[Mr Hough 10.3 Tactics]

Sorry to see Mr Hough kinda disappointed with himself, though he shouldn't be, as his original is still cracking the FM2010 engine with ease.

Check this slideshow of my first game for the season against the last season's second placed team.

http://img72.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=panathinaikosvaris.png

Just for your interest.This is 2017 and the AI has started to adapt with better players and tactics.

[Mr Hough 10.3 Tactics]

After having some great fun with the classic version I would like to contribute some of my remarks.

I picked Panathinaikos from Greece, a team with some potential and targeted the European Cup.

I didnt use any players list or programms as finding good players is something I really enjoy.The scouting in FM2010 is quite good and if patiently done it yields some brilliant results.

I played 5 seasons to test the Computer's AI.Every year the computer tried to become better cause at the first two season I simply dominated in Greece.It was very easy!

European sucess on the other hand seemed far from achievable at least in the begining.Clubs like ManU, Barca, Inter, Real, Juventus were more than a match for us.While I enjoyed some occasional results even against the giants, I couldnt get past the Quarter final.My main problem was my mediocre defense and that I couldnt persuade the quality players to join my team.

Hopefully on my 5th season a talent discovery from Brazil had matured enough to be one of my main defending pylons only at 19! Then I was lucky to bring a young towering defender on loan from Man City.Meanwhile I had already signed a quality Brazilian International midfielder (very loyal as well) and the Mexican captain as my GK.

It seemed that should be my season but...my attack had gone old.Our reliable duo of Cisse and Salpingidis was 33+ yo and hardly performed.Injuries was another problem too! Only hope was our bargain capture of a Hungarian International Attacker who fans doubted at (!!!) and local hero named Christodoulopoulos (I know you can spell his name...lol) who was a natural Attacking Midfielder.

It proved quite an investement the consecutive upgrades on both our training facilities and youth academy which both were at the top level by now.

A youngster out of nowhere appeared and he would be the key to this season success, a dutch 16 yo with great physical stats (ideal target man).Our secret weapon name was Ad van Kanten

To make the long story short, we qualified as second from my group with ManU being first, then qualified over Bayern, Roma and Barca at the semi final.When we was at the final against Inter we thought we stand a chance but...three yellow cards in the semi final had cost us three backbone players out in the final! Yet we did it there as well...3-2 in a cracking game with a header scored from a corner in the 92'!!!! I must admit we had a great dose of luck plus our GK was performing like a super hero!!!

This was maybe one of the most enjoying seasons ever in my long FM (and CM) career.Even if some say I took the easy path, I really had quite a long time to feel so good with FM and kudos go to SI as well.

Enough with the story, some words for this brilliant tactic:

Pros: Very solid at the back, producing natural counter attacks (the ultimate goal for any tactic), really creative at front against organised defenses, earns possesion of ball most of the times for your team

Cons: big gap at the wings gets exploited by the AI, stresses players stamina, not producing against "low tempo + time wasting tactics", very dependent on the quality of your attack

I would change: The hard tackling at the midfield (I put it on normal even against the toughest opponents) to avoid cards

Also I find it very important to pay attention to Assistant's and tactical, pre-match and half-time comments and accordingly doing some "in match micromanagement".

One example: in the away match against Barca, we were 1-1 in HT having withstanded heavy pressure.I then read in the HT assistant's report, that we should try and man mark Messi and Zhirkov their two wide attackers (in a 4-2-3-1 formation).What I did was putting both my two MCs to man mark their wingers and create a "doubled defense" along with our fullbacks.I knew I would risk on the axis though where Xavi, Iniesta and Djeko were roaming towards the center of my defense.

Assistant was right though since Barca's game was nullified and only at late stages of the game where fatigue was an issue for my team Djeko scored two goals and gave a small margin to their side (3-2 FT).

Sorry for the long post, I just felt I had to share all this! And my big thanks to Mr Hough!!!

PS - Winger tactics is for loosers