Greetings to all fellow football managers.
This is a three tactic setup for all situations with the same formation (4-2-3-1).
I have improved them over 3 seasons and now i believe they are pretty much finished.
I have used them with Chelsea, and yes I know it's a top team, but we pretty much crushed everything,
I believe the tactics will also work on lower teams and will soon try them and post results.
The aim here is to play possession style with short passing and lower/higher tempo depending on the match, outpossessing most teams, but still if you do not get higher possession you can easily rely on the defence and counter attacks, because of the deeper defensive line.
*The highest possession i have achieved is 68-70%, the average is 57% (#1 in the league) after a full season.
*I have won matches with 9 man, due to injuries or red cards, scoring 1-2 goals with no wingers.
With the tactics I won all possible competitions in the 3 seasons, with 2 Champions Leagues, and the third one was lost in the final on penalties after 0-0 (very unlucky)

But lets get down to business:

The 3 tactics have different team instructions (see them ingame) and different mentality: Counter, Standart and Control
When to use each one is pretty intuitive but I'll give you some tips:
*The Counter one is used mainly when trying to protect a lead, but if you play a lower team you might be using it against the top teams.
*The Standart one is the one you will be using the most, starting the games, most short odds matches or in most away matches, where you want to start more cautiously and assess the situation. If its going good you just leave it for the whole match.
*The Control one is your atacking style, it is used when you need a goal if you are trailing or going for a draw. Play it on in second halfs or late in the game if your standart tactic doesn't produce. It is also good for starting games against weaker teams or teams with defensive formations, or in second legs for cup competitions if u lost the first one.

The tactics all have the same set piece instructions for corners and throw ins. For free kicks I use the default one, because i think they are good enough.

Description on the player roles:

http://i.imgur.com/6uJZpo3.jpg?1


Goalkeeper: Sweeper support
*Yes some may say sweeper is better for a high defensive line, but in a fluid formation a goalkeeper must also be good at footwork to be able to help the defenders. So good rushing out and kicking abilities are a bonus.

CBs: Defend
*Regular offside trap setup.

LB: Wing Back support
*The wing back here is needed, because we have an inside forward upfront and we need someone to stay wider and do crosses. Good crossing ability is essential.

RB: Full Back support
*The full back stays a little deeper and plays mostly short passes, and rarely crosses. This is because we got a winger on the right side. Good defensive stats is more important than crossing and dribbling here.

MC: CM defend
*This guy sits deeper and protects the defence, intercepting counter attacks and playing short lower risk passes to nearby players. The role can be changed to a BWM defend, if you player lacks the technical ability for a CM.

MC: AP attack
*The main playmaker of the team, controls the tempo, distributes the ball and tries some long shots when possible. Plays more direct and risky passes.

AMC: AM attack
*The attacking midfielder helps all aspects of the attack with passing, crossing or shooting.

AML: Inside Forward attack
*Cuts inside prior to shooting or passing, also plays through balls, dribbles more and rarely crosses.

AMR: Winger attack
*Dribbles more at the side and crosses, cuts in only when he finds open space to recieve a through ball or to shoot.

CF: Defensive Forward support
*Very important role for this tactic, when defending he goes back to help the midfield win the ball, puts pressure on the opposition and most times drops deeper of the AMC, leaving him in the more advanced position. But when attacking he goes to spearhead the attack and goes up to recieve crosses and to shoot.
The role here can be changed to DLF support or to False 9, but the player instructions are set for defensive forward.

A tip: If you get red cards always remove first the AML, then the AMR if you get 2 red cards or an injury. They do less work defensively than the other roles.

Screenshots and highlights:

*Trophies won:
http://imgur.com/gn55fvq.jpg?1

*Season one league table:
http://imgur.com/fCGaQNy.jpg?1

*Season two league table:
http://imgur.com/lE9K9ln.jpg?1

*Season three league table:
http://imgur.com/J3qcgbE.jpg?1

*Players stats in the third season:
http://imgur.com/1dVA8Zy.jpg?1

*Champions league finals:
http://imgur.com/dNRgMhm.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/LX1mi9r.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/d7sFLY2.jpg?1

*Highlights from all seasons:
http://imgur.com/Wnk1I7Y.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/krgAd4H.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/aDUfssY.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/NZu1XWc.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/gduwEwY.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/GPkllL6.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/j9XG77P.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/yCrwxQJ.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/25tCU8u.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/IkJ1oxh.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/sIM1hnh.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/bRUGqxI.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/dO2LhEM.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/2c3dauz.jpg?1
http://imgur.com/BpF1PmE.jpg?1


Please give me feedback on how it worked out for you. I will update with results from a lower level team soon!
Comments
areinke
15 years ago
8 hours ago
62
Hi there. I'm playing with a weaker team in portuguese 1. division (Belenenses). The thing is what I've seen until now, is that there is a big gap between the midfield nad the defensive line and often my defensive players are caught on a coubter giving the oponent a lot of space.
areinke
15 years ago
8 hours ago
62
It's strange. Some games I win 5-0 and others can't win at home against a lesser team. Statistics say that I shoost about twice at goal as my oponente, still can´t find the net though.

Any sygestions?
Den1s
13 years ago
4 weeks ago
59
i have not tested it with a low level team, u can try to set both midfielders to defend or put them at DM position with support duty. Other thing you can try is to set player instructions to shoot less so players will wait for the right moment to shoot, it can help if they have low finishing or long shots.
areinke
15 years ago
8 hours ago
62
Trying to put the left CM with defensive role and the right CM as a DMC with suport. The ST and the AM removed the "shot more" instruction. Won 3 games, with less shots until now. Still feel the defensive is not so good. Will keep you updated.
Deleted Account #148097
I have used this tactic with an Arsenal side in my second season with them in the 17/18 season. I have found after a little tampering and an initial struggling I soon began to have amazing results. I mostly played this on the Counter setting and won the league and followed it up with the Europa League. Only 3 defeats in the league and 7 draws.
Den1s
13 years ago
4 weeks ago
59
Yeah a little tweaking depending on your team is essential, glad to hear it worked for you.
I will update soon with my tweaked version for Wolfsburg and the results from the season winning DFB Pocal, Europe League and finishing second in the league just 1 point behind Bayern.

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