The Official Q&A Thread - The FM Tactical Clinic

[Thunda]

Hoping any doctors in the house can solve my little problem ..

Erectile Disfunction

No matter how you prepare, no matter how you try and relax, you just can't get it up.

You have it in you, you know you do, but you just can't get a performance at the upper end.

Symptoms

- although you dominate possession, you just don't create any chances or have many shots on goal

- the shots on goal you do get invariably come from 30 yards out by someone wearing Nike Air trainers

- you just have no cutting edge at all

Any doctors in the house?

[Guest]

HOME SICKNESS!!!

Sympthoms:

Usually outstanding at home

Away from always disappointing no matter what the tactics

The only time victory is achieved away from home is by pure luck.

Does anyone have the remidy to this illness???

[Guest]

Tourettes

Symptoms:

- A player who you thought were, and according to his personal-page is, "Professional" starts to, for no apparent reason, hate other players of your squad.

Please doc! Help me! The sick player is my rock in the defensive line and the players he hate are my top goal scorer and my future rock in the def line...

[Greg Beckett]

edited

[LJX]

Symptoms:

- Opposition Strikers are always on line with my DCs, a long ball forward, be it from midfield, backline or GK and they are through to one on one with my GK

- My supposing DMC (MC with 6 Mentality) is joining the attack even with forward runs set to rarely

- GK rush out of his line to clear/catch the ball but ending up changing his mind when opposition strikers are chasing the ball

- My Strikers are left too high alone on pitch. Both have mentalites of 14, same as my MC; MR; ML and Team mentality

[Cleon]

Originally posted by Thunda:

Hoping any doctors in the house can solve my little problem ..

Erectile Disfunction

No matter how you prepare, no matter how you try and relax, you just can't get it up.

You have it in you, you know you do, but you just can't get a performance at the upper end.

Symptoms

- although you dominate possession, you just don't create any chances or have many shots on goal

- the shots on goal you do get invariably come from 30 yards out by someone wearing Nike Air trainers

- you just have no cutting edge at all

Any doctors in the house?

Sounds like your team is too focused on passing the balla round rather than scoring. Maybe up the tempo and mentality slightly and see if that brings more chances? I'm guessing you are using slow and short if your being dominant in posession?

As for the 30 yard shots, are you close down as much as you could? Or maybe your keeper needs looking at, it could be a weakness of his?

[Cleon]

Originally posted by ae86clyde:

HOME SICKNESS!!!

Sympthoms:

Usually outstanding at home

Away from always disappointing no matter what the tactics

The only time victory is achieved away from home is by pure luck.

Does anyone have the remidy to this illness???

Do you change the tactic at all when playing away? Id take a look at the opposition and adjust accordingly, i.e if they play defensive then attack them. Also if there playing defensive and you playing counter attacking it simple wont work, as you need to suck them in to be able to counter them.

The scout reports can be useful, as they give you tips and advice on what you should do, for example against pacy strikers play deep defensive line etc.

[Cleon]

Originally posted by Simon Nuss:

Tourettes

Symptoms:

- A player who you thought were, and according to his personal-page is, "Professional" starts to, for no apparent reason, hate other players of your squad.

Please doc! Help me! The sick player is my rock in the defensive line and the players he hate are my top goal scorer and my future rock in the def line...

One of them must do something that irratates the other? Maybe late for training, media comments etc? If they hate each other though, the only option is to sell one of them as ive never seen it changed. I dont think its possible to like each other again.

[Cleon]

Originally posted by LJX:

Symptoms:

- Opposition Strikers are always on line with my DCs, a long ball forward, be it from midfield, backline or GK and they are through to one on one with my GK

- My supposing DMC (MC with 6 Mentality) is joining the attack even with forward runs set to rarely

- GK rush out of his line to clear/catch the ball but ending up changing his mind when opposition strikers are chasing the ball

- My Strikers are left too high alone on pitch. Both have mentalites of 14, same as my MC; MR; ML and Team mentality

Play a deeper defensive line? abd maybe get the midfield to close down more? Sounds like you push to far up and have slow defenders maybe?

check the DMC's prefered moves, make sure hes not a DMC with 'likes to run through the middle' like one of mine currently as If its not that, if he has hight creative freedom this will be the reason.

get a keeper with better stats for decisions, anticpation and rushing out.

Lower the mentalities, I never have my strikers higher than 11 mentality. I found this best for them being prolific and reducing number off offsides they were getting.

[Guest]

Crap...

Thanks Cleon

[LJX]

Thanks Cleon.. my def did improved

[Asmodeus]

Originally posted by Simon Nuss:

Tourettes

Symptoms:

- A player who you thought were, and according to his personal-page is, "Professional" starts to, for no apparent reason, hate other players of your squad.

Please doc! Help me! The sick player is my rock in the defensive line and the players he hate are my top goal scorer and my future rock in the def line...

Have you asked him to tutor anybody?

[chriseldiablo]

Sorry, but I do not belive, at all, in lowering defenders mentality. I never have ANY problems with my defenders NOR my goalkeeper with high (attacking) Mentality. Your advice, from my point of view, is wrong.

The instruction book does say this as well:

No more than 3 players should have different mentality than the team setting, cause this will cause holes in formation as well as confusion.

[Cleon]

Originally posted by chriseldiablo:

Sorry, but I do not belive, at all, in lowering defenders mentality. I never have ANY problems with my defenders NOR my goalkeeper with high (attacking) Mentality. Your advice, from my point of view, is wrong.

The instruction book does say this as well:

No more than 3 players should have different mentality than the team setting, cause this will cause holes in formation as well as confusion.

Thats creative freedom not mentality.

For mentality it advises simliar across the baords.

While attacking defenders etc can work, I guarantee your formation has many problems due to this, especially defensivly.

[Kristian]

Originally posted by chriseldiablo:

The instruction book does say this as well:

No more than 3 players should have different mentality than the team setting, cause this will cause holes in formation as well as confusion.

You're mis-quoting to support your view.

The manual ACTUALLY says:

"typically mentalities should be balanced across the team. For example if your team are set to a Defensive mentality, a majority of your players should be left to a defensive mentality. Setting too many to an attacking mentality is likely to cause confusion amongst your players and create holes in your formation , which the opposition will capitalise on".

[FourThreeThree]

Originally posted by Asmodeus:

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.

Sometimes a way to curb this is tempo tuning. Lets call it 'Way Of The Oldest Forest' theory Anyway, slow tempo is a careful and efficient attack while producing good possesion and use of the ball IF the opposition is on defensive mentality. The problem here lies in when your team regains the ball and pass it about, the opposition uses this time to go back to thier position. They look bad and thier area is crowded with players but don't be fooled as it distract chances for your attacks, cutting down time on the ball. Shooting quality, eventhough on target is bad, that is why a defensive team will look to have the super keeper syndrome.

Way Of The Oldest Forest is to start chopping up opposition defence by quickening tempo every 5 minutes or less to a point that it is quick enough before thier defence could make it tight. Better time on the ball for the strikers, quality chances, good possesion and it cuts down thier chances because the higher your tempo, the lower your defenders would be in relation to your attackers lowering the risk of being counter attacked.

NOTE: Start with a slow tempo if the opposition is defensive, medium tempo (or how you like to play) or a bit fast if the opposition is neutral and fast tempo (low closing down) if the oppostion plans to attack. I like wierd names.

[chriseldiablo]

Originally posted by Kristian:

The manual ACTUALLY says:

"typically mentalities should be balanced across the team. For example if your team are set to a Defensive mentality, a majority of your players should be left to a defensive mentality. Setting too many to an attacking mentality is likely to cause confusion amongst your players and create holes in your formation , which the opposition will capitalise on".

Yes, its correct. I didnt bother to check it up yet again. Anyways, I dont see any difference if its vice versa. Ive played FM 2007 alot, and I cant really say I got the "hang" on it until I used global team mentality. I want my team to defend AND attack as a unit, therefore I find any "tip" of lowering/altering my defenders mentality wrong. I rather drop the mentality for the whole team, not just a few, if my team is too weak to play "attacking".

btw, I have no problems creating loads of chances with my "defensive football" either. The only backdraw I find is that its utterly boring though. But I do whatever it takes to win, so it really doesnt matter. What matters, is the results.

[JuveTif]

At defence, you can add low concentration attribute at your defenders (especially DC's). They make more mistakes than others. In that case, get a high mental coach.

[LJX]

What settings do u guys change when going on an away match?? i cant seem to get my away tatic to work..

Current tatic:

Team Mentality: 14

CF: 10

Passing: 7

Tempo: 13

Width: 13

CD: 16

Time Wasting: 5

Focus Passing: mixed

Counter Atk: 'Tick'

Tight marking: 'yes - only back 4'

[Kristian]

LJX, you've got quite an attacking mentality for a team that you've selected to counter attack, have you not?

[LJX]

hmm.. inorder for counter attack to work, i've first have to lower my team mentality? how about 10? I dont like my team to go into defensive mode even though i just got promoted into EPL

DL is 6 or 10 depending on opposition striker

pace

What changes u guys look out for?

[kidhander1983]

the WTF syndrome

Symptoms:

I allow a goal in the first 5 minutes in the game, then despite i dominate and creating good chances i can't put that damn ball into the net and i end up losing 1-0.

Any suggestion?

[MattUK]

Remedie for the wtf syndrome

Your team talk at the start of the gameis wrong.

To get the best out of team talks the players must have a good understanding. Start most matches by wishing luck. Choose the half time one accordingly. Strange but true

[Sirfrazman]

Startlingy Ineffective in Possesion Syndrome

Symptoms

i) no matter how hard you try you can not get your passes completed to above 65%

ii) the match engine consistently shows long highlights in which your team starts off with the ball and keeps it for a reasonable time before offloading it to an opposition striker/midfielder who punishes on the break

causes

i) poor passing attributes for mids - (not true in my case)

ii)your tempo/passing style/mentality are not well-suited to your team

iii)your players can not play the killer final ball and make too many stupid errors

Any Posseesion Specialists in the Clinic?

cheers

[lameris]

I'd say there is a gap in your midfield. This could be caused by not having enough attack-minded midfielders, too much attacking mentality for your attackers, too short a passing game, not enough creative freedom for your forwards or midfielders, which causes them to be marked out of the game or not trying enough killer passes.

Remedies:

A) Balance your mentalities on the midfield and in the attack

B) Try another passing system

C) Up creative freedom for a few midfielders/forwards

[Sirfrazman]

Remedies:

A) Balance your mentalities on the midfield and in the attack

B) Try another passing system

C) Up creative freedom for a few midfielders/forwards

cheers, i'll be giving them a try

[Sirfrazman]

Originally posted by lameris:

I'd say there is a gap in your midfield. This could be caused by not having enough attack-minded midfielders, too much attacking mentality for your attackers, too short a passing game, not enough creative freedom for your forwards or midfielders, which causes them to be marked out of the game or not trying enough killer passes.

Remedies:

A) Balance your mentalities on the midfield and in the attack

B) Try another passing system

C) Up creative freedom for a few midfielders/forwards

Cheers for the help, my team went on a 7 game unbeaten spell after tweaking my tactics according to what you suggested.

However, i slavishly analysed the match statistics and realised that i never out-passed the opposition team and only once got my passes-completed to above 70%. Most of my draws/victories were down to top-quality keeping and incisive finishing from my strikers (thanks for impotence remedy btw.) - not down to actual domination.

I play with 1 holding midfielder and 3 central midfielders, two of which have farrows. Do you think these farrows could be causing a gap in my midfield?

[Asmodeus]

How good are your players? I take it you're playing 4-1-3-2?

If I were you I'd play short and slow with plenty of width.

Your mentality settings would help- as much info as possible is always good.

[Kain]

Couple of quick questions, how long do you leave your tactics before deciding whether they're working or not? Do you constantly tweak it after/during every match, or leave it for 5 games or so to see if the players adjust to it?

I have a lot of pace on the wings, as well as one striker (all 18 or higher) but am struggling to utilize it. If I put the wingers as AML/AMR, then it leaves my fullbacks exposed too often, but using the forward arrows doesn't seem to be making too much of a difference. Trying throughballs a lot doesn't seem to be making use of the striker's pace either, any tips on how best to use it? I'm using a basic 4-4-2-attacking formation at the moment with tweaks to the players' instructions.

[Asmodeus]

Originally posted by Kain:

Couple of quick questions, how long do you leave your tactics before deciding whether they're working or not? Do you constantly tweak it after/during every match, or leave it for 5 games or so to see if the players adjust to it?

This depends entirely on your approach. For the most part the majority of people on here seem to be either reactive or passive managers. Those that study the opposition's formation and adjust accordingly, or those that formulate their gameplan and stick to it throughout the season (broadly speaking). Both work- there's no right or wrong way to play this game, which is what makes it so good.

Unfortunately the only true way to judge a tactic in my opinion is over the cause of a season (and sometimes even that isn't enough).

I always stick with my tactics- but then personally I always mould my tactics around the players I have- so if I'm struggling it's the players that get replaced (like for like by position) not the tactics. Only if I'm forced to replace one player with someone with a different postion do I change.

Look for obvious problems in pre-season friendlies. Too many long-shots, full-backs being exposed etc. These can be ironed out via individual instructions. I find that a succesful tweak has instantaneous results- remember you're still playing the same formation, changing individual instructions is hardly drastic and not something players need time to acclimatise to in my opinion. You should already have a clear outline on your team's style and formation- based on your first choice starting eleven.

You should have addressed intrinsic tactical flaws before the season begins, using friendly statistics and analysis. Decide the type of football you feel your squad is capable of playing. You should know straight away if it's working after a friendly or two. Then you can focus on the details.

I have a lot of pace on the wings, as well as one striker (all 18 or higher) but am struggling to utilize it. If I put the wingers as AML/AMR, then it leaves my fullbacks exposed too often, but using the forward arrows doesn't seem to be making too much of a difference. Trying throughballs a lot doesn't seem to be making use of the striker's pace either, any tips on how best to use it? I'm using a basic 4-4-2-attacking formation at the moment with tweaks to the players' instructions.

Setting your quick strikers to "target man" with supply as "run onto ball" is the classic way to utilise a pacey front line. Particularly useful on the break. You'll obviously want to encourage them to "run with ball often" too. I always like to give the team plenty of width too if I have pace- you could try focus passing down the flanks too (good if you are using direct passing).

[kidhander1983]

Originally posted by MattUK:

Remedie for the wtf syndrome

Your team talk at the start of the gameis wrong.

To get the best out of team talks the players must have a good understanding. Start most matches by wishing luck. Choose the half time one accordingly. Strange but true

I tried team talking by wishing luck and after 6 minutes i went down 0-1. Then an opponent was sent off. At end of 1st i said "i want more from you". Game ended 0-1

[Guest Arsenal23]

can someone help me in my thread please, the 5v5 thread

[Millie]

Originally posted by kidhander1983:

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

Remedie for the wtf syndrome

Your team talk at the start of the gameis wrong.

To get the best out of team talks the players must have a good understanding. Start most matches by wishing luck. Choose the half time one accordingly. Strange but true

I tried team talking by wishing luck and after 6 minutes i went down 0-1. Then an opponent was sent off. At end of 1st i said "i want more from you". Game ended 0-1 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

To me it seems like another version of the "sooperkeepaz" syndrome. I would advise becoming a more patient team, as this appears to have worked for me in these situations. However, I'm still working on a definitive answer for low SoT to goals ratios.

Yes, its correct. I didnt bother to check it up yet again. Anyways, I dont see any difference if its vice versa. Ive played FM 2007 alot, and I cant really say I got the "hang" on it until I used global team mentality. I want my team to defend AND attack as a unit, therefore I find any "tip" of lowering/altering my defenders mentality wrong. I rather drop the mentality for the whole team, not just a few, if my team is too weak to play "attacking".

btw, I have no problems creating loads of chances with my "defensive football" either. The only backdraw I find is that its utterly boring though. But I do whatever it takes to win, so it really doesnt matter. What matters, is the results.

It isn't wrong at all! It just doesn't work in your particular style of play. That doesn't make it a wrong tip.

That works for you, and thumbs up to that. However, it makes logical sense to suggest to people that they lower their defensive mentalities if they're having problems. Your style works on global. This doesn't mean everyone should play global.

My style of play works best with defensive defenders and attacking strikers. Therefore, I would advise everyone to at least try splitting their mentalities. But this does not mean I am right and that everyone else is wrong.

It is not wrong to tell people to play more defensively at the back. Actually, it's incredibly logical. Now, if you would care to tell us how your global system works, we can ascertain which sorts of tactics would benefit from a splitting of mentalities and which ones wouldn't.

[Rohan The Barbarian]

First of all, thanks to Asmodeus for creating one of the best threads on the forum, and Cleon for reopening it

I have two more ailments that I feel require a mention. For starters I just wanna give the symptoms, but will come to the Diagnosis and Remedies later. Apologies if these seems lazy, but due to unforeseen circumstances I'm caught for time atm.

Spontaneous Paralysis

Symptoms:

- Usually found in defenders and goalkeepers.

- In defenders, this results in the patient exhibiting no ability to move once beaten by an attacker.

- In goalkeepers, signs include the inability to save a shot aimed almost directly at them, a source of great frustration. In less severe cases it can cause delayed reactions, whereby the keeper dives several seconds after the ball has passed him.

Diagnosis:

- TBA

Remedies:

- TBA

Amnesia

Symptoms:

- A most unfortunate ailment which can befall two CB's, especially when playing against a lone striker.

- One player marks the lone striker, leaving the other free to mark any other player who comes forward. Yet, the free CB seems to forget this, and inexplicably decided to mark the same player ALSO, leaving a huge gap in the defence easily exploited by a competent opponent.

- Can lead to Stress-Related Baldness in their manager

Diagnosis:

- TBA

Remedies:

- TBA

I will hopefully get round to finishing the diagnosis and remedies soon. but if the mods wish to add/edit anything, feel free to do so.

P.S. Thanks again for resurrecting this thread Cleon

[meriadoc]

Originally posted by Rohan The Barbarian:

First of all, thanks to Asmodeus for creating one of the best threads on the forum, and Cleon for reopening it

I have two more ailments that I feel require a mention. For starters I just wanna give the symptoms, but will come to the Diagnosis and Remedies later. Apologies if these seems lazy, but due to unforeseen circumstances I'm caught for time atm.

Spontaneous Paralysis

Symptoms:

- Usually found in defenders and goalkeepers.

- In defenders, this results in the patient exhibiting no ability to move once beaten by an attacker.

- In goalkeepers, signs include the inability to save a shot aimed almost directly at them, a source of great frustration. In less severe cases it can cause delayed reactions, whereby the keeper dives several seconds after the ball has passed him.

Diagnosis:

- TBA

Remedies:

- TBA

Amnesia

Symptoms:

- A most unfortunate ailment which can befall two CB's, especially when playing against a lone striker.

- One player marks the lone striker, leaving the other free to mark any other player who comes forward. Yet, the free CB seems to forget this, and inexplicably decided to mark the same player ALSO, leaving a huge gap in the defence easily exploited by a competent opponent.

- Can lead to Stress-Related Baldness in their manager

Diagnosis:

- TBA

Remedies:

- TBA

I will hopefully get round to finishing the diagnosis and remedies soon. but if the mods wish to add/edit anything, feel free to do so.

P.S. Thanks again for resurrecting this thread Cleon

Yeah! I am having problems with the spontaneous paralysis syndrome...

Anyone got a cure? I am very frustrated at my lazy keeper who refuses to run or pounce to make a save! Even a shot straight in his direction got a 50-50 chance of bypassing him and going into the goal... I have always been jealous of the AI keepers' abilities....

[chriseldiablo]

Originally posted by Cleon:

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 really thought that Individual Mentalities overrides the global mentality whatsoever?

So, if it is so that you can send team further up the pitch by upping team mentality, while every player is set on individual normal, wouldnt it still be a gap between the DC's and the rest, since the DC's are the only positions that arent affect by mentality settings?

[heathxxx]

Originally posted by Rohan The Barbarian:

Amnesia

Symptoms:

- A most unfortunate ailment which can befall two CB's, especially when playing against a lone striker.

- One player marks the lone striker, leaving the other free to mark any other player who comes forward. Yet, the free CB seems to forget this, and inexplicably decided to mark the same player ALSO, leaving a huge gap in the defence easily exploited by a competent opponent.

- Can lead to Stress-Related Baldness in their manager

Diagnosis:

- Possibly linked to opposition instructions. Failure to adapt when the AI makes substitutions or formation changes. Central defender may suddenly seem to be marking a winger rather than a striker and thus, moving out of position to mark.

Remedies:

- Keep an eye on AI changes. I found that some formation changes the AI makes, especially from two striker formations to single striker formations, results in a centre back marking a winger, which leaves a gaping hole in the defence. This is especially important if you have your defenders set to man-mark.

I will hopefully get round to finishing the diagnosis and remedies soon. but if the mods wish to add/edit anything, feel free to do so.

P.S. Thanks again for resurrecting this thread Cleon

[Tejaswi]

'The goddamn winger wont cut-in syndrome'

I've put FWR mixed RWB often TTB rarely and CrossBall Rarely. He still doesn't cut in and have a shot.

I'm playing a 4-4-1-1, narrow width, through the middle. Any help?

[DANNY1000000]

Okay I have a question,

What exactly does the team mentality do if I have set all players metality instructions individually?

Does it dictate how much further up or lower on the pitch the player plays from his base position? And does the individual mentality set how attacking or defensive a player should play?

[DANNY1000000]

Knock knock

[Garate]

Okay I have a question,

What exactly does the team mentality do if I have set all players metality instructions individually?

Does it dictate how much further up or lower on the pitch the player plays from his base position? And does the individual mentality set how attacking or defensive a player should play?

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 think it was at the times of FM05, there was a lot discussion about this, and I really thought what Cleon says now was the way it worked, but mostly everybody kept assuring me individual mentalities override team mentality, so I ended up accepting the "official" version. Has it changed for FM09 or was it like this all the time?

[wwfan]

I think it was at the times of FM05, there was a lot discussion about this, and I really thought what Cleon says now was the way it worked, but mostly everybody kept assuring me individual mentalities override team mentality, so I ended up accepting the "official" version. Has it changed for FM09 or was it like this all the time?

It was all very confusing for a while, but Cleon's interpretation was wrong. Team is totally overridden by individual and always has been. Think about it. If team altered individual, then we would actually have 22 x 20 mentality settings for each player.

[DANNY1000000]

I was thinking that team would be how far from their base position they were set and individual was how they would attack or defend

[Garate]

I was thinking that team would be how far from their base position they were set and individual was how they would attack or defend

Which would make sense. That'll be the idea of having two sliders, a positional one and a mentality one, so you could instruct a defender to keep a cautious profile positionally, but try to look for offensive passing options. But I'm going to believe wwfan, I don't think that's the way it works currently.

[ianrush]

erm...

The Plague

Symptoms

-Sudden drop of form without any warnings, like the players have just caught the plague.

-A very consistent and high scoring team suddenly suffers from a lack of goals and even chances created.

-No clues whatsoever, players with good morale and form. No changes in tactical instructions, but obvious change in performance.

-My team never failed to create anything less than 15 shots for over 1 entire season but suddenly they can only create 5~6 shots after playing Roma in Champions League.

-Situation persist.

any help please doc?

would it be because i rotate too much? Or did the computer just cracked my formation that havent been changed for 2 years? Or did Spalletti really used the plague against us?

[Shooter26]

erm...

The Plague

Symptoms

-Sudden drop of form without any warnings, like the players have just caught the plague.

-A very consistent and high scoring team suddenly suffers from a lack of goals and even chances created.

-No clues whatsoever, players with good morale and form. No changes in tactical instructions, but obvious change in performance.

-My team never failed to create anything less than 15 shots for over 1 entire season but suddenly they can only create 5~6 shots after playing Roma in Champions League.

-Situation persist.

any help please doc?

would it be because i rotate too much? Or did the computer just cracked my formation that havent been changed for 2 years? Or did Spalletti really used the plague against us?

Same with me.. Bayern 2019. I've found some form, but not scoring as consistently as I used to.