Need tactics help managing Blackburn 3rd season EPL not creating any chances conceding goals

I'm managing Blackburn in the premier league and its not going well. We concede too many goals and create very little chances. The football is just dire.

These are my tactics

I mostly use the 4-4-2 and the others really haven't worked. I think with the players I have I could get into the top half and challenge for europe.

here some images with more info on the squad

Thanks in advance I can provide more details if necessary.

Nothing?

I suck at the game myself so can't help you there but one thing: I can barely see its a 442 on these images because you can't zoom in. Different links would be helpful imo.

Your pictures are too small. Can't see the roles or duties. Don't think you need to resize it before uploading or posting it here.

Well I've changed the images so should be able to see them now

Ok I've changed the images and put more information in. Anyone got any advice?

still nothing?

I'm managing Blackburn in the premier league and its not going well. We concede too many goals and create very little chances. The football is just dire.

What are you trying to achieve? Possession Football? Fast Attacking Football? Counter Attacking Football? Physical Football?

You need to answer this before anyone can be of any real use.

As you've stated this as your main tactic, I though concentrate on this mostly.

There are a few points that stick out quite obviously for me:

1) Your playing a 4-4-2, which generally get's most of it's success down the wings; yet you've selected 'Play Narrower'? Why is this? You also have a TargetMan, whom is more of a goal threat when he get's crosses put into him.

2) Why have you chosen 'Pump Ball Into Box'? As far as I'm aware this shout reduces through balls (need clarification on this), yet you've coupled it with 'Pass Into Space', which encourages through balls?

3) You say your side should be challenging for Europe, however your using a 'Rigid' philosophy coupled with 'Be More Disciplined. This indicates that your team shouldn't be then?

4) Why is Will Hughes playing as a Poacher? Surely he should be picked in front of Fernandinho in the playmaking role?

As for this one:

1) As far as I can see you possibly have 1, maybe 1 and half goal threats in your team judging by the roles you've given. For me it needs much more penetration.

2) Again why is Will Hughes a Half Back? It's not making the best use of his attacking quality. Why not swap Fernandinho with him?

This one seems to be the most balanced and makes the most sense in terms of role distribution.

However I would ask the following:

1) Why go with a 'Rigid' philosophy, but then add 'Be More Expressive'? Is there something about how the mentality is distributed within the philosophy that you like?

2) The left fullback could benefit from a 'WingBack' in my opinion.

3) Your playing with the 'Shorter Passing' despite having a Target Man? When deploying a Target Man, it lengthens other players passing ranges a bit.

What are you trying to achieve? Possession Football? Fast Attacking Football? Counter Attacking Football? Physical Football?

I'm trying to achieve winning football I don't care about the style of it I just want it to win games.

1) Your playing a 4-4-2, which generally get's most of it's success down the wings; yet you've selected 'Play Narrower'? Why is this? You also have a TargetMan, whom is more of a goal threat when he get's crosses put into him.

I chose play narrower because I thought it would be better that players are close to each other for counter attack and be closer to the targetman for knock downs and flick ons

2) Why have you chosen 'Pump Ball Into Box'? As far as I'm aware this shout reduces through balls (need clarification on this), yet you've coupled it with 'Pass Into Space', which encourages through balls?

I was not aware this shout reduced through balls and I chose it because I wanted lots of players to get into the box on counter attacks then have someone hoof it in

3) You say your side should be challenging for Europe, however your using a 'Rigid' philosophy coupled with 'Be More Disciplined. This indicates that your team shouldn't be then?

I'm not quite sure what your saying here. I chose those instructions because I thought they would help me win games and get points

4) Why is Will Hughes playing as a Poacher? Surely he should be picked in front of Fernandinho in the playmaking role?

I had switched from my 4-4-1-1 tactic to this but forgot to change the players I normally have Jordan Rhodes in the poacher role

1) Why go with a 'Rigid' philosophy, but then add 'Be More Expressive'? Is there something about how the mentality is distributed within the philosophy that you like?

I went with that because I wanted my midfield 5 to have creative freedom within their specific roles I chose rigid philosophy because I have 4 specialist roles

3) Your playing with the 'Shorter Passing' despite having a Target Man? When deploying a Target Man, it lengthens other players passing ranges a bit.

I chose that because I want to my team to build up possession then play off the target man sort of like Arsenal do with Giroud.

I'm trying to achieve winning football I don't care about the style of it I just want it to win games.

How do you want do you want to win though? People will be more inclined to give advice if they know what your trying to achieve.

I chose play narrower because I thought it would be better that players are close to each other for counter attack and be closer to the targetman for knock downs and flick ons

I would argue the opposite for counter attacks, as I would want width to further stretch the opposition. It makes sense to have players get close to your Target Man, but I don't think 'Play Narrower' is the answer. As by doing this your limiting the ball to go through the middle which means your not fully accessing the potential of the formation.

I was not aware this shout reduced through balls and I chose it because I wanted lots of players to get into the box on counter attacks then have someone hoof it in

'Pump Ball Into Box' is something that I very rarely use. I've read of some people having success with it, but their system were very specific and they understood their system back to front. For me, I see it as a tactic to be used in the last 5 mins when searching for goal; when the opposition is sitting right back into their own half. As far as your concerned, you team are being instructed to play the long ball game from 1st minute onward; is this what you want?

If you want you players to get into the box on counter attacks then you'll need to both have a strategy that creates opportunities to counter and also roles which encourage players to surge forward into space.

I'm not quite sure what your saying here. I chose those instructions because I thought they would help me win games and get points

Well having a 'Rigid' philosophy couple with 'Be More Disciplined' makes the team very limited in terms of creative freedom. Therefore by coupling the two with a Counter strategy, it's a conservative and unadventurous gameplan that you've chosen. As your DLP is the only real player to be given freedom to express himself, is he good enough to lead your team? What happens if he's marked out of the game? The AI on this game use this strategy a lot, so you'll definitely need more creative outputs in your team.

If your wanting to challenge for European places, then you are probably want to be going more adventurous in order to go and win the game.

I had switched from my 4-4-1-1 tactic to this but forgot to change the players I normally have Jordan Rhodes in the poacher role

Makes much more sense. However your strike force in incredibly static, as both roles offer little to no movement. I would recommend giving Rhodes a Advanced Forward role

I went with that because I wanted my midfield 5 to have creative freedom within their specific roles I chose rigid philosophy because I have 4 specialist roles

Why not just go Fluid? The rule linking the number of specialist's to philosophy is not a "hard, fast rule" to quote WWFan, you can deter away from it. The whole idea behind it is that when you have specialist roles and you want them to perform their specific tasks. Therefore by going 'Rigid' you limit the none specialist roles' creative freedom and give your specialist roles more. However by adding the 'Be More Expressive' shout your increasing everyone's creative freedom, making the choice to go with a Rigid philosophy redundant?

I chose that because I want to my team to build up possession then play off the target man sort of like Arsenal do with Giroud.

Within FM, I would call Giroud role within Arsenal as a Complete Forward or Advanced Forward. As Arsenal like to keep the ball on the ground and the Target Man role will increase their passing length. A Complete Forward can still hold up the ball via PIs.

Ok so I've taken on board the advice and made some changes

With the 4-4-2 I've changed it to be based around counter down the flanks

With the 4-4-1-1 its more about building possession and stretching the opposition

The 4-1-4-1 is for pressing weaker oppostion and breaking down teams with quick short passes

With the 4-4-2 I've changed it to be based around counter down the flanks

1) I never really use a Target Man, the only scenario where I do is when I'm trying to create something similar to Chelsea's 04/05 season. With Drogba as a lone striker in the Target Man role, however even then I believe a Complete Forward is more effective as it offers more. I'd keep an eye on this role and see whether it's giving you exactly what you want, as I find them tricky to get working. Hopefully another user here on the forums can offer some advice with Target Men.

2) Your MC paring could get disjointed as your CM (A) is looking to burst forward, while your DLP (D) is looking to sit deep and make effective passes. I'd recommend a Support role instead of an Attack, offering your DLP a more reliable option. hHowever you may that an Attack duty gives you want you want. When you only have two central midfielders, you need to be more conservative with what roles and duties you give them, as they can exposed.

3) To quote Cleon in one his threads, 'Exploit The Flanks' does the following:

Exploit The Flanks – It gives the fullback/wingbacks and wingers more attacking and focuses the play down both flanks. It also tells them to run from deep and cross the ball more often. If you use central midfielders then it’ll tell them to hold up the ball. You should use this if you find the middle over crowded or if you have good wide players who can cross.

I wouldn't use this as a starting shout; instead rather use it as way to exploit teams that have a clear weakness down their flanks (ie. playing a narrow formation). I don't think you particularly need a shout to create effective wide play, as your roles will create this anyway. If insist on using a shout, then I would personally use 'Play Wider'. However this can leave your two central midfielders exposed as your team is looking to spread wider, especially against teams that use more that two or more central players.

With the 4-4-1-1 its more about building possession and stretching the opposition

I personally don't see too much wrong this.

1) With a Control strategy your Tempo & Width are already slightly high, while you added 'Play Wider' & 'Higher Tempo'. No reason why it can't work, just keep an eye on this as it may be asking to much of your team against top teams.

2) Similar to above, Fluid offers creative freedom out generously and you've added 'Be More Expressive'. Again, this could work well and create some great football; however it again could be asking to much. So keep an eye on it.

The 4-1-4-1 is for pressing weaker oppostion and breaking down teams with quick short passes

1) Again, similar to my previous two comments, your using an Attacking strategy which has the following set up even higher than a Control strategy by default; Width, Tempo, Defensive Line & Closing Down. Again you've added the following shouts that increases them further; 'Play Wider','Higher Tempo', 'Push Higher Up' & 'Hassle Opponents'. Your being very aggressive, and I'd imagine you'll create a lot of opportunities for the opposition to counter you. I understand that you want to be aggressive with this set-up, but it's a tad overkill for me, so again you may want to remove these shouts to start with.

2) I would change the AP (S) to a DLP (S) personally, but again up to you.