Narrow 4-2-3-1 Control and Counter duo. Stable tactic in 14.3.

I am happy with this tactic. It was unstable in 14.2 but once 14.3 was released, it became much more consistent. I am therefore sharing it in the hope that it might help out people who are struggling or don't like the way their team plays football, because I think that my Oviedo team is playing well and overachieving.

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This is the Control tactic. The Counter tactic is exactly the same in every other way.

Reasoning:

I created this tactic following the principles outlined in the forums rather sarcastically to the letter. One full back more attacking than the other one, one midfielder more defensive than the other one, three different mentalities and roles among the attacking midfielders and a lone striker who contributes to more phases of play than just the finishing of attacks. Furthermore, the BWM-D is located on the right side because that's where the wing back is - providing needed extra cover, and the AMC-S is on the right side because there is more space for him to drop deep there and he helps the wing back overlapping. The MC-D is located on the left because that's where the AMC-A is, pushing him even more forward and to the flank while the FB helps him double up defensively because the TQ and the AMC-A both do little of that. The DLF is set to Attack because he then pushes more forward creating space for the trio.

There are no individual instructions, except the AMC-S who has Run With Ball - more often. I mainly use Control at home and Counter away, but I sometimes change if a match don't turn out the way I expected.

I have only played with Oviedo, which I took control over after having holidayed for five years and then adding a new manager. I won Adelante first season and ended 8th in the BBVA the second season. Most of the third season was played on 14.3 and I then ended 5th, getting into the Europa League. This is the third season in BBVA, and I am currently third in the BBVA and have just qualified for the knockout stages after four games of the Europa League.

The results so far this season:

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As you can see, solid defense and particularly good results away. At home I don't really feel I am scoring enough goals but then again my team is consisting mainly of "good players for most BBVA sides" and given my good results the other teams are playing defensively against me especially at my stadium. I am confident that there will be less draws as I build a stronger team. I am aiming for Champions League qualification through league finish this season.

The players:

DLF - Big, strong and quick first and foremost. This is mostly because the three other forwards tend to be smaller and weaker.

AMCL&R - quick, technical and preferably with some finishing skills.

TQ - the prime creator

MC - Physique is important (including Work Rate) of course but he should also be able to play a good passing game

BWM - Big, strong, quick... the typical gamebreaker. The more extreme specialist the better.

FB & WB - Defensive qualities the most important, but try to get a quick and offensively qualified player as the WB

DC's - the defensive weakness of the tactic is of course good flank play so make sure that you have great aerial skill here. The DCR usually has the BWM close so the weakest passer/most extreme stopper type should be placed there.

The files can be found in post #2 below

4231 Control

http://www.mediafire.com/download/drvohbw8z1mcfor/4-2-3-1+Mover+v2+Attacking.tac

4231 Counter

http://www.mediafire.com/download/6tz3t10bd4a43h6/4-2-3-1+Mover+v2.tac

I read on the other forum that narrow tactics seem to work rather well on this patch.

Do you think this is the one tactic you could stick to without changing anything in the long run or tweaking it on game-to-game basis?

Training?

I read on the other forum that narrow tactics seem to work rather well on this patch.

Do you think this is the one tactic you could stick to without changing anything in the long run or tweaking it on game-to-game basis?

I tweak very little. There are three recurring scenarios where I make some changes:

A) Poor shot-at-goal ratio when using the Control tactic at home vs parked buses. I then change to the Counter tactic or add the shout Lower Tempo.

B) Letting the opponent too much into the game with the Counter tactic. I then either change to the Control tactic or add the shouts Push Up Higher and Hassle Opponents. Sometimes also Higher Tempo and More Direct.

C) Need a goal quickly. I then go to Attacking and add the shouts Hassle Opponents and Get Stuck In.

I don't ever use Opposition Instructions or follow the assistant's advice. I don't actually know what size my home pitch is, since I holiday through post-season until july. I have never checked the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition team, tactics or indvidual players in 20-40 000 hours of FM these last 20 years.

Edit: regarding the long-term efficacy of this tactic, I simply don't know. I was overachieving with a very weak team the first three seasons and now with two Leading Stars in the team and the rest Good Players I feel I am still overachieving. Not by as much as previous FM versions, but I think that's normal.

This is my #1 BWM currently:

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Hardly world class...

Training?

I've stuck it on Attacking Movement. I assume a little boost to movement helps with keeping possession even when facing stronger teams.

Just finished the season and managed 4th place on the last match day mostly due to Real Madrid shockingly losing to Getafe.

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Here's my squad with performances and ability overview:

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The fixtures:

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The final match of the season:

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The impressive victory vs Arsenal:

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And its .PKM file: https://www.mediafire.com/?2mno7l32y270e1a

I'm curious how well it will fare once you establish yourself as a top 5 team, i.e. when almost everyone changes their approach against you.

One of the things I've been struggling with in this FM is maintaining the performance level in 2nd season.

My saves would go like this;

Osasuna - 1st season 5th place, 2nd season relegation zone,

Stoke - 1st season 4th place, 2nd season relegation zone etc.

In any case, keep us posted.

I'm curious how well it will fare once you establish yourself as a top 5 team, i.e. when almost everyone changes their approach against you.

One of the things I've been struggling with in this FM is maintaining the performance level in 2nd season.

My saves would go like this;

Osasuna - 1st season 5th place, 2nd season relegation zone,

Stoke - 1st season 4th place, 2nd season relegation zone etc.

In any case, keep us posted.

Yeah I got a hickup so I am still in the infancy of the fourth season in La Liga. It turned out that one of my signings cannot play for a year, so I'll have to load an earlier save from before I bought him. I bought the editor but it can't change anything relevant. Things like that hits the motivation to play. So far I haven't had any indications that better players won't simply improve the results and efficiency.