Rebuilding my house of Cards - Building a winning tactic with Woking

[displaced_seagull]

For someone who has spent 21 years buying and playing CM/FM, I've never had great runs of success. I've won trophies, sure, I've had great games, but only once in recent years (FM12) can I remember taking a club from League Two to the Premier League in successive seasons (Torquay, thanks in part to a couple of brilliant kids, one of whom saw his career go from a trial at Dungannon Swifts to the England squad before his 20th birthday). A lot of this is down to me - when you support, and are involved behind the scenes on the committee/board of a club who haven't won a game in the FA Cup for 6 years and currently sit second bottom of the Sussex County League First Division with four points to date this term (Hailsham Town), success - even virtual success - can be difficult to appreciate

Despite that, and the fact I'd rather (and, indeed, have) go and watch a Sussex County Reserve league match on a cold, wet night than the Champions League on TV, I love the game - every incarnation has become a way of life for me (much to the chagrin of my wife!) (a short spoiler follows which is nothing to do with the rest of the thread and a bit of a rant, please ignore if you aren't an old fart - though I'm 30 next year, and Stanley Matthews played First Division football till he was 50, so there's hope yet!).

That's perhaps also why it infuriates me to see very much respected, very intelligent, members of the 'community' denegrate the new version in overly simple and unhelpful tweets, but that is another matter entirely. It's not perfect, but it's not perhaps quite as bad as some make out (and FWIW, every single game has been criticised in the same manner on here when it came out, even versions now considered seminal like 01/02 and, before that, 97/98). Nothing wrong with criticism, just no need IMHO for some of the 'toys out of the pram' style/sweary rants. Having worked for SI (one incredible summer of being a tester for 01/02), they are simply not capable of resting on laurels/not caring anymore, if they were we'd all be playing said game with a 3D engine attached, updated with new data each year...!)

That's that out of the way, but wanted to get it off my chest

Anyway;

On FM13, I came up with a very nice 3-2DM-2-3 , which I went with in order to accomodate 3 excellent strikers at Norwich, and was later used in a blistering run to the Scottish Second Division title with Stenhousemuir, and finally, the day before FM14 came out, my final and indeed very enjoyable success, guiding Clube Militare du Tomobouctu to promotion from the Malian First Division (there's an excellent data file in the Editors Hideout section, really is very good).

I've tried to recreate it on FM14, but have singularly failed so far. My Woking side, swapping between a variety of tactics, finished in the lower half of the table first season, but we are currently in late September 2014, with two wins, four draws and six defeats from the first twelve games. Better than my beloved Stringers true, but still not enough to be above the relegation zone.

What follows then is an attempt to turn things round for my (virtual) team. What I've got to work with isn't the best - whilst I have a couple of half decent players for most positions, by far my best players are two ageing (35 and 38) attacking midfielders who have previously played at a much higher level (George O'Callaghan, who starred for the likes of Port Vale, Ipswich and Yeovil about 10-15 years ago, and one of my favourite players IRL, the Albion legend that is Gary Hart. Could have cried watching him score the first goal at the Amex in the Sussex Senior Cup final, nobody deserved it more).

I like three at the back, so there's our starting point. In an ideal world, I'd do without fullbacks/wingbacks, but I think playing three at the back with nobody out wide in the defensive third is asking for trouble, so they make it, in effect, a back five. Two of the three central defenders are set as ball-players - not because they are creative Beckenbauer types, but because I'd rather they just knock it short to someone with the ability to create, rather than hoof it as they are otherwise want to do. In the middle, I'm torn between a defensive midfielder who pushes out a bit, or a central midfielder who drops deep. Because I don't want to leave a whole 'strata' free of player, I've gone with the central midfielder - but set as a DLP, so that he does drop a little deeper than usual.

Up top is where it gets interesting. O'Callaghan and Hart are both creative players who can pick a pass, but they aren't the most physical of beasts, and given their somewhat advancing, in footballing terms, years, to ask them to charge around the park is asking for 10 minutes of dynamism followed by 80 of panting. With that in mind, I've set the AMC position as an Enganche - elsewhere described as 'the Hook' - someone who can get the ball and make things happen with it, whilst staying in the central role. George has got a bit of a long shot on him too, which might give another dimension when he plays.

Out wide are Inside Forwards. Aside from the aforementioned gentlemen playmakers, I have a couple of very quick, tricky wide boys - Christian Nanetti and Jesse Waller-Lassen - both short, reasonably quick and, for the level, technically very useful players. That leaves one more - and as I'm English, brought up on lower league football and a devoted fan of the Non League game, it's got to be a Target Man - someone to get on the end of those balls from the Enganche, as well as providing a physical option should my wide players (and even the wing backs) - mix things up by putting crosses from deep into the mixer.

I've set the Fluidity to Rigid due to the number of specialist styles, and after some deliberation, the mentality to Counter, at least initially.

That gives us this;

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You'll see I've not put any Team Instructions on as yet. The reason being, I intend to develop this through looking at what is happening in game - though any suggestions would be very welcome. We'll see how it goes - we'll either develop something brilliant together, helping each other along the way, or I'll be sacked by Christmas.

Fancy coming along for the ride?

[displaced_seagull]

The First Game

Hayes & Yeading (14th) v Woking (21st)

As with most people, I ask my Under 21/Reserve side and Under 18's to play with the same tactic, giving me an inkling of what to expect.

The Under 21's played first, on Friday - losing 1-0 to Histon. They scored five minutes from the end, the only goal of the game coming from a cutback which we failed to deal with properly the second time. As my Under 21's are comprised of kids, I wasn't too disheartened to see this before I switched off last night.

The statistics;

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Given that this is a team with no instructions set at the moment, I was pleasantly suprised with the lack of long shots, the even possession and corners. The Under 18's meanwhile, comprised almost entirely of 'grey' 15 year olds, went down 3-2 to QPR on Saturday morning (where I have reached now in the game), which, again, I dont find overly concerning given that the players are pony.

The hosts go into the game with a 4-4-2 formation, whilst we bring in new signing Mark Corneille, an average winback on the right, but a natural one at least. O'Callaghan plays as Enganche, with Hart injured,

Things do not start well - 1 down after 4 minutes, when Taylor is given space to turn and fire home from the edge of the box. Still, I wait till 15 minutes for my first pause and visit to the analysis tab. What it shows me is this;

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I'm not too keen on the gap between the defenders of the back three, so in a bid to protect them a bit more, Payne (15) moves from Central Midfield (DLP/D) to the DMC strata (DLP/S). He's quite creative and can pick a pass, so hopefully sitting deeper will give him a bit more space to do something. Passing though is encouraging - O'Callaghan has 14 completed of 14 attempted, Payne 13 of 19 - and new boy Corneille 9 from 12. The jokers in the pack are Locke (GK) with 2 from 9, and Cooper (DLC) with 1 from 5. They both get instructions, Distribute to Defenders and Pass Shorter for the 'keeper, and Pass Shorter for Cooper. Team-wise, possession is decent enough at 51%.

The next real moment of note comes five minutes before the break, when Targetman Gray comes off injured. Sub option Liam Enver-Marum isn't a targetman, so instead of getting him to do something he really isn't suited to, I've put him as a Poacher, the idea being he will be best placed to break onto the probing balls from the three in attacking midfield roles. On the stroke of half time, he does just that - 'keeper Locke goes long, the defender comes up, allowing Waller-Lassen, the smallest man on the pitch at a diddy 5'3", to head on for Enver-Marum to fizz one in low from 30 yards to put us level.

The Half Time Stats make for interesting viewing - it's pretty even out there;

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Passing in Defence is a little low for my liking though, and long shots a little high, so they are the focus of my first team instructions - Work Ball into Box and Play out of Defence. The other change is one of personnel - Cooper, booked in the first half and at fault for the first goal, replaced by Mernagh. It leaves us with Allen, a goalkeeper, and two ball-winning midfield types in Panther and Hessenthaler on the bench.

By the 70th minute, we've come close through a free kick, but at the other end seen Locke called into action to make a great stop at the near post. We are holding our own, but not imposing ourselves enough. The play from Nanetti and Waller-Lassen, usually key creative outlets, hasn't been inspiring - ratings in the 6.5 area, and rarely showing up on extended highlights. I've already set them to Sit Narrower, so a change of tact sees them moved inside to form three AMC's, with O'Callaghan in the middle as Enganche. Nanetti, who is quick and can finish, is changed to a shadow striker, whilst Waller-Lassen makes way for stand-in Attacking Midfielder Support Panther. Five minutes later, I decide to ask the players to exploit the middle in order to use these three better - and the result is two highlights showing some lovely interchange passing, the first one ending hooked over from Enver-Marum, whilst the second saw the same player crudely hacked to the floor by Stevens, who was dismissed, and us finish with 10 men. With three already in advanced positions and playing away at a club higher than us, I go strikerless for the final five. O'Callaghan hits the wall with the free kick, and we come away with a point.

We finish then with the stats showing as follows;

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Look at the difference in shots in the first and second half - Being a bit more patient obviously helped. There were a couple of square pegs in round holes for the final 15, but the gut feeling is that three in the AMC role helped, and to win the possession battle, away from home, is always encouraging.

We are away next too, at fellow strugglers Tamworth on Tuesday. What we will have to do though is go into that game without either first choice forward - Gray broke a foot (5 months) and Enver-Marum tore a hammy (3-4 months)...

[displaced_seagull]

It's always dangerous I feel to change something off the back of 15 minutes, but I'm going to break that habit too...

Tamworth (22nd) v Woking 21st

The perils of building a side around an ageing magician came to the fore almost immediatley. By Tuesday, O'Callaghan is still on 80% fitness, so in comes left winger Anthony McNamee as a stand in Engache. This time we'll start with three shouts - Work Ball into Box, Play Out From Defence and Exploit The Middle - and a couple more central players, with Nanetti again a shadow striker and Waller-Lassen an AMC Support whilst I figure out where best to put him. Youngster Jordan Ivey-Ward goes into the attack - he's scored a few for the first team, but I've never been able to get the best out of him previously - and he's another Poacher, so that role is changed too.

Tamworth line up 4-4-2, and a Passionate teamtalk about faith in the players seems to make up for me ballsing up a team meeting on Sunday, so it's less than pleasing to see us go 1 down after 47 seconds when, after a bright first 30 seconds, we lose possession, the Lambs break quickly, and Lobjoit taps in from a matter of yards.

The '15 minute check' sees us being battered (56/44) on possession, so Payne drops back to DMC (DLP/S) again. At the advice of my assistant, I go Retain Possession in a bid to get hold of the game, but it's to no avail - Lobjoit makes it two on the half hour, and we are struggling, big time when Sheppard addes a third on 39. Another glance at the Average Positions though shows the Lambs sense blood, and are pushing up, so to try and take advantage I go more Direct and Pass into Space. We show the slightest signs of improvement before Corneille hauls down that infuriating man Lobjoit, who scores the penalty. 4-0 at Half Time, and time for some management...

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As may be evident though, I'm not always successful with that, so an encouraging teamtalk and the replacement of the anonymous Ivey-Ward with Rivers up top (He'll go Defensive Forward - Support to try and increase our abysmal 1% of possession in their defensive third) will have to do. I also ask the players to Hassle Opponents for the same reason.

It's a bit better in the second period - by the hour mark we've racked up 3 shots, which is more than we managed in the entire first half - but at the cost of another goal, Chambers tapping home after the increasingly infuriating Cooper gets in the way of a flick on but fails to clear. Possession too is looking much better, we are up to 48% - and on 65, success! - Nanetti lifting one into the top corner after Enganche McNamee fed Rivers, who saw his shot blocked.

Again there are encouraging signs, but nothing to make any changes on - although with Tamworth still playing a high line, I push our defence up too, hoping to win the battle in midfield through weight of numbers. A goal kick goes long, Rivers loses out - but the home 'keeper carries the ball out of the box in the process, and is dismissed. Nanetti rams the free kick into the top corner, and with 10 to go, it's game on, only 3 to make up...

Nanetti then turns provider, linking up really well with McNamee to find Rivers, who buries one into the net. At the other end, Tamworth's first attack in ages sees a free kick headed home, making me think it really isn't going to be our day. Overload for the final three it is then, which comes to nothing.

The tale of the tape tells its own story...

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Our terrible first half was the killer, and its clear I've got this one very wrong. Bugger.

[poobington]

Your problem lies in the sparsity of players in the deeper midfield are. Your DLPd is probably getting overun, i would suggest you set your Wingbacks to sit narrower, to provide outlets with their diagonal runs into midfield, a bit like Bielsa gets his Wingbacks to play.

As far as your Attacking line of midfielders, you're probably over crowding. The EG is effectively hogging all the space that the IFs will be occupying. Ideally you want them to be running beyond him, so i would set them to an attacking mentality. The EG will be sucking players out of position and the target man will be pushing the defenders so technically there will be space for your wingers to run into.

In short:

Tell WBs to sit narrower (maybe change them to support)

Change IFs to to IFa

[displaced_seagull]

We can't go on like that, so a change is needed. The third role in the AMC strata has been giving me problems, seemingly being 'one too many', so that is the obvious change to make. I toy with putting two up top, but given our dearth of strikers that would result in more 'squre pegs', so dropping him back to DMC is the other option. This gives a sort of 'Anchor' shape;

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The idea being that it will give the stability in defensive midfield (which we have gone to anyway in both previous games), with someone also in the MC strata, as the link between the defence and attacking three.

The Under 21's give me some hope by winning 2-1 - the shape looks better, narrow and compact - and the lone forward scored both goals.

Woking (21st) v Aldershot (4th)

Local Rivals Aldershot are in town, and for the first time, I'm a little concerned about my future. Out go Ivey-Ward, Waller-Lassen and Cooper, and in come Rivers, O'Callaghan and 16 year old Dyer. The Defensive forward seemed to work reasonably well late on, so Rivers will start in that role in another change.

Aldershot play 4-5-1, and to be fair, both sides cancelled each other out - it wasn't a classic first half (I think there was one highlight shown)...

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Now the longest half time break in history is over (Had to nip to Tesco and Argos to pick up inlaws birthday presents!), I've had time to stew this over a bit. What if I go a bit more attacking.

When I say a bit more, I mean this;

What it does (in theory!) is play to the strengths of the Enganche - sitting deep and feeding through balls. In order to do that, he needs a bit of space. What better way to create space up front than to use players that drift around. Two Trequartistas...

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Now, I've also kept Nanetti as the Shadow Striker, in order to exploit that space a little more, but intend to go back to Counter, moving him to the DMC role, should we take the lead and need to defend more. It is already on Counter, you may say, and you'd be right, because I changed it after I took the screenshot, apologies. On the personnel front, Payne makes way for Ivey-Ward, who can't do any worse than he did at the weekend.

The Goal comes five minutes later, when Mafoka pokes in at the far stick after a corner is headed back across goal. If there's any positives from going a goal down, we'll at least have the rest of the half to get back into it. With such a creative heart, shorter passing and greater ball retention would help so that we don't bypass them, so on come Retain Possession and Shorter Passing. By the 65 minute mark, Nanetti has hardly been involved at all - so it's back to the Counter style, Panther on for a struggling Corneille, Hesslenthaler on for Rivers, dropping back to the DMC role to give us more of a platform to build from.

Though posession is plentiful, it is all in safe areas, and we are still not threatening. Just when I give it up as a 1-0 defeat, Aldershot score in injury time. We did, at least, manage a shot in the second half...

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Passing was up, possession not bad against a top four side, but still not what I've been looking for. Where next?

[displaced_seagull]

Your problem lies in the sparsity of players in the deeper midfield are. Your DLPd is probably getting overun, i would suggest you set your Wingbacks to sit narrower, to provide outlets with their diagonal runs into midfield, a bit like Bielsa gets his Wingbacks to play.

As far as your Attacking line of midfielders, you're probably over crowding. The EG is effectively hogging all the space that the IFs will be occupying. Ideally you want them to be running beyond him, so i would set them to an attacking mentality. The EG will be sucking players out of position and the target man will be pushing the defenders so technically there will be space for your wingers to run into.

In short:

Tell WBs to sit narrower (maybe change them to support)

Change IFs to to IFa

Now that's interesting, thanks.

The reasoning being the Wingbacks being defensive was I didn't want them to sit too far forward - in front of the back three yes, but not too far, as they are effectively on their own out wide with Inside Forwards naturally coming inside anyway, and being told to sit narrower.

Your theory will be tested next. It might just save my bacon...

[displaced_seagull]

Being hauled into the Boardroom after the game wasn't high on my list of desires, and after some wangling, I managed to persaude the board I was worth another game at least. That'll be at Kingfield in a a weeks time against 17th placed Hyde.

Following poobington's suggestion, I've gone back to the original formation, with a few amendments. Wingbacks are now Supporting, Inside Forwards are attacking, the Targetman becomes a False 9 - and the Enganche has gone, to be replaced with a far more prosaic ball winning midfielder. The formation is now a 3-2-2-2-1...

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The FA Cup draw gives us Chelmsford, but it's by no means certain if I'll be here to play it. 'keeper Locke is injured too, so young Allen will come in on Saturday. In midweek I'm an interested spectator at the Under 21's - and hallelullah!! - look at this;

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Chances and possession aplenty.

Saturday comes soon enough, and Hart is fit to be on the bench. Hyde line up 4-5-1, with Waller-Lassen back in, as well as Panther and Hessenthaler to add bite in midfield. The boys need to step it up, and I tell them so.

Opening exchanges are slightly in our favour, although Allen makes a fine save when Grant picks out Carlton for the visitors, and on 15 minutes, after a quick check of the heatmap, off comes Exploit Middle in favour of Pass into Space. Hit Early Crosses follows five minutes later, as Nanetti flicks on for Rivers to - but for an offside flag - open the scoring. We have at least got the ball in the net though, even if it didn't count, which is more than could be said in the last game.

Hyde also are capable of scoring though, and their goal did count - a shimmy and a rocket of a shot making it 1-0 at half time. We - unchanged - levelled on 55 through Rivers, a powerful effort of his own that hit the bar, then the keeper, then the net. Hart and Payne, for Rivers and Hessenthaler, as well as Hassle Opponents, are the changes on the 70 minute mark.

We still though don't seem to be enjoying any possession in the middle of the park - Hyde roam at will, and Wayfula takes advantage to fire home from the edge of the box on 82. Waller-Lassen draws a late save when a crossfield ball finally comes off, but after 2 minutes of injury time, the final whistle could quite possibly spell the end of my time at Woking.

Statistically, we were horrific - 43/57 losers in the possession stakes, 1 shot on target to 3.

It's typical, I suppose, that the Under 18's went to Weston Super Mare and won 5-0. Good luck Matt Lawrence, getting your hand in early...

I was sacked on Sunday morning. This is one house of Cards I won't be able to rebuild.

Shortly off to man the gate for Hailsham Town Reserves v AFC Uckfield Reserves. Kick Off is at 3, so if you feel like commiserating, I'll be at The Beaconsfield, just off Western Road Recreation Ground.

[displaced_seagull]

I'm not really sure what to do now - the thread wasn't supposed to go like this!

I've not been out of work for long though, as a week later, I've taken the helm at Skrill North Guiseley . They - or We - have scored four goals this season in 11 outings, winning twice, which gives you an impression of how poor it has been...

Looking at the squad, I'm not surprised. Quick clear out of the (fortunately mostly Non-Contract) dross/youth teamers with half a star potential for both youth and first teams, some extensive scouting of the free transfer market, and a war of words with Frank Sinclair of Colwyn Bay later, and I am back in business. This time I'm going to go with the 3-2-2-3 that served me well with Stenny in FM13, but dropping one of the strikers to the AMC role. We've not got any fullbacks, or proper wingers for that matter, so Defensive Wingers/Wide Midfielders it will have to be!

[RTHerringbone]

For me, that final setup had a few issues.

1. BPDs at a lower level can invite a bit too much pressure. Are lower league defenders really good enough to put a foot on the ball and survey their options before picking a pass? Simplicity is a good thing

2. Two BWMs as the only 2 men in central midfield is very dangerous. They will chase anything and everything, and a lack of a static reference point in midfield removes any stability

3. Two attacking IFs Cutting Inside, but into the space that a False Nine has dropped into. I suspect this was a congested final third, and I'm not sure how well that could work

4. Exploit the middle, but you have no ball playing central midfielders, nor a surplus of physical bodies there. You channeled play into a sparsely populated area in terms of numbers and type of play

In spite of the above, I love this thread. Stick with it

[displaced_seagull]

For me, that final setup had a few issues.

1. BPDs at a lower level can invite a bit too much pressure. Are lower league defenders really good enough to put a foot on the ball and survey their options before picking a pass? Simplicity is a good thing

2. Two BWMs as the only 2 men in central midfield is very dangerous. They will chase anything and everything, and a lack of a static reference point in midfield removes any stability

3. Two attacking IFs Cutting Inside, but into the space that a False Nine has dropped into. I suspect this was a congested final third, and I'm not sure how well that could work

4. Exploit the middle, but you have no ball playing central midfielders, nor a surplus of physical bodies there. You channeled play into a sparsely populated area in terms of numbers and type of play

In spite of the above, I love this thread. Stick with it

Thanks, much appreciated - that is the sort of feedback I was hoping for - Glad you are enjoying it too, I did a lot of FM Stories in the past, and was worried I was getting a bit 'fiction' with it all for this forum!

Looking at the points in turn;

1; One of my pet hates is defenders giving the ball away needlessly. There is certainly a time to smash it away, 'anywhere will do' style, but I wanted them to keep it shorter and involve the wingbacks quickly. Needless to say, I've swapped them for Limited Defenders this time out.

2; This is really useful to know. I envisaged them more as 'advanced Anchor Man(men)' style players - staying in the middle, winning it and quickly getting it out wide, in either direction, to either the Inside Forwards or Wingbacks - they would win the ball and then give it to one of the more creative players to make something happen with. As they were acting more like terriers (as, indeed, they are supposed to according to their role!), I'm not surprised it didn't work.

3; Again, this is my mistake in not understanding the way they worked - I wanted the F9 to drop into the hole, with the Inside Forwards breaking past him to be the main threat. Nanetti in particular scored some spectacular efforts, and I wanted to try and make the most of him.

4; Looking back, Exploit The Middle was a PICNIC* error and a possibly fatal one at that - I obviously forgot to remove it.

*Problem In Chair Not In Computer

Also, for anyone interested, today's games ended Newhaven 3 - Hailsham Town 2 , and the one I was at, Hailsham Town Reserves 2 - AFC Uckfield Reserves 1 . The firsts are still second bottom, the ressies are second top, 2 points behind Westfield who we go to next Saturday.

Picture below. This is what real football is all about, not yer fancy-dan half a million a week superstars (Taken on my phone and edited for brightness because the floodlight fooled the exposure meter!). We are in yellow, and just about to hit a free kick into the box which came to nothing.

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[SnUrF]

Thanks, much appreciated - that is the sort of feedback I was hoping for - Glad you are enjoying it too, I did a lot of FM Stories in the past, and was worried I was getting a bit 'fiction' with it all for this forum!

Looking at the points in turn;

1; One of my pet hates is defenders giving the ball away needlessly. There is certainly a time to smash it away, 'anywhere will do' style, but I wanted them to keep it shorter and involve the wingbacks quickly. Needless to say, I've swapped them for Limited Defenders this time out.

2; This is really useful to know. I envisaged them more as 'advanced Anchor Man(men)' style players - staying in the middle, winning it and quickly getting it out wide, in either direction, to either the Inside Forwards or Wingbacks - they would win the ball and then give it to one of the more creative players to make something happen with. As they were acting more like terriers (as, indeed, they are supposed to according to their role!), I'm not surprised it didn't work.

3; Again, this is my mistake in not understanding the way they worked - I wanted the F9 to drop into the hole, with the Inside Forwards breaking past him to be the main threat. Nanetti in particular scored some spectacular efforts, and I wanted to try and make the most of him.

4; Looking back, Exploit The Middle was a PICNIC* error and a possibly fatal one at that - I obviously forgot to remove it.

*Problem In Chair Not In Computer

Also, for anyone interested, today's games ended Newhaven 3 - Hailsham Town 2 , and the one I was at, Hailsham Town Reserves 2 - AFC Uckfield Reserves 1 . The firsts are still second bottom, the ressies are second top, 2 points behind Westfield who we go to next Saturday.

Picture below. This is what real football is all about, not yer fancy-dan half a million a week superstars (Taken on my phone and edited for brightness because the floodlight fooled the exposure meter!). We are in yellow, and just about to hit a free kick into the box which came to nothing.

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As for the CBs I'd go for the standard CD role, skipping the extremes. And for the point about getting the ball out wide, how about exploiting the flanks?

Btw. Nice photo, love the colour of the sky in the background

-SnUrF

[displaced_seagull]

Thanks - Going to 'normal' CD's is something I'll investigate, especially given my change of employment. I probably should have looked to select Clear Ball to Flanks too, to involve the wingbacks earlier.

Re Photo; Sky was amazing, which is why I took the picture - I think my little bit of editing has done it justice, but it really was vibrant.

So how about that first game with Guiseley then?

Feeling a little pleased with myself? You betcha.

It is of course a small step, but given that the side had scored just four before today, and I fielded 7 debutants... - Hereford's goal came seven minutes from time, and was a route one effort - the middle of my three defenders went to challenge for an aerial ball, lost out and the resulting flick into space left a one on one.

[marks91]

Thoroughly enjoying reading this thread so far. Great stuff.

In previous versions of FM, I've very much been a 'pick a shape and stick with it no matter what' type of manager, instead focusing on keeping a strong core of players together and bringing through home-grown youth for either profit or just sheer joy at watching them grow before my very eyes.

I still want to do that to some extent, but I really want to do brush up tactically and there's no better place to do that than down in the lower leagues where you are given time (or not in your case with Woking!). Unfortunately, I have nothing to add tactically at the moment, but the process of writing out your strengths, weaknesses and where to improve like you are doing here will hopefully make me a better FM player.

Also, Guiseley are my local team. They are just five minutes down the road from me and have a little soft spot for them. It would be great in you could bring some success to a club who have been incredibly unlucky in recent years. I wish you the best of luck!

[displaced_seagull]

Thanks, much appreciated! - My favourite thing in FM is bringing through homegrown kids!

We followed up the Hereford game with a 1-0 win against Harrogate in the FA Trophy - had to hang on a bit towards the end - they had one sent off early on, but were playing 4-5-1, so it was still a packed midfield, meaning the usual space didn't develop. A trip to Histon 4 days later saw my first defeat, 2-1, with an own goal and one seven minutes from time after we'd taken the lead.

The tactic looks like this;

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I went to Counter for the Away game, which produced a nice early goal, with targetman South heading home, but inevitably didn't help on the possession front. Our pitch at present resembles a ploughed field, so I didn't want to risk short passing and retain possession to close the game out, which I probably should have done.

[displaced_seagull]

Boston United next, and a 2-2 draw at home against a side second in the league - although we should have won it, Going a goal behind, equalising, taking the lead and then conceding on 70 to share the spoils.

At home I am relatively comfortable, but its on the road that we seem to struggle. I think the main problem at the moment though is fitness - because I've brought in a lot of new faces, they have gone straight into the side (because needs must!) without being able to get match fit first.

Next then is a trip to 9th placed Nuneaton, who will play 4-4-2. As just mentioned, I've struggled (and I did in 13 too, with a similar formation) to get the right balance away from home. This time, I went to Counter from the off, along with Play Narrower, Higher Tempo and More Direct. We began by losing Danny South to an early injury, and then saw Jake Reed, a player who was persistently inept on loan for me at Woking last season, open the scoring on 25 with a brilliant burst between two defenders to pick up a first time through ball. It was the sort of goal that you would applaud if it wasn't against you!

At this point I decided to try and change things around - Hassle Opponents, Higher Defensive Line and Use Offside Trap. We saw an improvement, and at half time, the stats show as follows;

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The change at the break brought on club captain Holdsworth for a knackered and hurt Hinds, and to turn Murphy into an Enganche in a bid to link a little better with a high line. The Second half begins quietly, before Stenning makes it two with a free kick on 55. 10 minutes later, I've decided to gamble a bit - we are already pushing up, hassling the opposition and playing direct, so it makes sense to go to an attacking mentality. 15 minutes later, no real change - so up go the DM's into the Midfield strata (BWM/D and DLP/S). Sheego taps in a corner for the hosts, making it 3 and game set and match.

It's clear that, for me, with this setup, Counter away from home isn't working. My instinct is to go Defensive next time, and try to frustrate opponents by keeping hold of the ball, rather than give up the possession for chances on the break. Workington at home in 4 days (21st v 22nd) - is looking important.

[displaced_seagull]

Workington came round quickly - my only change being to make Evans (DCR) a Stopper, in a bid to get him to push up a little and cover for the more expansive and aggressive player in the defensive midfield area, DLP Holdsworth. We begin well, and take the lead on 23;

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This is what I want to see more of, and if I'm honest, what I'd love to see away from home, because it is, what I consider, classic Counter Attacking. A long ball from defence was headed back by Quinn. Holdsworth has pushed out of his natural position, near the edge of the muddy part of the centre circle, to pick it up. He has played the ball forward to TM/A South (Ringed in Blue), who has dropped off his marker...

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Danny Boy has two options here - Murphy (SS/A) has played his role to perfection here, timed the run and would be one-on-one, but look at the Red Ringed player. That is DLF/A Adul, and he has come in behind Murphy, steadied himself and drilled low into the net.

We go in 1-0 at the break, and my change is to lower the tempo - we are better than Workington, and although we've definitely 'out-shotted' them, They've still had more possession (12% to our 8%) than I would like in our defensive third, so South goes to TM/S as well, to drop a bit deeper. Four minutes later, Rowe shins in a corner to double our lead. The visitors also make the most of a set piece on 55, but the change seems to have worked, as they don't enjoy the same amount of space outside our D as in the first half - and although they do graze our crossbar twice, they are shots from distance which looked safe.

A man dismissed 15 from time gives us a bit more space, but Murphy twice shoots wastefully over, and we fail to add to our tally. The 2-1 win though does move us out of the drop zone, after 16 played, ending a mini slump of 3 games without victory.

[displaced_seagull]

With Murphy's wayward shots as we tried to close it out against Workington fresh in the mind, I've decided to ask him to Shoot Less Often and Move into Channels ahead of the next game, the aim being that he will get into more positions like that shown above.

We face Harrogate again, and that 4-3-3 with a lone striker, two wingers and a triangle pointing downwards of midfielders with a single DMC. After that 3-0 reverse at Nuneaton I've not started with Counter, instead continuing with Control as at home. After 10 minutes of very little, and with a decent pitch underfoot (this one has grass on it, so it is no wonder Liam Daish complained about ours before and after the Trophy game!), Retain Possession and Shorter passing come into play too.

Frankly it's all a little turgid, from both sides - Melvin sees a shot hit the bar and fly out the ground for them, South heads over a Colbeck cross when well-placed for us, so just before the break I drop the tempo - we might as well see if we can knock it about a bit more and open them up that way, because aforementioned header aside, none of our 5 shots registered as an extended highlight. The Second Half sees us unchanged, and equally dull, before, on 67, Evans crosses, Rugg heads away and Alan Murphy collects the loose ball on the edge of the box. He passes short to South, who clearly doesn't want it as he's surrounded, and lays it straight back, before Murphy rediscovers those instincts of shooting which marred his performance last week and, this time, scuffs a shot which takes a deflection and worms into the net.

Harrogate's reaction is nondescript, and with 10 minutes to go, we are that knackered collectively that poor Danny South is on 55% fitness. My one remaining sub (the other two having been made just after we scored) is Centre Half Ekpieta, who will go up top for the final knockings - I've never been afraid to do this sort of thing - he is big, strong and can jump - so he'll do as a TM/S for 9 minutes at Wetherby Road. That, at least, was the plan. Just before the change is made, Rowe goes down easily in the box (to be fair he's knackered too!), and, having already been booked, sees red for simulation. Luckily, I can cancel it, so Ekpieta puts his tracksuit top back on, cover (at best!) midfielder Hawker takes his off, replaces South and goes to Defensive Winger (D) on the left in place of Rowe. Spiers, the DLP(S) in the DMC strata, becomes an Anchor Man too.

Harrogate again don't come up with any answers, so with three minutes to go, we go to Defensive, with Waste Time and a Much Lower Tempo. This does spur them into action, with a couple of scary moments and a corner, but we've done enough - an Away win!

It wasn't pretty at times - Stats below show that - although, in our defence, the highlights didn't reflect this amount of dominance, especially after half time, which I am taking to mean that whilst they had the possession, it wasn't in areas which were dangerous to us. Would be nice to see the First Half/Second Half split actually, which funnily enough is something I put as a 'Suggestion for the Future' in the GQ thread the other day.

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Our 95% Tackle success is brilliant, and a special mention to Evans, who twice made tackles, inside the box, in the final minutes.

Stafford Rangers next in the Trophy, and then, glory be! - a week off before the next game. The players need it badly, and it might give me a chance to try and bring in some cover for the wide players, which we are lacking at the moment.

[displaced_seagull]

Playing like that though won't work all the time, and so it proved in the Trophy - my severely patched up team going down 1-0, with a second half penalty doing the damage. At least it wasn't the League. One thing I did note though, is that we seemed to enjoy a little more possession late on, when we Dropped Deeper, which is something I'll bear in mind, though it might require a change of roles for the AMC position to involve the forwards better. Thinking as I type, maybe going narrower would be an idea too, primarily to shorten the distance that passes need to go.

So Corby in the League at home next then, and for the first time in my Guiseley career, I'll be able to start with eleven players over 95% fitness, by virtue of seven days between games. Corby, in a natty pinky/purple away kit, line up 4-4-2, and by the 15th minute we've already had a good chance which Adul should really have done better with. He makes up for it on 24 - we pump the ball forward (I've not yet gone Retain Possession and Short Passing!), the diminutive Spaniard gets between two to head sideways, and Danny South rattles in on the volley. The goal is the catalyst for that Retain/Short shout, which keeps the game tight - no further highlights - until half time.

This is why;

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OK, so we are a percent down on possession, but look at the shot count. We've reduced a side who went into the game 9th (to our 16th) to just one, long range effort. The game says it was off-target - I think that's a bit harsh. I hadn't seen it, so was curious enough to look at the highlight on the analysis tab - Magna didn't even get the shot away, it was blocked by a diving boot as he pulled the trigger, so even better.

South turns and fires a second on 58, but just before that, he was at the near post when Lowe crossed from the left. This showed me something I hadn't considered before, and I'd be grateful for your input - both Defensive wingers have instructions to Cross from Deep. As you saw earlier, one is a DW (D) - Colbeck, on the right, and Lowe on the left is DW (S). Inevitably and just as expected, Lowe gets forward more often. South (TM S) is on the left of the front two. Should I swap him to the right, so that the crosses swung in from deep will go more towards him rather than shortarse Adul?

Corby haven't got a clue, and Holdsworth finds Murphy from a free kick for the third on 74, sparking a couple of substitutions. They do begin to look interested a couple of minutes later though, and after a bit of pinball in the penalty area, Tyrell rams home a consolation. With legs again tiring on a heavy pitch, I drop the tempo and we close it out, save for an injury-time, last highlight corner for the visitors which comes to nothing.

Looking at the stats at the end, it shows that Corby managed 7 shots, of which 3 were on target. Looking at those in detail though...

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The 'Red' shot by 10 (Magna) was the one I mentioned earlier - it was blocked. A look at the highlight of the other Red shot shows that that was intercepted on the edge of the six yard box (headed away), so, in reality, there were two shots worth worrying about. One went in, admittedly, and the other, shown as a save, was one of those moments you just love to see when it doesn't happen to you - sub Marsden took a throw behind his intended target, Andy Gascoigne nipped in and planted his one-on-one, golden chance straight at Drench. Of 7 shots then, 5 didn't reach the 'keeper, one made him make a save and the other went in off a leg after a corner. I do wonder if the 'Possession' shouts are having a useful, if unintended, effect of pulling the defenders closer together when we don't have possession, which is again something to bear in mind.

[displaced_seagull]

Having mentioned above that I thought it might be worth swapping the positions of the strikers, I'll give it a go in the next game. That'll be away to Gainsborough Trinity, who line up 4-4-2. A really good start sees us open the scoring on 8, Rowe tapping home from a corner, but Longden equalises with a shot from distance after a counter on 14. After two decent chances for the hosts, Drop Deeper is selected, and we begin to get back into it a little, Adul racing onto a flick, but unable to finish, just before the break. For all my musing on the merits of positioning my strikers to be more of a danger from crosses, the obvious additional step is to set both DW's to 'Cross to Target Man' as a Player Instruction too.

The second half begins well too, but Fell takes advantage of lax marking to make it 2-1 from a corner on 58, and Merella helps himself to the third on 66. It's time to try something different, so off goes Adul for Weir-Daley, who becomes an AF/A, and Marsden replaces a tired Spiers (DLP/S). The most radical change though is up front. Murphy, in the SS (A) role, has done very little, so in a nod to the FM13 tactic which inspired me, he pushes up front - becoming a Trequartista, to replace the creative, space-developing type player I got rid of by swapping the role of what was Adul's DLF/A position. In 13 I used a Targetman on Support in the middle of the front three to devastating effect, John Gemmell at Stenhousemuir scoring something like 37 in the league, so am hoping for more of the same. Shorter passing stays, but is joined by Pass Into Space too - hopefully the players will have the intelligence to know when to hit a through ball, but I'll be keeping an eye on possession to see if they do! Retain Possession and Drop Deeper are unticked at this stage in the game.

After hitting the outside of the post straight from the restart, the very next highlight, on 75, sees us pull it back to 3-2, and look at the movement/positions here;

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Colbeck wins the ball in the air, flicking on Murphy (Yellow). The dangerman is South, ringed in blue, but as the ball is played forward, he stays a bit deeper, his marker (the defender between him and Murphy) is torn - he sticks with South, which gives Weir-Daley (Red) the run on goal to take the ball wide of the keeper and tap in. Unfortunately we can't push on from there - Hughes makes it 4 on 86, and thats the way it stays.

My delight at the movement up front aside, it was a strange game - looking at the Action Zones after the game, they won the battle of their defensive third, we won the midfield, but they enjoyed 37% possession to our 4% in our own defensive third. Whether this was because we spent a lot of the game sitting deeper, I don't know, but we can't afford to do that too often!

[displaced_seagull]

A busy few days sees two new faces in the shape of a loanee defender and defensive midfielder arrive from higher level clubs - both very young (17 and 18), and signed more as cover with the busy festive period on the horizon. We also welcome back two from injury in the shape of Hinds, who is fit enough to start, and Anyinsah, who scored twice in my first two games in charge before getting injured in the third, who isn't.

We don't start very well against Altrincham (who have drawn 1 and lost 4 of their last 5), so after 20 minutes of watching Drench and our defence looking busy, Retain Possession and Shorter Passing come on. After we conceded so much ground in our own third against Gainsborough, we don't Drop Deeper on this occasion though. It's better, but still not quite enough for me, so five minutes later 'Lower Tempo' comes into play. That works, and a cross from Colbeck is nodded in off the underside of the bar by Adul. Altrincham respond on 48 with a goal from a corner, but neither side does enough in the second half to force a winner, despite us going to the flat three up front (with Murphy as a False 9 once I decide that South has run himself into the ground for little reward for long enough).

We also spent the second half with 'Play Out Of Defence' selected, but it didn't seem to do a lot;

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What I need to sort out, as I see it, is that Passes - Defence statistic. For me, it needs to be higher.

In the last five games, it has read (Final score in brackets, our score is always first);

34% (1-0W)

47% (0-1L)

58% (3-1W)

53% (2-4L)

54% (1-1D)

Earlier, unpicking the Woking debacle, RTHerringbone suggested avoiding BPD's, and snUrF suggested going with Central Defenders rather than either of the extremes. BPD's would probably increase my possession at the back, but the players frankly aren't good enough for that, and my own findings are that Limited Defenders are giving it away too much, especially when we are trying to build something of a possession based tactic, so I've decided to make them all Central Defenders ahead of the next game, which is in a fortnight.

[displaced_seagull]

We went down 1-0 to Southport in the next game, then lost 2-1 after leading at table toppers Stalybridge. The latter seemed to upset the board, and gave me concerns for the future.

Things need to change. The players aren't good enough for what I want to do. You can blame inconsistency on many things, all of which are mistakes I've made throughout this thread - too much tweaking, too much worrying about the small things perhaps - but most of all, trying to fit square pegs into round holes and putting my players into a system rather than building a system around the strengths of my team.

In the meantime, I am posting here, analysing every match to the Nth degree, and thoroughly enjoying it, but it is more for my benefit than anyone elses, which isn't what I wanted to do when I started the thread. I've had a few very supportive, helpful comments, but a lot of views where people are clearly reading then going, having not found the answers to help with what they want to achieve, so I'm going to call it a day. I have learnt a few things though, and I hope other people might have picked up the odd nugget too. One thing I do believe now, more than ever, is that balance is key. Gung ho attacking (my three up top) might work for a while, as might the polar opposite of defending desperately after scraping an early goal - but it isn't a long term solution.

Enjoy your game. I do, and I'm crap at it - it might not be perfect yet, but it's still, for me, the best game in the world - even after 21 years of playing!

[MeesterCat]

I like this thread, apologies for not posting sooner.

You're basically doing something similar to what I am with Plymouth - trying to work out the best formation and strategy one game at a time. With similar mixed results.

[displaced_seagull]

I like this thread, apologies for not posting sooner.

You're basically doing something similar to what I am with Plymouth - trying to work out the best formation and strategy one game at a time. With similar mixed results.

Thanks, it wasn't intended to be a dig at anyone, just an observation that the title perhaps wasn't the most accurate in the end

[Cleon]

Sorry for the late reply but I thought I'd posted in this thread all ready but looks like it didn't post off my phone

I don't have time for a detailed reply but just wanted to say its turned into a great thread with lots of useful information. When I get the free time I will post up a more detailed reponse but wanted to post just to let you know I am reading this brilliant thread. Nothing worse than thinking no-one is interested in what you are writing imo.

I've just gave it a shoutout on twitter too so hopefully it might encourage more people to post.

[displaced_seagull]

Thanks Cleon, glad you have been enjoying it.

I'll look forward to reading your thoughts in full.

[Fieldy_21]

This is a fantastic thread. I have enjoyed reading it. I hope nobody takes offence to this next comment, most of all yourself, as it is the last thing I intended, but personally I do find it quite encouraging reading threads about people who suffer indifferent results. There are a lot of threads around on various websites of people who seem to get success so easily, and I cast such envious eyes their way, however it is slightly reassuring to know there are other people out there in the same boat as myself!

Onto your issues, I am no tactical guru, but I would hazard a guess that constantly changing shape both prior to and during a game can have a largely negative effect on performance. I found after following cleons pre-season thread I now no longer suffer from terrible starts. I am convinced this is due to my tactic being totally fluid before the season starts. I totally agree with the previous comments regarding centre halves, I would definitely keep them to regulation centre halves as the BPD are more adventurous with their passing and the limited defenders are very...limited.

I'd also add, and this may not be something your willing to consider if you already have an end goal in mind. But it may be worth for a while just sticking to a more traditional set up in terms of formation whilst you are new at a club, perhaps try and grind out some results and then once the players are used to you and your style then perhaps you could gradually tweak things slowly. I have found the stranger tactics are easier to develop with big sides but with smaller sides sometimes simpler is better!

I am having a great deal of difficulty trying to develop tactics myself atm too, I have mastered a 343 like Jorge Sampaoli played at la universidad de chile, but a basic 4411 with a shadow striker as a consistent goalscorer is giving me no end of headaches. I also wanna develop a strikerless formation with an enganche and two shadow strikers but I am having difficulty designing my thoughts on paper and in game.

So in short, please feel free to disregard my tactical contribution as I am a bit of a tactical bumbling fool, however please don't stop the thread! Great work, keep it up!!

[displaced_seagull]

Thanks, very kind. No offence taken at all!

The defensive situation is odd - on FM13, I had Ball Playing Defenders working at every level from the Scottish Second Division with Stenhousemuir, to the Premier League with Norwich, to the Malian Regional leagues! - to be honest that isn't entirely realistic, so it is perhaps good that they didn't work for me in the Skrill Premier this time out.

As suggested above, I did begin again, with Shrewsbury. I've built two tactics, both with three central defenders, four midfielders and two forwards, one with a defensive midfielder and the other an attacking midfielder. Won my first friendly, looking to develop the one with the AM for home games and the more defensive version for away/stronger sides.

[MartinGregory84]

Cracking thread and is proving the method that more roles work in Lower League...... Keep up the good work.