Mentality + Width + Height + Tempo + Shape

[goalash]

OK, after years of playing FM and hours of reading forums, posts and other articles I come to some understanding of how the tactical concepts work together. This is what I have so far collected - please correct me where I'm wrong:

1. MENTALITY - risk meter, self explanatory. I tend to start every match on Standard, however I might start on Control if I really expect to win. At a half-time, depeding on the score I might switch to Control/Counter and, if still unsatisfactory, Attack/Defensive for last 20 mins.

2. WIDTH - affects with-the-ball width only. The better technical attributes of your players, the wider they should and are able to play. It means I can set "play wider" to my Standard/Counter tactics, as it's kind of a waste to have good and creative passers so close to each other. I also think it's connected to the passing style (more direct the passing, wider width the better) but I'm not sure how much so.

3. HEIGHT - this one depends on two factors: how high and where do I want to press the opponent (D-line - preferably slightly higher/high, D-Midfielders - slightly higher, midfield - standard, Counter/Defensive - lower/slightly lower, already set by the mentality and how quick are my CB's against enemy ST's. If going slightly higher/high it's generally good to have a one quick guy at the back, capable of the Cover duty. I'm still figuring the relation between Sweeper Keeper and CB(c) though, I don't know if it makes sense to use both, so please feel free to advise me on this.

4. SHAPE - there were tomes written already over this one, but for me, basically: creative freedom. This one I adjust as the last piece, having already an idea how to set the other settings. More smart/creative players in the team, more fluid shape is preferably. A formation plays a role however too, as fluid shapes encourage movement between the lines and split the duties. Way I see it: if my formation includes 2 guys in the pockets - DMC and AMC - makes no sense to go Fluid, maybe one bar below at most, but preferably - Structured. If I have a flat formation, then I might try going with More fluid/Fluid. If there's only one guy in a pocket, then it all depends on the players I have.

5. TEMPO - similar do Width, better players are capable of playing higher tempo. I don't know much more about this one yet though.

What do you make of the above?

[ianscousemac]

My take on this is and this is from experience and reading some of the great advice and threads on here and various other sites.

1. Mentality - fully agree this is how much risk that your team is willing to take.  I change this quite often.  For instance sometimes away to Arsenal and other big clubs I'll start on control and look to nick the first goal and sit back.  Other times I'll start on standard and feel my way into to game.  If I'm chasing the game I'll go attack for the last 20.

2. Width - If I am playing a team sitting really deep and struggling to get in behind them I might go very wide to around them.  Other times I'll generally leave it on its default for whatever mentality I am using.  

3. Def Line - Again something I can change quite often depending it the opposition are getting in behind me with balls in over the top.

4. Shape - I have read many threads on this and still fail to really understand it.  So I go with Herne79's advice and look at it as creative freedom only.  If I am using  structured I'll use a playmaker and if fluid I probably would use Box to Box midfielders instead. 

5. Tempo - Again I change this very often depending on the game.  Playing a team defending deep I'll use a slow tempo to bring them out of shape and create chances.  Playing a team pressing me high up and I'll go much higher tempo to catch them out of position.  Chasing a game I'll go higher and defending a lead I'll slow things down.

[goalash]

I think there are few easy tweaks you can implement during the match, however I'm still struggling to set an effective system of deploying those. F.I. if an opponent is defending deep and standing off, I find it beneficial to slow the tempo down (until the last 15-20 mins, when I'm starting to run out of time to score). If an opponent is playing a very slow game, trying to draw my D/M lines out, I counter it by standing off a bit. If they are rushing their passes, I might close them down a bit more to force a misake. I still have no idea how to behave, when under a heavy pressing. Sure, I can go direct, by with poor passing stats and no effective target man up front, balls tend to go astray and posession is easily lost.

[herne79]

1 hour ago, ianscousemac said:

So I go with Herne79's advice and look at it as creative freedom only

Creative freedom and space (as in vertical compactness) .

[summatsupeer]

2 hours ago, goalash said:

OK, after years of playing FM and hours of reading forums, posts and other articles I come to some understanding of how the tactical concepts work together. This is what I have so far collected - please correct me where I'm wrong:

1. MENTALITY - risk meter, self explanatory. I tend to start every match on Standard, however I might start on Control if I really expect to win. At a half-time, depeding on the score I might switch to Control/Counter and, if still unsatisfactory, Attack/Defensive for last 20 mins.

2. WIDTH - affects with-the-ball width only. The better technical attributes of your players, the wider they should and are able to play. It means I can set "play wider" to my Standard/Counter tactics, as it's kind of a waste to have good and creative passers so close to each other. I also think it's connected to the passing style (more direct the passing, wider width the better) but I'm not sure how much so.

3. HEIGHT - this one depends on two factors: how high and where do I want to press the opponent (D-line - preferably slightly higher/high, D-Midfielders - slightly higher, midfield - standard, Counter/Defensive - lower/slightly lower, already set by the mentality and how quick are my CB's against enemy ST's. If going slightly higher/high it's generally good to have a one quick guy at the back, capable of the Cover duty. I'm still figuring the relation between Sweeper Keeper and CB(c) though, I don't know if it makes sense to use both, so please feel free to advise me on this.

4. SHAPE - there were tomes written already over this one, but for me, basically: creative freedom. This one I adjust as the last piece, having already an idea how to set the other settings. More smart/creative players in the team, more fluid shape is preferably. A formation plays a role however too, as fluid shapes encourage movement between the lines and split the duties. Way I see it: if my formation includes 2 guys in the pockets - DMC and AMC - makes no sense to go Fluid, maybe one bar below at most, but preferably - Structured. If I have a flat formation, then I might try going with More fluid/Fluid. If there's only one guy in a pocket, then it all depends on the players I have.

5. TEMPO - similar do Width, better players are capable of playing higher tempo. I don't know much more about this one yet though.

What do you make of the above?

1. Yes is risk, but also changes the baseline of width, defensive line, closing down and passing patterns.  I don't arbitrarily change my mentality, I have to see things that warrant me changing it.  If i'm creating chances then changing the tactic might have a negative effect.

2. I don't see any link between technique and width.  The wider your team the longer the passes, the more likely a narrower opponent intercepts it and catches your wide player out of position, thats the risk of playing wider.  But the benefit is stretching opponents who have to move wider to close you down creating more space inside.  This can also isolate defenders to create 1v1's for a quick dribbler type to beat causing another defender to have to cover, creating further space inside.

3. Cover duty just makes the defender less likely to press, if he is the closest defender to the ball carrier he will still probably engage to delay/tackle, but if another player is around he is more likely to hold position and let the other player close down.  The decision to use a Sweeper Keeper is completely separate.

4. Creative Freedom and Vertical Space as herne79 says.  My other thought is how it will affect my formation, if i'm playing a 4141 then i'm making my back 4 and DMC focus more on there defensive responsibilities and potentially pushing my lone forward into isolation, the team instructions, roles and duties all need to fit together to create the style I want.

5. Depends on "better".  I think higher tempo suits faster technical players who can play quickly to attack space before a defense gets chance to organize itself.  With a slower tempo suiting players who can use there mental ability with that extra time to draw opponents out of position.

[ianscousemac]

58 minutes ago, herne79 said:

Creative freedom and space (as in vertical compactness) .

Sorry herne79 didn't intend to quote you incorrectly , apologies.

[herne79]

12 minutes ago, ianscousemac said:

Sorry herne79 didn't intend to quote you incorrectly , apologies.

lol no worries, all good