Okay so after discussing this with another member this is huge on this game. Yet it doesn’t have to be difficult one or two slider changes could get a win or a draw.
I will now discuss the three biggest sliders to tweak in game and then I will go into some situational plays. Which I am sure you have all been through.
Defensive line
After speaking with supersaint and looking at this in detail, I believe this is the biggest slider for defensive duties, if you get this wrong you will not be able to stop the opposing forwards getting great chances and no doubt putting them away.
So with the defensive line it is important to look at your defenders in correlation to their strikers. The perfect position I believe is around a yard off so that the centre backs are close enough to challenge yet they are far enough away to get on the end of a through ball.
So no mater if you have the ball look at your defenders for a few seconds, if your defenders are marking them tightly and are on top of them, drop the D/Line by 1. However don’t let the defenders get too far away from the strikers other wise they will not be able to challenge and the striker will pick the ball up and dribble or play a through ball.
The only time I go against this is when I want to pressure for a goal I up the D/Line in desperation to attack and park the bus in their half however this is extremely risky.
Width
This is very hard to get right as it has attacking and defending implications. When you are finding it hard to break a team down it can be very useful to up width as it will open up space and opportunities.
Many people will disagree with this but I believe width has a strong defensive dutie which I will talk about in the situations part. Basically if the opposition are cutting holes through the centre and strikers are drifting between the full backs and centre backs you should narrow width to prevent space.
When the opposition are playing the ball down the flanks upping width will make sure your team stays wide so they are tight to the opposition.
Tempo
Although this isn’t as important as the other two it still has its place. When defending a league it can be good to simply slow down the tempo this will lead to more holding onto the ball which also means less chances however these will be good chances and they will have a good chance of the shot going in.
When chasing a game quickening the tempo will lead to more chances however the shots will be hurried this is a good choice for attacking formations and tactics as it will get the ball into good position early.
Situations
I will now go through a load of situations which I am sure everyone has been in, I will also provide answers to these problems.
Defending a lead
For this make sure your defensive line is right and your width is around the same as the opposing team. Slow down the tempo and take off forward runs off the full backs, it is also possible to lower forward runs on the wingers so they track back more.
Barrows on full backs can help and having a DM on the pitch is a must. The Dm must be closing down own half with the midfielders infront of him closing down hard. Up time wasting but do not put it too high other wise your players will be caught out.
Having wingers man mark theirs will help aswell and having 1 striker and a sweeper will also help.
Chasing a game
For this upping the D/Line can have its benefits although it I risky so save it for when you are very desperate. Up tempo and width this will provide chances and should break the opponents down.
Up through balls and forward runs for lots of people this will provide an ‘Arsenal’ effect with lots of off the ball running.
Eventually having all out attack can help aswell as upping creating freedom and having lots of farrows on players.
The opposing team getting too many crosses
This is relatively easy to solve upping width to counter there players. As well as this upping closing down on full backs and wingers will squeeze the opposition wingers.
If they are still over running you put your wingers to specifically man mark their wingers this will mean they will always get back and will help no end, however this will definitely take away from the attacking side so be careful.
Finding it hard to break down the opposition
This is as well easy to solve and basically upping width and slowing down tempo will provide some very clear cut chances as their will be build up play.
Having some link players on direct and TTB will help aswell as they can provide the killer balls over the top.
I hope you have learned some thing and i look forward to some discussion, ask any questions you want
FM2008: Tweaking, what when why? 
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