How to successfully "tweak" a system

[OrientTillIDie]

So I'm in 2020/21 with my Orient save and I'm in the Championship. My first two and a half seasons were perfect, getting back to back promotions and sitting near the playoffs in my first year in the Championship. However since February in that third season, I've been pretty poor and I've tried to make subtle changes but to no avail.

I've been watching the games and I can't for the life of me work out why it's not working as well anymore. All I've noticed is that my defenders seem to make more mistakes and not pick up the strikers properly despite the group I use at the minute being the strongest I've had. At the other end, my strikers have all of a sudden stopped finding the goal. Almost every shot is straight at the keeper and the odd one that does go at the corner is saved incredibly by the keeper. I'm creating good chances but none of them are being converted. Even players who were prolific last year have stopped scoring this year.

My tactic looks roughly like this (right to left):

GK(d) - Short kicks, distribute to full backs

FB(s) - cross more often, cross at target man

CB(d)

CB(d)

FB(s) - cross more often, aim at target man, get further forward

W(a) - aim at target man, shoot less often

CM(s) - shoot less often (sometimes use get further forward)

DLP(d) - shoot less often

WM(a) - cut inside with ball, aim at target man, shoot less often

AF(a)

TM(s) - shoot less often, fewer risky passes

I use Fluid Counter. Team instructions are shorter passing, play out of defence, close down more and one more which I can remember at this present moment! (Will check later)

It worked a treat for ages and then just stopped very suddenly. I still get results with it but not as consistently. Just end up finishing somewhere between mid table and the relegation zone.

I've tried using a DLF(s) instead of a TM(s) but that was a disaster. The issue I have is I've signed players specifically for this system so changing it too much is hard because I don't have the players for other formations. Any tips would be gratefully received.

[Kuchiki]

So I'm in 2020/21 with my Orient save and I'm in the Championship. My first two and a half seasons were perfect, getting back to back promotions and sitting near the playoffs in my first year in the Championship. However since February in that third season, I've been pretty poor and I've tried to make subtle changes but to no avail.

I've been watching the games and I can't for the life of me work out why it's not working as well anymore. All I've noticed is that my defenders seem to make more mistakes and not pick up the strikers properly despite the group I use at the minute being the strongest I've had. At the other end, my strikers have all of a sudden stopped finding the goal. Almost every shot is straight at the keeper and the odd one that does go at the corner is saved incredibly by the keeper. I'm creating good chances but none of them are being converted. Even players who were prolific last year have stopped scoring this year.

My tactic looks roughly like this (right to left):

GK(d) - Short kicks, distribute to full backs

FB(s) - cross more often, cross at target man

CB(d)

CB(d)

FB(s) - cross more often, aim at target man, get further forward

W(a) - aim at target man, shoot less often

CM(s) - shoot less often (sometimes use get further forward)

DLP(d) - shoot less often

WM(a) - cut inside with ball, aim at target man, shoot less often

AF(a)

TM(s) - shoot less often, fewer risky passes

I use Fluid Counter. Team instructions are shorter passing, play out of defence, close down more and one more which I can remember at this present moment! (Will check later)

It worked a treat for ages and then just stopped very suddenly. I still get results with it but not as consistently. Just end up finishing somewhere between mid table and the relegation zone.

I've tried using a DLF(s) instead of a TM(s) but that was a disaster. The issue I have is I've signed players specifically for this system so changing it too much is hard because I don't have the players for other formations. Any tips would be gratefully received.

What are the opposition doing? How are they lining up? How do they score their goals? Are they parking the bus?

It's hard to give advice on what's going wrong without seeing how you line up compared to the opposition and how your attributes compare with theirs position for position. Maybe your target man is facing a taller more powerful defender, we don't know. At first glance your tactic seems okay and balanced but that might not be enough to dominate the league.

[OrientTillIDie]

It's more a case of consistency. I can go on a 7 or 8 game win streak against all sorts of teams and then I'll go 7 or 8 without a win because of basic errors. A through ball not being defended properly or a cross not being cleared like it normally is (just goes right through my defender). With regards to the strikers, my Target Man I usually play is 6'6" and wins almost every aerial challenge. It's my Advanced Forward who is the main issue (Gary Hooper). Most of his shots end up being saved.

[summatsupeer]

If it was working well but then stopped there are a few things to check:

1) Did your reputation change, affecting what opponents expect from the game and how they play against you?

2) You say you signed players to fit this tactic, are they a complete upgrade to the old player? Or have to compromised some attributes for others, maybe under valuing some attributes?

3) Do the new players have PPMs that make sense for the tactic?

4) Did you make any changes to the Team or Player Instructions or roles/duties?

5) Don't underestimate hidden player attributes, their personality and things like consistency and big game temperament could mean a player with better attributes isn't as consistent, as good in big games or able to deal with negative events as well.

[OrientTillIDie]

Thanks for the reply. I'll answer in order as best I can.

1) Yes my reputation has increased as I got promoted but it hasn't increased since I've been in the Championship and I started off really well and still have some really good runs. I guess it's maybe that I got a bit lucky to start with.

2) The players I signed are massive upgrades. Getting rid of Jay Simpson to sign Gary Hooper, selling Sammy Moore in order to sign Craig Bryson for example. I try my best to sign players that have done well for their previous club and that have attributes that fit the roles I want. Having said that, I don't specifically look for those attributes when signing a player. I look across the board for what they're good at.

3) As much as I think is possible. I won't lie and say all the PPMs are perfect but if a player who I want playing as my Advanced Forward has "Drops Deep to Get Ball" or "Plays with Back to Goal" then generally I'll avoid signing them.

4) Nothing drastic. The odd little change here and there, for example when I switched to try a DLF(s) instead of a TM(s) then I removed the "Cross Aim at Target Man" PI.

5) That is another thing I look for (like PPMs). Any player that my scout says "May be inconsistent" I will generally avoid unless I just need someone to temporarily fill a gap and they're all that's available.

It's frustrating because in the cup this season I'm doing really well. I beat Sheffield Wednesday at home (they've just been relegated and are sitting 5th in the Championship with a lot of Prem potential players). Then I played Premier League Fulham and beat them 3-1 at home. However, my next game was a week later at home to 23rd placed Ipswich and I lost 0-4. I mean, how does that even happen? Slightly rotated squad of Professional and Determined players suddenly losing to relegation fodder. They hadn't won in 14 games. I dominated the first 30 minutes missing chance after chance (I'm talking open goals, sitters from inside the 6 yard box, one on ones with no defenders around), then they scored just after half an hour and my players went from looking like a good side to a load of idiots running round. I'd be embarrassed if the school side I coach played as badly as that.

[Kuchiki]

Thanks for the reply. I'll answer in order as best I can.

1) Yes my reputation has increased as I got promoted but it hasn't increased since I've been in the Championship and I started off really well and still have some really good runs. I guess it's maybe that I got a bit lucky to start with.

2) The players I signed are massive upgrades. Getting rid of Jay Simpson to sign Gary Hooper, selling Sammy Moore in order to sign Craig Bryson for example. I try my best to sign players that have done well for their previous club and that have attributes that fit the roles I want. Having said that, I don't specifically look for those attributes when signing a player. I look across the board for what they're good at.

3) As much as I think is possible. I won't lie and say all the PPMs are perfect but if a player who I want playing as my Advanced Forward has "Drops Deep to Get Ball" or "Plays with Back to Goal" then generally I'll avoid signing them.

4) Nothing drastic. The odd little change here and there, for example when I switched to try a DLF(s) instead of a TM(s) then I removed the "Cross Aim at Target Man" PI.

5) That is another thing I look for (like PPMs). Any player that my scout says "May be inconsistent" I will generally avoid unless I just need someone to temporarily fill a gap and they're all that's available.

It's frustrating because in the cup this season I'm doing really well. I beat Sheffield Wednesday at home (they've just been relegated and are sitting 5th in the Championship with a lot of Prem potential players). Then I played Premier League Fulham and beat them 3-1 at home. However, my next game was a week later at home to 23rd placed Ipswich and I lost 0-4. I mean, how does that even happen? Slightly rotated squad of Professional and Determined players suddenly losing to relegation fodder. They hadn't won in 14 games. I dominated the first 30 minutes missing chance after chance (I'm talking open goals, sitters from inside the 6 yard box, one on ones with no defenders around), then they scored just after half an hour and my players went from looking like a good side to a load of idiots running round. I'd be embarrassed if the school side I coach played as badly as that.

I would suggest doing some analysis to find out how you lost 4-0 as that scoreline is quite comprehensive.