Tactic don't work?

I've found that after I've been playing this game a lot recently that I often find a tactic that starts off well but after a season worth of games or so the tactic the way I used it no longer began to work as well as it did at the start often leading to me having to change to a new one to stop the rot. Does anyone know how to fix this? I've tried tinkering with these tactics but it just seems to not be of any use most of the time. Games that I'd previously scrape a win go the other way or I get completely hammered, games against the lesser sides turn from easy and comfortable wins to difficult games that I barely win now, even though on my save I now have a far stronger side than I had in the past. Is there a way I can fix this? Can I tinker enough to fix it? Do I just keep plugging away at it and hope in the end my team overcomes the poor run of form? I've never been able to have a tactic that has stuck for longer than a season without it kinda falling apart completely quite soon after then but I'd love to be able to find one that I can just kinda keep on using. I know there isn't such thing as the perfect tactic or a simple plug or play tactic that is good with every single team but the runs of form my team has gone into is pretty horrific at points and I'm sure there is a better/cleverer way I can play this game.

I've also tried using a lot of tactics that people typically use and say are good such as Knap's and etc. but I can never really get them to work as well as a lot of other people can so I'm just a bit stumped at the minute.

Has anyone else experienced this/these on this game?

Anyway any help would be really appreciated, whoever reads this I hope you are very well.

When Managing a team there are 2 things:
1. Players
2. Tactics

Of course, there are many other elements that help (for example training, coaches) but it sounds like you want 1 tactic to fix all or 1 set of players to always perform.

Unfortunately, that is not possible.

Players can have ‘hot’ runs and they make the game easy. Long shots are scored and goals are made with ease.
The same with tactics. Your team can play well but over time, the other teams will learn how to play against you. Also players can be amazing in certain formations but be terrible in other systems. Finding the right team, for the formation at the right time is what we all try to do.

It’s the reason you need a good squad to complement your great starting 11 players.
I always change 1 of my 1st team coaches every 2 seasons and players will need rotation, rest and to be sold if needed.

I can often change, buy and sell my attacking players a lot more than my defensive ones. But that is because I love a strong defensive base who know each other and feel comfortable.

I hope the above can help you in some way.

Can I ask which team are you managing ???

I manage Everton and I am in the 23-24 season. I have a good squad, far better than the one they start the save off with, and have done pretty good for the first few seasons, but would always stutter at the start of the next and then change tactic pretty soon after. I came 3rd, then 5th, then 4th, then 2nd, only losing the league to Liverpool on goal difference, so I have done well. I've used numerous different tactics, probably 6/7, since the start of the save and everyone has eventually been "found out" for want of a better term. I do have a decent squad with 2 good players for each position to allow for good rotation during games. I've typically stuck quite rigidly to something between a 4231, 433 with a dm, 4222 wide, etc. because there what suits the set of players I have. Players do definitely go hot and cold throughout a season, just frustrating because it does it at random and its difficult to keep players in good form.

I'll definitely give the thing with coaches a go, could it be good to do it with the assistant managers and other staff members???

I've had the same back 5, goaly and defence, for the past 2/3 seasons, since the players I have have good stats and it would be difficult to actually find anyone better than them, but I struggle to find a tactic that shows and supports how good their stats are when actually playing the game. The forwards I'm far more happy to let go and have kinda been doing that without really thinking anyway.

I think what kinda want is just a tactic that has consistency but it is hard to do on this game. If it was too easy you'd get too bored of the game and its completely fair that teams can counter you and all that. There wouldn't be any point to really play if there was an unbeatable plug in and play tactic, it would be too easy.

Sorry for the essay, thanks for replying

Sounds like you are doing a great job.

You have everything going well and the idea about changing the coaches is something that has worked for me.

For example i have changed :

Assistant Managers -2 times
Attacking Coaches - 4 times
Physios - 1 time
Defensive Coaches - 3 times.

I have done this in order to get new ideas, keep the players fresh \ interested and bring some new styles. Also coaches retired or got offered managerial jobs.
Honestly, 1 attacking coach just did not workout so after 4 months i decided, enough was enough. His contract was terminated.

I must say that different coaching styles made interesting results. Also promoting coaches from the youth teams was helpful especially with the young lads coming through the ranks.

2020-06-24 11:59#274750 H e n d y : Sounds like you are doing a great job.

You have everything going well and the idea about changing the coaches is something that has worked for me.

For example i have changed :

Assistant Managers -2 times
Attacking Coaches - 4 times
Physios - 1 time
Defensive Coaches - 3 times.

I have done this in order to get new ideas, keep the players fresh \ interested and bring some new styles. Also coaches retired or got offered managerial jobs.
Honestly, 1 attacking coach just did not workout so after 4 months i decided, enough was enough. His contract was terminated.

I must say that different coaching styles made interesting results. Also promoting coaches from the youth teams was helpful especially with the young lads coming through the ranks.

I forgot to say that i have changed fitness coaches 2 times as well ....the players seem to be less injuired now so it could be a factor.

Interesting thoughts on changing up the coaching staff. Of course it makes sense thinking logically.

I've tended to have to do this playing at a lower level as teams will come in for my coaches or they go on to become managers somewhere, but I hadn't really considered it as a general rotation policy, will need to look at that.

I do wonder if sometimes runs of bad training injuries can be because of this or never changing the physio / sports science staff

Tactically, in this save I've used the same tactic for 8 seasons. The only thing I adjust is the mentality if the form drops. The tactic was built around Attacking but I drop to Positive if the tactic starts to fail. And again to attacking after a while, I've found this to be the most simple and effective way of keeping on top it's also worth having a decent - sitting back - second tactic to switch to if you go 2 down and think you're going to get hammered or it's clear early that you're on the back foot.

I'll definitely give it a go switching up a few of my coaches. Don't think I've changed most of them since the 1st season so maybe freshening things up might be of use for me. hopefully it is. Thanks

I'm about 14 games into the league season and 6th in the league, could be 8th on goal difference, and about to get knocked out of the champions cup so not doing great. Hopefully I can figure something out, just frustrates me that a tactic works great for a year and all of a sudden it just hits a brick wall and fails completely but oh well. Hopefully I finds something that will stick soon

Thanks for the help mate

Thanks Mercia for responding

I'll definitely give dropping the mentality back a notch or two a go. My tactic that I typically used was on attacking but moving it down to positive could be quite helpful since I typically found that my team would get smashed on counter attacks so it might help. What team and type of players are you using in your save where you've had consistent success, just so I know what level your team is on compared to the one I am using. Do you mind letting me know what tactic you are using, just so I have a bit of an idea how to fix mine maybe to be more functional?

Again thanks for responding, hope you are well

2020-06-24 15:06#274767 lfcfan1892ph : Thanks Mercia for responding

I'll definitely give dropping the mentality back a notch or two a go. My tactic that I typically used was on attacking but moving it down to positive could be quite helpful since I typically found that my team would get smashed on counter attacks so it might help. What team and type of players are you using in your save where you've had consistent success, just so I know what level your team is on compared to the one I am using. Do you mind letting me know what tactic you are using, just so I have a bit of an idea how to fix mine maybe to be more functional?

Again thanks for responding, hope you are well

I use this tactic and have only made slight changes over the years



York are about to compete in the Championship playoffs after going from NAtional North all the way up, with 4 promotions in 4 years with 3 league titles along the way, worth noting I do not buy many players, the players in the screen have mostly come with me from at least League 2, we were predicted to be relegated, as usual, yet have comfortably finished in Playoff places.

Playing a few PL sides over the years, including beating Liverpool in the League Cup I'm confident this tactic will work well in the Prem and would be looking to try it at a top club if I wasn't doing a long term save for York.

Thanks for the help with the tactic. I'll be sure to give it a go as I still haven't really been able to get mine to work as of yet. Can I ask is there any player instructions on certain players or positions and how much you tend to tinker with things such as width and defensive lines etc. I really haven't found much success with a narrow defence and one that is pushed up very high getting caught too much on the counter by opposition sides and teams just playing wide around my team but I'll just wait and see

Thank you very much, hope this works for me as well as it did for you

2020-06-25 00:15#274803 lfcfan1892ph : Thanks for the help with the tactic. I'll be sure to give it a go as I still haven't really been able to get mine to work as of yet. Can I ask is there any player instructions on certain players or positions and how much you tend to tinker with things such as width and defensive lines etc. I really haven't found much success with a narrow defence and one that is pushed up very high getting caught too much on the counter by opposition sides and teams just playing wide around my team but I'll just wait and see

Thank you very much, hope this works for me as well as it did for you

Because I'm skiving off work mate I'll do a tactic run down for you. Played FM for many years and I know how frustrating it can be when you're struggling, especially when you feel like the things you're doing are right.



Updated here to show the first team all fit, lost in the playoff final sadly, hey ho we'll go again. You can see the importance familiarity with the tactic and connections between players. Sibley is new for the season in the middle.

For player instructions as follows:
GK
Take fewer risks

FULLBACKS
Shoot less often
Tackle harder
Mark tighter
Cross more often
Get further forward

CENTREBACKS
Shoot less often
dribble less
Hold position

CM DLP
Dribble less
Tackle harder
Mark tighter
Shoot less often
Take more risks
Hold position

CM AP
Dribble more
Tackle harder
Mark tighter
Shoot less often
Take more risks

WINGERS
Shoot less often
Tackle harder
Mark tighter
Dribble more
Run wide with ball
Cross more often
Stay wider

AMC
Take more risks
Dribble more
Shoot less often
Roam from position
Tackle harder
Mark tighter

ST
Take more risks
Shoot less often
Roam from position
Tackle harder
Mark tighter
Get further forward
Move into channels

With this tactic, attacks come mostly from the fullbacks crossing, either to lead to a shot / head at goal or create chaos to get second ball to the central players for a chance. As you might expect, crossing stat crucial but not all important, needs high stamina, natural fitness is preferred, and obviously pace.

This tactic picks up record numbers of yellows, it's great, totally fine with it as players typically smart enough not to get sent off. The team gets stuck in and wins the ball back alot, important for a high line pressing game.

Wingers will often be frozen out of the game but crucially, because of their positioning, they get in on the back and near posts to finish chances, so I always look for finishing stats / heading for wingers as well

I have a basic rule for my teams, you have be able to pass 12+ at championship level, and you have to be 5'10 at least. This means my team keeps the ball for 70% possession regularly, and is very rarely beatn in the air, even for fullbacks, need to be that height and at least passable heading and jumping reach but height is the most important.

For the centre mids, both need to be able to tackle and have high strength stats. For your DLP, good passing and vision, Dixon-bonner above, in that position with Take more risks on, pings the balls left and right to the wings all day to create chances.

For your striker, obviously finishing helps, but for me, heading and strength is key, must be 6'0, must have strong positioning and off the ball stats, it's all about being in the right place at the right time. My CF, who joined in league 2, just topped the championship scorers list by 8 goals.

Only other things I really rely on to achieve beyond what we're predicted to every season is strong coaching staff, best in whatever league I'm in in every area, this takes some work but isn't typically difficult, and I set my assistant to do opp instructions, I'll update on his recommends after half time, 60 mins, 70 and 80.

I adjust from Attacking to Positive during the season as results demand, but very rarely change anything in match other than subs and reshuffling players to change the threats, versatile squad helps here. I do have a sit back tactic that I use if AI has 3 up front, 2 up front and is pressing hard. Basically it drops the two CM's back to DM's as ball winning MFs.

Hope that helps for you mate

What I'd really recommend more than anything else with this game is to not be afraid to grab some tactics online. First of all, a good tactic can get you back on the right track with your team and give you confidence, and if you're grabbing a tactic that is close to what you want to do, you can see what works and what doesn't, how they've achieved with instructions what you are trying to do.

It's a hugely valuable learning tool that's more or less shunned because people feel they MUST do it themselves. While of course that's fine, people forget a Klopp or whoever didn't go in blind and not learn from others. There's not shame whatsoever in studying a successful tactic to take from. You are not after all, a trained football manager lol, and taking over Liverpool without understanding how to achieve tactics results would most likely not be happening in real life

I know, this game can't have be frustrating sometimes especially when you really can't figure out what is going wrong. Sorry to hear about your loss in the final, I'm sure you'll go up next season. I've had a pretty similar squad for about 2/3 seasons now so a lot of the players are already familiar with playing with each other which is good and a massive help. Thanks for the player instructions, just wasn't sure if they would be needed or not. I played one game before I saw them and I beat 19th placed QPR 6-0 at home so hopefully I go on a bit of a run now, started of well enough. A lot of my players fit the attributes that you have described so hopefully it'll work all good for me. Never really kept updating opposition instructions before a game apart from when the assistant tells you to but I'll definitely give it a go now and see if it helps. Morale and confidence and all that is so helpful for the squad in this game so going on a good run is so important. I've never really shyed away from taking tactics from online and giving them a go but I've never really found that has worked well for me or fit the set of players that I have.

Thanks for the help mate, hope you are well