Mentalities and Tactical Styles
The interaction between Mentalities and Tactical Styles can be difficult to understand (especially for beginners). Both impact the same instructions such as pressing, tempo, defensive line etc. For instance, I can choose Attacking and Park the Bus. On one hand, I’m asking to “dominate possession in the opponent’s half” whilst also saying “get behind the ball and protect the defensive third”.
My suggestions for this: (please excuse my amateur design skills )
Currently, we have the ability to set 3 tactics and we can also choose between 7 Mentalities (from Very Defensive to Very Attacking). Perhaps combine these elements into 4 strategies.
Primary
Secondary (Optional)
Very Attacking (Optional)
In situation needing a goal
Greatly increases Team Mentality + Little Time Wasting
Very Defensive (Optional)
In situation protecting a lead
Greatly reduces Team Mentality + Lots of Time Wasting
By separating mentality into its own strategy, it could allow the flexibility to add specific instructions in those game scenarios such as sending the GK forward on corners when using Very Attacking,
For each of these strategies, let us choose styles for in-possession and out-of-possession or create our own. Let these styles set the team instructions and not mentality.
In-Possession Preset Styles:
Patient Buildup
Direct Buildup
Wing Play
Long Ball
Joga Bonito
Quick Passing
Defend With the Ball*
Waste Time*
Balanced
*Waste Time/Defend With the Ball only available under a “Very Defensive” Strategy.
Out-of-Possession Preset Styles
Aggressive High Press
High Press
Cautious High Press
Aggressive Mid Block
Mid Block
Cautious Mid Block
Aggressive Low Block
Low Block
Cautious Low Block
Assign styles for in-possession and out-of-possession to each of the Tactical Styles currently in the game, such as:
Tactical Style
In-Possession Style
Out-of-Possession Style
Control Possession
Patient Buildup
High Press
Gegenpress
Quick Passing
Aggressive High Press
Tiki-Taka*
Patient Buildup
High Press
Vertical Tiki-Taka
Quick Passing
High Press
Wing Play
Wing Play
Mid Block
Route One
Long Ball
Aggressive Mid Block
Fluid Counter Attack
Quick Passing
Aggressive Mid Block
Direct Counter-Attack
Direct Buildup
Aggressive Low Block
Catenaccio
Direct Buildup
Cautious Low Block
Park The Bus**
Waste Time
Cautious Low Block
Clean Slate
Balanced
Mid Block
Jogo Bonito
Jogo Bonito
Mid Block
* The preset Tactical styles would have their own custom additions e.g. a patient buildup style is more possession-focused in “Tiki-Taka” than “Control Possession” and that could be outlined in the instructions.
** Park The Bus only selectable under a “Very Defensive” Strategy
Team Shape
Add visual aids for the in-possession and out-of-possession shapes.
Basic Formation
Sets the nominal formation to assign player roles and duties
In Possession
Visualises the attacking shape, rest-defence structure, numbers supporting the opposition box (based on Basic Formation settings)
Out of Possession
Visualises the defensive shape, rest attack structure, numbers supporting own box (based on Basic Formation settings)
Rest attack - add the ability to set an out-of-possession duty for advanced players (AMR,AML,AMC,ST) to either SUPPORT OR ATTACK
SUPPORT – player will focus supporting their own defensive third
ATTACK – player will focus staying forward to launch a counter-attack
This video looks similar to the old WIBWOB that used to exist but the difference is this is a lot more "read-only", This is intended to act as a visual demonstration of the selected player roles + duties in each phase.
Patterns of Play
For each basic formation, add the ability to save numerous “Patterns of Play” (essentially a snapshot of all player roles and duties selected). This would make it much easier to make the same repetitive adjustments on the fly.
