[Tarrantino]

Preparation - The Key to Success

Everyone wants to play Football Manager aiming to stake themselves as the best manager of all time (Even though it's only a game). And there are many factors to gaining success. Tactics, Approach, I could go on all day. But for now I just want to talk about preparation. You need to be prepared for every game, every season. You get the picture.

There are many ways to prepare for games, whether it being sending your scouts out to watch the next opposition or maybe going to watch them yourself. Depends how die-hard a player you are I guess. Preparing for a season however can be more difficult. You're season has finished, whether it has been successful or just a complete failure there is always something you must do during the summer break.

A change of tactics perhaps? New signings? A backroom staff reshuffle? There are many things you need to consider. First of all though it'd be best if you were to set your targets for the season. Pretend for a minute that you're Everton. You've just, as in real life come off at the end of the season with a top half finish where you started the season slowly yet picked it up towards the end to prove doubters wrong.

You need to identify the negatives of the season before, in this example, it's the slow start, and if we are going to use Everton as an example then injuries were partly to blame. These are the sort of problems you are looking to tackle before the new season starts. So, stronger back up, perhaps? No need spending large, you've showed what you're capable of at the end of the season, you know your side has what it takes to go further.

Go search for some useful players, transfer listed players in the second season can also throw up some interesting names. I see van der Vaart pop up quite often and for as little as £4m sometimes, bargain eh? Having those sort of world class players available to you is obviously a bonus, but sometimes they wont be. Find those players and possibly one or two new first teamers if you think that in some positions you have weak players.

Once that's sorted, tactics need to be tweaked, not all the time, but with new players it is sometimes better to edit their instructions so the tactic can fit the way they play. No point buying a player and trying to change them into something they're not. Otherwise you'd just sign the player you want a player to be, right? It's logic. Tactics tweaked, new signings, are you ready? That's your decision. But there could be more you could do.

Friendlies can be important. It doesn't matter who you're managing, top flight or lower league but I always see it best to at least have played seven to eight friendlies before the start of the season, allowing a weeks break between the last pre season fixture and the opening game of the new campaign. This helps your players regain full match fitness so you're fresh for the first competitive game.

Don't choose just any team to play in your pre season schedule though. A mix of teams that are in a higher league than you (if you're not top flight) will be helpful to see how good your players can be and if they can do it against the big boys. Also play teams below you, wins against them will boost confidence ahead of the season.

I hope this hasn't been too obvious etc, hopefully it helps. First article in ages too so hope you've enjoyed it.

Tarrantino.