woolymuffler

What does the previous match analysis show (at the bottom of the tactics panel)? It's not perfect but it can give some ideas on problem areas. I personally think you might be a bit too defensive. Low Defensive line plus Low Block means you aren't that compressed despite defending deep, plus pressing more often leads to players getting pulled out of position. Higher amounts of pressing works better with more compressed lines and (at least imo) when you have more space to recover position if the ball goes past you (higher up the pitch). I might try a Standard Line with low block to compress your lines a bit and also reduce the pressing triggers so defenders aren't pulled out of position as much. I personally like to set "Drop Off More" (other than on a deep defensive line) to help with through balls and balls over the top, but that depends on how you are conceding. It does make the DCs not contest high balls and through balls as much on the defensive line (instead turning to chase more often), but I prefer that unless my defenders are really fast. You can also try Encouraging Crosses so your defense plays more horizontally compact (meaning less space between the defenders for through balls). Unless crosses are the problem of course. I also like to have my AML/Rs mark their opposing fullback/wingbacks (by position, not player; my AML marks opposing DR/WBR, my AMR marks opposing DL/WBL). It seems to make them track back more and prevents your fullbacks from being constantly outnumbered, but it does reduce your ability to counter if your outside attackers are pulled back to defense. For attacking, I prefer in my 4-3-3 to have a striker on support with hold up ball unless they are lightning fast and able to score solo breakaway goals consistently. I just find they end up isolated and lose the ball unless they hold it and wait for support, although this may be a side effect of making my outside attackers mark the opposing fullbacks, I also can't seem to keep AF, Poachers or even DLFs (Att) onside for love or money, but that may just be the players I have tried it with. I might try something less passive than an Anchorman, especially with fairly passive outside backs. A DM (Def) or even a DLP (Def) will contribute a bit more to the attack without giving up too much defensively. Your team is rather stratified and there isn't much support coming from deep, at least not quickly. Maybe have one of the outside backs on attacking as well, compensating by having the AM upfield of them on support. That Left Wing back on Attack going outside of the AML on IF(Sup) could potentially create some nice overlaps and interplay. Neither of the CMs is going to help much with defense with those roles; I'd have a least one of them as a more defensively solid role like CM (Sup) or even a Box-to-Box if you have a player that can do it. You could even have the DM on Support, one of the CMs on Defend and the other on Attack. The attacking CM becomes almost an AMC and the DM steps higher up in the midfield to support the attack. This would give a sort of 4-2-3-1 look on attack with the DM (Sup) and CM (Def) forming a double-pivot ahead of the defense.

I am by no means an expert, but I am playing a similar 4-3-3 with good results (once the team learned the tactic). I personally would not use a DM set to BWM in this formation; I find them to be too aggressive (giving away free kicks/penalties and getting carded) as well as not holding position in front of the two center backs due to their high pressing level. This means that attackers can run directly at the the DCs and force them to close down the ball (leaving their position). I use either a DM (Def) or for my very best DM, a DLP (Sup) with one of the CMs set more defensive to provide more cover. I just find a less aggressive DM does a better job at shielding the Center backs. If you had extremely attacking FB/WBs (not that you do), even an Anchorman or Halfback would be a decent idea, as they stay even more centered and cover for DCs being dragged out wide due to your WBs being upfield. Mezzalas don't defend all that much, especially on attacking duty. DLPs also don't defend all that much (relatively speaking). In my 4-3-3 I have at least one CM (Support) as a more general all rounder and often have two of them (depending on the particular CMs I'm playing that match). If I do go with one attacking CM that I don't expect to defend as much, their partner is going to more defensive (I do sometimes put a BWM at this position to cover for a Mezzala or other attacking duty if I have a good one). I also would be hesitant to have two BPDs; they are both going to take more risks and potentially run a bit with the ball and get caught in possession. I have one CD I trust as a BPD and the others are standard DCs, to the point of not having a BPD if that one good one isn't in the game. Another thing I always do that seems to help with solidity is set the AML/R to mark the corresponding DB/WB (so the AML marks the opponents DR, etc.) I do it by position, not individual player so that substitutions don't mess it up; make sure to check the opposing formation in-game and change the marking to WBL/WBR if they run DM-tier Wingbacks. They aren't usually great defenders or anything, but they do seem to come back more and somewhat track the opposing fullbacks. The downside is that you won't counter as effectively if they are pulled back into defense more, and (assuming they actually follow instructions and track back) they get more tired, so it's good to have subs for both outside attackers on the bench. But I prefer to win 1-0 vs winning 4-3 and it seems pretty easy to find decent outside AMs to allow rotation. As far as the team instructions, it really depends on how you are conceding. I wouldn't usually have a high-press and prevent GK distribution set without using a higher defensive line as that causes your team to be more stretched out and makes pressing more difficult as your players are farther apart. Based on the recent match analysis, I would guess that their attackers are receiving the ball in front of your defense and playing through them on the break or taking long shots just outside the area due to the team being stretched and not being closed down effectively, but obviously would have to watch a game and adjust accordingly. I actually tend to start with Balanced mentality with Standard-line/Low-Block and see how it goes, but that's more of an attacking style thing so there is no reason Positive can't be defensively sound. I also set Drop Off More as I find this helps with balls over the top and long through balls. Not completely, nothing will stop them 100%,but better. The flip side of this is that DCs are less likely to contest headers and balls to feet of opposing strikers, but I usually find that okay as long as it's not in the penalty box. If my normal Standard line Low-block has them running at my defense, getting dangerous through balls in the middle or getting off uncontested longer shots, I'll flip to a more pressing style to see if I can disrupt them and get possession higher up the field (higher def line, high press, increased pressing triggers and Prevent Short GK Distribution). And if that doesn't work and I just can't seem to stop them getting central through balls, I'll actually drop to a lower def-line/low-block, increase pressing triggers, turn off Drop Off More and set Encourage Crosses (assuming that crosses haven't been the problem). The idea is to remove the space behind the defense for through balls, but not to drop back into the box immediately; rather to create a hard stop line on the edge of the penalty box with the increased closing down and closer defensive spacing given by allowing crosses. Just making it harder to play through the defense. This is a last resort, clinging to a lead sort of strategy, but it has worked if they are bombing forward and running high tempo direct attacking. If they are patiently passing the ball around outside your penalty box, I wouldn't recommend this. Also, don't forgot to turn off Counter-Press if necessary, especially when defending a lead, and even use Regroup. If you don't need to score late in a game, there is no reason to have players far upfield trying to press. Late in games I will switch off Counter and even go to Hold Position, slow down tempo, turn up time-wasting, set Be More Disciplined and even set Play for Set pieces. It's not exciting, but there is a satisfaction to watching the last 10 minutes of the game drain off without any highlights at all other than occasional free-kicks and corners.

Huh, I thought editor data is where the files are supposed to be. It's certainly where the other fmf files I've gotten from the workshop are located. The fmf is initially downloaded to a subfolder in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\1904540. Then when FM23 is started the fmf file is moved to C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2023\editor data and (usually) appears in the game. But Gibraltar (and quite a few other custom leagues) are not appearing in game. I assumed the other ones were mistakes by the uploader, but I would have thought a custom league done by SI themselves would work.

(Edit: removed Official from thread title so it didn't look like i was impersonating SI) (Solved: I'm an idiot; you have to select the fmf files you want included in your database using the drop down (before selecting leagues). In my defense, I skipped FM22 so it's been a while since I've done this) Wasn't sure on best place to post this, but after subscribing to the Gibraltar league in the Steam workshop, the official Gibraltar league does not appear in the add/remove leagues area. I verified the fmf file downloaded and FM23 moved a copy of the fmf to the editor data directory under my user profile, yet it does not appear in the league list. I feel like there is something obvious I am missing here but I don't see anything on the workshop item listing additional requirements for the league to appear.