Tactics - general query

[du Garbandier (Inactive)]

I was wondering to what extent you can really 'take them by surprise' with tactical changes and adjustments? I just played Liverpool at Anfield twice in a fortnight (cup & league), and went with sharply different tactics on the second occasion. Lost both 1-0. (We're currently 3rd or 4th in the league, so its not wildly optimistic to hope for a draw at least)

Press is always asking if they can expect a tactical surprise (has been asking that for as long as I've been playing FM  )

[Zemahh (Inactive)]

26 minutes ago, du Garbandier said:

I was wondering to what extent you can really 'take them by surprise' with tactical changes and adjustments?

People have done experiments on this before and it turns it out actively countering AIs tactics can be quite successful, provided you got versatile enough personnel. You also need a decent understanding of how tactics work of course, so you don't end up shooting yourself in the foot with changing a system that works well generally.

This is one of my favourite threads on this sort of thing.

Edited April 14, 2022 by Zemahh

[du Garbandier (Inactive)]

That's interesting (in my current save I had Lyon only after starting at Auxerre and moving to Bordeaux). 

Generally, I find that this version of FM has improved the tactical briefing, and my AM's advice is usually sound, if often overcautious. I look for high tactical knowledge in an AM -- current on has 15 TK and 16 tactical coaching. It's good to know that small adjustments can make a difference.

[Rashidi (Inactive)]

1 hour ago, du Garbandier said:

I was wondering to what extent you can really 'take them by surprise' with tactical changes and adjustments? I just played Liverpool at Anfield twice in a fortnight (cup & league), and went with sharply different tactics on the second occasion. Lost both 1-0. (We're currently 3rd or 4th in the league, so its not wildly optimistic to hope for a draw at least)

Press is always asking if they can expect a tactical surprise (has been asking that for as long as I've been playing FM  )

You can do tactical gymnastics or you can keep it simple. I just have one tactic and a bunch of shouts (Shouts = Group of team instructions). Wanna harakiri cos I went a goal down, I got a set of shouts for that. Wanna control the game and suss them out, I have a set of shouts for that. Wanna sit back and protect the lead, I even have shouts for that. Ultimately knowing your own tactical system and keeping it simple is the best way

[du Garbandier (Inactive)]

2 minutes ago, Rashidi said:

I just have one tactic and a bunch of shouts

ha... but you only get one shout per ten minutes

I have a home & away tactic -- basically AM at home, DM away (control possession) and for occasional variety, a fluid counterattack option again with DM

[Rashidi (Inactive)]

9 minutes ago, du Garbandier said:

ha... but you only get one shout per ten minutes

I have a home & away tactic -- basically AM at home, DM away (control possession) and for occasional variety, a fluid counterattack option again with DM

I mean team instructions: For example I use direct passing, wider, normal tempo, standard defensive line, standard line of engagement, normal pressing intensity without any counter pressing and counter sometimes during games. And there are times when I use other combinations. Sorry if i wasn't being clear. Us older players guilty of calling them shouts. Cos in the older days, we had shouts  in the game which were a combination of team instructions, we could use in games. Most of the younger players don't know about them.

 

[du Garbandier (Inactive)]

5 minutes ago, Rashidi said:

Us older players

lol... don't remember that, so maybe before my time. But yeah, my setup is mostly the same, home and away, just with a couple of tweaks