decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Share Posted August 1, 2023 (edited) I've played the FM series since FM06. I've always been more of a plug-and-play/delegating manager for various reasons: 1. Convenience if I'm honest. Instant success (especially with the season Leicester had this year) is a big attraction but eventually, it gets stale. I like to play Football Manager as a release from having medium levels of disabilities and mental health issues and winning game after game provides somewhat of a mental boost. It might just be my perception though, but plug N' Play has less long-term success in FM23 than in previous games. 2. Some of the features frankly bewilder me. I've never understood the training side of the game, and I've never delved into scouting in recent games, preferring to delegate as much power to my scouts as possible. I love the detail, but only up to a point as it does feel daunting. I've decided to thus try: 1. Become adept at creating my own tactics on FM23. I've tried before, but have failed, but this time I've bought an eBook called 'the art of football management' which I found very interesting and I intend to make use of the tactics section of this forum and other online sources which I've found daunting in the past (I don't understand a lot and fear to ask questions in case I'm revealed as a tactical dunce). 2. Dealing with training, scouting, and player development myself. Again by making use of those online sources. I chose Australia as I know nothing about the players there which may turn out to be a bad choice as the only thing I do know is that it has transfer rules to a similar level of complexity as America or China. I chose Western United as they finished midtable in real life and don't have much of an existing club culture meaning that It's more of a blank slate. I have 37 nations (focused on Asia at the moment but I could swap them out for more European nations depending on how the save game develops later on if I get that far) loaded at 162k players and I intend to start playing in 1-2 hours (got something to do first) but what advice would you give to someone throwing themselves in at the deep end of FM23 who has previously been scared to do so? Edited August 24, 2023 by decapitated 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 OK first things first board/fan expectations top half finish be competitive against the other two Melbourne sides Unfortunately for whatever reason, on FM23, the A-League doesn't give you league odds so it's difficult to know how good you are compared to other A-League sides. I think mid-table and the weaker of the 3 Melbourne sides is a fair assessment. Working out the squad's general strengths and weaknesses Spoiler Overall Squad Advantages: Anticipation Decisions Flair Leadership Off The Ball Long Shots Overall Squad Disadvantages: Acceleration Agility Determination Jumping Reach Teamwork Work Rate Vision Dribbling Passing Technique So far this rules more out (headed goals, Gegenpress, Tiki-Taka) than in Defenders stats Advantages: Pace Decisions free kick taking Agility Aggression Anticipation Bravery Concentration Disadvantages: Determination Leadership Strength Jumping Reach Acceleration High Bravery and low Strength is an interesting combination Midfielders stats: Advantages: Natural Fitness Bravery Concentration Decisions Free Kicks Long Shots Corners Crossing First Touch Disadvantages: Tackling Agility Pace Strength Leadership Work Rate I'm starting to get more of an idea of what could work. Play for set pieces and shoot on sight Strikers stats: Advantages: Natural Fitness Strength Bravery Concentration Decisions Finishing (2nd in the league) First Touch (1st in the league) Heading (2nd in the league) Passing Technique Disadvantages: Acceleration Agility Pace Stamina Determination Leadership Vision Work Rate It seems our strikers are much better in the air attacking than our defenders defending so corners and free-kick set pieces are the way to go as well as headed goals being back in. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Star/Important players One of our two designated players. Extremely slow but good stats elsewhere Our best player. at on 1.9k a week which is far too low for a player of his standard. at 39 he's old and has no physical presence but his Technical and Mental skills are high. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 OK, this is my first attempt at a positive tactic after reading up on things. Hopefully, It's not too awful. I used the Tiki-Taka base tactic out of two other suggested tactics (Vertical Tiki-Taka and Wing play were the other suggested tactics). Changes I made I changed from high press to mid-block (I don't believe my defence are good enough for a high press) Switched to Stay on feet (to avoid cards and avoid fatigue) Play for set pieces to play to their strengths Told wingers/full backs to aim for the centre where the striker is and told the striker to shoot more often I also set up the training program. It's less scary than first thought. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Here's my more defensive formation. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Before the match, our captain Diamanti explained to the squad what the punishments would be for a sending off. Just as well as he got him sent off two minutes in for a two-footed tackle from behind in an unthreatening area. I immediately changed our formation and switched to a cautious mentality. My tactic of conserving energy paid off as in the 2nd half we outplayed them despite only being ten men. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 As one of the other Melbourne teams is playing at home at the stadium we all share, we are playing in Tasmania. Does this happen in real life? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gee_Simpson Posted August 1, 2023 Share Posted August 1, 2023 I'll be following this with interest mate, nice OP. Honestly though, don't feel like you need to do scouting and training yourself if it's something you don't enjoy, there's no shame in delegating things to your staff. If you are enjoying it though, then that's great Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 7 minutes ago, Gee_Simpson said: I'll be following this with interest mate, nice OP. Honestly though, don't feel like you need to do scouting and training yourself if it's something you don't enjoy, there's no shame in delegating things to your staff. If you are enjoying it though, then that's great The training is more enjoyable than I imagined so I imagine I'll be doing it from now on going forward. 2 draws where we were the better side. I'll take that at this stage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 We comfortably controlled most of the match but struggled to find the target until Arzani's equalizer in the 81st minute. Not wanting three draws in a row, I then took a chance and changed our mentality to very attacking. After Prijovic's 2nd goal, I switched it to very defensive at which point Diamanti got a third. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Some facts about the A-League Quote The regular season runs mainly during the Australian summer, from early October to April of the following year. The competition consists of 26 rounds, with each team playing every other team two or three times. The teams allotted two home matches against an opponent in one season are allotted one home match against that opponent in the following season. Each match sees the winning team awarded three competition points, with one point each for a draw. The club at the top of this ladder is crowned A-League Premiers, and since the 2005–06 season has been entered into the AFC Champions League.The Premier is presented with a trophy known as the Premier's Plate. At the completion of the regular season the top six placed teams on the league table progress to the finals series. The position of each team is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked: Highest goal difference; Highest number of goals scored; Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned; Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned; Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned; Lowest number of red cards accumulated; Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated; Toss of a coin. The top 6 teams go into a play off at the end of the regular season Quote The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to the finals series. The finals series culminates to the A-League grand final, where the winner is crowned A-League champion. The club that wins the grand final is presented with the A-League Champions Trophy. The finals series consists of six teams who are placed by rank, as determined at the end of the regular season. The finals series runs over four weeks. In the first week of fixtures, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match, with the two winners of those matches joining the first and second ranked teams in two-legged ties played over two weeks. The two winners of those matches meet in the grand final. This method was initially adopted for the 2021–22 season. Up until 2022, between the two grand finalists, the team that finished higher on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season hosted the grand final. The only exception to this was if the FA deemed that team's home ground to be an inappropriate venue. For example, in 2008, Central Coast Mariners (as the higher-placed team) hosted the grand final against the Newcastle Jets at Sydney Football Stadium, due to FFA deciding that Central Coast Mariners' home stadium, Central Coast Stadium with a capacity of 20,000, was too small for the event. On 12 December 2022, the Australian Professional Leagues announced that the grand finals for the 2022–23, 2023–2024 and 2024–25 seasons would be hosted in Sydney,a move which received considerable backlash. Unbeknownst to me, Western United FC won the playoff in 2022 after finishing 3rd in the league. I perhaps would have chosen another team if I had known, but what's done is done. There is also the Australia Cup Quote The competition proper is a 32-team knockout tournament. In the event of a match being drawn after the completion of 90 minutes, extra time is played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if required. In some preliminary rounds, games can go straight to penalties if tied at 90 minutes. Up until the 2019 edition, all A-League teams entered at the Round of 32. From 2021, only the top eight placed A-League Men clubs for the previous season gain automatic qualification, with the remaining four teams subject to a play-off series for the remaining two positions. From 2022 an open draw for each round is made from the Round of 32 to the Semi-Finals, with home ground preference given to Member Federation Clubs where they are drawn against A-League opposition.[25] In 2021 there was a restricted draw for the Round of 32 and Round of 16, split into different geographic zones to minimise travel requirements. In prior years, the draw was made to ensure that there would be some progression of Member Federation Clubs to later rounds, including one Member Federation club guaranteed to make the Semi Final. Wellington Phoenix have additional restrictions imposed as they are a New Zealand-based team, and must play all of their matches in Australia, away from home. Talking of which we are in the semi-finals of that competition for our next match Our best midfielder Doumbia is suspended, but after drawing 2-2 away with 10 men to City a few matches ago, I'm quietly confident we might get a result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 The Data Hub is open for business! Spoiler The hub information more or less tells what we already know (slow but clinical up front, bad in the air all round, very good at passing) In 2021 I started uploading highlight videos to one of my youtube accounts. Somehow I ended up with 24 subscribers. I know you guys don't tend to be interested in video footage, but since it's there for the odd match, I thought I'd share it anyway. I might upload full matches for games where trophies are on the line so those who would like to see what the playing style looks like can, though again, I think that will be more for the 24 subscribers than for you guys, but you are welcome to watch anyways. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 No pressure then... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 It seems City went for a pressing/counter attacking tactic due to our tactics. Our next opponents in the A League, Central Coast Mariners play a park the bus style of the football with elements of counterattack. It was recommended in the Data Hub we got for a low block so I'll try that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 I switched to tackle harder and a balanced mentality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Next up is Adelaide United. From this we see that their AML (Ryan Kitto and Nestroy Irankunda both play there) is a weak point. I've switched my RB to be more attack than my LB rather than vice versa. I might focus on the right flank or underlap from the right in the match if it isn't going our way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 In the A-League there is a wage cap of 29k. Designated players are exempt from this. You can have up to 4 and we have 2. You can have 5 foreign players. Ideally, this means all those 5 should be first-team regulars. One of the 5 for WUFC is Tomoki Imai who isn't good enough to be a first-time regular. add in the fact we need more quality and height/heading in defence, then the first transfer decision is to sell him (window opens on 11th Jan 2023) and get another foreign player in. My scouts have so far come across two CBs with good Jumping Reach/Heading stats available on a free transfer. One is slightly better than the other but demands much more in wages. My preferred candidate. The more expensive backup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Two corner set pieces and a penalty. Nicely done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 Next up is Welling Phoenix. They dominate the left and are ok in the centre, but struggle on the right so that's where we are focusing on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 (edited) Concentrating on the right flank turned out to be a mistake as they focused on both flanks instead of the centre. Edited August 2, 2023 by decapitated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 With a month's pause for the World Cup this is the state of play. We've not lost any league games, but we've drawn all our away games. Up front, there's no problem, defence is where any improvements should be made. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 2, 2023 Author Share Posted August 2, 2023 First away victory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 WSW played defensive possession-based football. They didn't have a single shot on target but were hard to break down until we got a set piece from a free kick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 This means he's a doubt during our main derby game against Melbourne Victory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 Diamanti recovers in time to Face Melbourne Victory. We've gone attacking with this one due to the gulf in quality apart from a 36 year old Nani between them and us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 The score could have been much higher in this one Disappointing, but it provides a chance for one of the younger players to deputise for a month or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 3, 2023 Author Share Posted August 3, 2023 A total collapse and I don't know why. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Another injury Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 His final act was to injure 3 of our players in one match, 2 of them for more than a month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 I sold my Japanese CB who was hardly featuring to a Qatari club for £140k and signed this guy for the final foreign slot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decapitated Posted August 4, 2023 Author Share Posted August 4, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now