Popular Post Zanman777 Posted December 14, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 14, 2019 (edited) I've been reading the Guide to Football Manager tactical guide, and while the guide provides excellent information about roles & duties, it provides it in an extremely unreadable fashion. So I decided to take that information, digest it and make it as readable as possible. This is the result. First off, here's a guide that explains the core concepts of making a tactic: The Guide for FM 2018.pdf In simple terms, your tactic has four properties: 1) How fluid / structured it is (not editable on FM 2020 anymore, I know. But this guide is for FM 2018. Pretty much everything else still applies) 2) The type of core system (corresponds to the Defensive - Counter - Balanced - Control - Attacking options on Football Manager) 3) The type of defense system (aggressive pressing, or contaiment) 4) The type of attacking system (direct plays or short plays, depending on the type of passing you instruct your team to make) Depending on properties 1, 2 and 4, there are more suitable roles and duties to pick from when building your tactic. The Guide to Fooball Manager site explains that in excrutiating detail. But it explains it in a difficult-to-follow manner. So I decided to make a graphic map that explains the same thing on an easier format to read and to consult. The roles are divided regarding the area of the pitch on Central Defence Central Midfield Flanks Central Attack For each of those areas, there are certain rules of thumb you should follow. You should try to have at least one player tasked with one of the several key tasks in each area of the pitch. For example, in central midfield, you should have someone tasked with "covering", someone tasked with doing what a number-eight does, someone tasked with being a creator, and someone tasked with being a water carrier. One player can fulfill several of those tasks, mind you. And each task can be fulfilled by more than one player. What each of these terms means is moderately intuitive. The exact definition of each of those tasks is beyond this thread though. You can look it up at Guide to Football Manager. The important thing here is that, depending on properties 1, 2 and 4 of your tactic, the suitable roles to fulfill each of those tasks are different. On a more structured and defensive tactic, for example, you'll want to give a player the role "Anchor Man" to fulfill the task of covering. On a more fluid system, the covering task can be fulfilled by a Central Midfielder on Defend duty. So here goes a series of 5 maps that give you hints on good roles and duties to pick from, depending on the properties 1, 2 and 4 of the tactic you're designing. It is better to download the images and view them locally, for easier zomming in and out and scrolling by left-click + dragging. Left click an image here on the thread to open it. Right-click and select "save image...". Save the image to your hard drive. Open it eg. with Windows Photo Viewer (not with Paint!) The warning signs on the maps mean you should take a look at the "Special Roles - Caveats" picture. There you will find some notes about that particular role: who you should pair the role with, etc. Central Defence roles Spoiler Central Midfield roles Spoiler Flanks roles Spoiler Central Attack roles Spoiler Special roles - Caveats Spoiler (I used draw.io for the "maps".) Here's also an excel calculator to choose the positions, roles and duties of your tactic. Excel will calculate the team penetration, solidity and support scores during the attacking phase for you! There is a version for Football Manager 2018 and another version for Football Manager 2020, both in Microsoft Excel format (.xlsx). To feel less lost, I suggest this: 1) Read the Guide I included, top to bottom. Make sure you understand the logic 2) Analyze your squad, based on your own methods and/or this method 3) Choose which styles and formation you're going to use 4) Check the maps organisation and make sure you understand the logic of those 5) Use the maps to pick the right roles & duties for the styles you decided upon 6) "Proofread" those roles & duties on the excel spreadsheet, to check you have enough penetration, solidity and support on the attacking phase BONUS 1: Here's also a map with all the roles & duties, the unremovable instructions each role + duty has, and where each of those roles can be placed on the pitch. It also has a focus level value for each role & duty. If you use a more structured tactic, you should pick roles and duties with higher Focus level values, and vice versa. BONUS 2: Here's a map with the desirable attributes for each player instruction, according to Guide to FM. Hope you guys find it useful. Any input is welcome Roles and Duties - FM 2020.xlsx Roles and Duties - FM 2018.xlsx Edited December 27, 2019 by Zanman777 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Nobody? Is it useless? Is it obvious information? Is it wrong? Is it too difficult to read? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiani.ignacio Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 I dont understand how to download Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 5 minutes ago, chiani.ignacio said: I dont understand how to download You download it, and then open it. It is on html format, since it is a big diagram. I could export as pdf, but it would be trimmed to pages and would lose its "big map" format, defeating its purpose. Just download each file, and then open each file with any browser. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 (edited) 3 hours ago, chiani.ignacio said: I dont understand how to download Did you manage to open it? PS: 271 views, 319 downloads, no reply. Alright then, next time I won't bother sharing... Merry Christmas, everyone Edited December 14, 2019 by Zanman777 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FWalter91 Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Looks like I'll know what to do drinking my morning coffee sunday morning Thanks for putting this up 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiani.ignacio Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Zanman777 said: Did you manage to open it? PS: 271 views, 319 downloads, no reply. Alright then, next time I won't bother sharing... Merry Christmas, everyone I couldn't Yet. I'll continúe trying Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OWD Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 4 hours ago, Zanman777 said: PS: 271 views, 319 downloads, no reply. Alright then, next time I won't bother sharing... Merry Christmas, everyone I don't think people understand concepts like "core style", "number eight water carrier", etc. Also, you can't choose fluidity anymore. The game sets it for you. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Ok then, I'll be uploading a 6-page quick introduction to these concepts, also based on guidetofm.com explanations 1 minute ago, OWD said: I don't think people understand concepts like "core style", "number eight water carrier", etc. Also, you can't choose fluidity anymore. The game sets it for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedroig Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 1. Since it is html, you don't need each file, single one has all five pages. 2. Zoom is your friend. 3. What are your thoughts of putting the Penetration, Solidarity, and Support ratings for each position, along with a calculator? Attacking Structures Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Pedroig said: 1. Since it is html, you don't need each file, single one has all five pages. 2. Zoom is your friend. 3. What are your thoughts of putting the Penetration, Solidarity, and Support ratings for each position, along with a calculator? Attacking Structures Taking care of that as we speak 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiani.ignacio Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 thanks! very good work!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OWD Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 17 minutes ago, Zanman777 said: Ok then, I'll be uploading a 6-page quick introduction to these concepts, also based on guidetofm.com explanations Okay, fair enough. I appreciate your willingness to contribute with content. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andros Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 I have looked at the website a few times and you are right, it is a bit of a mess! So well done on trying to simplify it! That website takes creating tactics and makes it into trying to decipher a thesis..... That would scare many people away, especially those that already argue that creating a tactic has become too complicated. However, I wonder if other parts of that website could be added to your work. For example: https://www.guidetofm.com/tactics/choosing-roles-duties discusses penetration, solidarity and support, and gives an advised score (that score is debatable and would be interesting to see people's ideas on that). Then further down it looks at each role and duty and applies a penetration etc score to it. On the same page it also discusses how each position provides attacking cover, provides defensive cover, applies defensive pressure and plays safe and analyses each role and duty for this. It also suggests what roles to partner each role and duty with (see why this webpage is so complicated!). I also thought it may be better to divide the columns into styles from the bottom of https://www.guidetofootball.com/tactics/playing-styles like direct attacking football and analyse what would be suitable for each style. Then use that model to generate discussion and see what people could do to alter and improve it. It could also show us what could be wrong in the website's thinking and help us to understand tactics better. A few quick notes: I believe I have seen the mods on the SI forums say a few times that not everything is correct on that webpage, but I am not sure what parts are wrong. Also don't worry if people do not immediately reply to your post. Many people may not have checked the website you got it from and therefore might be confused. Maybe update your OP to explain a few concepts to help those reading the files. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Andros said: I have looked at the website a few times and you are right, it is a bit of a mess! So well done on trying to simplify it! That website takes creating tactics and makes it into trying to decipher a thesis..... That would scare many people away, especially those that already argue that creating a tactic has become too complicated. However, I wonder if other parts of that website could be added to your work. For example: https://www.guidetofm.com/tactics/choosing-roles-duties discusses penetration, solidarity and support, and gives an advised score (that score is debatable and would be interesting to see people's ideas on that). Then further down it looks at each role and duty and applies a penetration etc score to it. On the same page it also discusses how each position provides attacking cover, provides defensive cover, applies defensive pressure and plays safe and analyses each role and duty for this. It also suggests what roles to partner each role and duty with (see why this webpage is so complicated!). I also thought it may be better to divide the columns into styles from the bottom of https://www.guidetofootball.com/tactics/playing-styles like direct attacking football and analyse what would be suitable for each style. Then use that model to generate discussion and see what people could do to alter and improve it. It could also show us what could be wrong in the website's thinking and help us to understand tactics better. A few quick notes: I believe I have seen the mods on the SI forums say a few times that not everything is correct on that webpage, but I am not sure what parts are wrong. Also don't worry if people do not immediately reply to your post. Many people may not have checked the website you got it from and therefore might be confused. Maybe update your OP to explain a few concepts to help those reading the files. Alright! Thanks for the input! Will introduce people to the core concepts on the OP in a short while Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Added a 6-page text guide for the concepts mentioned on the roles & duties map 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Updated the map with the penetration, solidity and support scores of each role & duty 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mibsweden Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Only looked at this briefly, but man amazing work! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiani.ignacio Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 7 hours ago, Zanman777 said: Added a 6-page text guide for the concepts mentioned on the roles & duties map Thanks! It's very helpful! I used to read that page, but in some parts was very difficult to understand. This makes more simple. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Buddie Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 How do I view the maps on my iPhone? I click the link and it takes me to a blank screen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robson 07 Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Hard to read and no idea what it's telling me. Needs narrative. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 39 minutes ago, Robson 07 said: Hard to read and no idea what it's telling me. Needs narrative. Read the 6-page manual, you might understand better. If you need even more narrative, read this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Updated the Roles and Duties map to now have a much improved Central Defence section Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 The "map" is frustratingly extremely difficult to read and navigate in Google Chrome - you need to zoom it a billion times before it's readable, and by then you can drag it left and right but it doesn't let you drag vertically, in which case you need to scroll up and down by actually using the OUTER scrollbar since it generates two scrollbars, and if you use the mouse to scroll it drags the inner scrollbar which does nothing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 1 hour ago, noikeee said: The "map" is frustratingly extremely difficult to read and navigate in Google Chrome - you need to zoom it a billion times before it's readable, and by then you can drag it left and right but it doesn't let you drag vertically, in which case you need to scroll up and down by actually using the OUTER scrollbar since it generates two scrollbars, and if you use the mouse to scroll it drags the inner scrollbar which does nothing. True. What can I do to make it better, got any idea? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 5 hours ago, noikeee said: The "map" is frustratingly extremely difficult to read and navigate in Google Chrome - you need to zoom it a billion times before it's readable, and by then you can drag it left and right but it doesn't let you drag vertically, in which case you need to scroll up and down by actually using the OUTER scrollbar since it generates two scrollbars, and if you use the mouse to scroll it drags the inner scrollbar which does nothing. I converted the maps to image format. You can now zoom in + out with CTRL + scroll mouse, and left-click + drag to scroll. Should make things easier Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sovy666 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 In FM18 I follow the method proposed by guidetoFM to build a tactic around short plays and it was successful. Anyone trying for FM20? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 16 hours ago, Robson 07 said: Hard to read and no idea what it's telling me. Needs narrative. I've added some narrative to the original thread. I hope it is easier to understand the context and purpose of the maps. 2 hours ago, sovy666 said: In FM18 I follow the method proposed by guidetoFM to build a tactic around short plays and it was successful. Anyone trying for FM20? I haven't tried those tips just yet, but I'm eager to! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robson 07 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Zanman777 said: I've added some narrative to the original thread. I hope it is easier to understand the context and purpose of the maps. I'll take a look but want to say thank you, big effort on your part. Kudos. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 On 15/12/2019 at 01:57, Pedroig said: 1. Since it is html, you don't need each file, single one has all five pages. 2. Zoom is your friend. 3. What are your thoughts of putting the Penetration, Solidarity, and Support ratings for each position, along with a calculator? Attacking Structures UPDATE: Included an excel calculator to choose the positions, roles and duties of your tactic. Excel will calculate the team penetration, solidity and support scores for you! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Osborne Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Zanman777 said: UPDATE: Included an excel calculator to choose the positions, roles and duties of your tactic. Excel will calculate the team penetration, solidity and support scores for you! I can open it in Microsoft Office. I had to copy and paste the Position and Role - Duty fields, but it works. Thanks! Edited December 17, 2019 by Angus Osborne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 7 hours ago, Angus Osborne said: I can open it in Microsoft Office. I had to copy and paste the Position and Role - Duty fields, but it works. Thanks! Nice Anyway, another update: I have now included a Microsoft Excel version of the spreadsheet (.xlsx). I've tested it in Excel itself. It works now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiani.ignacio Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 I noticed that in the guidetoFM page now the values of penetration, support and strength have changed. you saw it? Will it be the same or will it change a lot? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Ace Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Just now, chiani.ignacio said: I noticed that in the guidetoFM page now the values of penetration, support and strength have changed. you saw it? Will it be the same or will it change a lot? It changed loads going from 18 to 19, it was way simpler Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 hour ago, chiani.ignacio said: I noticed that in the guidetoFM page now the values of penetration, support and strength have changed. you saw it? Will it be the same or will it change a lot? 1 hour ago, Johnny Ace said: It changed loads going from 18 to 19, it was way simpler UPDATE: added a version of the spreadsheet for Football Manager 2020. Have fun! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigMattic1 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Mate, you got the original LibreOffice version you posted? I cant get it to work now it's an excel spreadsheet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 9 minutes ago, EnigMattic1 said: Mate, you got the original LibreOffice version you posted? I cant get it to work now it's an excel spreadsheet. Here you go Roles and duties.ods Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigMattic1 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 minute ago, Zanman777 said: Here you go Roles and duties.ods 8.34 kB · 0 downloads Brilliant. Cheers mate Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigMattic1 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Thats only got the scores and not the calculator? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 56 minutes ago, EnigMattic1 said: Thats only got the scores and not the calculator? Sorry about that. Here it is: Roles and duties - FM 2018 Calc Edition.ods Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigMattic1 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 That's the one. Cheers. Out of interest, is there any reason Inverted Winger isn't selectable from the dropdown on WF? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 minute ago, EnigMattic1 said: That's the one. Cheers. Out of interest, is there any reason Inverted Winger isn't selectable from the dropdown on WF? Yes, because in FM 2018 you can't pick inverted winger in the WF position You can only do so in FM 2020. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnigMattic1 Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 minute ago, Zanman777 said: Yes, because in FM 2018 you can't pick inverted winger in the WF position You can only do so in FM 2020. Would it work if I copied them from WM to WF? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 minute ago, EnigMattic1 said: Would it work if I copied them from WM to WF? Erm... what do you mean? The penetration, solidity and support values for a WF Inverted Winger are undefined by the Guide to Football Manager site... because there is no such thing in FM 2018... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazycanuck Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 amazing stuff. thank you. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) UPDATE: Created a map with the unremovable player instructions each role & duty comes with, and where each role can play on the pitch. Edited December 18, 2019 by Zanman777 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarin Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I am absolutely bamboozled. How do you use the calculator? When you give your explanation Imagine you're talking to a small child. I can't use these new fangled spreadsheet things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share Posted December 18, 2019 9 hours ago, Atarin said: I am absolutely bamboozled. How do you use the calculator? When you give your explanation Imagine you're talking to a small child. I can't use these new fangled spreadsheet things. Ok. First off, I'm going to asssume you have Microsoft Office in your computer (inlcuding Excel). Which Football Manager do you play? 2018 or 2020? Download the right file for your FM. Open it. The only sheet that matters to you is the Tactics sheet (the first one). Forget everything else! in that sheet, the only cells you change are the "Position" and the "Role - Duty" columns. The others are only for you to read data from. First, select a slot's Position. An arrow pointing down will show up. Click it. There will ve a list of positions for you to choose from. Pick one. AFTER you have picked a position for tht slot, do the same thing on the Role - Duty column: click the cell; then click the arrow button that shows up next to it: Pick a role - duty from that list. This order is important! The available roles duties depend on the position on that slot! Repeat for all 10 positions of the tactic you're designing. After you've picked all 10 positions + roles duties, the total scores will show at the bottom. And that's it. I hope that makes it clearer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yann Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) Hi, good job, i will try to use it on a new save. Just a question, what is the meaning of the 'warning sign' in the pictures ? Thanks Edited December 18, 2019 by yann 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanman777 Posted December 18, 2019 Author Share Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) 18 minutes ago, yann said: Hi, good job, i will try to use it on a new save. Just a question, what is the meaning of the 'warning sign' in the pictures ? Thanks Thanks! They mean you should take a look at the "Special Roles - Caveats" picture. There you will find some notes about that particular role: who you should pair the role with, etc. Edited December 18, 2019 by Zanman777 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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