retired_divyank

Hi,

I've managed to get Havant&Waterlooville to the dizzy heights of the Conference National, where I've managed to win 2 games out of 25. As you can see, I'm hopelessly outclassed.

I've been using the wwfan Christmas tactic pack but I'm guessing it's a bad choice for me. My defenders are always too far up the field, my forwards all seem to have broken legs etc.

So, ignoring all that: What is the best generic tactics advice you guys can give for Home/Away tactics when you're hopelessly outclassed. I've just replaced both my DC's, and I've been using 4-4-2 and the players were therefore built around that.

I have no budget to bring anyone new in, and everyone is demanding £1k in wages when my total budget is only £5k anyway, so I'm limited on options here.

What I need is a solid defence with balls in over the top and hopefully I can work from there, as it stands they try to pass it around and it gets intercepted and then I lose again!

retired_lourdes

You should play defensive (around 4-6), and back4-d-line around 4-6 too. Use allso counterattack.

Formation I would use 4-4-2. PLain and simple.

Remember your players are relative poor, so dont give too advanced instructions (individual), but look for key attributes.

Ex.
Do you have a very quck striker?, then use him as target man, with "run onto ball" and apply direct passing all over the pitch.

or
Do you have a strong striker, good in the air, use as target man in the air, having someone to fick onto his rebounds. Play him more defensive (on individual instr.) than the other (fast) striker.

Do you have a wide player with good crossing, then see if you can get him to cross into the box, maybe aim for target man.

Dont use too much creative freedom as a team, maybee only one or two players, typically AMC's, FCd's

But most important:

READ CLEONS TACTIC-BIBLE (a sticky in this forum)

retired_tebabyg

I would.....

1st - read cleons sheffield utd thread, and look at how he has set up defensively....

Create individual instructions for your back line (focus on their strengths).

I would seriously play with a back 4, 2 dmcs, 1 amc, 2 wide and a striker.

Go one notch into defensive team mentality (from the left) and play really direct and quick and wide.

Tick counter attack and play to your strenghts of your striker - pace, heading, to feet...

Also you dont want him isolated so you need your wingers to either get the ball and cross to his head (by playing wide, focus on flanks and setting their cross from deep (as i am guessing they wont be able to beat a man and put a cross in - but this is a bonus as you will get a lot of corners and if you set them to near post and a CB to "nr post flick on" you should score a few goals)

Target the wingers crosses to either "man" or "centre"

look at how cleon set shef utd up in terms of pressing - if you have all ur defenders pressing they will be dragged hopelessly out of position

also Back arrows and your full backs prevent balls in behind them..

essentially you shud play this way always as ur probably one of the weakest teams in the division...it might not be a pretty way to play, but it should be effective!

retired_divyank

Hi,

I just wanted to thank you both for the advice, I took a long hard look at my tactics and went right back to basics. Prior to implementing them I had won 2 league games, a few cup matches and was 24th.

Post results to moving to a narrow defensive strategy with 2 DMC, 1 AMC and 1 FC:

1:2 Aldershot
0:1 Stevenage
1:0 Sutton Utd
1:0 Burton
2:1 Grays (cup)
2:2 Grays
4:1 Halifax

So, 3 wins already! Very positive and very encouraging, I'm up to 20th and out of the danger zone, if I can hang in there.

retired_otis_23

I would play four one three two, and I do ^_^

Keep the three in midfield nice and tight, with run lines going to forward and wide positons. It's worked for me on every team I've managed, including the current oxford, who I have got back into the league two, and top of league two.