retired_hope

Hi everyone,

I cant remember posting before although I am an avid reader of these forums.

I have been reading a lot about the argument whether next opposition scout reports are worth anything to a manager.

I believe that they can be a useful tool, especially when playing in a higher league where you should have a larger squad and players for specific jobs.

Now I usually always play a team in the lower leagues in England, either Conference North/South.

Here I give you my interpretation of what scout reports do. Here are the first 3 comprehensive scout reports from matches 2-4 in my first season with Welling.

Now I believe scout reports can influence several aspects of the team selection and tactics. However as I manage a team with lower quality players I need to play to my teams strength and hopefully exploit my opponents weaknesses.

However I don't believe that as a lower league team I should be changing my style of play each game to counter the opposition. But I do need to be aware of how they play.

I believe this the scout report gives me enough information to determine how the opposition will play. It is then up to me the manager to make the decision as how my team play.

Any way here are the reports analysed by me.

Match 2

Havant and W play a high tempo 4-4-2
Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2
Opposition Team Tempo = Fast
Havant and W do like to play the ball long and could look to bypass our midfield and win the aerial battle up front.
Opposition Team Passing = Long
They benefit from a strong and organised defence and this could prove difficult to break down.
Opposition Defence = High Determination (17, 12, 14, 15)
We should concentrate on preventing their strikers receiving the ball to feet as they should not pose us an aerial threat.
Opposition Strikers = Low Aerial Threat
(Baptiste Jumping = 7; Heading = 5)
(O'Connor Jumping = 1; Heading = 8);
Butterworth believes that striker Rocky Baptiste will need to be watched carefully as he has the ability to be a match winner.
Opposition Player = High Flair (Baptiste Flair = 17)

A 0-0 was a fair result, they had 2 shot, none on target, I had 8 shots but only 1 on target. I must admit I could work out how to break down the defence. I am happy though as being defensively sound. Just need to work on attack.

Match 3

Bedford Play 4-4-2 formation
Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2
Bedford don't play a particular passing style and like to mix things up a bit.
Opposition Team Passing = Mixed
Their defence is slightly on the slow side and could be exposed by a fast attack.
Opposition Defence = Low Pace (7, 5, 6, 11)
We should concentrate on preventing their strikers receiving the ball to feet as they should not pose us an aerial threat.
Opposition Strikers = Low Aerial Threat
(Lawford Jumping = 5; Heading = 6)
(Lyon Jumping = 8; Heading = Masked);
Butterworth believes that a potential threat to our defence will be the the pace of attacking midfielder Dave Daniels
Opposition Player = High Pace (Daniels Pace = 9, Acceleration = Masked)
Now this is an example of where the scout may have got it wrong, Although I cant determine acceleration I believe that the my scout has got it wrong.

Now I beat Bedford 3-1, my team dominated, Bedford had 3 shots, 1 on target and guess what it was Daniels from midfield who scored. Maybe I should have listened to Butterworth.

Match 4

Newport Co like to play a high tempo 4-4-2 formation and like to concentrate their play though the centre of the park.
Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2
Opposition Team Tempo = Fast
Opposition Team Focus Passing = Through the middle

Newport Co do like to play the ball long and could look to bypass our midfield and win the aerial battle up front.
Opposition Team Passing = Long

Lastly, we need to make plans for their forwards as they provide a powerful presence.
Julian Alsop need I say more

Heading = 16
Jumping = 16
Strength = 16
Determination = 18
Aggression = 17

Butterworth believes that right back Steve Jenkins is the real driving force for Newport Co and we should look to shackle him.

Jenkins is strong physically and is a hard team player who has high influence.

This is an example of a team who I don't look forward to playing against. I don't believe I have the players to be able to cope with Alsop.

My approach to this game would be to hold a high defensive line, play the offside trap and try to play at a medium tempo mixed passing game airing on the side of caution and keeping possession.

Now I was fortunate in the fact that their Keeper was sent off after 5 minutes and they sub Alsop to get their reserve keeper on. Che Stadhart missed the penalty and then we conceded on in which Newport took the lead. In the end I won comfortably 2-1. All my players scored at least 7 in ratings except for 1 centre back who I would have subbed except I am having an injury crisis in defence. Also they only had 3 shots, 1 on target and that was from the spot. I had 13 shots, 5 on target.

Hopefully this gives a few more examples of what to look for from report.

One thing I should mention is that I even though this is a numbers game it still plays as in real life. You cannot expect to win matches consistently with out a little luck and a lot of effort in devising the right plan. This doesn't mean changing every single slider for each game but you must try to understand the mechanics of what is happening and why. All the information is there.

No one said being a manager was easy.

retired_barbiej

Great opening post :thup: really good way of analyzing the report

Now I do have few question. What sort of success are you having with this approach as I know a season and something into it my scout usually reports back with same report for every team. And care to comment more how you adjust you're tactic based on the report.

retired_gracie77

I'd like to know a little on how you adjusted your tactics to stop there star players too.

In 'match 2' your scout says to prevent there strikers receiving balls to feet. What did you do to stop that happening?

retired_hope

Hi Abramovic,

Glad you liked the analysis.

Well I cannot comment on scout report later on in the future seasons because this is the first time I have tried this approach. Although I will report my findings when I get that far.

In response to your second question he is an example for the my next game versus Basingstoke.

Now my Welling team play 4-4-2.

Match 5

Basingstoke are likely to play a 4-4-2 formation.

Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2

Vines likes his teams to play possession football and Basingstoke will look to get the ball down and play it.

Opposition Team Passing = Short

A possible weakness for Basingstoke could be their defence and they do look vulnerable to pace and crosses into the box. We should concentrate on preventing there striker receiving the ball to feet as they should not pose a serious aerial threat.

Opposition Defence = vulnerable to pace and crosses

Basingstoke are missing a lot of first team players but central midfielder Simeon Howell will still be a threat we have to deal with.

I didn't think Howell was that good, his best stats were

Determination = 13
Teamwork = 11
Flair = 11
First Touch = 11
Jumping = 11

Although all his other important states were an average of 8. Not bad for this level.

Opposition weaker through injury = Good

My approach would be first to check out their strikers.

Mark Peters (Jumping = 10; Heading = 3)
Joe Harris (Jumping = 7; Heading = 5)

So I agree with the scout that they are not going to be an aerial threat.

But what do they have?

Mark Peters (Pace = 12; Acceleration = 11)
Joe Harris (Flair = 13; Pace = 7)

So I would man-mark these two players with my centre-backs. I would pick the CBs with the best marking and tackling attributes.

As they are playing short passing I would also suggest high closing down to try to gain possession.

I would focus passing down the wings and play wide with a medium tempo, mixed passing and a normal mentality.

I would also play a deeper line say 7.

I would pick my strikers with the fastest pace.

retired_barbiej

I must say thats a very thought out approach, do keep us informed how you get on

retired_hope

Hi Nathan.

What this told me was that the players were not up to much in the air. If I could stop them receiving the ball to feet then I would neutralise there attack.

So to stop them receiving the ball to feet you need players to man-mark. The players need to have attributes to allow them to do this

High Marking = staying with player
High Anticipation = intercepting the ball
High Determination + Work rate = Keep on doing it.

You need the players to be able to do the job. The report tell you what job needs to be done, whether you can do it or not is another matter.

Hope this helps

retired_gracie77

Thanks for that.

Right, iv'e got Bolton next and my scout says this:



It says they like to pass the ball around, so should i close down every single player on the pitch?

Then it says Anelka's pace is a potential threat. I always thought tight marking a quick player like that would be bad. He could get the ball and spin the defenders couldn't he?



My quickest defender available is this guy:



I just worried that Anelka will be able to out run Zapata, as his agility is better.

retired_hope

Match 6 Analysis

Weston-Super-Mare play a high temp 4-4-2 formation and look to get the ball into wide positions whenever possible.

Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2
Opposition Team Tempo = Quick
Opposition Focus Passing = Down the Flanks

Weston-Super-Mare do like to play a direct style of football and we should look to stop them moving the ball quickly to their front line.

Opposition Team Passing = Direct
Opposition Threat = Strikers

Lastly we need to make plans for their forward as they are both quick and strong.

Opposition Strikers = High Pace + High Strength

I noticed that Marvin Brown has scored 5 goal in 4 games and Marc McGregor has 3 assists in 3 matches.

There pace was good, but not exceptional (11 and 10)
Brown wasnt strong (3) although McGregor (12) was strong.

Butterworth believes the sheer athleticism of left winger Scott Walker will be an imposing threat.

Opposition Player = High Stamina + High Strength + High Determination

Walker had the following Key Stats

Corners = 12
Determination = 16
Flair = 17
Pace = 12
Free Kicks = 15

So it looks like he is a threat from set-pieces and a potential match winner.

Match 6 Approach

I am playing away I will play a defensive 4-4-2 with a medium tempo and mixed passing, I will close down in my half and play a deep line, I will need to play reasonable wide to match their width. I need to close down both strikers and play them both onto their weaker feet.

I will also opt for pace for my strikers and avoid closing them down as they look quite physical.
Will try focus passing through the middle.

Match 6 Result

WSM 1-2 Welling

Didn't need to change my tactics too much in this game.

All my players had 7 rating except the MOM who got 8.

Match Stats

WSMStatsWelling
12Shots8
4On Target4
47%Possession53%
4Corners6
12Free Kicks28
37Throw ins29
25Fouls10
3Offsides2
61%Pass Completion68%
34%Crosses23%
57%Tackles84%
0Yellow1
0Red0

The only changes I made were to increase takling to hard on about 60 mins. This was because I had 2 injuries as WSM are a physical side.

I also went counter attacking on about 75 mins and high timewasting on 80 mins.

I new this game would be hard but am happy to have won the possension pass completed and reducing WSM to 1 in 3 shots on target. I had 1 in 2. Tackling work well to 84%.

Now this game could have gone either way, but at least I would have lost I could say that my team had held their own.

I think most of use do not mind losing games, provided we can understand why.

I used to get so frustated with is game because I couldn't understand why my team were played off the park.

With this approach I am improving. I dont win every game, but who does IRL.

retired_gracie77

Sorry for the double post, i got Zapata's picture mixed up with Anelka's.

retired_hope

Hi Nathan

Are you home or away?

Also the link to the defender goes to Anelka also.

Opposition Team Formation = 4-4-2
Opposition Team Passing = Short
Opposition Team Mentality = Defensive Counter Attacking
Opposition Threat = Creative Midfield
Opposition Threat = Strong and Quick Strikers

Now with the info I have I would suggest the following:

Team Mentality = 12

Im assuming you are playing at home. I think you need to be progressive, but not to the extreme against CA.

Team Passing = 8

I would want to keep possesion so I would play mixed on the side of short.

Team Defensive Line = 8

If you are worried about the counter then play slightly deeper, but not too much

Team Tempo = 7

This goes with the passing really, you want to keep possesion, but the faster ball every now and then is good.

Team Closing Down = 8

Hit them when they enter you half of the pitch, a bit deeper, so that you dont get suckered into the their CA.

Try to pick a hard MC and have him Man mark their most creative midfielder
Also set his Tackling to Hard.

This should sort the midfiled threat out a bit. If you lucky he will be injured.

You could try to man-mark Anelka, but there is no real answer if you haven't got the player to do the job.

I would see what happens in game.

Hope this helps