This is beyond a joke advice needed but not expected

[rufcjoe]

Ok so ive spent weeks on this new game, weeks scouring this and taking in advice, weekks typing out my tactics and asking for help, but this game is nonsense

Got relegated from championship with rufc with a decent squad. every player is 4-4.5 starrs for league one level and theyve been playing together a year. Every game 60% plus possesssion and 15-20 shots with 10-15 on target, randomly every team i play has a super keeper, while my 'decent premiership keeper' keeps conceding soft goals and now im going to get sacked

I could start again but ive invested so much game time on this. whats the point. ive been complex, ive kept it simple, used all your tips on here. convince me this game isnt ridiculously hard.

wwfan gave me some great tips a while back but they are now obsolete apparently?

this is nonsense

ftr i play 4231

DL A

DC D

DC D

DR S

DMD

DM D

AML IF

AMC AM A

AMR IF S

SC DLF S

smashing teams in possession and shots, but not winning. rubbish

[Eztikz]

what strategy and style are you playing?

what are your team instructions?

[EvertonblokesMobile]

is this a follow up of your other thread? If so why not explain what you tried and how it turned out in there so it will help build a picture for people to use to help you.

[Midnight Rob]

You have two defending defensive midfielders and an attacking AMC. Who is actually playing midfield and transitioning the ball?

Compact your formation especially on v.13.2 to deny opponents space. Other than that, yes, keep it simple. You don't have to buy in to all this 'opposition instruactions' and 'shouts' malarkey. In fact if you try that road you have to be incredibly reactive (and in the right way) to everything your opponents does. Playing down the flanks is right one minute and not the next so keep it neutral if you are unsure. Simialrly don't change strategy every 5 minutes just because its in some guide or another.

So don't be aggressive in attacking intent or formation, keep it compact and neutral, conservative. Deny space and leave yourself a chance of stopping the AI both centrally and down the flanks. In your case join the midfield up too. As things are at the moment goals will come just avoid playing shootout style.

[papamogl]

If you're completely stuck it can help to download a few tactics which employ the formation/style you want to play. You have then tactics that ds work for others and can see how they are set up. This can be great to get a feeling for what works and what doesn't. Once you get there you can then start to build your own tactic basing on these observations

[lam]

YOu really should come in asking what is not working before calling things nonsense..........

The new patch has caused some issues with players running with the ball. Whilst this doesn't affect everyone, in leagues where there are quality players you can expect teams with fast dribbling players to dominate.

There are some other minor issues but I don't think they would be your problem.

I'm curious if your title ".... but not expected" is because of the lack of information you have supplied........

[rufcjoe]

It is a follow upto my other thread. I got relegated from Championship which i kinda expected. I kept a lot of the squad so they are used to playing together and very good for league 1. I play control or attacking at home and counter or standard away. If i go behind i ramp it up to attack. I leave all the sliders (as previous advice). my play is brilliant and I am dominating most games and actually scoring often 2/3 a game most games. but when i score 2/3 i let in 3/4. i tried playing defensively but that didnt seem to work. My squad is good and are used to eachother. in response to lam's response i have received lots of good advice on my own posts and read others, and it carried me to 2 promotions. now it seems to not be working at all and my team just 'wont work' i'll admit im new at reading signs and the game etc but i cannot see any obvious glaring errors in my play or formation. dont get me wrong i am ready to admit the failings are mine and not the game and i should stop posting whn i am angry but i stand by the fact that i clearly need help. something seems to have 'gone' and is not clicking etc. i played 451 for ages but i now play the above formation as my best player by far is an AMC so i wanted to accomodate him. I dont mind (so much) playing badly and losing, and i KNOW playing well and losing happens (ive seen it following RUFC in real life this season) but not every game. i HATE being spoonfed but i need help. Apologies for the mardy tone of the op, i am not knocking this forum or the advice at all

[rufcjoe]

also i spent three seasons methodically going thru scout reports and opposition instructions, but im wondering to keep it so simple i dont even worry about that and only react if a player is clearly getting space during the match etc etc

[rufcjoe]

also bearing in mind the advice above ive taken to playing the following:

SC DLF S

ARM IF S AMC AM A AML IF A

MC S

DM D

DR D DCD DCD DL

[rufcjoe]

Finally the min shouts i use are retain possession work ball into box and hassle opponents

[rufcjoe]

the game ive just played an excellent example. v crewe who are 12th. i am 18th. i am at home. i start with the above formation rigid and control. first 20 mins im 1-0 up and cruising. 6 shots 2 on target to their 0 0. with me at 62% possession. then by 35 mins its one all and they have 7 shots with 2 on target and 52% of possession.i cant get the bll, i cant keep the ball. they are all over me. then i sneak a goal, and immediately, i mean 30 secs later its 2-2 at half time.

half time my players are all above 6.5 and i tell tem we can still come out with a win

after 56 mins i have 55% of possession with 10/3 shots to their 8/3. assistant manager says play more direct so i remove work bal into box shout and tell them to get ball forwrd

70 mins and its 57% and 11/4 to their 8/3 im playing well but creating nothing. i bring another striker on for my striker and a new AMC for my AMC as he is at 5.9 rating

shocker. game ends 2-2 17 SEVENTEEN!!!!!!! shots with 5 on target to their 11/4 60% of possession

this is indicative of most games. battering teams, nearly twice as many shots, but losing or drawing. they either have a super keeper or my amazing strikers cant hit a barn door. ive typed this out as i have gone through so i hope it makes sense. any tips? you can see how frustrationg, especially with every result like that board start to kick off and i could waste hours if i get sacked and have to start again!

HELP!!!!

[lam]

Work ball into box removes longshots. So in a game where you are upset about the number of poor shots being taken you allow your team to take more long shots..........

What were the exact words of your Assistant Manager? Did he say that your long balls are working or that your short passing is not? Remember his information is factual. If you play a short passing game because you want to play possession then if you happen to have more accuracy with long passes he is going to report that. He isn't going to say "Gaffer, I know you wanted to play a short fast tempo game like Barcelona and you won't want me telling you to move away from that, but percentage wise, your long passes are better". He'll just say, your long balls are better, tell the team to play more direct.

Have you patched the game? I've not tried it yet myself so I can't comment on it.

Why do you play control and attack at home and standard or counter away? Why not base it on who you're playing and how they're likely to come at you, rather than having a prefix in your head. If you are 18th in the league and carry a poor reputation, a solid Crewe team WILL likely attack you at home. With them attacking and you attacking you're going to see lots of shots and lots of errors in the game. Your strategy should be based on who you're playing, not where your're playing. The only time home or away should come into it to much is if both teams are fairly even.

You had 4 shots on target, they had 3. Can't complain it's 2-2. To be honest 1-1 would probably have been a more accurate scoreline.

So, you go up early(ish) in the game where you're expected to lose, if only based on positions in the league. They clearly then change their strategy to the game and you do ........ ?..... nothing I'm guessing? They score, you pinch another one, they continue to attack and you do......... ? Nothing I'm guessing? Can you see something wrong with this picture?

When teams attack they close you down (mostly), this is why you lose possession........... didn' you see this when you watched the game?

YOU DO WATCH THE GAME RIGHT?

I'm sorry if these comments seem to come across as a little arsey, but these have been discussed over and over and over in numerous threads. I might be off the mark, but I don't think I will be.

[rufcjoe]

i was kinda following instructions from the assistant but i didnt realise that. he said 'our long passes are connecting very well' i guess i should learn to interpret his info differently, rather than literally.

i have each time the new patch comes out.

i got it in my head this was what you did. what you say about positions/reputations make a lot more sense than worrying so much about the venue. if i am 9th and play 24th away should probably still attack etc

you are dead right i did nothing, other than maybe change to 'attak' but we already see whats wrong with that! i do watch every game on extended highlights. and that does make sense re attacking and closing down its just working out how to counter it.slow it down and keep possession for a bit i imagine?

they do come accross as arsey but i understand why and I appreciate you taking the time to help. the above all seem obvious now but its the kinda thing i miss while scratching my head and getting increasingly angry and blind to the obvious. since implementing this i have had much more success.

thankyou and apologies again

[lam]

Two major issues people have in this new game is

1. They don't watch enough of the game.
   
2. When they decide that they had better start watching enough of the game, they don't know what to look for.
   

Players such as Cleon are able to get away with watching a minimal amount of the game because they have vast experience with how their team will react to events and the same for the opposition. However until lesser experienced players have this knowledge you have to watch more of the game.

Despite following Cleons views on watching the first fifteen minutes of a game in FM12, in FM13 I am trying new tactics and it is a new ME, therefore as much as I want to watch only fifteen minutes and burn through a season (not suggesting that you do or that there is anything wrong with that) I can't manage it. Things go wrong unless I have called the game correctly from the first whistle. I still watch almost the entire game. I can't move away from it, when my team are playing really well, I want to watch them. When they are playing terribly, then I want to fix it.

At a minimum I'd suggest you watch the first 15 minutes and the the following 5 minutes after any goal is scored. Those and half time are when teams make most of their changes. Also, if you only watch highlights YOU MUST HAVE THE OPPOSITION FORMATION WIDGET OPEN as this will tell you when they have changed formations and most likely tactics.

If you watch the games then you can provide us with more facts, when we get more facts we can provide better feedback whcih will then tach you things OR cause you to ask more questions...........

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

[Midnight Rob]

Have a good Christmas too.

[rufcjoe]

Two major issues people have in this new game is

1. They don't watch enough of the game.
   
2. When they decide that they had better start watching enough of the game, they don't know what to look for.
   

Players such as Cleon are able to get away with watching a minimal amount of the game because they have vast experience with how their team will react to events and the same for the opposition. However until lesser experienced players have this knowledge you have to watch more of the game.

Despite following Cleons views on watching the first fifteen minutes of a game in FM12, in FM13 I am trying new tactics and it is a new ME, therefore as much as I want to watch only fifteen minutes and burn through a season (not suggesting that you do or that there is anything wrong with that) I can't manage it. Things go wrong unless I have called the game correctly from the first whistle. I still watch almost the entire game. I can't move away from it, when my team are playing really well, I want to watch them. When they are playing terribly, then I want to fix it.

At a minimum I'd suggest you watch the first 15 minutes and the the following 5 minutes after any goal is scored. Those and half time are when teams make most of their changes. Also, if you only watch highlights YOU MUST HAVE THE OPPOSITION FORMATION WIDGET OPEN as this will tell you when they have changed formations and most likely tactics.

If you watch the games then you can provide us with more facts, when we get more facts we can provide better feedback whcih will then tach you things OR cause you to ask more questions...........

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

My issue is definitely number 2. I have started watching the games on extended and yet no idea what to look for. whether im smashing them or getting smashed i have no idea what to do, despite what i thought to be a decent tactical knowledge of football! I am now going to take your advice and watch at least first 15 plus after each goal. Id rather it take 10x as long to get thru a season and be successful than 'burn thru' a season and not be.

Thanks for the tips, I will watch, if not the whole game, at least first 15 and 5 around the goal. If I am still struggling at least I can provide you with more info in which to help.

Thanks again, I'm sure I'll be back on soon!

Merry Christmas

[kazm]

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/322668-Scout-and-Team-reports-and-how-I-use-them.

Gl

[Pearly*]

Much credit to you for being patient and taking in the advice given! A lot of people seem kind of disenchanted when things go wrong. For me, friendlies have often proved to be important to learn how different players and formations respond to instructions. I think there's no way to overstate the importance of pre-season to a new manager: that's really the time where you have the opportunity to analyze your strengths and weaknesses. And also to develop less emotional attachment to some areas of how one thought the game was supposed to be played! If you don't want to experiment too much during the season -- have a thorough pre-season.