retired_wlastarr

I have never started a game above the conference north/south because all through the fm's and cm's back to when I played on the amiga I have always enjoyed taking teams up through the leagues. (I know the confrence south/north was not on the earlier games, I started in the lowest league available then). But the last two fm's have just been so hard. I have read through every tactical theory and everything I have tried does not work. I have started out with numerous teams trying numerous tactics and nothing works. I have brought players in no problem. I actually think there are enough free players out there to build a decent squad for those leagues but the tactics are totally baffeling, it appears that any tactic i use does not work. Can anyone give me any advice or is it time for me to accept that my managemnt days are over.

Also how do you train heading?

If the future fm's are going to be as ridiculous where you cannot do anything unless you start as a big club then could future versions have difficulty levels to choose from?

retired_shella12

I dont think you should give up. There are many people who have tactics that work for them. I am like you. I like to start low. Well, I recently started with Wycombe. Which I know is the lowest but still. I got them promoted in the second season and midtable in the middle of third. I know its not amazing but it aint bad concidering how hard this game is.

Let me tell you what works for me. And believe me I have tried everything. From wwfan to cleons tactics and anything in between. Theres one thing and one thing only that works for me. You gott scout the oppposition and know who youre playing. Tweak your tatic before every game to suit the situation. Im not saying create a whole new tactic. Keep your normal formation and starting line up if you want. Sometimes I have to take one or two players off. But for the most part it takes 5-10 minutes of tweaking before each match.

I know it sounds like a lot of time to waste. But once you get used to it and you start winning youll start having fun. Than you might think this is the best version yet. I hope I helped. If you want I can give you an example of how I tweak before my next match. How does that sound?

kbobforfun

I agree with Barca4ever - there is hope. I made a formation that I enjoy 4-3-3. I use the same formation for all my games except against really top team where I might switch to a counter 4-5-1. All I do as barca mentioned is scout the opposition then tweak accordingly. I always begin unemployed. Currently I have taken Doncaster Rovers from 23rd to 1st in the table. The average age of my team is 21 so until my players gain experience it might take me a while tombuild a good consistant team. hang in there!

retired_shella12

I kind of do the same. I usually use a 4-4-2 when Im in England, and a 3-5-2 or 4-3-3 in Spain. But 4-4-2 is the most comfortable to work with. All I do is check two things. Their strikers and their central midfilders. I always keep two fast strikers and two big strikers in my squad. Now, for the strikers all I do is adjust the defensive line and closing down. If they have fast strikers compared to mine, time to drop it back and reduce closing down. If their slow, I move it up and close down more. Now for the defenders you can really get creative with this. They got both slow defenders lets say. I start my two fast strikers and have my attacking midfilder, my winger, and my fullbacks on through balls often, cross ball rarely. Things like that. That take advantage of the opposition weakness. All you gotta do is find it.

It mind sound like a lot. But its not. Try it and see how it works.

retired_cath90210

Whats your problem geordie? Scoring or conceding?

The lower league are bloody difficult, im oxford in the conference at the moment with a far superior squad to everyone but still struggling to get my team over the finishing line. Shall we just say players seem to play better for AI managers than they do for human managers. I do think its realistic though, IRL managers are often left scratching their heads as to what exactly the problem is.

retired_cath90210

That doesnt mean its FUN, mind.