This is the engine room of your operation as manager. In place of the wipe-clean whiteboard, here you've got the tactics screen with many options to counter your opponent and make the most of your players.

In the build up to a game you may want to scout your next opponent (see Search: Scouting), in which case the report you receive in news should be considered when you tell your players exactly how you want them to play in the match to come. It's no use fielding a team of slow players and playing the offside trap, for instance, if you know that your opponents have very pacy forwards capable of timing their runs to beat your defensive plan without a halt to play.

This split-screen menu breaks down the players in your squad on the one hand and the on-pitch formation on the other. Changes you make on either side of the screen will be automatically updated in the other.

Players
On the left-hand personnel screen you can use the drop-down View menu to list your players according to form, morale and key attributes. This will enable you to choose where they should play in your formation and is also useful when you come to decide which of two similarly skilled players should be selected. For instance, if you have two left full-backs just as capable as one another, you may want to choose the player with greater pace if you are set to face a side with a speedy right-winger. Note that your tactical decisions should not rest solely on your own best case scenario team, but should reflect careful planning and scouting.

On the View menu you can also look at a plethora of instructions for the in-game behaviour of your players. Moving the slider next to their name will cause them to tend towards the tactic named infrequently (far left), a typical amount, or often, depending on the position of the slider. For an explanation of each tactic consult your game manual, though most are self-explanatory. Before you judge how to instruct each player on how to behave during a match you should check their skills and personality. A player with great flair and creativity ratings may benefit, for instance, from being given a greater creative freedom. These instructions are contained in the middle section of the drop-down menu.

Edit Set Pieces
Selecting the 'Edit Set Pieces' option from the 'Tactic' menu will guide you through a visual presentation of your set piece instructions and takers. At each step, you will be shown an area of the pitch with your players in various areas. Each position is listed below the pitch with a series of available options from the drop-down box, which when selected will change where their shirt appears on the display. You are also able to freely drag a shirt to another area of the pitch (only areas with a silhouetted shirt will be accepted), which in turn will update the option selected in the drop-down box.

Click on a player's position slot to allocate a position or substitute's number to him. Right click to automatically select the next logical position in the line-up - i.e. GK, DR, DL, DC etc. As you become more familiar with your team, this process will become second nature.

Using the Tactics drop-down will enable you to select from an array of preset formations, all based on real-life tactics. These form an excellent starting point for building a formation of your own, or can be used as a rigid structure in which to fit the talent you have in your squad. There are no sure-fire formations that will always bear dividends. You must choose a shape that suits the players you have or your preferred style of play. You may also wish to counter your rivals' formation with your own. Head to http://community.sigames.com and use the links to the community websites for tips and suggestions on how to select a winning formation with the players you have.

Positions
The pitch graphic on your right shows a plan of the field of play indicating the positions and basic running instructions of your team. Left-click, hold and drag and player icon to move the position on the field. Right-click, hold and drag any player to alter their Forward Runs instructions, as indicated by the dotted arrow.

You'll see that this corresponds with the positional diagram accessed on your player's positions guide on their profile screen. As with all tactical decisions, it will pay to fit your player to a position that suits him. The positions screen explains which areas of the field the player is comfortable in, implicitly indicating that the player's performance level is likely to drop significantly if he is asked to play out of position. The effects of this dip in performance will be all too apparent from the match report.

Instructions
Under the View drop-down on the right of the tactics screen you can give your players broad instructions on their role in the game. Of course, players will not stick rigidly to what you tell them as they'll bring their own personality and style to bear when they make on-field decisions, as well as considering the precise playing circumstances at the time.

Selecting Team Instructions brings up a slider menu that enables you to fine-tune the attitude and style of your players. Be wary, however, as every instruction has both positive and negative effects that should be carefully weighed up before you adjust a setting. Take tackling, for instance. Set tackling too hard and you may well rattle weaker opponents and even see your players win the ball thanks to their increased tenacity and aggression, but you could also find yourself having to deal with suspended players. Over-zealous footballers will more often than not tackle the man instead of the ball and receive a red card. It makes sense, therefore, to avoid assigning aggressive roles to players whose skills and mentality don't suit such instructions.

You can use Player Instructions if you want to assign a particular role to an individual in contrast with the team's approach. In the example above, for instance, you may ask a particularly fiery individual to refrain from hard tackling so he doesn't get himself into trouble with the referee.

Opposition Instructions
You can also set-up Opposition Player Instructions, which allow you to decide the extent to which you mark the other team's players. This option can only be accessed once the game is underway though, once you have a better idea of how the opposition side is set-up.

The other options allow you to allocate specific roles to members of your team, choosing a captain, playmaker, target man, penalty taker, free kick taker, corner taker and throw in taker.

Since nothing in football ever goes strictly to plan you can even select a series of players to fulfill these roles in order of preference - this is ideal for choosing your penalty-takers in preparation for a penalty shoot out or reserve captains in case your key leader is not on the field of play.

Tactics Creator
All of the above are combined into one clever creation wizard, which allows you to set up everything to your liking in a multi-step scenario. Simply follow the advice offered in the wizard when deciding upon a tactic, and when created you will be able to tweak it further with specific instructions, whilst maintaining the ability to set things even more accurately using the slider system.

For more information on tactics and tips from the makers of Football Manager and suggestions from other players visit www.sigames.com.