retired_danig6484

First off, I should note that I'm playing FM06 yet for awhile, but this should apply to FM07 as far as I can tell.

Secondly, this may be more of a question for SI, but lets hear opinions anyways!

The question is this: Do teams in FM get better if you play the same tactic week-in and week-out to simulate their familiarity with the tactic and their individual roles?

It seems that many FM managers switch tactics all the time, while a significant fan-base uses one tactic all season long.

Personally, I'm in the former group. I switch tactics to counter the opposition every game. I'm a tinker-man. But I've noticed that my team doesn't always respond well to this and we play fairly uninspired football.

I'd really like to know how both team-gelling and tactic-'gelling' work in the FM series. I don't think SI have to spoil the game by telling us exactly how it works, but some general idea would be great and help us managers plan our seasons more effectively.

This is what I expect to hear:

"Individual players benefit from playing with the same teammates as much as possible. This is team gelling and exibits a small and hidden influence on their performance during a game, especially wrt 'linking up' in passing and anticipation"

"Tactics do not 'gel'. However, switching your lineup of players to fit a new tactic will disturb the team-gelling aspect of the game a bit. There is no benefit to playing the same tactic every week."

Have I answered my own question? SI? Your opinion?

-Smacksim

retired_jveklund

This is from the "hints.xml" in the data/hints folder:

Constantly changing your tactic and making dramatic alterations to the style of play will not help your players settle or find their rhythm and is likely to have an adverse affect on the team's performances.

Note: tells the user that making massive changes to your tactics too often isn't a good idea

So I guess that is an answer, or what? I like to think this is the case.

retired_manleylk

I would have thought it depends on your definition of 'tinkering'.

The 'hint' states making dramatic alterations will adversely affect your team. I regularly tinker with mine, a FWD run added here, a target man repositioning there and seems to work well.

retired_janearific

I am from the "one size fits all" style of tactical play. I don't tend to change my formation or style of play tbh, and the only tactical changes I tend to make are substitutions or on the odd occasion I will instruct a midfielder with good long shots to often have a crack at goal. Apart from that it stays the same.

retired_mgavlick

I see this more as a warning not to switch between very wide and very narrow in a game without adjusting other things to fit. A defensive tactic that suddenly gets switched to wide will get picked apart.

"Individual players benefit from playing with the same teammates as much as possible. This is team gelling and exibits a small and hidden influence on their performance during a game, especially wrt 'linking up' in passing and anticipation"

"Tactics do not 'gel'. However, switching your lineup of players to fit a new tactic will disturb the team-gelling aspect of the game a bit. There is no benefit to playing the same tactic every week."

I am happy with this definition and, based on my experiences playing home and away tactics in '07, and switching between 8 variations by the end of '06 with no loss of form, am pretty certain it holds water.

retired_elpata

I see this more as a warning not to switch between very wide and very narrow in a game without adjusting other things to fit. A defensive tactic that suddenly gets switched to wide will get picked apart.

"Individual players benefit from playing with the same teammates as much as possible. This is team gelling and exibits a small and hidden influence on their performance during a game, especially wrt 'linking up' in passing and anticipation"

"Tactics do not 'gel'. However, switching your lineup of players to fit a new tactic will disturb the team-gelling aspect of the game a bit. There is no benefit to playing the same tactic every week."

I am happy with this definition and, based on my experiences playing home and away tactics in '07, and switching between 8 variations by the end of '06 with no loss of form, am pretty certain it holds water. </BLOCKQUOTE>

The tactic you play at a club does have an effect though, thats why each club as a preffered formation. It can take a while for the club to adapt to the new approach a new manager brings until they adapt.

Switching tactics none stop can upset the balance of consistenty of a team yeah. Changing instructions is not disruptive though, only changing shape has an effect imo.

SI also say, that the shape should not be changed often too, thats what they mean when they say 'tactic' it actually means the shape rather than instructions.

retired_danig6484

Thanks for the tip r/e the hints.xml file (FM07?). I'm not sure why you put that link in N'Kufo. Tactic 'cracking' has been refuted.

With Rafalution's post and Cleon's comments, I am now even more wary of a hidden bias towards tactical consistency. Thing is, have SI ever said anything about the matter other than the hints.xml file?

The ambiguity there doesn't really serve me too well as a manager. Obviously, in 'real life' some players will be more adaptable to tactic-switching than others. Knowing how this is (or isn't) played out in the game would be useful.

For instance, I've made what are, for my team, a great suite of counter-tactics. I can counter the 4-4-2 with either a diamond or 4-4-2 of my own. I can counter a top-heavy tactic with a wide and quick 4-3-3, etc.. If I'd be better served by just using variations of one formation, I think SI might say so somewhere (and perhaps have, depending on how you read the hints file).

Thanks for the replies gents. Something to consider....

retired_jveklund

I see this more as a warning not to switch between very wide and very narrow in a game without adjusting other things to fit. A defensive tactic that suddenly gets switched to wide will get picked apart. </BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree. However, it says (...)have an adverse affect on the team's performances, which leads me to believe that it may also affect the team's general performances throughout the season, and not only how the team may respond to massive tactical changes during a match.

Not sure if I'm able to make my point..