I'm awful at this game.

I could just claim the games too hard, but reading about everyones else experiences.. they're finding it a breeze.

Originally I started with FC Zwolle in holland, with a media prediction of 5th.. I got sacked with a record of P14 W2 D6 L6, I just assumed I'd taken up a too harder challenge for my first game, because my best player was sold & I had zilch to spend. I used 4-4-2, and tried various tactics and used them for a good 4-5 games before I changed so players could get used to them, but none of them worked.

So Next I tried benfica, played 5 games had a record of P5 W0 D5 L0 - I gave it up knowing that I was gonna get nowhere, I tried a 4-2-3-1 formation on this, with an attacking philosophy which I kept from the off.

Finally, in a last attempt at the game I tried Bayern Munich and made some very good signings, tried the same formation as Benfica, but spent alot of time making 4 different tactics which I was gonna use in different situations. I'm sitting with a record of P5 W1 D2 L2 and like Benfica, outplayed heavily in every game apart from the win, and will probably get the sack again in a few games. So in total over all three games I've only won 4 league games outta 24.

I really don't know why I'm finding it so difficult.. theres nothing strange about my tactics, nothing that should stop two of the best teams in their leagues being absolutely dreadful and outplayed by nobodies. The only annoying thing to me is that I was speaking to a couple of my friends - who are casual players, asking them what tactics they use and both say they never even look at tactics and just keep the default ones & both are strolling the game.

I'm not whining, just curious as to why I'm the only one finding this version insanely difficult, because I've never had a bad track record with any of the series before. Watching my teams play, they are so, so bad.. it's like theres a tick box in the tactics page saying "Be Awful".. which I've got ticked.

Either way, I think I've lost patience with this version already and I'm not the sorter person who would download tactics and such, because I like to do everything myself.

"It's your Tactics"

No but really I think FM is a game where peoples experiences differ emmensly.

Some Tips from my angle:

1) Do you know your squad head to toe? I good way to know your squad is to watch full match for a couple of games to take in how people play and not just what their stats represent.

2) Prehaps try Lower League Management; You have much less pressure on you and due to the lower level of the competition if you pick up an above average player it is easy ( from my point of view) to rip up the league.

I really don't know why I'm finding it so difficult.. theres nothing strange about my tactics, nothing that should stop two of the best teams in their leagues being absolutely dreadful and outplayed by nobodies. The only annoying thing to me is that I was speaking to a couple of my friends - who are casual players, asking them what tactics they use and both say they never even look at tactics and just keep the default ones & both are strolling the game.

If you are struggling to find why teams are beating you try this: listen to your assistant manager's advice both pre match and at half time. I find this very useful. Sometimes when I'm at a loss to figure out why I'm getting beat it can help (though not always), but if your assistant is half decent you can usually work out where you're going wrong.

I'm not saying that this will make you a world beater but most of the time realising what the problem is can be half the battle.

Good luck and hope it goes well.

"It's your Tactics"

No but really I think FM is a game where peoples experiences differ emmensly.

Some Tips from my angle:

1) Do you know your squad head to toe? I good way to know your squad is to watch full match for a couple of games to take in how people play and not just what their stats represent.

2) Prehaps try Lower League Management; You have much less pressure on you and due to the lower level of the competition if you pick up an above average player it is easy ( from my point of view) to rip up the league.

I agree completely with this. Also, immerse yourself in the preseason, play friendlies against a variety of teams with various tactics and pitch sizes. So play away friendlies if you can. Tinker like your Claudio Ranieri, watch full matches and get an idea of what the player roles etc do. It is a massive investment of your time but with the dedication I'm sure you'll make it. Good luck.

I agree completely with this. Also, immerse yourself in the preseason, play friendlies against a variety of teams with various tactics and pitch sizes. So play away friendlies if you can. Tinker like your Claudio Ranieri, watch full matches and get an idea of what the player roles etc do. It is a massive investment of your time but with the dedication I'm sure you'll make it. Good luck.

Erm, biggest thing I think is a help is to have actually played footy to a reasonable standard! Knowing what all the instructions would lead to in an actual game of football really helps. It means you understand which instructions fit in with each other and which conflict. If going out and playing at a good level ain't an option, I'd watch more footy on telly! ; )

"It's your Tactics"

No but really I think FM is a game where peoples experiences differ emmensly.

Some Tips from my angle:

1) Do you know your squad head to toe? I good way to know your squad is to watch full match for a couple of games to take in how people play and not just what their stats represent.

2) Prehaps try Lower League Management; You have much less pressure on you and due to the lower level of the competition if you pick up an above average player it is easy ( from my point of view) to rip up the league.

Yep, this too - knowing your squad. And have a look at the handy new feature in Tactics which shows you which characteristics of a player are most important per position, e.g. pace, accel, crossing, dribbling, anticipation for a Winger etc...

Erm, biggest thing I think is a help is to have actually played footy to a reasonably standard! Knowing what all the instructions would lead to in an actual game of football really helps. It means you understand which instructions fit in with each other and which conflict. If going out and playing at a good level ain't an option, I'd watch more footy on telly! ; )

I'd even go as far as to say watch and play at the same time! Another good tip though! There are many ways to improve your performance and the more you put in the more you get out.

Thanks for the tips guys, anymore would be really appreciated.

The thing is, I'm not a casual player who doesn't put in any effort and expects to automatically win, I do put alot of effort in with tactics, analysing the squad etc.. I mean I have 6 hours game time and thats just 5 league games in which tells you the detail I go in too. I'm gonna read up some more on tactics though and keep trying with Bayern.

Sorry if you thought I was implying you were casual, I assumed you weren't from your tenure on these forums. Any condiscension recieved is unintended.

Good Luck

I generally have this very same problem, i think its because the game has a heck of a lot of variables which affect how well you do, heres a list of what i believe them to be

-how good are your players in general?

-how good are your players in the stats they need for their position? (for example if you want a offside trap beating striker he needs off the ball, composure, pace, acceleration ect)

-how well has your team "gelled"? (to gel well they need to have similar personalities)

-are all your players "natural" in the position they play in? (more important than i first thought)

-are they all over 90% fitness?

-how good is morale?

-how good are your coaches and physios?

-have you said the right team talk? (dont always go with your assistant and remeber to give out individual praise when required)

-how well do your formation and tactics suit the teams style?

-how good is squad harmony?

-do you have the right mix of experience and youth?

the problem i found is ALL these issues need to be addressed before you can perform at a good standard, i normally use it as a sort of checklist before i start the season

i think those people who do well are the ones who are patient and persistant (not saying that you arent )

hope this helps:thup:

Ive never done well on FM, so i usually play a few 'easy' saves with Barcelona and Inter etc, until a good tactic comes out in the tactic forum, use that and start properly, and claim that im the best. Or of course grab FMRTE and everyones a winner!!

Erm, biggest thing I think is a help is to have actually played footy to a reasonable standard! Knowing what all the instructions would lead to in an actual game of football really helps. It means you understand which instructions fit in with each other and which conflict. If going out and playing at a good level ain't an option, I'd watch more footy on telly! ; )

I think this is ridiculous. Playing football to a reasonable level makes you better at FM? This is nonsense!

I have am not in the army, but i'm pretty good at COD.

I'm not a porn star, but i'm....oh wait, I can't follow that one through.

I think this is ridiculous. Playing football to a reasonable level makes you better at FM? This is nonsense!

I have am not in the army, but i'm pretty good at COD.

I'm not a porn star, but i'm....oh wait, I can't follow that one through.

Hahahahahahahhahahaahhahhahahahaha. Completely agree! I'm pretty good at CoD (10th prestige on cod4 ) and I haven't been in the army...and well...as to the second one...what else is the internet for?

-how good is squad harmony?

To be honest this could be one of the reasons, because alot of players have complained that squad harmony is bad - because I transfer listed almost all of my reserves. But it shouldn't affect my results that much. It's my tactics somewhere, I've just gotta get it right.

To be honest this could be one of the reasons, because alot of players have complained that squad harmony is bad - because I transfer listed almost all of my reserves. But it shouldn't affect my results that much. It's my tactics somewhere, I've just gotta get it right.

yeah i have the same problem with tactics i just dont know what to do, but with sqaud harmony the most important thing is to dish out contracts whenever people are feeling unsettled, it makes them happy (tho this only works if your rich)

I think this is ridiculous. Playing football to a reasonable level makes you better at FM? This is nonsense!

I have am not in the army, but i'm pretty good at COD.

I'm not a porn star, but i'm....oh wait, I can't follow that one through.

No. It's not nonsense. Just because it isn't the case for YOU doesn't make it nonsense. That's a pretty arrogant outlook.

For example, being a fullback and knowing what a fullback should do, and where he should be, helps a lot. Knowing how central defenders or wingers should play helps, and I've played in those positions in real life. It makes a big difference when setting individual instructions based on a formation.

It's not essential, but you can't possibly question that knowing the game helps, surely?

I'm having a game with Bayern Munich and I'm really successful...won league all 4 seasons, 2 CL wins and 1 final, lots of money, so it must be yout tactics I was very successful with Barca version of tactics found in TTF appendix, Ribery, Robben and Gomez were really brilliant, now I switched to 4-1-2-1-2 and had a great start in the 5th season...

after a rather disasterous game with PSG ive done to playing with York City, and snapped up Adam Rooney from Inverness, and a few free transfers and it seems to be going so much better.....so far.

Play 4 defenders 1 DM 2 CM and 1AM and 2 Strikers.

If you suddenly start winning every game, go post it on the bugs forums.

Player mentality has a huge effect I find. Whenever my backroom team is advising we "get overawed" or "grow complacent" I go on a losing streak of 4-5 games. It's annoying as all hell. I have a feeling it's the damn teamtalks again, being incredibly influential on results.