retired_josapa

Since I am finally starting to gain some footing tactically on this game I thought I would go into a little detail about what I do in certain situations and the way I am planning to play on my new Liverpool game. As you know they have a great squad of players so I can afford to think adventurously with them. This is my general plan of action in terms of systems for home and away:

Home:
Formation: 4-4-2
Passing Style: Short (about 4)
Width: Normal (11-12)
Closing Down: Rarely (about 4)
Creative Freedom: All set to individual (defenders to 4, midfielders to 10, strikers to 16)
Tempo: Slow (about 4)
Mentalities: All set to individual (Goalkeeper to 10, defenders to 12, midfielders to 14, Strikers to 16)
Passing Focus: Mixed (to begin with)

My thinking behind this is to develop a short passing game that will keep possession and pen the opposition into their own half. As I am Liverpool I feel I should be doing this at home. Set closing down low to allow my boys plenty of time and space on the ball. Set the width to normal to stop too many gaps appearing, but can up this with the tempo if I go behind in a match.

Home:
Formation: 4-1-2-2-1 (one dmc, 2 mc's and an AMR&L with one forward)
Passing Style: Short (about 4)
Width: Wide (14-16)
Closing Down: Rarely (about 4)
Creative Freedom: All set to individual (defenders to 4, midfielders to 10, AMR&L to 14, strikers to 16)
Tempo: Slow (about 4)
Mentalities: All set to individual (Goalkeeper to 10, defenders to 12, midfielders to 14, AMR&L to 15, Strikers to 16)
Passing Focus: Wide

I like this formation but have never quite had the bottle to try it. I feel Liverpool have the players to implement it though. Again the same principles apply with a slow tempo and short passing, which I would just up if I needed to. Dont usually like to start a game with a lot of width but I feel its needed to make this system worth while. This could come in handy against teams with slow full backs and has a DMC protecting my back 4 against counter attacks.

Please offer pointers, or opinions on these ideas.

retired_josapa

Still no reply?! This is the trouble with a lot of people on this forum, unless it says "for super all conquering tactic click here" they dont want to know, anyways heres a tactic for away games:

Away (tough games):
Formation 4-1-3-2
Passing Style: Direct (about 15)
Width: Narrow (about 5)
Closing Down: Often (about 15)
Creative Freedom: All set to individual (defenders to 1, midfielders to 8, strikers to 11)
Tempo: Quick (about 15)
Mentalities: All set to individual (Goalkeeper to 6, defenders to 8, defensive mid to 9, midfielders to 10, Strikers to 12)
Passing Focus: Through Middle
Counter Attacking: Yes
Tight Marking: Yes

This system theoretically denies the home team space and time on the ball, not sure what to do with defensive line but with closing down being so high I may opt for a high line. This system also uses counter attacking and direct passing as playing more defensive than at home I want to get the ball forward quickly when I do. Didn't want to go any lower on mentalities as it seems a waste of attacking talent in my team. With a sub or two I could also change this to a 4-4-2 if needed.

retired_tp337b

Yeah I have noticed that some people only post in topics that are giving tactics and not good informative ones like this, but not me, I will follow this all the time as I am just this second starting a game with L'Pool and am looking for a few pointers.

Like yourself I am using a 4-1-2-2-1 as I feel this is the best formation for the strong midfield that L'Pool have. I am going to base all my attacks around the creative and passing genious of pair Xabi Alonso and Stevie Gerrard, so these will be my two cm's.

Looking forward to how you get on mate, I might use slightly different settings to yourself and if I succeed I will be sure to tell you on here, and hopefully others can aswell.

Cheers

retired_josapa

Nice one mate, I too am thinking of playing Alonso as a CM because originally I had him down for the DMC role but I figure let Sissoko do that (leave the donkey work to the donkeys). To be fair I quite like sissoko though, every team needs that sort of player. Let me know how you get on.

retired_sugarbear_sb

My experience doesn't confirm that statement...

One thing that I know for sure though is that so many of these posts (like this one here) come and go, that people are desensitized and usually do not read threads like this unless they are bored.

Like me! so I will answer your questions a bit.

first thing I see is that your defenders need to be a bit staggered... your FB should have a bit higher mentality.

I have found that your passing needs to be staggered as well... not everyone will pass at a 4... your wingers will need some distance for crosses and so will your FBs. tailor as you see fit. I agree with you it is wide, and a faster tempo is most likely needed, and with faster tempo... you will find that you will need longer passing, short simple passes is a slow tempo to retain posession... I'm not talking about 15 clicks here, just one or two clicks up from your setting... and 4 is very short... so I would hover around 8 or so...

Also ... your DMC will not protect against counters... protection against counters is making sure your DCs and FBs are in position.... they will be going over your DMC head ALL the time.

Thats just my two cents...

cheers!

Ashyr

retired_jackie726

No offence but there alot of these sorts of topics around. I myself find then borring all you seem to be doing is thinking outloud and not posting results screenies or anything.

Alot of people dnnt wanna spend ages tweaking and messing with there fortions, but if you uplaoded your tactics somewhere alot more people would try them and give you more feedback.

Plus there are allready alot of topics like
this that offer in depth ways of making and tweaking tactics.

Tactic Tweaking – The what, where, when and how!!!!

The Sheffield United Project (A dicussion about tweaking, training, tactics, scout reports and more)

TT&F IV: New Strategies and Theories for '07

Are good examples of in depth tactical topics.

I'm not having a go at you or anytihng, theres just not much to say to a bunch of numbers and how in thoery you want your liverpool team to play. Like i say you would be better off uploading your tactics if you want better feedback.

retired_tp337b

If you don't want to particpate in posting results with L'Pool or similar tactics with different teams then just don't post at all mate.

Anyway I have chose to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, I feel that the strenght of the midfield can win L'Pool games if the settings for these 5 players are correct.

Formation

With Sissoko and Mascherano I feel that teams will find me hard to break down and with the extra 3 in front of them I should be able to create enough chances to win games. If I am trailing in a game I will however move the 3 cm's up to the am mark and hope to create more that way.

This is just my view on how I am going to play, if Ashyr or yourself could give me some pointers on how to set up my side they would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

retired_josapa

Ashyr not every team will counter attack in the same way, all teams dont counter by playing it over your midfield so the DMC can protect the back 4 IMO. As for the comments about finding this post boring thats your opinion, not everyone will find it boring (Emre_God for example), if it was as boring as you say you wouldnt have replied at all. The fact is that most forum members do just want a tactic and if they dont they certainly fish for one, rather than developing one by talking about other people's.

As for Cleon's Sheffield United Project, yes its great and very detailed. He knows his stuff, but personally I dont have enough time in a day to read through massive reams of info like that. Its fine for some but dont assume everyone wants to look into that stuff. I would rather just play the game and pick up one or two different views on here to help, hence the quick details of my tactics. The post was for people who want to help and criticise the tactic (which to be fair ashyr did to some extent) not for people who just want to criticise the way I seek advice, although again you have a right to your opinion.

There is so much "do this do that, this isnt how we do things" on this forum that it ceases to be a forum (i.e a place for freedom of expression)

So lets be respectful in future aye!

retired_tp337b

Well said. \o/

As for my start to my L'Pool game, it didnt go to well as my game crashed after just three in game days, 'Oh no' i hear you scream, well probably not. I can easily start up the game again and fiddle around with the tactic some more.

Will report back tomorrow afternoon, hope to get some game time in before then, and maybe read some more comments on here.

Cheers

retired_jackie726

I wanst trying to be offensive or anything.

I was just saying there alot of in depth tactical disscussion places so you might not get many responces here.

Plus people are less likely to give feedback with no tactic to try or screenites to try , but anyways good luck.