[FM24] Do as your told, bringing back old school tactics to the modern game.

[Millerman]

I have often thought what an old approach to the modern game would result in.....

So lets set the scene.

Doncaster Rovers - Division 4 Football (sorry league 2). I have given myself the top range in previous football experience and coaching badges, no editors being used but have allowed myself to see all attributes to the players from the off - not played Footy Manager for a while so didn't want to make it super hard with my first venture for a while.

Tactics - I have saved the tactic, so if anyone wants it sending, just ask - it may well be a complete mess, but lets see what happens eh.

So we are going with an old fashioned back four and goalkeeper - the goalkeeper will keep the ball out the net, none of this fancy sweeping up stuff we see today. Catch the ball, and boot it, simple. The actual back 4 are no nonsense defenders, stop the ball from going anywhere near our keeper, full backs are to defend. Centre halves are also to defend, so pretty much don't need to do anything other than stop the other team, then hoof it up front.

Four in the middle, and wingers to wing!!! Hug the touch line and wait for the ball to drop from the sky and then run at the other team and as soon as they can, get it in the mixer. Our middle two are just box to box midfielders, do a lot of running, and tackling and hoofing the ball. Don't need a range of passing other than being able to kick it the right way and run,

Two lads up top, I want them to do what they want, when they want, just stay up top and wait for the ball to drop from the sky or it fired into them from one of the wingers.

When in possession, So when we have the ball, I want it out to the wings, and into the box - oh and shoot, shoot a lot, whenever we have a chance as I'm not interested in the perfect goal. The less touches the better, get it in the net! Hoof it, run after it, 100 mile an hour footy and pretty much do what you want, just score goals and win matches.

 

I get a little lost when it comes to 'in transition' you either have the ball or don't right? Well, what I expect the team to do is get the ball back as quick as they can by working as a team and doing what we do in training. Oh and when the keeper has the ball in his hands, we wont be slowing the game down, we will be hoofing the ball up top, winning it and then scoring...simples!

So when we don't have the ball, I want us to kick people until we do, which will result in lots of yellow cards and red cards, but that means the squad will be used and no players can moan about not getting game time. A high line, with a focus on stopping balls being crossed into our box.

So when we don't have the ball, I want us to kick people until we do, which will result in lots of yellow cards and red cards, but that means the squad will be used and no players can moan about not getting game time. A high line, with a focus on stopping balls being crossed into our box.

 

It's time to look at the squad before offering 100's of trials so we can see what is available for nothing as Doncaster are skint, not one penny to spend on players and not a penny for wages at the moment. We do have 6 players on loan, paying out £6.8k a week in wages, so in 28 days time they will all be gone as I would rather than 3 or 4 of my own players and ask the youths to play when the first time are missing from suspension.

So what do we think gang? Is the recipe above for disaster? Or will old school football find a home again?

Edited June 15 by Millerman

[Millerman]

Pre-Season is done and dusted, the players have been getting used to the formation and the fans have got their monies worth in terms of goals in pre-season.

Initial thoughts on the formation is that its gonna be fun, most games have been 48/52 ish in terms of possession to the other teams, where the teams are pants we have been smashing 30+ shots off, then the better teams less than 5, but goals have been found.

I have sent all loans back and brought those out on loan back and have had a good 350+ players in on trial and am starting to pick a few young uns up.

Results

Transfers Out = None

Transfers In, both the below have gone into the U18s and are for the future, as and when they make the 1st team squad we will take  a look at their stats etc.

So it's the seasonal opener - Harrogate Town at home.......let's have it!

 

[Millerman]

August done and dusted, and a pretty good start to the campaign, but lets not talk about hitting the woodwork 4 times before being dumped out of the cup!

Sat in 2nd place, I'm more than happy with the start the team have made. However lots of work to do in the transfer department both in and out of the club with many players only 1 or 2 star rating for the position they are being asked to play.

Below are the stats I am keeping an eye on when it comes to the matches and how they change as and when I bring players into the club,

With our 100 mile an hour and launch it approach I'm hoping the pass completion and possession stats start to even out as the team get used to playing this formation and I bring players in who are natural in what is being asked from them.

3 more players have been signed, Timo is for the future whilst Nathan has come in as first choice keeper, with him being better in the role his overall current ability is better than that of Louis

At the other end of the pitch Ryan has been brought in to push the current front 2, the scouts had told me he was double the role ability that it turns out to be so I'm a little annoyed with that, I now have 4 forwards that are just 1 star at the role. That said, they have fired in 8 goals between themselves so far, but yes a little annoyed with the scouting team.

5 league and 1 cup game to come in September, lets see if we can keep robbing teams of victory and showing old school football can be competitive in the lower leagues of English football.

[Millerman]

September was another decent month, can't keep a clean sheet, but that's expected as its all about scoring one more than the other team.

Sat top of the pile, we will enjoy it whilst it lasts. Board wanted a top half finish, so we are on track to smash that, whilst fans of both clubs see an exciting no nonsense style of football that tests their teams with a old style football, whilst the fans of our team get used to the 'new' brand of football on show.

One player has come to the club, however I already feel like putting him on the transfer list as yet again my scouts tell me one thing, he arrives and is another.

An A+ signing by the scouting team, he rocks up and is way down the list of starting, hopefully he comes good when the injuries start to bite.

6 league and a cup game to come this month to keep us busy, also got the board to sign off an U21 team, so players are starting to shuffle round squads. This will also give my non first team starters regular football meaning nice and sharp when coming off the bench or stepping in to cover injuries.

The front two, even with them being 1 star for the role are banging the goals in, I imagine once rounder pegs for the holes are found then more and more goals will come.

[Rick87]

Interesting idea, as a lover of old school rough and tumble football, I hope you do well. I find all this play out of defence, sideways passing stuff boring as hell.

 

I like the presentation of your updates too, keep it up!

[Millerman]

Thank you @Rick87 maybe Southgate needs a copy of the tactic sending to him - that was awful again tonight!

October seem a much tougher month than it should have been, we are still in 2nd place but the midweek games seem to be tough on us and the squad as we really are thin on quality.

Miller and Ironside continue to lead the way in terms of goals with the odd goal coming from other areas of the pitch, we still see the majority of goals coming from the front two. We seem to struggle against teams that lump the ball over the top, so I'm going to need at look at bringing in quicker centre halves, and also corners are an issue where I think more height is required. Ryan Cassidy who I thought may have been a dud has banged a couple of goals in the last 2 games he has played, meaning I hope I now have 3 strikers I can rota between keeping them hungry and smashing those goals in.

Ended up picking up a decent signing in Ben Paton who can play left back, left winger and in the middle of the park. Once fit I do expect him to make a difference to the team and add some quality

A busy month in front of us with 2 cup games and 4 league games, closing in on the half way point of the season I am hoping we can keep within the play offs and give us belief of being in the mix come the end of the season. The board wanted a top half finish, so that 'should' be achievable.

[Millerman]

November was a grim old month with the 2nd day bringing about news of our top scorer slipping a disc in the gym and 3 months on the side-lines (at least). The positive is we are still in 2nd place and 4 points clear of dropping out of the automatic spots. I do however think we are punching well above our weight and the season will soon catch up with us.

The style of football we play will always result in goals against, but the number of world class long shots from 30 yard that fly in are amazing, something I may well need to tweak in terms of tactics once I have a years worth of stats under my belt. The injury to Ironside really has rocked the team, Miller seems really out of form and we are losing a lot more of the ball when lumped forward! Get well quickly Ironside, 

Had some crappy luck as well, hit the woodwork I don't know how many times, had red cards and the inability to hit the back of the net from penalties has cost us hard, especially against top of the table Colchester in our last match.

Onwards we march into December and as we know with English football, lots of games to be played. If we are in the play offs come the end of the year I will be a very, very happy bunny.

Are we England in disguise

 

[Millerman]

What an awful month December was as the wheels continue to slowly come off the Doncaster promotion push. Granted the media said a top half finish would be good, early season form pointed to a decent season. I feel the loss of Ironside has been harder to take that I first thought and with our moto of attack is the best form of attack, then this really is true.

Starting to get over-run, out-fought and just out-footballed this month has been a shocker and with the transfer window opening, I may try and force a few players out of the club to make way for a couple of players more suited to what I want from my team. Ironside should be back in the middle of January, and he's going straight back into the line up as Miller is lost without him.

Not long now Ironside