SS4-3-1-2 WIP

retired_pacman/allan · 01-09-2008, 12:02 AM

Disclaimer: This tactic is not a "win them all" tactic, and no success is guaranteed. This tactic is a work in progress, and you should therefore accept the fact that it might not bring you any success at all.

So.. I have finally started my work on a tactic that I hope will last for many seasons, without the need to tweak too much in every match. My goal is to have one formation that can be used against every team, no matter what they throw at me. Of course I accept that some tweaking might be needed in the matches, but the point is to get these tweaks down to a minimum.

THE FORMATION

Some notes:
* Wingers has SArrows so that they move in between these two positions. This was "vital" to cope with a 4-5-1 that the AI throw against me. It also gives the MC better passing options.
* AC goes wide to cross ball to a AMC that comes forward

TEAM INSTRUCTIONS

GK INSTRUCTIONS

* Im quite happy with how my GK acts. His passing went up from 25% to 40% just by shortening his passes and put him on "defender collect".

FB INSTRUCTIONS

DC INSTRUCTIONS

MC INSTRUCTIONS

WING INSTRUCTIONS

AMC INSTRUCTIONS

FC INSTRUCTIONS

So far, this SS4-3-1-2 is the one that has been the most stable one of all the tactics I have used in FM08. The tweaks I do use in matches are:

ADJUSTING DEFENSIVE LINE:
This is done based on two things - the distance between my defenders and the opponents strikers and the passing style of the opponent. If the gap between DC and AI SC is big, I up the DL to close down this gap. How much depends on how the AI is playing, a direct passing style with balls played over my defense means that I have to have some distance between the DC and AI SC to avoid being outrun by pacey SC.

If the AI SC is behind my DC (closer to my goal), I down the DL to get the DC closer. Again, the amount depends on how the AI plays.

ADJUSTING WIDTH
Strikers going between my DC and FB, but their wingers not causing any trouble? I narrow the play to bring my FB closer. If the wingers are causing trouble I go wider, to cover the SC with my DC instead.

*Some will claim that the width is mostly for attacking play. You could say so, but if your players are wide, they will also be better placed when tracking back(for covering AI flanks that is).

ADJUSTING TEMPO
If the AI is closing down my players quickly, and gives me less time on the ball, I up the tempo. If I get a great deal of time on the ball, I lower the tempo(If AI is sitting back, my idea is to keep calm and build up play to break down a hard working defense).

During the first season, this was the only changes I did during the matches, and it worked out quite well:

And my players stats:

As you probably see from the pics, Im not getting enough goals. Defensively Im quite OK, but my attacking play dont lead to enough goals.
I do create a fair amount of chances - most often more than the AI. Mostly I do have best passing and possession. So the problem lies somewhere else.
1. My players do shoot from anywhere, but inside the box.
2. My AMC aint running into the box as often as he should - many crosses from the strikers therefore dont get utilized.
3. My MC fails to play deadly through balls to one of the three on top

These three are those situations that are most frequent.

Feel free to test the tactic, or come with suggestions