timcliffsmith

It's not just penalties conceded, it's also penalties given for you. Happy for you with your set piece coach. I too tried a set piece coach after failing miserably with anything else. Guess what? Scored nothing with him also.

I've not noticed the issue with throw-ins, but since the update, scoring corners has simply vanished. I have no problems defending corners, but I simply cannot score at all. I will try this set-up and hope for something. Anything would be nice. A single goal! Also, the number of penalties is ridiculous. SI needs to cut that figure at least in half, probably by a third.

Yep, I must admit that I didn't notice it until recently. But the past week or so, the number of penalties is preposterous. It's reached the point where I'm surprised/relieved if there isn't a penalty in a game. I thought it must have been something to do with the latest update, but apparently that has not touched the ME. I'll keep playing (obviously) and hope it is just a weird phase in the game. As I said, I'd not really noticed it before. I'm only in season 26/27, but not noticed it in previous saves. However, at the moment, it is crazy, which is why I'm on here talking about. It is so bad that it feels like the game is broken and puts me off playing it. I hope it is just a blip or gets sorted because, apart from that, this year's ME is a joy to watch.

One of my greatest enjoyments is strangling the opposition. So happy when we keep their XG down to less than 0.2! I'll keep you updated, but just wanted to say thanks for the input.

Hi, thought I'd keep you up to date. I started using your tactic as posted and it was working, but sometimes it felt a bit passive, so I combined yours with my previous tactic. I have to say that your tactic was doing okay, but because I had developed my previous one, I didn't want to abandon it completely. In my original tactic, the front three were all on attacking, and the back three were all on defend, as was the def mid. What I did was keep my team and individual instructions but switch to the duties like in yours. And well, it's going great! Here is my hybrid tactic. As you can see, I have many more team instructions. And all the players are told to tackle harder (except the centre backs). The wingbacks sit narrower and run wider. The wingers sit narrower. Everybody takes fewer shots except for the front three. The other aspect of the way I play the game is that I like to play players in their best positions, so that is why Elber is an FB not a wingback, as he has 3.5* like that rather than 3*. This approach still adheres to the same basic philosophy. As you can see, I'm also playing Jones as a DLF because he is half a star better than as an F9, and so on. I do have a guy who can play as a RWB CWB, and he slots in no problem. So, I like the flexibility within a basic system. I have also played three in midfield and two up top, but overall I prefer this system. Here are the results. I started using your tactic and then my hybrid from the Wolves game. Look at the defence! Tremendous. This is how I like the game, not with crazy numbers of goals. Please bear in mind that I finished second in the laegue last season, so I already had a good team, but adding in your duties has definitely improved the defence and the control of my team during the game. Really like the feel of it. So, thanks very much! 352TimKnapAdonComposite23.fmf

Thanks. I'll give it a go for a while and report back to you.

Gonna give this a go. I've been playing a 343 and it's been going well but fallen apart a bit after 4-5 seasons. I like the look of this and the big emphasis on support is interesting. Quick question, have you tried the same basic shape and formation and instructions but with slightly different positions? For example, an AM instead of an IW, or a DLF instead of an F9?

I've been playing this game since its first incarnation. I buy it every year. Some years are better than others. I'm really enjoying FM22, but one thing has bugged me ever since you introduced the 3D match engine: away Fans. The number of away fans as represented in the stadium is simply unrealistic and somewhat ruins the immersion. I've mentioned this every year for about the past five. Away fans do not occupy an entire end of one ground, unless perhaps in a cup game. I'm third, Southampton are 18th, yet they've brought, based on an estimate of my 48k-seater stadium, approximately 9,000 fans! I cannot believe this can be that difficult to rectify. Use an algorithm or whatever it is you computer guys and girls do! Also, however many away fans there are, squeeze them together in a section of the stadium and put some guys in orange jackets down the edge to represent stewards. How good would that look? Such a basic thing.

I just wanted to say thanks for this tactic set and the accompanying advice. Far too often, FM iterations are ruined by super powerful tactics. Your set was just the kind of thing I was looking for. Based on your advice, I downloaded the positive and balanced ones of Pep, Conte, and Sir Alex. I somehow overlooked the Mourinho ones! Just seen them now. Anyway, I managed to get Cardiff promoted first time via the play-offs using another tactic that I never really felt comfortable with. I was then really struggling, and chopped and changed quite a bit. I managed to finish 14th (42pts) but was in danger most of the time. Next season, I was struggling again early doors. That's when I thought I'd give yours a go. Pep best fitted my squad, so I used that. Played balanced almost all the time home and away and finished a very respectable 11th (52pts). Next season was 9th (61pts). Season after that finished 5th (70pts) but only missed out on 4th on GD. As you can see, great progress in terms of points, which is the main thing I use to judge my team's development. This season I just finished was a bit of a setback. We finished 9th (60pts), but I put that down to our best midfielder going because of a release clause and us having to have a late rebuild. There are two things I really like about your set-up: 1. Even when on a good run, it still feels like we earn every win. We generally beat the teams we should beat (with the odd nightmare) and we can hold our own against the big boys at home and get the odd result away. So, it feels realistic and satisfying. 2. It really suits the way I like to play. I essentially just find the best players I can (no matter their position or role) and then try to shape the tactic to fit them. Your basic blueprints fit this really well. I generally use balanced and switch to positive if we are having trouble breaking down a team. One thing that has been key for me is your advice about the balance between defend, support, and attack. For instance, I have a world class regen DLF, and it has been fun working out who to put around him. Last season I had inverted wingers and inside forwards on attack. This season, I have gone to three strikers, with the DLF in support to try and draw defenders out of position. Another really interesting point you made was about assigning different roles to the midfield and strikers. I always do that now. Anyway, thanks again for the work. really enjoying the game using them, and that's what it is all about.