[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

You're asking the wrong question imo. Instead you should be thinking of how all those roles fit together and work. Sometimes 1 playmaker can be overkill sometimes 5 might be needed. There is no right or wrong answer, it all depends on what you are creating, why and how the roles all work together to bring you the end product that you are creating.

I'm trying to play a possession based tactic, one where there is a lot of movement so players always have a pass on. I do want the players to try win the ball back quickly when the ball is lost but this is an after thought as I know it kind of contradicts the player roles, in my mind I would need more combative roles in the middle to implement a pressing game successfully.

I know it's the wrong way to think of it but I'm trying to fit the players I have, with their favored roles into a system.

I've got the team defending really well, 1st season promoted into the Prem drawing the first 3 games but not scoring many using this setup:

------------------PC (A)------------------

-------------SS (A)----APM(S)-------------

-------------CM (S)----DLP(D)-------------

WB (S)------------------------------CWB(A)

---------CB (S)---BPD©---CB (S)---------

------------------GK( D)------------------

The CM (S) was a APM(S) last year so I'm wanting to move him back to a similar role, as he was successful there, and want to try adjusting the APM's duty to attacking with the PC(A) moving to a F9(S). I find the Poacher is a bit too static for my liking. The new tactic which I posted before:

Mentality: Counter

Shape: Structured

TI's:

Retain Possesion

Shorter Passing

Pass Into Space

Work Ball Into Box

Play Out Of Defense

Close Down More

PI's:

GK (D) - Pass it Shorter, Distribute To Centre Backs, Roll It Out

APM(A) - Move Into Channels

SS (A) - Roam from Position, Run Wide With Ball

I'm trying to get the SS(A) to move wide with the ball to make up for the less attacking WB(S).

[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

If I was to give 3 players different Duties would 3 playmakers still be overkill? I ask as I kinda have the players to fit the roles perfectly but am just weary of having too many playmakers in the team. The formation being:

------------------F9 (S)------------------

--------------SS (A)---APM(A)-------------

--------------RPM(S)---DLP(D)-------------

WB (S)------------------------------CWB(A)

---------CB (S)---BPD©---CB (S)---------

------------------GK (D)------------------

[FM14: Rate My Regen Thread]

Here's a 15 year old Regen that came through my youth ranks:

Currently got him on training for Quickness. Suited to a Target man role but as I like to play with a Complete Forward on Support I'm trying to get his stats up for that. Pace and Acceleration are the two which need improving for that role atm.

About a year on:

Much improved Acceleration and Pace, hoping for further improvement there. Looks like he's going to be quality though!

[Pairs & Combinations FM2015 - UPDATED]

Ok, fair enough. I've just loaded up a Southampton league and going to give a similar tactic to yours a try, but using Wanyama as a BWM instead of a B2B midfielder. According to this page, the DLP (D) should hold position whilst wanyama is free to break up play further up the pitch. I don't hold out much hope mind.

If it doesn't work could always try playing Wanyama as a DLP (D) and Schneiderlin as a B2B (S) they should provide enough defensive cover and more attacking play imo.

[Pairs & Combinations FM2015 - UPDATED]

But they don't nor ever have this season played that formation, Wanyama is an Anchorman/Defensive midfielder at best, where do you allow for that in your formation? If half the stuff on written on here wasn't absolute rubbish then people wouldn't be struggling with the game as they are!

Emphasis on the "Base on" I didn't say trying to replecate it player for player. It's more the High pressing possession football part I'm trying to replecate.

[Pairs & Combinations FM2015 - UPDATED]

So I've implemented these theories with great successes to build a couple of tactics I'm really happy with so thanks Llama!

I play a 4-2-3-1 the most, it is setup as follows:

GK - GK (D)

RB - CWB (A)

LB - FB (S)

CB - CD (D)

CB - CD (D)

RCM - DLP (D)

LCM - B2B (S)

RWM - IF (S)

AMC - T (A)

LWM - W (A)

ST - CF (S)

Every player has the Short Passing instruction, with a few other players having some additional instruction (at work and can't remember them off the top of my head).

Balanced Philosophy

Counter Style for the most part but sometimes switch to Control Style.

Team Instructions - I have 10 of these, which at first I thought would be far too many. I thought I would give it a go anyway and see how it worked out. No problems so stuck with 10 as they all add value to the way I wish to play.

They are:

Retain Possession

Shorter Passing

Pass into Space

Work Ball into Box

Play Out of Defence

Push Higher

Offside Trap

Hassle Opponents

Lower Tempo

+1 other - Can't remember this one (could be Exploit The Middle)

I was trying to base this tactic on Mauricio Pochettino Southampton, especially the way they were playing early this season. Possession football, short passing, moving etc while also closing down the opponent quickly to regain possession and not giving them a chance to get the ball out from the back. I hope to move the Style more from a Counter to a Control through the years as my players improve.

The major issue I found with using this tactic at first was mistakes at the back and dallying on the ball allow the opponent to steal posesion. I think this was down to a couple of things, 1st the players unfamiliarity with the tactic. I had been promoted from the Championship with Leeds the season before playing a Narrow 4-1-3-2 with 1 DM and 3 x CM's. Also I had made about 6-7 new signings in pre season, the most of which were coming straight into the starting 11 so unfamiliarity with one another was there.

So when I first started using this tactic it didn't quite flow and the players seemed very slow to do anything. I encountered a couple of losses and a few high scoring draws due to mistakes at the back but after about 5 games it really came into it's own. Am now sitting in 7th place after 30 games in my 1st season back in the Premiership with Leeds. I've only lost 5-6 games all season!

My best starting 11 if anyone is interested is:

GK: Alex McCarthy

RB: Sam Byram

LB: Danilo Avelar

CB: Tom Lees

CB: John Stones - Signed in January

CM: Luke Murphy

CM: Will Hughes

RWM: Tom Ince

AMC: Ross McCormack

LWM: Ryan Gauld / Gary Mackay-Steven

St: Connor Wickham

[FM14: Rate My Regen Thread]

Here's a 15 year old Regen that came through my youth ranks:

Currently got him on training for Quickness. Suited to a Target man role but as I like to play with a Complete Forward on Support I'm trying to get his stats up for that. Pace and Acceleration are the two which need improving for that role atm.