To Defend or Attack when expecting relegation?

[red dragon1978]

I'm playing as Wrexham, just about to start my second season. In the first season, I had no flat wingers (ML/R) decent enough AML/R and no strikers good enough to lead the line alone. I opted therefore for a 4-2-4, countering away and controlling at home, always seeking to control possession and using 1 striker to drop deep while 2 inside forwards cut in, hopefully giving the defence a headache. It must have worked as I won the league by some 20 points and five players scored 18-23 goals. However, this was, bizarrely, a complete disaster. We were expected to finish mid-table, and on paper that's exactly where we should've finished. Very few injuries or suspensions helped keep my team selections regular, although I did suffer very badly with complacency at one stage. And don't even ask where my defence went in the Trophy final...ratings of 6.6, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5 and 6.6 in the defence saw me batter the opposition with 54% possession, 14 shots, 8 on target...and none scored, (the opp. goalie played an 8.6) while they had 7 shots, 4 on target...and scored 3. I wanted to take 2-3 years to build a decent squad, and even tried taking my foot off the gas, dropping performing players and playing reserves....but the board and fans REALLY didn't like that plan. I dialled down the attacking intent, focusing more on retaining possession, but still we scored with alarming frequency. (I was prepared to use the dreaded 'bug' word until I got smashed in the Trophy and also an FA Cup match).

It's obvious (and explictly stated in some coach reports) that many of my players 'don't like big matches'. As I massively over-achieved last season, most of my matches this season (in my eyes, not sure how the game will view them) are 'big'. I've opted to keep most of my players from last season (again, thanks partially to how well they played last season....I ditched 1 player who'd performed at around 6.8 for the entire season when most players were in the mid to high 7s, and got absolutely slated for it).

So now, I have a major problem. I'm in League 2, when I should be planning for an attempt at the top 10 of the National League. I can't afford a 'transition' season, so I've only brought in 4 new players, plus beefing up my staff (I have the best scouts, some of the best physios, and am no worse than above average in every coaching department). But, how to play? I accept that I'm in for a really, really tough season, with probably several painful beatings, and will be lucky to come out of this with a job. So, do I carry on from last season, attempting to gain the majority of possession, looking to pull the opposition defence in different directions with a mobile front 4 and often ceding numerical midfield superiority to the opposition,.......or do I attempt a complete 360 and play conservative, defensive football....trying to frustrate the opposition and prevent them from scoring, with the intention of turning my team into 'draw specialists', 'grinders' and 'spoilers'? Or is there a 3rd option I've not considered (very likely). Any thoughts, opinions and advice welcome.........I'm even thinking of binning this save. It's the best season in my FM life....but at completely the wrong time!

[SirManager]

You did well then. If I was you I'd try and focus on a single match at the time. See how your opposition is playing, formation and etc then use your judgement on that. If I was you also I'd focus on what works for the team and ovbiously your tactic works.

[King Costly]

I've not played at that level in this year's game but the top of the National League is about level to mid-table of League Two IRL in terms of quality of team.

If you walked the National League, I'd be tempted to stick with the same gameplan and see how it goes. You could always bring the wingers back to MR/ML (even if they are unfamiliar with the role, I think I read that it really doesn't affect performance much) to be a bit more solid. Even lower team mentality or reign in some more adventurous player roles?

What are the board expectations?

[red dragon1978]

Board expectations are 'to battle bravely against relegation' 'Not get beyond first round of FA Cup' and 'Not be outclassed' in the Capital 1. I interpret that as 'You're going to struggle really badly this season so forget the cups and just focus on the league.' I looked at the comparison page before my new signings, and I was below 15th in every stat. With this new signings I've moved up to between 15-18th for most, although some I'm still rock bottom, some I'm actually in the top three. However, those are skewed by a couple of really bad players...eg, I'm 22nd for work rate, but in my 22 man first team squad 15 have work rate over 12....but three have it under 7.

It's a bit difficult to change this around much, King. I'd like to be more solid at the back, but the only change I can see for that is to stop the fullbacks or wingbacks going forward...but that completely dries up my supply from the wings and, with the inside forwards cutting in, leaves the flanks exposed. And when I said 'I don't have ML/R' I meant it...none of my AML/R even have a rating for the position...when you look at their positions, it's completely blank. My best DL can play ML, but there's no point playing an ML without an MR, far as I can see...and it weakens my back line. I know what you mean about top of the National League comparing with mid level League....but I'm not actually top National League! OK, I won it, but it was, imho, a total fluke. I didn't get my first sending off until AFTER the league was secure, no player picked up a suspension for 5 yellows (keeping on their feet and not using tight marking probably helped that), I only had 1 serious injury....a fractured arm....to a fringe player, not 1 of my first team missed more than 2-3 games through injury. And as for goals, I've yet to see the like. My AML got 13 goals and 11 assists in 37, the AMR, 23 goals and 10 assists in 31. My strikers weighed in with 20 in 39 with 9 assists, 15 in 40 with 9 assists, and 16 in 34 with 7 assists. To emphasise what I said about my full/wingbacks going forward, I mainly used 2. The DR got 1 goal and 11 assists in 42, the DL 14 assists and 4 goals in 37. I've never seen a team so 'on' for the entire season....we scored 110 goals, but it took something like 7-800 shots. So we're actually very wasteful. We conceded 49, and I admit I don't know exactly how many shots that took...the only stats I know for sure are the FA Trophy Final.

[Dr. Hook]

Play the way you have been and want to. Make changes if and when it becomes necessary in a match, but otherwise, stick to what is working for you. Essentially I agree with SIrManager above. You designed a successful tactic that suited your players, so why change? You won't find that League Two is all that much tougher. Yes, the very top teams might be beyond you, but otherwise you should be okay. Be prepared to make a few changes to stop a battering, like going to defensive FBs is you are getting killed down the wings, for example, but these should be match specific changes. Otherwise, play your game. What you'll find is that if you are seen as a weak team, teams will attack you and leave lots of space, and if you are better at all than they think, you'll do well. As you get better regarded, they'll tighten up, and you'll be freerer to play your style and impose it on them.

[red dragon1978]

Thank you, Dr. I agree with what you said about being seen, and attacked as, a weaker team by a lot of my opponents and you're right, that'll leave a lot of space, so I think my previous tactic will actually work well....emphasising mobility and possession, keeping it tight at the back then getting forward quickly....either with dribbling or swift passing. I still think I need to work on the defensive side (we conceded 49 in 46 last season in the league), and my signings have significantly increased the aerial threat...in fact we barely posed one last year. So I might make slight alterations to the supply. Other than that, I'll do as you all suggest and keep it as is. Also, as I've now just realised (gods I'm thick) it'll mean we can hit the ground running rather than learning something new.

Great! Thanks all.

[King Costly]

Board expectations are 'to battle bravely against relegation' 'Not get beyond first round of FA Cup' and 'Not be outclassed' in the Capital 1. I interpret that as 'You're going to struggle really badly this season so forget the cups and just focus on the league.' I looked at the comparison page before my new signings, and I was below 15th in every stat. With this new signings I've moved up to between 15-18th for most, although some I'm still rock bottom, some I'm actually in the top three. However, those are skewed by a couple of really bad players...eg, I'm 22nd for work rate, but in my 22 man first team squad 15 have work rate over 12....but three have it under 7.

It's a bit difficult to change this around much, King. I'd like to be more solid at the back, but the only change I can see for that is to stop the fullbacks or wingbacks going forward...but that completely dries up my supply from the wings and, with the inside forwards cutting in, leaves the flanks exposed. And when I said 'I don't have ML/R' I meant it...none of my AML/R even have a rating for the position...when you look at their positions, it's completely blank. My best DL can play ML, but there's no point playing an ML without an MR, far as I can see...and it weakens my back line. I know what you mean about top of the National League comparing with mid level League....but I'm not actually top National League! OK, I won it, but it was, imho, a total fluke. I didn't get my first sending off until AFTER the league was secure, no player picked up a suspension for 5 yellows (keeping on their feet and not using tight marking probably helped that), I only had 1 serious injury....a fractured arm....to a fringe player, not 1 of my first team missed more than 2-3 games through injury. And as for goals, I've yet to see the like. My AML got 13 goals and 11 assists in 37, the AMR, 23 goals and 10 assists in 31. My strikers weighed in with 20 in 39 with 9 assists, 15 in 40 with 9 assists, and 16 in 34 with 7 assists. To emphasise what I said about my full/wingbacks going forward, I mainly used 2. The DR got 1 goal and 11 assists in 42, the DL 14 assists and 4 goals in 37. I've never seen a team so 'on' for the entire season....we scored 110 goals, but it took something like 7-800 shots. So we're actually very wasteful. We conceded 49, and I admit I don't know exactly how many shots that took...the only stats I know for sure are the FA Trophy Final.

If it's only 'battle bravely' you will most likely keep your job even if you go down. Remember that clubs are more likely to attack you as you are small fish (or should that be dragon!) in a big pond. That will leave more gaps for your team to exploit.

And I think you do yourself a disservice - as Brian Clough said, winning a league title is the hardest thing in football. You might get lucky over 90 minutes or two to three games. If you're top after 46 games then you're the best team in that league and you deserve it.