Opposition Instructions

I wonder how often do you tweak on "Opposition Instructions" before each match. (I tend to repeat the same config: marking/closing down on their attack, but it is very tedious to have to click same keys every game!). I also wonder how this differs from the "tight marking" button (under team instructions). Any light is appreciated. Thanks.

Almost never. The only time I do is when I'm facing a 4-5-1 formation: I close down the lone striker. It works every time.

I never touch Opposition Instructions. Doing fine without it.

Always - I'm a tactics micro-manager.

It depends who i'm playing and what personell the oppo have i.e. fast wingers, strong/quick strikers as to what oppo instructions i use.

I read scouting report of my next opponent. Then I use close-down, hard tackle and wrong foot instructions for the player reported by my scout. I also use same tactics for the key opponent player from Match-Analysis screen, if they are different. I found this very useful.

I always use OIs - in FM, and in FML.

I always close down their keeper and show him onto his wrong foot. I also mark all of their attacking players.

almost always, against 442 i mark, show onto weaker foot and hard-tackle the strikers, close down and show onto weaker foot the CMs and show the wingers onto their weaker feet.

I would love to hear that this is largely meaningless and has little effect because doing it before every match is unbelievably tedious.

I would love to hear that this is largely meaningless and has little effect because doing it before every match is unbelievably tedious.

On the rare occasions that I forget or can't be ar5ed, I invariably suffer.

Same here, although I rarely bother if i'm playing some non-league no-hopers in the cup, but whenever I don't do it in big games I always seem to do badly. But I remain unconvinced that it's anything other than coincidence. If I tell my team to always close down a certain player, will my entire team be pulled out of shape when they get the ball from everyone running at them like an idiot?

i absolutely hate this feature, especially if you dont do it on every single player on the field your ASS Man seems to recommend you do anyway.

never used it, and dont plan to either.

Can't be bothered with them. Close down and weaker foot the keeper only.

Never for me. I had been using them for most of my seasons but then I had a really poor season. The season after, I couldn't be bothered to set them and I had a good season again. I don't think that's the reason but to me, it didn't seem to be making much difference.

I ALWAYS use it as it is something that I have developed alongside my tactics.

I ALWAYS close down GK and show onto his weaker foot, (and I specify the weaker foot).

I ALWAYS tackle hard any player that has a bravery score in single figures, (if it is not visible then I assume it is more than 10).

I always show wingers inside, (unless they are playing on the wrong flank), and close down always.

I always show SC's on weaker foot, (and specify the weaker foot), and close down always.

I often show central midfielders onto weaker foot.

If I don't do this then my results suffer.

Something that I am not so good at is monitoring the subs that the AI introduce and tweaking the tactics as appropriate.

I always have the keeper on hard tackling; my theory is that my players shouldn't back out of a challenge with the keeper in a set piece. Also they may rattle the keeper with a couple of tough challenges early on.

The other positions depends on the players in them.

Like Jimbo I use hard tackling to "cowardly" players and/or high aggressive players; the latter in the hope of getting a reaction from him.

Show onto weaker foot for wingers and full backs, unless they don't have a weaker foot or their crossing attribute is bad.

Sometimes I set the "danger man" to slways close down, hard tackle and tight marking.

I discovered that I do better if I dont use them at all. Which is a relief as it's very tedious indeed. Only exception is a game where I'd be a heavy underdog, then I would put some individual pressing and tight markings.

i absolutely hate this feature, especially if you dont do it on every single player on the field your ASS Man seems to recommend you do anyway.

this is very true