The process of analyzing a team to form a tactic/playstyle

[Jeroentjee]

Help me figuring out how to analyze a New team and create a tactic from scratch based on attributes of players !

After a weird period of time (resigned at middlesbrough for bournemouth for premier league football, got relegated and middlesbrough got promoted 😅) i found my way to get a job at Newcastle United. Tactic wise it was easy at all the low levels,  but now that the quality of the teams is so much better i need help in the basics,  what makes team x fitting tactic y. I dont want a plug 'n play tactic, i want someone to explain to me what this team is best in and specificly why. So are you bored at work? Help a fellow manager out ! Been playing fm since 12, but tactic wise it hasnt really clicked since a year or 2. In the links You see the team,  attributes and positions. Im on fm 22 touch. I hope i can get some help here!

https://ibb.co/z7w5FFB
https://ibb.co/ZYNZTCJ
https://ibb.co/bbSYqT5
https://ibb.co/yBH18Mh
https://ibb.co/hL31xzN
https://ibb.co/ryN5VBY
https://ibb.co/BCj9nZ9
https://ibb.co/ftvjSDB

 

Not wanting to Come across as a lazy Guy, so let me add my first thoughts:

A stacked team, with very good first touch, stamina and passing. Physical as well and some good pace.  Also some good full backs and overall strong. I would think a 4231 with inside forwards could work, but im worried about my best player not getting the space hé needs to be his best (zhakaryan). I think a gegenpress style would suit this team. Just need to find out how this works and how to implement this style.

 

I tried researching this on youtube and forums,  but somehow i miss maybe 10 percent of knowledge to make it fully click... i hope someone can help me here getting that 10 percent..

[Johnny Ace]

You could try putting your together a a tactic, trying it out then reporting if you have any problems

If you're fancying  a 4-2-3-1, have a look at your strikers, start from there. who the best striker and what sort of striker is he? What traits does he have? If he's an all out attack and score type player then you're looking at a AF(A), PF(A) or P(A). If's he creative, then look at the more creative forward roles like a DLF, then you'll probably need a more attacking role coming in from the wing or behind. That sort of thing 

Unless of course, someone has little to do at work today and wants to put a tactic together for you 

[Jeroentjee]

2 hours ago, Johnny Ace said:

You could try putting your together a a tactic, trying it out then reporting if you have any problems

If you're fancying  a 4-2-3-1, have a look at your strikers, start from there. who the best striker and what sort of striker is he? What traits does he have? If he's an all out attack and score type player then you're looking at a AF(A), PF(A) or P(A). If's he creative, then look at the more creative forward roles like a DLF, then you'll probably need a more attacking role coming in from the wing or behind. That sort of thing 

Unless of course, someone has little to do at work today and wants to put a tactic together for you 

Thanks for your tip! I Will put that to good use.

Just a lil correction,  i dont want someone to give me a tactic, i Just want tips to how People see a tactic Come to life looking at their squad you know what i mean? Like they see the attributes and be like oh alot of players have x y z so playstyle 1 works best for that. I understand the basics, like if you have very poor attacking full backs you should keep them lower on the field, and you are able to be a bit riskier with your wingers. But in this example, how to play zaharyan in the best place with enough space around him that hé can do his thing. 

[Johnny Ace]

43 minutes ago, Jeroentjee said:

Thanks for your tip! I Will put that to good use.

Just a lil correction,  i dont want someone to give me a tactic, i Just want tips to how People see a tactic Come to life looking at their squad you know what i mean? Like they see the attributes and be like oh alot of players have x y z so playstyle 1 works best for that. I understand the basics, like if you have very poor attacking full backs you should keep them lower on the field, and you are able to be a bit riskier with your wingers. But in this example, how to play zaharyan in the best place with enough space around him that hé can do his thing. 

I'm with you

Just a general tip, when you create a tactic, the assistant manager will highlight the play styles he feels are suitable, I'm not saying use a pre made tactic but he sort of does some of the work for you 

[bosque]

hace 2 horas, Jeroentjee dijo:

Thanks for your tip! I Will put that to good use.

Just a lil correction,  i dont want someone to give me a tactic, i Just want tips to how People see a tactic Come to life looking at their squad you know what i mean? Like they see the attributes and be like oh alot of players have x y z so playstyle 1 works best for that. I understand the basics, like if you have very poor attacking full backs you should keep them lower on the field, and you are able to be a bit riskier with your wingers. But in this example, how to play zaharyan in the best place with enough space around him that hé can do his thing. 

I can recommend you reading this recent guide, it helps you to create the base of a tactic using common sense. Is a good place to start:

 

[Jeroentjee]

22 hours ago, bosque said:

I can recommend you reading this recent guide, it helps you to create the base of a tactic using common sense. Is a good place to start:

 

Very interesting topic indeed. Kinda came up with the following using this method. Maybe one of you guys could tell me what ya think?

 

       Poacher 

IF(AT)         WI(SUP)

   CM(SUP)  CM(ATT, ZAKHARYAN)

                 BWM(SUP)

WB (D) CD           CD      FB (ATT)

                  SK(SUP)

 

On a positive mentality,  wide, standard passing,  higher tempo, counter and higher higher lines. Its very basic and it had a bit of succes, but i think that i give this team too much Praise quality wise. I think we are not that good as i thoughts so i think ill put the lines down more..

[dcayton9]

Ok so after looking at your squad, I'd say you have a solid team for positive, so stick that as the mentality. Then, go with higher defensive line as your defenders are fast (except Koopmeiners, but I suspect he's a rotation player), and test line of engagement at higher. If you find your attackers are tiring out quickly and not enough mistakes are being forced through the high press, switch it to standard. Your squad has good players for the high press with good stamina and work rate, but McNeil, Daka, Tsygankov, and Zakharyan all lack aggression to constantly be a nuisance to the opposition, so it may be ineffective which is why I'd test it, and if you're seeing no highlights come from that, switch it to normal. Last, I'd stick with the high press, as you can create an aggressive block with your deeper players and they have the quality for it, but maybe drop it to standard against elite opposition in the league/UCL. 

Then, I'd go for a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. You could even make one of each tactic and see what you think plays better. Aside from the CDs, you have some options regarding defend duty, as none of your players are particularly limited. Therefore, the last player I'd set to defend would be Kessie, as a BWM (d) as he doesn't have spectacular attacking stats, but can cover ground and tackle strongly. You're right about getting Zakharyan on an attacking duty, and I'd suggest as a playmaker, given his amazing skills. Furthering that, in a 4-2-3-1 I'd even deploy him as a trequartista, so he doesn't waste attacking energy in a high pressing system or as an AP(a) in the 4-3-3. You should also run an AF instead of Poacher in a single striker system, as your strikers are fast and have great movement (except Gomez, who I'd play as a poacher when you start him). Lastly, if you want to play more direct, set a wide player to attack. In one tactic, we'll do a wingback and in one we'll do an inverted winger on opposite sides, but this can be transferred to the other depending on area you want your creation from, simply swap the duties around or sides around. I'm sure you know, but try to use a left footed player as a Winger on the left or an IW on the right, so in my tactics, either start McNeil and Tsygankov together, or start Thielmann and Curtis Jones or Kean on a flank. Your starting wingers and fullbacks are all capable of an attack duty, so maybe just check PPMs or use your personal preference on what you want. Then, fill the rest in on support and we come out to two shapes. If you want more fluid play or most of the creativity to be filtered through Zakharyan, use only the attack duties on him and your ST

 

 

Last, attacking instructions. I think you're actually spot on with what you have now. Wide, standard passing, higher tempo, and to counter in transition your fast attackers with good width support the ability to do that. 

Final note, IW vs IF is up to discretion, I'd suggest McNeil as an IW when played and Thielmann as an IF when played but they are similar players, just IF is more direct than IW.

[Tsuru]

I normally look at the assistant manager´s suggestions to give me a starting point. Right now he says Tiki Taka is a good style for my team, so I have been working on the original TIs of the template to create my own possession/attacking tactic. I do, however, select the formation, roles and duties by myself, normally looking for topics here at the forums to inspire myself. Then I start testing, tweaking and looking for what works best for the tactic itself.

I think FM has become more realistic over the past years, developing a tactic now is a process and it takes time. You will hardly match everything immediately, patience is key to success.

[Jeroentjee]

15 hours ago, dcayton9 said:

Ok so after looking at your squad, I'd say you have a solid team for positive, so stick that as the mentality. Then, go with higher defensive line as your defenders are fast (except Koopmeiners, but I suspect he's a rotation player), and test line of engagement at higher. If you find your attackers are tiring out quickly and not enough mistakes are being forced through the high press, switch it to standard. Your squad has good players for the high press with good stamina and work rate, but McNeil, Daka, Tsygankov, and Zakharyan all lack aggression to constantly be a nuisance to the opposition, so it may be ineffective which is why I'd test it, and if you're seeing no highlights come from that, switch it to normal. Last, I'd stick with the high press, as you can create an aggressive block with your deeper players and they have the quality for it, but maybe drop it to standard against elite opposition in the league/UCL. 

Then, I'd go for a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. You could even make one of each tactic and see what you think plays better. Aside from the CDs, you have some options regarding defend duty, as none of your players are particularly limited. Therefore, the last player I'd set to defend would be Kessie, as a BWM (d) as he doesn't have spectacular attacking stats, but can cover ground and tackle strongly. You're right about getting Zakharyan on an attacking duty, and I'd suggest as a playmaker, given his amazing skills. Furthering that, in a 4-2-3-1 I'd even deploy him as a trequartista, so he doesn't waste attacking energy in a high pressing system or as an AP(a) in the 4-3-3. You should also run an AF instead of Poacher in a single striker system, as your strikers are fast and have great movement (except Gomez, who I'd play as a poacher when you start him). Lastly, if you want to play more direct, set a wide player to attack. In one tactic, we'll do a wingback and in one we'll do an inverted winger on opposite sides, but this can be transferred to the other depending on area you want your creation from, simply swap the duties around or sides around. I'm sure you know, but try to use a left footed player as a Winger on the left or an IW on the right, so in my tactics, either start McNeil and Tsygankov together, or start Thielmann and Curtis Jones or Kean on a flank. Your starting wingers and fullbacks are all capable of an attack duty, so maybe just check PPMs or use your personal preference on what you want. Then, fill the rest in on support and we come out to two shapes. If you want more fluid play or most of the creativity to be filtered through Zakharyan, use only the attack duties on him and your ST

 

 

Last, attacking instructions. I think you're actually spot on with what you have now. Wide, standard passing, higher tempo, and to counter in transition your fast attackers with good width support the ability to do that. 

Final note, IW vs IF is up to discretion, I'd suggest McNeil as an IW when played and Thielmann as an IF when played but they are similar players, just IF is more direct than IW.

Dude you are spot on. Im so happy you think i am on the good track and the scary thing is... all the players you mentioned were sold as i used your way of thinking to conclude they were fine players,  but Just not what complimented the rest of my team. Im looking more at attributes now because of your guide. I do this, because i understand better now what attribute is good for which role or TI. 

 

Furthermore (im almost done, Just want to give you a reply as you took so much time to write yours) i didnt do great in the season i took over... i ended up 11th in the league (they were 17th when i took over). What i did win.... is the freaking champions league. I didnt understand as first. But when i looked at Who i line up in the CL (the important matches) and in league games i understood. Not enough aggresion,  other mental stats and my defenders were 50 percent worse than the starting line up. So for the next season, i focused on improving this and well... it went great in my eyes,  2nd in the league now but enjoying it more, really looking forward to new posts in your topic tho. I Just have 1 problem, over the top thru balls man they do my head in... is lower line the only option to fix that? 

 

Ill add some screens,  maybe its nice for you to see what your guide done for someones save game and how it increased my squad quality!

 

I got freaking davies! The perfect left back, expensive as hell, 90 mil, but amazing and selling all the non agressive players that didnt performance. I have rhe feeling my squad is alot better man.

[Jeroentjee]

6 hours ago, Tsuru said:

I normally look at the assistant manager´s suggestions to give me a starting point. Right now he says Tiki Taka is a good style for my team, so I have been working on the original TIs of the template to create my own possession/attacking tactic. I do, however, select the formation, roles and duties by myself, normally looking for topics here at the forums to inspire myself. Then I start testing, tweaking and looking for what works best for the tactic itself.

I think FM has become more realistic over the past years, developing a tactic now is a process and it takes time. You will hardly match everything immediately, patience is key to success.

First one is an absolute great method to get a direction to go. The thing for me was with this that i really want to learn the analyzing of a squad and see the mvps of the team and connect a tactic towards them. Normally i got my kicks out of playing moneyball,  full on analyzing stats, finding better and better players for cheaper and cheaper.  Now on fm 22 touch,  you only can see assist and goals,  and assist per 90 mins and goals per 90 mins so that part that i loved fell of (bummer SI come on...). So thats why i want to get into making tactics more, and yeah patience is everything with that... i feel that when joining a team in january or february for example... those first games in the middle of a season? Damn...

[Tsuru]

15 horas atrás, Jeroentjee disse:

First one is an absolute great method to get a direction to go. The thing for me was with this that i really want to learn the analyzing of a squad and see the mvps of the team and connect a tactic towards them. Normally i got my kicks out of playing moneyball,  full on analyzing stats, finding better and better players for cheaper and cheaper.  Now on fm 22 touch,  you only can see assist and goals,  and assist per 90 mins and goals per 90 mins so that part that i loved fell of (bummer SI come on...). So thats why i want to get into making tactics more, and yeah patience is everything with that... i feel that when joining a team in january or february for example... those first games in the middle of a season? Damn...

If you want to go deeper on this analysing process and learn how to do it by yourself, I recommend reading Rashidi´s guide about it. He has great tips about using the attribute comparison tool and how to apply the insights when building a tactic: