do a lot of experimenting and then put the formation into action with as little tampering as possible. So I used a technique I have found very useful in seeing if tactical adjustments are effective. I would save the game, adjust a single slider, play around 10 games, and look at the results. Then I would save a further game, load the original, and make a different adjustment. Whichever adjustment was better I would stick with it. I came a cropper often trying out different things, and got sacked twice trying out various formations and setting before I settled on two variations, a 442, and a 451, both very similar in their make up. I started a new game and this is the game referred to in this posting.

2. I wanted as many of the team playing with the same mind set and style as possible - not a mismatch of mentality, creativity and passing settings based on individual positions.

Screenshots: (at the bottom of the article, or if the posting is restricted to a single screenshot, use the links to the other posts)

screenshot a - Team report
screenshot b - FA cup 1-0 win against Chelsea (season 1)
screenshot c - League 5-0 win against Chelsea
screenshot d - Premiership table Dec 2016

Strategy:

The idea was fairly simple, to use a DM playmaker to bring 5 players into the attack (CM, ML MR FC FC), and to use the defenders to create much of the attack by getting the ball to the DM with an quick attack in mind. Screenshots for the benefit of mac users who may not be able to downlaod the tac file are as follows

screenshot 1 - Team positions
screenshot 2 - Team instructions
screenshot 3 - GK
screenshot 4 - DL/DR:
screenshot 5 - DC
screenshot 6 - MC (DM)
screenshot 7 - MC (AM)
screenshot 8 - MR/ML
screenshot 9 - FC R
screenshot10 - FC L

Other notes:

I started the game with dual nationality, Spnish and English
I opted to use a small db but load in the spanish league as I intended to scout this continent heavily
I employed a single scout, spanish speaking, with full 20 in judging potential. I set him to scout Spain and Brazil as well as England, Much of the time he was dead right, for instance I gained 20m (with 50% sell on) from Spurs from a free transfer (Mario Camacho). I also scouted Brazil, but by 2015, 80% of my first team was from the spanish leagues.
I had 20 or 30 players still very worth signing but always had to keep a careful eye on my wage bill as my stadium capacity was 30k. Just to break even I had to sell 10-15m worth of players every season and still have to sell to balance the books but this was fine as I have plenty of talent coming through every season. By 2017 I had 10 players on loan to aid development, and have so much talent the only issue is managing it. All from one scout, which was a major factor in getting this team to the top.

Customising

1. I would recommend customising:
a) FC FC I havent got around to testing alternatives for these positions apart from the setting I have used, which I have found to be effective
b) MC (AM) Theres scope to play around with this position
c) counterattack option - reverting to a defensive style and using counterattack was very succesful early on and would still be worth re-exploring
d) using the CM (AM) as the playmaker
e) not using a playmaker
f) the mentality slider - works well in the middle - and can also work (and aso backfire) very high. If you set it below 50% set couterattack on. The slider affects the attacking midfielder and forwards, and the effects will be dramatic

2. I wouldnt recommend customising:
a) tinkering without testing this formation over at least 10 games (so your team gets used to it)
b) arrows - I have tried many, many variations just so you know, these setting seem the most successful, and I wouldnt suggest tinkering here
c) the positions (please do it - but it wont be my formation anymore)

Feeback

This formation is partly a result of feedback from my other formation, Gerrards 4 1 3 2. I welcome feedback, good and bad, and Im aware this may well not work for everyone. I have tested it with other teams, and perhaps Ive got lucky. Either way, I welcome any comments, especially on areas that work very well, and those that simply dont.

Good luck from socks, and enjoy your FM 2007 whatever your fate!

retired_marinegolf240

Socks this looks good. Might give it a go with Liverpool later on.

Do you alter the defensive line or defensive settings such as opposition instructions and defensive line or offside trap depending on the team you play as I find that playing teams like Arseanl defensively just invites pressure?

retired_B-Scott

im too lazy to adjust much to be honest once its set - im sure one could make changes like these to tailor it to each team though. I did find altering the defensive line lower though did restrict the attack though

dude17

It's Nottm Forest not Notts Forest.

If my mum read you calling them that she would clip your ear.

retired_B-Scott

send her my love

retired_trw422

Just started using this tactic, won all my pre-season games without conceeding (haven't really played anyone too strong really though) and just won my 1st CL qualifier. Looks pretty solid though and seems to create a lot of chances.

I'll keep posting updates when the serious stuff starts!

retired_trw422

Just beat Chelski in the community shield, 2-1. Last minute winner by the scourge of Chelsea Luis Garcia....it's all good.

Got 3 really difficult opening league games coming up though, the fixture computer hasn't been kind to me - Arsenal away followed by Bolton at home and then Man Utd away.

retired_B-Scott

sounds good kozma, dont forget to set up the headers for corners (see notes)

good luck with the season

retired_huevoz

socks,who is more suitable being a playmaker??
pirlo or sissoko
btw,my english is no good and i hope you understand what i said

retired_trw422

Yeah done that cheers Socks, always used it in my previous games. I find Sissoko always gets a handful of goals durint the season using that idea.