Dayle Wood

This is really directed at Cleon and maybe WWfan if he is floating about.

In the Tactical thereoms the general premise for away games was to focuss passing down the flanks to allow fast breaks. However I have observed that when sides are attacking you they are using the flanks and so I have been wondering if perhaps focussing down the middle might not be better as my side is more narrow and therefore closer together.

What do you think is the current best philosophy? Is the tactical theorom now outdated?

wwfan

I think so. I generally focus through the midle in away games now. The manual does say that you should focus through the area with your best players, so it may well be down to personel.

Cleon

I actually never play down the wings, as I don't like to play wide. And I think to focus passing down the wings effectivly you need to play really wide so the wide players hog the touchline all game. If the opposition play down the wings, then they play wide majority of time leaving huge gaps in the middle.

From my own point I prefer through the middle if I use a MC or AMC who are attack minded. If not I leave it mixed so my team isn't too 1 dimensional and use their own judgement. If a side plays down the wings against me, then imho its common sense you wouldn't play the same game as them. Because you would also be playing to their strenghts.

Dayle Wood

Thanks wwfan. It just stands to reason that if you are playing a more narrow formation away then passing out wide would be counterproductive.

Cleon

Dayle, what problems did you notice when playing down the flanks?

Dayle Wood

Cleon - I agree. At home I mix the focuss passing to vary it up a but. Seems to work ok. It was just the away games I was becoming unsure in myself.

I have another question about target man - sorry - different subject.

I play with Toni and Rooney up front. I don't have target man box ticked however I do make my wingers and fullbacks pass to a target man which in this case is Toni (his head). When he is injured I revert to Rooney as the target man. I was just wondering whether playing to a fast player like him would benefit more to his feet or to get him to run on to it as I don't seem to notice a difference either way.

Noel Gallagher

For me, I prefer to play mixed and set team width to normal.

That way, the team will play wider when the ball is put down the flanks, and they'll play narrow when you focus through the middle.

I'm with Cleon on the whole 1 dimensional thing. It was useful to play wide on older versions as you could pull the match engine to pieces.

Now it's more challenging, so it's better to mix up your play

Cleon

The pass to targetman option only works if you select a target in the drop down box and tick the option iirc. Hence why you don't notice a difference

Ans Gulrik

I would defininetivly challenge the gurus on this subject. I change my focus passing depending on oppositions formation. And find it extremly efficient.

For example counter attack down both flanks as an answer to the AI's 4-2-4, force the AI to drop the 4-2-4 almost immediately.

Neither do I agree that flank passing require width. Perhaps if you experiement with one style over many games, it will show. But vs. AI formations that do not include M R/L, your own (A)M R/L still have plenty of space and you often get either one on ones vs. the AI full backs or even two on one, if your striker helps out.

These comments are not meant for the building of a core tactic. But IMO focus passing is a very easy tool to use during matches. You don't need to tweak a lot. You just change one thing and force the AI to adopt.

Dayle Wood

Yeah sorry I should have added I do Have Toni set there and Rooney under him as an alternative. When Toni goes of I assumee it reverts to the next man down (Rooney) but I do need to change the Wingers focuss passing instruction.... just wasn't sure which was better for Fast striker.