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Good morning all. I am playing with the tactical side of things for the first time and I really need a hand. I am playing as Everton in 2008/09. In my first 2 seasons the tactic I used was the same as in FM06 and I was pleased with results. When This season rolled around my tactic was letting me down plus I signed Defoe to go up front with Beattie and AJ. I think the formation itself can work but I think I need to give better team/player Instructions. at the moment there are no player instructions, only team. Can you help?
]Formation[/URL]
]Instructions[/URL]
My tactic is working in Euro comps but I am 19th in the premiership
I reckon you need an extra centre back (or get full backs who can play as centre backs), as if your full backs are supposed to be dropping in, they will always be caught out by counters as they will probably be too far upfield. It might be worth playing a sweeper as well, just to stop long balls and give some more solidity, and sacrificing wither a striker or the DM.
I like playing with three at the back and it's only lack of resources forcing me to play with a flat back 4 that stops me now.
The way I see it is that your shape should be the first thing to change, and there are three options (in my order of perference)...
1) Viktor6 is right, the best way to shore up your defence in the short term would be to play with an extra CB or SW and get something more akin to the traditional "back four". This will give you a more solid back line, but if you want those attacking options and a strong midfield, you're sacrificing something.
2) Drop Cahill back to DM so you have two DMs infront of the back three. This will give you more cover in the centre and allow your full backs more time to stay out wide. Of course, you're still not well covered on the wings, so you maybe exposed to wide playing teams. If you do this, you might want to push the defensive line a bit higher to close the gaps between the DMs and the CB. But my preferred option is...
3) Drop the ML and MR to WBL and WBR and have them forward arrowed to AML or AMR or push the ML and MR to AML and AMR and then back arrow them to WBL and WBR. This should help you to cover the wings more effectively and allows you to keep the attacking flow. Then you can keep those three defenders concentrating on the centre and you don't lose Cahill as an attacking force.
You could also drop one of your strikers to AMC with a forward arrow. Did this on FM06 with great success and it should work on 07 too. I think that role is perfect for Cahill, allowing you to pick a better holding player in the centre (maybe allowing you a mix between option 2 and option 3?).
Hope that helps - it could completely backfire, but it's a few options to consider.
to expand on Millie's advice, if you drop the MR and ML to wingbacks and have them push forward, play two holding players in MC, Cahill as Trequartista (AMC with an arrow to push forward, also acting as playmaker), you should be stronger defensively, but I'd suggest adding a sweeper who moves up to DC, as it would eliminate the threat of counter attacks from set pieces (sweepers never go forward, but centre backs do, as they are normally the best headers). However, if you play a sweeper, don;t use the off-side trap.
ok, I've gone with the option to move the ml/mr to aml/amr with back arrows to wbl/wbr. i also lowered the width. I did drop out a striker to amc with a forward arrow (Cahill). I also now have 2 mc's with back arrows to dmc and a sweeper with the forward arrow. ill keep you informed on how it goes
I am scoring now in most matches but my defence needs to be tightened up. I think the problem lies in the fact that I don't have an out-and-out sweeper. I am forced to play Lescott out of position. Also, I think my AML needs to have a bit higher tackling rating because this side is where most of the opposition are being scored. Also for some reason Akinfeev seems to be putting himself into really bad positions when there is an opposition attack going on be it a direct free kick or just an attack. I am impressed at the moment though
I need a hand with my tactic (3-1-3-3 
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