joebailey

Have had a fair amount of success using a target man who is good in the air playing direct football.

However, I really want to play an attractive passing game that relies on skill, pace etc but have failed to have any success with this. Anybody reccomend a formation or style that works this way?

FourThreeThree

I have been playing without a targetman all this while because I find it more challenging and made it my style. Also due to the fact that sometimes the opposition has a monster as a DC it could leave for some serious replan and a blunt attack(rotating center forward position with striker for a head to head position against the lower jumping DC. If they have to tall DC's then drop the center forward deep for a flcik on). Strikers are better with a quick enough tempo and love being fed with shorter passing. A game cannot be too slow without a center forward (targetman) as the opposition defence would be too crowded with midfielders and defenders so he can't be msucled for a pass. It would get intercepted. Once in a while a strikers speed would break a crowded defences defensive line but you cannot be hoping for a powerful game if this is the plan. A slightly quick or normal tempo would catch the defence while it is trying to take shape (still has gaps) with the midfielders and this can make for some nice touches. And if you did not catch the wave, and thier defence has taken shape, a strong 8 men, get your winger to cross far post for the winger on the other side to connect with the cross.

It becomes more complex but a bit more sophisticated.

:cool:

Asmodeus

I'm trying to combine a high tempo short passing game with a target man outlet- my 6'1" Ivorian with 20 for jumping.

It's working really, really well at the minute.

rashidi1

You can have a 442 created which concentrates on quick short passing, and you can also give separate instructions to your strikers, so that one of them plays like a Thierry Henry and runs from deep while the other hangs on the shoulder of the last defender.

There are many ways to skin this cat. It all depends on the instructions that you use.

FuSS

I've tweaked my own tactic to be used without a target man fiarly easily...got some fantastic middle of the park play with it too.

Although frankly I simply prefer using a target man, but my alternate version is handy for when he's injured.

Asmodeus

Rashidi alludes to something crucial here- a target man doesn't have to be big and lumbering: you can succeed with different types of target man. Or none at all. All about playing to your players' strengths.

FourThreeThree

Even more exciting is the Henry factor, a playmaker up front, your Baggio's, Cantona's, Zola's etc etc. Although I do notice that when a role is given to a player, it could jeapordise the entire tactic when he is being targeted by the opposition so this needs to be monitored. Anyway, I have both strikers deep so when one get the ball the other would make the move or vice versa to offer some width. At the moment I am testing a 'system' I am creating where the training very much dictates the tactics and style of play. Its an assemtrical system where the build up to an attack is on left flank (or vice versa, I use two interchangeble sets of the same tactic) but not set to both. I could use a very defensive style of a full-back on the right while on the left my full-backs would link up with the more attacking mentality MC (LMC) and lower attacking mentality winger for build up.

The training part comes in with the full-backs, AMC, build up winger and receiving winger. The full-backs are on maximum set piece training as I notice they are physically stronger and could take far tougher training regime than wingers. You should see thier freekicks :thup: so thier crossing stats are usually 14 and above while I have a Martin Posse on the right wing to receive the build up and finish off. His training has a stronger finishing and off the ball appeal to it.

The concept behind this is to be able to play an attack flair to the game while maintaining some strong defensive values. Highly skill players are gapped by defensive style players creating weakness in build up but if this gap is filled by a creative player then the chances of build up is better.

:cool:

SSJ3-BROLLY

you'll need good midfielders and wingers to pull it off,also short-passing.in this way you'll hold possession and thread killer balls for your striker to tuck way

HectorSpector

I play direct without a targetman. I do have pacey strikers though (conference south).

opul

never used a target man before and always had good success and lots of goals, mostly from my strikers (no matter if they are fast/slow, tall/small...)

just posted my tactics on the forum, here's the link

http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/1132042792