retired_provrb7

If anyone can remember Cleon started up a few challenges on FM06 (might of even been FM05, time does fly fast). I think the challenges were a good idea to get some good discussion through and also made the tactics and training forum a funner place to visit rather then just talking sliders and rules of one, two, fifty etc. I also remember the first challenge he set up was with Ajax and I thought I'd do the same seeing as it's a brand new game, might as well start on the easy grade.

Team - Ajax

Aim - It's not a bragging thread by any means but obviously you have to aim for winning the league. When I've had the league in the background whilst running in another league I have noticed PSV always seem to win it so they'll be your main competitors.

Update - Latest (7.01)

Player Buying Allowance - No. I think it's better if we use the same players so we create a tactic for the team rather then moulding a team into our tactics.

Other Rules - You have start with 0 reputation as in Automatic. This is just so everyone's on the same playing field and that you have to win your players over.

Days For Completion - End of this month (February). If it proves popular we can have a new one for March.

Now as I said above, it's not a bragging thread and I'd like to see people posting updates about their tactical approach, formation, mentalities etc. It would also be great to see some PKM's as well if there is something you felt you want to show that you did perticularly well or maybe you need help with something and can't see where the problem lies.

When you announce you want to join the challenge then maybe have a strong opening post. Say what formation you've gone for, preferred starting line-up. What mentalities or tactical approach have you gone for. Anything and everything basicly.

Good Luck Everyone :thup:

retired_barbiej

I'm in hopefully I shall make a proper post(tactics etc...) once I start the game later today.

retired_monica90

Oh for more time...

retired_barbiej

I’m about to start the first game with Ajax as I’ve finished all the friendly games and I’m ready to reveal my plan.

Formation

As you can see a simple 433 formation for me, the reasoning behind the choice is its an Ajax tradition it provides a stable defense while providing excellent basis to play a counter attacking game.

Mentality

Since Ajax are tipped for the title and have a good squad I intend to start games attacking. Now I rarely use Player Instructions so I base my mentality on in game events, if the opposition is constantly pressing me I adjust the mentality slightly defensive etc…

Creative Freedom

One of the most difficult instructions to implement in my opinion in the game, with this being my first time managing in Holland on FM07 I shall keep it very simple and give everyone little creative freedom.


Passing

Not a huge fan of short passing as I believe it makes my team less effective due to the number of balls played in my own half. So the choice comes down to Mixed and Direct, I shall chose mixed as it will help me regain more possession and the team is equipped to handle this.

Tempo

One of those sliders that I change game to game depending on situation but since the team is tipped for the title I shall keep it normal as I’m sure our quality will influence results our way.

Width

One of the best teams in the league, meaning most teams will defend and press against us, so to counter this I’ll play wide to provide better scoring opportunities.

Closing Down

I don’t want to allow the opposition too much time on the ball so I’ll close them at every opportunity I get meaning my team will more then likely get caught out of position. To compensate for this I’ve instructed my defense to close down rarely hoping this will keep them in their positions.

Time Waiting & Def Line

Left as is, Def Line is altered in-game

Player Instructions

Left to default for now except the closing down for the defense

Team Instructions

Training

Default training used but coached assigned manually


That’s all for now if anyone has any questions or comments on the setup feel free to post.

retired_provrb7

Nice one Abramovic :thup:

I've done all my friendlies as well and I was actually leaning towards a 4-3-3 before the matches but I'm going to break the Ajax tradition and go with my favoured formation 4-4-2 diamond. Reason behind it iwas because I felt their strikers were too good to leave anyone out.

So I had the formation I wanted, after that I carved out a starting XI I wanted to use as my base and then obviously form and a bit of rotation here and there.

GK Stekelenburg
DL Emanualsen
DR Ogararu
DC's Stam and Heintinga
ML Roger
MR Gabri
DMC Maduro
AMC Sneijder
FC's Babel and Huntelaar

After that I set up a kind of mould of what I wanted. It is a mix of old, young and spanish (?) in the elevan and a lot of potentially good "bentley's" in the team. Huntelaar was a scoring god in pre-season. What I did was first select Maduro with hold up ball. Very physically strong and with that holding role in midfield he could easily flourish. Babel was another with a lot of physical strength and quite decent technical level so I selected him for hold up ball and a lower mentality then Huntelaar. Basiclly get the ball to him and make him set up plays.

Another weapon I was going to use was Stam at set peices, making sure the Roger (who is a good dead ball specialist) would find him everytime. Stam scored only one goal in pre-season from a set peice but he will win most things in the air.

Mentality-wise I want with the rule of two as I still feel it works quite well in FM. I'm sure wwfan is having great success with the rule of one but I've enjoyed having the rule of two. From back to front I believe it's 6-8-10-12-17-15-20. Ok maybe it's not the rule of two but I feel it works.

With creative freedom I selected low for most players except Sneijder at AMC and the two front men. I selected it for the front men because I feel that with it they might loose their markers a lot easier and maybe try and make space for themselves. It might make them harder to read for the rest of the players but obviously the gelling factor comes into that.

Passing is direct at the back and shorter at the front. Clean and simple.

Closing down is low for the DC's, normal for the fullbacks and the further forward you go the more intense it gets' Basicly I don't want to give the oppositions backs line and midfield too much time on the ball. I tweaked a bit with the tackling as well to mix into closing down. Back four and goalie on normal, hard tackling center midfield and easy for wingers and strikers.

Individually I mixed it up a bit. Gabri and Roger get freedom to run with the ball. I decided to give Emanualsen mixed seeing as he has 16 for dribbling. Sneijder and huntelaar have it on mixed. Babel and Maduro have none seeing as they are holding up the ball. All players have TTB on mixed except Babel, Sneijder and Maduro who have it on often. Often crossing for fullbacks and wingers obviously, mixed on the strikers incase they drift out wide.

I think's that's it really. I will make an away version as soon as I come up to a much better opponent away and that'll probably be in the CL rather then in the Eredivisie.

retired_HAdvocate

Have you taken just the Dutch leagues or do you have any backgrounds from other nations? I was thinking more of the challenge in European cups.

retired_barbiej

August update

Super Cup
Although I did win the game 3-2 I was over-confident that my team was better thus starting the game more attacking then in the screen shot. Therefore I cannot blame my players as it was my fault.

Champions league I didn't play myself I let my assistant handle the games with my tactics resulting in a 2-1 and 1-0 victories over Spartak Moscow.

League Games

Groningen 0-2 Ajax
A good game for us. I didn't have to adjust my tactics at all from the screen shot posted above and we managed to keep a clean sheet. The scoreline would have been higher has there not been a strong wind, as this meant my teams passing wasn't up to scratch.

Ajax 1-0 Willem II
The important thing was to keep the clan sheet as I don't like high scoring games. To be honest this should have been a draw since we scored a goal after they had 2 player sent off for kicking Huntelaar.

AZ 1-2 Ajax
We conceded an early goal due to a mistake by my left fullback Emanuelson. Since it was a player mistake i didn't chance my tactics as I felt we could beat them and we did.

Just in-case anyone is wondering I do the team-talks myself.

@Loversleaper I've only selected the Dutch leagues.

retired_barbiej

My latest game will require a pkm as I had to take a phone call meaning I couldn't tinker with my tactics.

Ajax vs Twente.pkm

I would appreciate if people could view the game and give me some feedback on the tactic.

retired_elpata

I so wish I had time to take this challenge, I see Ajax as a good team to experiemnt with. Id have gone for 4231 or a straight up 343 Man wish I could make time

retired_provrb7

Only managed a few games as I've just come back from the cinema :p

v PSV (Super Cup)

Managed to win 2-0 with Babel scoring both goals. Like Abra here I went all attacking with no real precausion and tbh they only managed to threaten in the first 15 mins. Play was good but I'm guessing we have to win a few more just to get into the way of playing.

v Debrecen (H) Champions League Third Round Qual.

Totally annilauted them. Had 27 shots towards goal but disappoitingly only 9 on target. Managed to run out 3-0 winners with Huntelaar, Babel and Stam all scoring. Decided to try Krohn Deli at right wing and he looked quite good with Gabri's settings.

v RKC (H) Eredivisie

After total dominance against Debrecen I counted on my players to do the same against the poor side of RKC. After 25 mins we were 4-0 up as attack after attack saw us score. We ran out easy 5-0 winners and yet to concede a goal which was good.

v Debrecen (A) Champions League Third Qual.

Seeing as I was 3-0 up going into the match I decided I was going to try a 4-2-3-1 (weird how Cleon had just stated he'd try it) to see if I could get an alternitive tactic. I subbed Babel for Lindenburgh in midfield so both DMC's were hard tackling brutes. We managed to come out of it with a 2-0 win and I was mightily pleased with the 4-2-3-1 so that'll be stored for the next match. I'll see if I can load up some PKM's tonight :thup: