Feedback/Suggestions for my tactic

[Maxkabamm]

Hi guys, I was just looking for a bit of feedback on how I can improve my tactic offensively:

For individual instructions the goalkeeper has Fewer Risky Passes and Roll It Out, the full backs both have Pass it Shorter and Fewer Risky Passes, and the centre backs just have Pass it Shorter.

I created it in a friendly by tinkering, and have been testing it by holidaying in FM Touch. Essentially the main aim is a solid, defensive possession formation, where we aim to play with the ball but when we lose it are defensively solid (Mourinho-esque I suppose). I'm happy to win 1-0 rather than 5-4.

Using Chelsea in my latest test with this tactic (no transfers), we conceded just 36 goals in 57 games (0.63 per game), but we scored only 74 goals in 57 games (1.3 per game). Obviously very happy with the defensive side, but I'd like to improve the offensive side a bit and am probably looking for any feedback/suggestions on improving that side while not losing too much of the solid defense. Diego Costa only managed 15 goals in 54 games (understandable since he's a DLF), so I suppose that's the area for improvement I'd like, but I'm not really sure what would be the best way about going about this without undoing the defensive side, so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

[summatsupeer]

Stats only give you a idea of what might be an issue, you need to watch the replays or games to see what the cause is.

1 thing I'd do if playing defensive is pull the wingers back to midfield so you have a solid line. Do you need shorter, slower, retain possession and deeper instructions when playing defensive? It already is slower and deeper.

Why have two wingers? How do you see them linking up and creating goals? Especially when working ball onto box which will reduce crosses

[herne79]

I created it in a friendly by tinkering, and have been testing it by holidaying in FM Touch.!

I'm afraid you aren't really testing it. If you holiday and leave everything up to an AI manager, you have zero control over your team in matches. So how do you know whether your team are following your instructions? Even if you tick the holiday box to play with your tactics, the AI will still make changes.

[Maxkabamm]

Just to clarify, there's nothing particularly 'wrong' with the tactic - like I said in those tests, while the AI may tinker with it a bit, I'd like to think you can get at least a general overview of the tactic (for example, if I use that tactic in 20 friendlies, I don't expect Diego Costa will be scoring much, but it will be defensively solid). I might be wrong, but that's what I was thinking beforehand anyways. I'm just asking for any ways that anyone can see on face value for it to be improved.

And also I forgot to mention the aims of the tactic (I must've written it before and deleted it and forgotten to add it in)! I'm going for a defensive possession style game, which will explain a few of the instructions. Think 2nd half of last season Mourinho where the team grinded out wins, had a good amount of possession in most games and was defensively very good.

1 thing I'd do if playing defensive is pull the wingers back to midfield so you have a solid line. Do you need shorter, slower, retain possession and deeper instructions when playing defensive? It already is slower and deeper.

Why have two wingers? How do you see them linking up and creating goals? Especially when working ball onto box which will reduce crosses

Wouldn't bringing those wingers back might make it more defensive? I'll give the team instructions a go, probably don't need the much lower tempo and deeper instructions; shorter and retain possession I used because the players were giving the ball away too easily. I'll have a mess around with those instructions anyhow and see how they go.

With the AML and AMR I tend to only use Inside Forwards or Wingers (the other options seem too specific for me - I like to have players who can come in and fill a role). Just through experience of trying out different tactics I just find the Inside Forwards are maybe a bit too narrow and the middle gets very congested, where the only width is created by the full backs, leaving us with two or three players at the back and getting countered really easily. I'll try inside forwards and hopefully they link up a bit better with the striker.

Thanks!

[summatsupeer]

All your getting is results, its like Pellegrini saying Yaya has been great for Man City by pointing out his goals and distance ran. The criticism is playing Yaya in a 2 man midfield leaves the CB's exposed, no one questions Yaya's attacking ability, they question his positional play and his work rate when play has gone past him (he will NEVER sprint to get back like he does when attacking). Unless you manage the team and watch the play you'll just seeing results and stats that hide issues in your tactics or the players used in them.

How is asking a player to play exactly the same, but to position themselves 15-20 yards deeper when you don't have the ball going to make it more defensive? Because he's not in an advanced position when transitioning from defence to attack so can't exploit space behind a FB who went forward? Well your playing slow, short and less risky so will your team even try to exploit that space? If you had more direct, quicker tempo, more risky passes into space then sure it would make a difference.

Is congestion in the middle the Inside Forwards fault or the other roles in the tactic? Have you tried Wide Midfielders? I'm really liking them in FM16, i've used them more than i've ever done, you can tweak them so many ways.

It's all just theory and guess work unless you watch the games though.

[Maxkabamm]

Yeah, not saying either of you are wrong, watching the games and tinkering during the game to get it to work is best (that's how I got the tactic to even work), just holidaying gives some tips on what works and what doesn't. I noticed the lack of goals in the practice games I was playing and was just curious if there was any obvious reasons why on face value in the tactic. But yeah, I get what you're both saying and agree, just the holidaying was to point out some general things with the tactic rather than playing through a season.

I never considered that about the wingers! I'll definitely have a look at tinkering with them and getting them some more space rather than getting in behind. I'll probably try and get inside forwards to work first and get the area a bit less congested, but if I can't get that to work I'll have a look at the wide midfielders for sure

Thank you very much for the help!! Much appreciated! Time to make some changes

[DavidPengilley]

Holidaying doesn't show you anything at all. As soon as the AI changes a single thing with your tactic, your results are scewed