DonRevie2007

Hi, Im not usually one for asking for advice but I really am in trouble and can see no other way out.

Having won promotion from conferenc north (via the playoffs + some very lucky results) I now find my self rock bottom of the national after 22 games having won just a single game. I am now 11 points from safety and out of all cup competitions (the least of my worries) with around half the season to go.

I have a pool of very average conference players but feel that other than the top 5 or 6 sides is fairly equal to anything else in the division and therefore can only put this slump down to my tactics. The tactic I used (4-1-3-2) to get promoted has completely failed me in this league - lost my first two games using it 4-0 and 5-1 - and therefore decided to try alternatives. I have tried every tactic and method I can think of from simply 4-4-2's to complex formations and short, slow football to quick and direct.

The brunt of my problems seem to come from my inability to defend having leaked far more goals than anyone else in the division and I seriously need to plug my defence if safety is going to be achieved.

I have a fairly healthy financial situation, a balance of 60k, a kitty of 4.5k and am a good few hundred under my wage budget so there is room to bring in the right players if needed (might I mention a GK is a must). In adition to this I have a striker who if needs be can be sold and is valued at around 30k although is wanted so I feel would be able to get atleast 50k for him, however I do not see the need to sell until I can find suitable players to come in who want to play for me as my problems are not financial.

So.... if anyone can give me any advice as to how to get out of this dreadful mess it would be much appreciated, primarly tactical. Also I would be grateful if any information that is given is proven in the lower leagues (FM 2007) as I have never had any trouble with top sides (or lower league side in previous editions).

Thanks in Advance

yetanotherjunkie

I've got a few chunks of advice:

i) apart from players and tactics, there's also morale to consider. If all your players are really unhappy, they're likely to do badly anyway.

ii) it takes players time to settle into a new tactic. So if you've been trying a different tactic every couple of matches, your players won't be any good at it. Pick one and stick with it for a decent run of games (even if you lose to begin with).

iii) You say you've come up from the Conference North - are you a team of part-timers? Try offering your best young players new, full-time contracts (for the same wages as before). Mine accepted. It won't help much in the short term, but in the long term it means more time playing football, i.e. training, fitness etc.

iv) By the sound of things, you're as bad as it gets in the league - and by halfway through the season, the other clubs will know it. They'll be out to attack, so knuckle down, play something defensive like 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1 (flat midfields), and put on counter-attack.

v) Try get some players in on loan. The League One / League Two reserve teams might have some players who can help you, and are willing to slum it for the rest of the season.

vi) It might always be too late, of course. If you're relegated, don't lose heart - you'll have earnt a bundle of cash during your stay in the conference, so you can bring in a player or two, and aim to bounce straight back and try again with a more experience squad.

Overall, though, good luck - you'll need it!

DonRevie2007

Thanks for the advice, will give it a try. How about tactics/player instructions? How much should these vary from higher league to lower leagues?

Cleon

They should still be the same principle, but obviously the higher you get, the better standard of players you work with. Allowing you to be more creative with tactics. But saying that, the opposition is also stronger aswell remember.

JustinCredible

It's all about Physical stats. Get players with good physical stats. My players dont have a single technical attribute in double figures but are quick, strong and fit. Makes the difference. I'm only in Conference South at the moment though. Also get a big targetman upfront and hoof long balls on counter attack that should work.

Or alternatively go all out attack for first 30 mins then go to normal tactic once your team is playing well.

tonedef

Ive got to agree with JustinCredible, physical stats are the way forward in the lower leagues. Pace is one of most important attributes imo and its the faster players that cause problems for the opposition.

On the tactic side i found that a fairly deep defensive line with creative freedom no higher than 3 to be pretty effective. If you have fast strikers than deep lying direct football is brilliant and combined with a DM you can have a really solid defence.

Another thing that ive found extremely usefull is looking at the the oppositions defence before the game and making sure my fastest striker is against the slowest cb and fb. Then i set him as target man, tick the target man option in the team instructions and target man supply as run on to ball. I know it seems obvious but this has resulted in so many goals for me as the majority of defenders in the Conference are very slow. Even strikers with shocking technical and mental attributes canm cause problems.