So you've taken over a new team...

[stemlfc]

Do you make them play to your preferred formation, plugging weaknesses until recruits are brought in or do you adapt, playing to the squads strengths?

I recently took over Bayern Munich, who had some very, very good regen inside forwards. I used a 4-2-3-1 formation in which was the first time I had used wingers in a long time. Still feels very odd but I'm doing quite well.

[SWaRFeGa]

Depends on the team/squad really! Each situation is totally different.

[footynut]

For me, definitely adapt and play to the squads strengths. If you have a preferred formation you can always plan and move to it over a period of time.

If the squad had a “stand out” player or two I’ll build around that.

[Chalky1989]

I'll pick the best formation for players initially. While also having a look to see if I could bring in enough players of the right quality to play my preferred formation. If I can, I'll buy them and change. If not, I'll concentrate on strengthening the team in the formation I've got them in.

Gradually change it over time.

[heathxxx]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

[Bracken]

Depends when I take over the team. If it's mid-season, I try not to rock the boat too much and just try and get the team performing in whatever formation they're used to. If it's a new season, I'll instil my way of playing and my formation straight away, and then bring in the players I need to make it work.

[dafuge]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

I'm exactly the same. I'll even sell world class players if they play in positions I don't utilise.

[nik1313]

after 2 years in manager career,summer 2012, i accepted an offer from manu (premier champions,uefa champions league runner-up,europaleague champions 2011,reserves and under18 champions.4th richest in the world,170m euros transfer budget etc). i rejected fc bayern just before.i have a smile while watching the monitor

first i will act as my scouts and staff say(maybe buy bale or aguero).

actually my 3 saved formations in fm2011 are 4-4-2,4-2-3-1d,4-5-1 so i guess there will be no problem for existing players to fit in my tactics.

[HunterKiller]

Force them into 4-4-2, every time. No patience with these fancy formations!

[Alan A Wadge]

first thing i do is sack the assistant manager and hire my own! And swap to my beloved 4-3-2-1 (2 being wide wingers) formation.

[La Furia Roja]

im a believer that you dont go to a club and say this is how we are playing and thats that. I like to adapt to the squad i have, im more about tactics than formation.

[Alan A Wadge]

I agree with that, a true coach can make a team out of what he got, on the other hand... I'm more into management! So I manage you in my formation or out of the door maybe that's why I'm more successful at my job then playing FM

[Llew_Arshavin23]

If the players are there, I usually play a 4-2-3-1... But say, If I stared with someone like Newcastle or Everton tomorrow... I would play more along the lines of 4-4-1-1.

It all depends on the players that are available

[kccircle]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

Is that the downloaded tactic you have - ha ha - only joking

[Soninho]

For me, definitely adapt and play to the squads strengths. If you have a preferred formation you can always plan and move to it over a period of time.

If the squad had a “stand out” player or two I’ll build around that.

This! It will give the game more versatility (spelling?), not the same formations every time and not bringing in the same players every time. Of course you don't if you pick lower teams etc, but I think it's fun to learn new ways to play and have the team squad as foundation so I might not have to buy as many players and therefore save som cash so I can give my FM-wife a new gold watch

[Deisler26]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

I'm with this!

[Motherlover]

For me it depends entirely on the club. Transfer-wise I tend to bring in the same kinds of players to any club, but until I have a team filled with my kind of player i'll create tactics that suit the club's current strengths.

[jackripper]

I use the same tactic for every team i manage and then il look to find the players who would fit into my 4-2-3-1 system.

[skybluedude]

I always take a good while to go though the players stats and to work out what formation would suit the team best, and also offer up some good ideas as to what new signings I need to bring in.

[Magicz]

I took over at Aston Villa and I cleared out the deadwood, brought in the players that I felt could benefit the squad and adapted the tactics to their super-speedy strengths.

[Coentrao]

I always change to whatever my favorite formation is at the moment is, my adaptability stat is very low!

[jb10billion]

I always set out my formation regardless of which players are there. Get rid of the dead wood and use the money to buy/loan players that will fit into the formation i demand. Sack backroom staff and get ones in with 16-20 for discipline! Don't want no whiners. You either do as i say or get gone!

(Love discipline 16-20! Just like the idea of having a strict regime at the club - no whingers, out the door straight away!)
I also try to get players with high determination and workrate throughout the formation.

[Ryknow]

I normally adapt to the current players then bring in players I want to fit into my 4-3-3. Tbh most players can be retrained to play in an attacking 4-3-3 so it works well. Main set back is when a team has 3-4+ world class strikers, so a few would need to become inside forwards in order to get a game.
However, I find it hard to manage other teams than my favourite club.

[Anti Spiral]

I'll usually just go with 4-4-2, playing to the squads strengths. Then I'll adapt the squad so I can get my preferred formation over the next few seasons.

[Football Manager.]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

yeah this definatly. i always go this way.

[Bracken]

Force them into 4-4-2, every time. No patience with these fancy formations!

Mike Bassett in disguise?

[mrdorf]

I always tend to stamp my own mark on a side as soon as I can, irrespective of the club I'm at. The first team, reserves and youth team, will all play to my preferred style and tactics.

I read about doing that a long time ago in order for your players to be able to instantly fit into the first team when they get called up. I only do this for the reserves has my youth team aren't great.

[Ranquelme]

I look at whats best for my players and adapt my formation around that, over time I will usually change it to a 4-1-2-3

[Eamon]

Granted I've only played a short time (and always low level teams) but below is my standard operating procedure when moving to a club:

1: Look at the coaching staff and figure out who should go and replace them
2: Release players that are old and those with poor determination
3: Replace said poo poo players
4: Change tactics to a 4-4-2 and build up "team blend"

[kingjericho]

I never make revolution when I take over a team. I look at the team's strengths and try to build a tactic accordingly.

[Eamon]

I never make revolution when I take over a team. I look at the team's strengths and try to build a tactic accordingly.

Sometimes a little revolution makes a poor team better

[The-Perfect-Fm'er!]

Stand naked in the shower to show them who's boss.

[abfielder]

I make wholesale changes quickly. At my current club I've been there for a season now. The only players in the starting 11 that were there when I got there are the GK and 2 CM's. Everyone else I have got.

[PhroX]

Tends to depend on when I take over a club. If it's during the summer (or whenever the break is for other places), I'll try to get them playing in my way immediately. If it's mid-season, I'll tend to use what I have and play to their strengths until I get to the summer when I can begin building my own team, particularly if there's pressure on me to do well.

[RBKalle]

I use the best possible formation with the players I currently have, then I'll sign players more suited to my usual direct style.

But there's no point in fielding e.g. a 4-2-3-1 with players out of position and out of their depth... If a plain old 4-4-2 is the least awful formation I can use, so be it.