The Official Q&A Thread - The FM Tactical Clinic

This thread is intended as an aid to common tactical ailments in Football Manager 2007. The purpose is to address those recurring issues that many have with the game, and hopefully assist in ironing out those pesky problems. Obviously there's no guarantee that we can cure all problems as the FM2007 game engine is a complex and diverse organ; but hopefully together we can all diagnose and treat some problematic symptoms, or at least make some ground in preventing them.

So, if you either have an ailment, a diagnosis or a remedy to share, then please pop into the Tactics Clinic and post them; before I exhaust the metaphor entirely and have to resort to one of the medical dictionaries here in my office. Medical science is forever evolving- so this is all work in progress (see I’m already flogging it).

The Common Cold.

Not necessarily a debilitating illness, the common cold is more frustrating than anything else. It can cause lapses in concentration, messy goalkeeping and leaky defences. If you aren’t careful the common cold can be highly contagious, and spread like wildfire across back fours and threes alike.

Symptoms:

- Defenders making errors: giving the ball away, dwelling on the ball for too long, playing ridiculous back-passes.

- Goalkeeper makes calamitous mistakes, dribbling outside the area, giving the ball away.

Diagnosis:

- Your defenders/goalkeeper have too much creative freedom.

- Your defence have no readily available passing options.

- Your defenders are too hurried in possession.

- Your defence is unable to adapt to your passing system.

- Your goalkeeper/defenders’ mentality is too high.

Remedies:

- Decrease creative freedom for defence/goalkeeper to 5 or below (“littleâ€).

- Make sure mentalities for your midfield are close to or mirror that of your defence.

- Decrease team tempo, or perhaps adopt a less direct passing style.

- Increase attacking training for your defenders (to improve their passing), or change their passing style to one less technically demanding (normal/direct/long- 6 or above).

- Reduce goalkeeper/defender mentality so they are less inclined to hit forward passes and (for keepers) stray off their line.

- If Defenders dally on the ball and give up possession, reduce try through balls on DCs

Impotence

Your build-up is impeccable, your intentions good, but you simply cannot score. Possibly the most frustrating FM ailment of all; chance after chance spurned with no end product, only to see your rival march in and finish the job with the first opportunity he gets.

Symptoms:

- Firing blanks: plenty of shots on goal, very few of which are on target.

- One-on-ones: you’re clean through, the nerves kick in, and you’ve blown it.

- Backlash: some other git marches in and penetrates instantly, with devastating effect.

Diagnosis:

- Some self- analysis required here: find out who’s getting the chances, and subsequently spurning them; then consider the following.

- Too many long shots: players are hitting over ambitious thirty-yard piledrivers into row z.

- Too much creative freedom: can cause the above.

- Your players are too hurried and lose their composure in front of goal.

- Your players are nervous and will miss one-on-ones.

- Your strikers are going through a bad patch, and morale is low.

- Your players are being selfish and shooting when the better option would be to pass or square the ball.

Remedies:

- Watch match highlights comprehensively to find out the type of chances you’re creating (and missing).

- Reduce individual long shot instructions to “rarely.â€

- Reduce creative freedom for players spurning chances.

- Lower team tempo, particularly if playing a short passing game.

- Keep an eye on a player’s personality screen, particularly after your pre-match media comments. Use individual team talks to relax them, or reassure them you have faith in their ability.

- Increase shooting training for the player, and see above for morale.

- Lower creative freedom and if they have a passing option available, set “cross ball†to “mixed†or “often.â€

This is only work in progress so please post your problems, solutions or suggestions. Cheers.

Thatcher's Elbow

Every game and a half somebody throws an elbow, a forehead or two feet at the oppositions' head, abdomen and gets himself a five match ban and the club picks up a huge fine for ill-discipline.

Symptoms:

- More than half-a-dozen sendings off in a season for violent conduct.

- Every defender seems to bring down the opposition when they're the last defender.

- Repeated instances of players getting second yellow cards.

- Losses due to a reduced shape and reduced man power.

Diagnosis:

- Your players are too aggressive in a bad way.

- Your players are too fired up for the game.

- Your players are getting frustrated in a game they feel should be going their way.

- Your defenders are getting caught out of position and forced to make last ditch, unwinnable tackles.

- Your team have no discipline.

- Your players don't calm down after the first yellow card.

Remedies:

- Take a note of why your players are getting sent off.

- Violent conduct (throwing some body part at the opponent) should always be fined and never condoned by appealing.

- Professional fouls are caused by the defence being out of position. Lower closing down and pull pack the defensive line.

- When a player is on a yellow card it is suicide to leave them on 'hard' tackling.

- Substitute a player who has been given a yellow and is still being given yellow cards (the "it's just a warning" commentary should give you an indicator to bring the sub on)

- Keep an eye on players in the "PR" or team-talk before the game where it says "is really fired up". If their aggression is high as well they are most likely to do something stupid.

- Drop, sell or fine anyone who persistently gets their name in the book.

*cough cough*

Erm if defenders dwell too long on the ball also look at reducing TTB

- Substitute a player who has been given a yellow and is still being given yellow cards (the "it's just a warning" commentary should give you an indicator to bring the sub on)

-Substitute a player who has been given a yellow card and is still commiting fouls...

Just want to add my comment:

Congratulations!!!!!11!

This thread is more useful than any other tactical thread I saw here.

It explains just fine, on language that most other humans can understand, what seems to be the problem and answer for it.

Thanks again.

Also I want to ask you this:

I'm playing the match and I'm better team, creating more useful chances and stuff.

Then logically, I score from one of those chances.

*But* in the very next chance for oppo team - they score, and after I score my goal they seems to become a whole new, much better team. Now they are in possession dictating tempo, game and chances.

What is workaround for that? Counter tactics, defensive tactics, lowering direct style of play, lowering tempo, creative freedom?

I'm asking this because this happened quite a lot to me.

After I score opposite team is just zealous, they run like hell and are much better team than mine from that point.

I didn't noticed that happening many times vice-versa tho , even if I change my tactics...

really good idea for a thread...keep it up!

Originally posted by rashidi1:

*cough cough*

Erm if defenders dwell too long on the ball also look at reducing TTB

Rash, if you or anyone want to add more then quote the original post and add it in if you like.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

The Common Cold.

Not necessarily a debilitating illness, the common cold is more frustrating than anything else. It can cause lapses in concentration, messy goalkeeping and leaky defences. If you aren’t careful the common cold can be highly contagious, and spread like wildfire across back fours and threes alike.

Symptoms:

- Defenders making errors: giving the ball away, dwelling on the ball for too long, playing ridiculous back-passes.

- Goalkeeper makes calamitous mistakes, dribbling outside the area, giving the ball away.

Diagnosis:

- Your defenders/goalkeeper have too much creative freedom.

- Your defence have no readily available passing options.

- Your defenders are too hurried in possession.

- Your defence is unable to adapt to your passing system.

- Your goalkeeper/defenders’ mentality is too high.

Remedies:

- Decrease creative freedom for defence/goalkeeper to 5 or below (“littleâ€).

- Make sure mentalities for your midfield are close to or mirror that of your defence.

- Decrease team tempo, or perhaps adopt a less direct passing style.

- Increase attacking training for your defenders (to improve their passing), or change their passing style to one less technically demanding (normal/direct/long- 6 or above).

- Reduce goalkeeper/defender mentality so they are less inclined to hit forward passes and (for keepers) stray off their line.

-if defenders dwell too long on the ball also look at reducing TTB

Impotence

Your build-up is impeccable, your intentions good, but you simply cannot score. Possibly the most frustrating FM ailment of all; chance after chance spurned with no end product, only to see your rival march in and finish the job with the first opportunity he gets.

Symptoms:

- Firing blanks: plenty of shots on goal, very few of which are on target.

- One-on-ones: you’re clean through, the nerves kick in, and you’ve blown it.

- Backlash: some other git marches in and penetrates instantly, with devastating effect.

Diagnosis:

- Some self- analysis required here: find out who’s getting the chances, and subsequently spurning them; then consider the following.

- Too many long shots: players are hitting over ambitious thirty-yard piledrivers into row z.

- Too much creative freedom: can cause the above.

- Your players are too hurried and lose their composure in front of goal.

- Your players are nervous and will miss one-on-ones.

- Your strikers are going through a bad patch, and morale is low.

- Your players are being selfish and shooting when the better option would be to pass or square the ball.

Remedies:

- Watch match highlights comprehensively to find out the type of chances you’re creating (and missing).

- Reduce individual long shot instructions to “rarely.â€

- Reduce creative freedom for players spurning chances.

- Lower team tempo, particularly if playing a short passing game.

- Keep an eye on a player’s personality screen, particularly after your pre-match media comments. Use individual team talks to relax them, or reassure them you have faith in their ability.

- Increase shooting training for the player, and see above for morale.

- Lower creative freedom and if they have a passing option available, set “cross ball†to “mixed†or “often.â€

This is only work in progress so please post your problems, solutions or suggestions. Cheers.

Millie- excellent, nice one.

Originally posted by Kuna:

Also I want to ask you this:

I'm playing the match and I'm better team, creating more useful chances and stuff.

Then logically, I score from one of those chances.

*But* in the very next chance for oppo team - they score, and after I score my goal they seems to become a whole new, much better team. Now they are in possession dictating tempo, game and chances.

What is workaround for that? Counter tactics, defensive tactics, lowering direct style of play, lowering tempo, creative freedom?

I'm asking this because this happened quite a lot to me.

After I score opposite team is just zealous, they run like hell and are much better team than mine from that point.

I didn't noticed that happening many times vice-versa tho , even if I change my tactics...

Does that usually happen in the second half, after leading in the first?

Great thread, i'll revise this when i get home cause my Milan team is suffering from The Common Cold & Impotence at various times during the season.

I had some cases of Thatcher's Elbow too, but the worse is when one of yours throws a zidane-style headbutt(well..that's how i imagine it ) to a opponent , gets sent off and then almost allways a yellowcarded teamate becomes "furious" with the referee and gets sent off too.

Originally posted by andre_costa:

I had some cases of Thatcher's Elbow too, but the worse is when one of yours throws a zidane-style headbutt(well..that's how i imagine it ) to a opponent , gets sent off and then almost allways a yellowcarded teamate becomes "furious" with the referee and gets sent off too.

I have had that happen to me too

Yeah. I eventually checked to see if Baptista didn't have "Scottish" as second nationality, or place of birth "Glasgow" due to his fondness for head-butts.

I would if I had the time... i have to stop laughing at how hilariously good this thread is.

I actually reinstalled the game in a drunken haze last night, only to have a quick go at lunchtime and find a slew of rather offensive nicknames given by myself to rival managers, and players that had turned me down.

"Brewer's Droop?"

Asmo sorry for take your time again.- i have stupid question, in my tacic every players has diferent mentality. But what about team mentalty? It is importent? Becouse i download some tactics and see that team mentality is + for example + 15 but every players has diferent ment.So what is team ment. when players has individual ment. Sorry for english, hope that zou understand me....

Team Mentality acts as a sort of base. It alters the positions if you look at the screen. For example a defensive team mentality will mean you are deeper than a more attacking team mentality. Even though you have individuals set differently.

I guess that's the FM equivalent of the meaning of life.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kuna:

Also I want to ask you this:

I'm playing the match and I'm better team, creating more useful chances and stuff.

Then logically, I score from one of those chances.

*But* in the very next chance for oppo team - they score, and after I score my goal they seems to become a whole new, much better team. Now they are in possession dictating tempo, game and chances.

What is workaround for that? Counter tactics, defensive tactics, lowering direct style of play, lowering tempo, creative freedom?

I'm asking this because this happened quite a lot to me.

After I score opposite team is just zealous, they run like hell and are much better team than mine from that point.

I didn't noticed that happening many times vice-versa tho , even if I change my tactics...

Does that usually happen in the second half, after leading in the first? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Basically, yes.

So if my d'line is 6 i should give team mentality 6? Sorry my english is poor and i don˛t understand

Originally posted by Kuna:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Does that usually happen in the second half, after leading in the first?

It might well be your half-time team talks then. What's your general approach to these?

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Yeah. I eventually checked to see if Baptista didn't have "Scottish" as second nationality, or place of birth "Glasgow" due to his fondness for head-butts.

Asmo-as a Scot, this offends me- clearly a case of racial discrimination of the highest order which in a multi-racial society has no place. Clearly you have not read the intro to the game which states- lets kick football out of racialism or something! Laughed at this though F

The Glasgae kiss.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kuna:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Does that usually happen in the second half, after leading in the first?

It might well be your half-time team talks then. What's your general approach to these? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>At first I handled them, but after a while I gave up and let my assistant manager handle it.

When I was handling them, I almost never "trashed" my team I always tried approach "I have faith in your ability" etc. when talking to key players when my team lose.

I gave them little harsh talk.

I'm playing with Wolves (got promoted to Premier div.).

Not the best team outhere but still... media prediction at start of the season: 17th.

Current pos. (after 18 matches): 16th.

But since we're all (relegation battlers) only 1-3 points away, every match counts.

In Zidane's case

Let's Headbutt Your Mum And Racist Comments Out Of Football

Originally posted by FrazT:

Clearly you have not read the intro to the game which states- lets kick football out of racialism

You have it backwards.

Unless you mean it, of course...

Why can't it just be "kick footballs?"

Can anyone else think of any other common gripes with FM2007?

Perhaps a way not to concede goals at the last few minutes, lack of concentration? decreasing mentalities? how to deal with 2-3-5 and 4-2-4...

A suggestion for a name:"OMG! NO!"

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Why can't it just be "kick footballs?"

Can anyone else think of any other common gripes with FM2007?

Players being caught offside, when in fact they are no where near offside.

When you tell a player not to do long shots, but low and behold he still does it.

what tempo sholud i give my team when playing with d-line 6, quick? ( my defenders has passing on 14, dmc 12 - playing 433)

Originally posted by Saga:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by FrazT:

Clearly you have not read the intro to the game which states- lets kick football out of racialism

You have it backwards.

Unless you mean it, of course... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It took me hours to remember which way it was meant to be before posting this

lets kick football out of racialism

This was of course a famous quote from a memeber of Joe Public when interviewd on Sky about the problems of racialism in football- even the interviewer had to think about it.

Well, half of my team has the cold and the other half is impotent. I hope these remedies help!

If you have set individual mentalities is tehre any point in vhanging the mentality in the team instructions...surely if a player is told do do short passing but you put the team passing instruction to direct, then as you have set the individual mentality as short, surley this superceeds anything???

Individual instructions over-ride team ones although we have been told that the team instruction does have some effect on how the individual instruction is interpreted by the player.

Superb thread mate.

The impotence remedies work.

My strikers were making me pull my hair out and causing me to scream at my monitor. Now they are a bit more competent and I most likely won't smash my keyboard or monitor because of them.

Originally posted by Frankie 7:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Why can't it just be "kick footballs?"

Can anyone else think of any other common gripes with FM2007?

Players being caught offside, when in fact they are no where near offside.

When you tell a player not to do long shots, but low and behold he still does it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I find players get caught offside a lot less if you restrict their forward runs to "mixed" or "rarely."

Second problem could be a few things:

-too much creative freedom

-tempo too high

-individual instructions: try getting him to run with the ball more or "cross ball" to square it.

Incidentally there is an issue being fixed by the patch involving players squaring the ball apparently.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Frankie 7:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Why can't it just be "kick footballs?"

Can anyone else think of any other common gripes with FM2007?

Players being caught offside, when in fact they are no where near offside.

When you tell a player not to do long shots, but low and behold he still does it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I find players get caught offside a lot less if you restrict their forward runs to "mixed" or "rarely."

Second problem could be a few things:

-too much creative freedom

-tempo too high

-individual instructions: try getting him to run with the ball more or "cross ball" to square it.

Incidentally there is an issue being fixed by the patch involving players squaring the ball apparently. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I should have explianed myself better. In one of my games, it said james fowler was offside, when in fact james fowler was'nt even in the oppositions half.he was at righht back at the time, it was a bye kick, and on the screen he was at the back in his own half.

Sorry for being offtopic here but Asmodeus, is your email in your profile up to date? I sent you a mail regarding this topic and I was wondering if you recieved it?

Thanks

Frankie- Best ask SI about that one.

FMTacticus- the one in my profile is one I haven't looked at in a while, I believe it's active though and will respond after work.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

FMTacticus- the one in my profile is one I haven't looked at in a while, I believe it's active though and will respond after work.

Excellent, if not contact me via my profile please

Originally posted by woodelf:

The impotence remedies work.

Yeah, i gave Viagra to Villa & Gillardino and they started scoring like ravid old men!!

(p.s: Asmodeus solutions also worked )

My own litle problem;no solution yet

Brilliant Goalkeeper Syndrom

An extremely annoying sickness, it causes insanely good goalies for both sides and results in your goalkeeper having 1,000,000 clean sheets and man of the matches.

Symptoms:

-The goalkeeper consistently makes "brilliant saves" or "he somehow got his fingers to it".

-You have 20 on target shots. You have no goals.

-The goalkeeper blocks 3 shots from penalties(Edwin van der Sar )

Diagnosis

-The goalkeeper just plain rocks.

-The goalkeeper has really, really, high reflexes and one-on-ones.

-Your FC sucks.

-Your FC makes highly unlikely shots on goal.

Remedies

Please note, these are mostly theoretical.

-Make the FC/AMC your playmaker, have a TM waiting off sides and have him pass around the goalkeeper.

-Give the FC in question steroids for finishing.

-If your goalie has this symptom repeatedly, MAKE HIM YOUR MAIN GOALIE! He might be experiencing "wonderkid syndrom"!

-Buy the goalie from them.

-Set the goalie to tackle hard. Tust me, good goalies are limited. Unless they experience this of course.

-Make sure that when he runs for it, he's not alone.

-If he's blocking crosses, cross it so that he has to use his bad foot to jump for it.(It worked for me once or twice.)

My own big problem, solution found.

Sunderl*nd 2005/2006 syndrome

A Mick McC*rthy sickness, desperately consoling the lads, telling them to cheer up and don't cry, telling the press that there's still hope for staying up despite not winning for 20 games consecutively. Constantly giving excuses to the press.

Symptoms

- Your defence concedes an average of 3 goals per game

- Your attack scores an average of 0.5 goals per game

- Your team gets an average rating of 7 despite conceding 3 goals per game

- You are at a loss as to whether to praise them for the good effort or to scream at them because neither seems to work

- You're tearing your hair out

Diagnosis

- Your defence forgot how to defend

- Your attack forgot how to attack

- No tactic will ever work for you and your team

Remedies

- Click Manager

- Click Resign

- Hope and pray someone offers you a job

Originally posted by cHrO:

My own big problem, solution found.

Sunderl*nd 2005/2006 syndrome

A Mick McC*rthy sickness, desperately consoling the lads, telling them to cheer up and don't cry, telling the press that there's still hope for staying up despite not winning for 20 games consecutively. Constantly giving excuses to the press.

Symptoms

- Your defence concedes an average of 3 goals per game

- Your attack scores an average of 0.5 goals per game

- Your team gets an average rating of 7 despite conceding 3 goals per game

- You are at a loss as to whether to praise them for the good effort or to scream at them because neither seems to work

- You're tearing your hair out

Diagnosis

- Your defence forgot how to defend

- Your attack forgot how to attack

- No tactic will ever work for you and your team

Remedies

- Click Manager

- Click Resign

- Hope and pray someone offers you a job

Haha, you dont have to resign. The board will sack you in no time

haha.. heh actually i'm not in that bad a position, im 17th wif portsmouth, 3 pts above the drop zone, and my board and supporters are very pleased and in full support of my management at the club.. but i just can't seem to win. between each win there's a 7 game winless record. sigh. realli contemplating clicking the resign button

Asmo, I might make this into the official Q&A thread, that okay?

Of course not- you may have to do most of the "A"-ing though.

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

Of course not- you may have to do most of the "A"-ing though.

Aye I guessed as much, but theres plenty opf good knowlegable people around now who can help too

My previous post sounded a little risque.