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How to use ChatGPT for Football Manager

This guide explains more about how you can use ChatGPT for Football Manager as a reference point / guide or even as a smart assistant.

By on May 05, 2023   20453 views   2 comments
FM Quick Tips - How to use ChatGPT for Football Manager
Do you want to be smarter when playing Football Manager?
Do you want answers and possible solutions for all your tactical issues and suggestions on playing style?
Or perhaps you want more explanations on roles, how players link together and so on.

This article features text written by Cleon and is posted here with his kind permission. I highly recommend following View From The Touchline on twitter where he and his team are posting useful FM tips and advice.

Many people have started using ChatGPT to create tactics on Football Manager. However, most ChatGPT users are really basic with it.

When you realise how advanced it can be, then you get some seriously brilliant feedback and it can be of great use.

ChatGPT can be ideal for understanding the style of play you want to create and give you logical reasonings behind why and how it should function.

You could also get valuable information on how you can counter other strategies, other shapes, your own vulnerabilities against other shapes, and so on.

In a nutshell, it’s only as good as what you ask it.

Cleon was lucky enough to have access to it in the Alpha along with Midjourney for the past 18 months.

So here are his tips for using ChatGPT and Football Manager together.

The Smart Assistant Manager

If you wanted to add a role-playing element to your save then you can ask it a whole host of things and it’ll be like you are having a conversation.

Here is a short example and the prompts. The bit in () you can change to whatever you want.

I am having difficulty understanding how an (attacking mentality could help us break down strong teams.) Break it down into simpler terms and provide analogies or examples that can help me grasp the concept more easily.
Sure, I can explain the concept of using an attacking mentality to break down strong teams using simpler terms and analogies.

When facing a strong team, they often have a well-organized defense that can be difficult to penetrate. However, using an attacking mentality can help you create more scoring opportunities and increase your chances of breaking through their defense.

Think of it like a game of chess. If you are playing against a skilled opponent, they will likely have a strong defense that can block your attacks. But if you adopt an aggressive strategy and attack relentlessly, you can create openings and opportunities that your opponent may not have anticipated.

Similarly, in football, using an attacking mentality means taking risks and pushing forward with a high tempo and intensity. This can create gaps in the opposing team's defense and provide your team with more opportunities to score goals.

Of course, it's important to balance this approach with defensive stability to prevent your opponents from scoring on the counter-attack. But by being bold and proactive in your attacking play, you can increase your chances of breaking down even the strongest of teams.

Then you can expand on things and ask how to incorporate them into your current tactic. You still have to incorporate the ideas yourself. Or you might think what they’re saying might make you more vulnerable.

Ultimately it comes down to you and how you want to use the information given.

Examples of Human Questions & AI Answers

How can we be more attacking in our (4-4-2)?
To be more attacking in a 4-4-2 formation, there are a few things you can try:

  1. Adjust the team's mentality: In Football Manager, the team mentality determines how aggressively or defensively your team plays. By selecting a more attacking mentality, such as "Control" or "Attacking", you can encourage your players to play with more urgency and take more risks going forward.

  2. Increase the tempo: The tempo setting determines how quickly your team moves the ball around the pitch. By increasing the tempo, you can encourage your team to play with a higher tempo and move the ball up the pitch more quickly, catching the opposition off guard.

  3. Encourage your fullbacks to overlap: Fullbacks can be a valuable source of attacking width in a 4-4-2 formation. By encouraging them to push forward and overlap your wingers, you can stretch the opposition defense and create more space for your midfielders and strikers to operate.

  4. Experiment with player roles and instructions: In Football Manager, you can customize the roles and instructions for each player on your team. Consider giving your strikers more attacking roles, such as "Advanced Forward" or "Complete Forward", and instructing your midfielders to make more forward runs.

  5. Utilize set pieces: Set pieces such as corners and free kicks can be a great way to create scoring opportunities. Consider practicing different set piece routines and experimenting with different player positions and instructions to create more chances from dead-ball situations.

Now we’ve eased in, we can use more complicated prompts to explore possible new ideas. This is great if you want to try a new tactic, something out of your comfort zone. But perhaps don’t understand how it would work.

You could try this prompt, again replacing the formation bit with anything you want. It could be a specific player or team instruction. Or it could be a player role.

Can you explain the concept of a (4-4-2 formation) in simple terms? Summarise the main principles and illustrate with examples to facilitate understanding.
Certainly, I can explain the 4-4-2 formation in simpler terms.

The 4-4-2 formation is a popular tactic in football where the team sets up with four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers. The formation is commonly used as it provides a balance between attacking and defensive play.

The main principles of the 4-4-2 formation are:

  1. Defensive solidity: With four defenders, the team can maintain a strong defensive shape and limit the opposition's attacking opportunities.

  2. Midfield control: The four midfielders provide a balance between attack and defense. The central midfielders control the midfield and provide support for both the defense and the attack.

  3. Wide players: The two wide midfielders provide attacking width and can stretch the opposition's defense. They can also help the fullbacks in defense.

  4. Two strikers: With two strikers, the team can apply pressure to the opposition defense and create more scoring opportunities.
To illustrate this, let's take the example of a team using a 4-4-2 formation:

Defenders:
  • Right back
  • Center back
  • Center back
  • Left back
Midfielders:
  • Right midfielder
  • Center midfielder
  • Center midfielder
  • Left midfielder
Forwards:
  • Striker
  • Striker
In this formation, the midfielders are responsible for controlling the midfield and distributing the ball to the strikers. The wide midfielders can also provide crosses into the box for the strikers to score.

The fullbacks can provide support in defense and also overlap the wide midfielders to create overlaps and more attacking options. The two strikers can work together to pressure the opposition defense and create scoring opportunities.

Overall, the 4-4-2 formation is a balanced formation that can be effective both in attack and defense, as long as the team works together and maintains a strong defensive shape.

If it was a completely foreign concept that you had no understanding of, you can even ask it to create a learning plan for you.

Using this prompt:

I want to learn how to create a (4-4-2 formation). Give me step-by-step instructions on how to learn (how to implement the concepts into Football Manager). Start with the basics and move on to the more difficult stuff. Keep in mind that I’m a beginner.
Sure, I'd be happy to provide step-by-step instructions on how to create and implement a 4- 4-2 formation in Football Manager. Here's a beginner's guide:

Step 1: Understand the formation

Before creating a 4-4-2 formation, it's important to understand the basic principles of the formation, as I explained in my previous answer. Take some time to read about the formation, watch matches featuring teams playing in a 4-4-2, and observe how the players move and interact with each other.

Step 2: Choose a team

Select a team in Football Manager that you want to use the 4-4-2 formation with. Ideally, you should choose a team with players that suit the formation and have the required attributes.

Step 3: Analyze your team

Once you have chosen a team, analyze the squad to identify players that would fit into the 4- 4-2 formation. Look for players with attributes that suit each position in the formation. For example, your strikers should have good finishing and off the ball attributes, while your central midfielders should be strong defensively and able to distribute the ball effectively.

Step 4: Set up the formation

In Football Manager, go to the Tactics screen and select the 4-4-2 formation. Then, assign players to each position based on their attributes and suitability for the role.

Step 5: Assign player roles

For each position, assign a role that best suits the player's attributes and playing style. For example, you may want to assign one striker as a "Target Man" and the other as a "Poacher". Similarly, you can assign the central midfielders as "Ball Winning Midfielders" or "Box-to-Box Midfielders".

Step 6: Assign team instructions

In Football Manager, you can assign team instructions that determine how your team plays as a whole. For a 4-4-2 formation, you may want to select an attacking mentality and high tempo, while also setting up a strong defensive structure.

Step 7: Test and adjust

Play matches with the 4-4-2 formation and observe how your team performs. Based on the results, make adjustments to the formation, player roles, and team instructions as necessary to optimize your team's performance.

Remember, creating a successful 4-4-2 formation takes time, practice, and experimentation. As you become more comfortable with the formation, you can experiment with more advanced tactics and strategies to take your team to the next level.

We can go even further too and do this for playing styles (you can expand this to TI’s, PI’s, roles etc) using this prompt;

Describe and explain with simple words the relationship between (defensive football) and (attacking football).
Defensive football and attacking football are two contrasting styles of play in football. The relationship between the two can be complex, but in simple terms, it can be described as a trade-off between defense and attack.

Defensive football prioritizes a strong defensive structure to prevent the opposition from scoring, while attacking football focuses on creating scoring opportunities and scoring goals.

In football, a team can choose to play defensively or offensively depending on their strengths and weaknesses and the context of the game. For example, a team with a weak defense may choose to play defensively to avoid conceding goals, while a team with strong attacking players may choose to play offensively to take advantage of their attacking abilities.

However, playing defensively can limit a team's attacking opportunities, as they may spend more time defending and less time in possession of the ball. Similarly, playing offensively can leave a team vulnerable to counter-attacks and defensive errors.

Therefore, the relationship between defensive football and attacking football can be described as a trade-off between defense and attack. Teams must find the right balance between the two styles of play to maximize their chances of winning matches.

In summary, defensive football and attacking football are two contrasting styles of play in football, and finding the right balance between the two is key to success.

Now let’s look at how we see how specific roles work together and link up. Let’s stick with the 4-4-2 as the example and add a poacher and target forward to the side. Used this prompt;

Define (how a poacher and target forward work together) and provide an example that can be used in tactics. The definition should be complete but simple to understand, explain complicated words if there are any.
A poacher and target forward are two types of strikers who can work together effectively in a football team. Here is a simple definition of how they work together:

A poacher is a striker who has excellent movement and positioning in the penalty area. They are typically smaller and quicker than target forwards and are able to get into scoring positions with ease. Their main focus is to score goals and they rely on their teammates to create scoring opportunities for them.

A target forward, on the other hand, is a taller and stronger striker who is able to hold up the ball and bring other players into the game. They are able to use their physical presence to win aerial duels and hold off defenders. Their main role is to create space and opportunities for other players, including the poacher, to score goals.

In addition to creating space and opportunities, the target forward can also use their strength and height to knock the ball down or hold it up for the team and the poacher. This can be useful when the team is under pressure and needs to retain possession of the ball. The target forward can hold off defenders and allow the midfielders to push forward, or knock the ball down for the poacher to run onto and score.

To illustrate how a poacher and target forward can work together, here's an example that can be used in tactics:

In a 4-4-2 formation, the team can use a poacher as the advanced forward and a target forward as a deep-lying forward. The target forward can hold up the ball and bring the midfielders into play, creating space for the poacher to run into. The target forward can also knock down crosses and set up the poacher for scoring opportunities.

For instance, the target forward can drop deep to collect the ball, drawing the opposition's center-backs out of position, creating space behind them. Meanwhile, the poacher can make runs into the space and score goals from close range. If the target forward receives a high ball, they can use their strength to hold off defenders and lay the ball off for the poacher to score.

In summary, a poacher and target forward can work together effectively by combining their different strengths. The target forward can create space and opportunities for the poacher to score, while also using their physical presence to hold up the ball or knock it down for the team and the poacher. This can be achieved through careful player positioning and team tactics that maximize the strengths of each player.

The best prompts to use and get good info

Here are some of the best prompts to use to get good answers and information back;

Can you explain the concept of a (4-4-2 formation) in simple terms? Summarise the main principles and illustrate with examples to facilitate understanding.
I want to learn to (topic). Give me step-by-step instructions on how to learn (skill). Start with the basics and move on to the more difficult stuff. Keep in mind that I’m a beginner.
What are some key terms I should know about (topic)? Make a list with a short and simple definition of each term each time.
I want you to act as a (subject) expert and give me recommendations for (specific question).
Describe and explain with simple words the relationship between (concept 1) and (concept 2).
Define (term) and provide an example which can be used in tactics. The definition should be complete but simple to understand, explain complicated words if there are any.
Act as an expert in (topic). My goal is to learn (skill) as fast as possible. Make a list with the most important things to know that will allow me to master this topic.
I'm just starting to learn (topic). Define the best strategies and tricks for (subject).
I am having difficulty understanding (insert complex concept). Break it down into simpler terms and provide analogies or examples that can help me grasp the concept more easily.

You can even go further and use prompts to give you a crash course in learning about tactics should you have zero knowledge.

I want to learn (tactics). I am a complete beginner. Create a 10-day learning plan that will help me learn and improve my skills in this area.

Acknowledgements

Remember this is just AI though so has no human touch to what it tells you.

But as a guide / reference point and expanding your knowledge on complicated Football Manager concepts, it can be a great tool to use.

ChatGPT is definitely a good starting place for getting your ideas together and getting a vision of how you want to play. It's no different to the existing presets really in that sense.

Just beware that ChatGPT doesn't know stuff beyond 2021, so it wouldn't include new settings / roles or know of any changes the game has undertaken since then.

You could use it as an intelligent assistant manager and throw ideas around on tactical stuff and get pretty good feedback.

Obviously you still have to implement those ideas and make them work, but it's no different than using a forum for feedback.

It really is a brilliant tool when utilised correctly, though not everyone will want to use it.

But for those who are struggling and don't understand the concepts of tactics, the relationships roles have, or how tactics should function, it's probably one of the best teachers out there for giving you the basics of everything you need to know.

Final Note

Jake did a relevant video that's worth watching if you have a few minutes to spare.

He uses this AI to answer many of the most common FM23 questions, such as what is the best tactic and some good players and wonderkids to sign!



And now over to you.

Are you using ChatGPT for Football Manager?
Do you think the game would benefit from integrating this kind of AI?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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About Stam

I started FM Scout for fun in the distant 2004. I'm proud of how this place has grown into a vibrant community and I try my best to improve it every year. Husband and father of two.

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Discussion: How to use ChatGPT for Football Manager

2 comments have been posted so far.

  • cgptonline's avatar
    When it comes to mastering the intricate world of Football Manager, having a valuable reference point and guide is essential. ChatGPT by CGPTOnline.tech is here to provide you with an intelligent assistant, ready to offer insights, suggestions, and explanations for your tactical endeavors. Whether you're looking to enhance your strategic gameplay, optimize your playing style, or seek solutions to tactical challenges, ChatGPT has you covered.
  • deadshotkeen's avatar
    I've been using it with some success to do a MoneyBall system. For example, ask it what metrics should be considered for a Wing Back and then recreate that search in your Scouting.
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