Work around for in-match formation change screwing up your set pieces.

[VinceLombardi]

So, as many of you are aware, if you make a mid-match formation change it can cause all kinds of knock on effects in your set pieces. Its been an issue since at least FM16 (my first FM) and given the amount of time everybody puts into their tactics (and set pieces) over here, I was hoping somebody had a work around to fix this or at least minimize the amount of clicks needed to do the clean up.

As is, I'm currently running a 3-4-3 as my main tactic and a 4-4-2 for my 2nd and 3rd tactics and when I switch between them in match, it takes, at minimum, 168 clicks to reset my set pieces back to their default pre-match setups. I just can't anymore. I'm really hopeful somebody has a workaround that can fix this problem.

Additionally, if this is an issue you would like to see addressed, I invite you to join me and share your experience in the suggestion forum:

Much appreciated. And here is hoping somebody has something to help me out. 

[daarser]

You mean when you change roles and duties of the current tactic or when you choose another tactic saved in your disk?

[herne79]

5 hours ago, VinceLombardi said:

it takes, at minimum, 168 clicks to reset my set pieces

Holy moly that’s certainly some dedication there Vince.

This probably isn’t what you want to hear but this is my workaround - I don’t use set pieces.  At all.  Personally I simply don’t see any tangible difference between spending ages setting them up (as I used to) and not bothering with them.  Which is perhaps a wider issue.  Of course I appreciate other people’s mileage may vary, I just stopped using them several FMs ago because I felt I was wasting my time.  My players still take up decent attacking or defensive positions all by themselves and we still (infrequently) score or concede goals without any additional input from me.

Hopefully someone does have an actual workaround for you.  If not, I’d suggest running your own test to see if you notice any tangible difference yourself.  If nothing else it’ll give your mouse a longer life .

[plcarlos]

1 - Click on Tactics - Set Pieces - Corners. Set and then click save all routines.

2 - From there you should be able to select all of the Tactics in each slot.

3 - Simply select The Tactical slot required, and then hit Load all Routines.

 

Tactic 1:

Tactic 3:

Edited October 2, 2021 by plcarlos
Renamed the 3rd Tactic for my Own game + clarity in Post

[VinceLombardi]

3 hours ago, daarser said:

You mean when you change roles and duties of the current tactic or when you choose another tactic saved in your disk?

It happens when you switch from one formation to another by making a tactical change. Like if your 2nd or 3rd trained tactics aren't the same formation as your first. It also happens if you load up a saved formation which is different. Sometimes if the formation is really close it doesn't make a huge difference. But in my case, I'm switching between a 3-4-3 and a 4-4-2. And because of the way it kicks the AMC back to DL, it really wrecks havoc.

Its kinda funny. Both formations have a double DMC pivot. But when I switch, one of the DMCs gets kicked out to DR while the other swaps with one of the DCs instead of just keeping them in place.

 

It's kinda weird how the game decides how to reconcile the positional switch. But it is consistent so once you figure it out, you know exactly what to switch. It's just a lot of clicks because of the shear number of set piece tactics and each one needs to get done individually.

 

[VinceLombardi]

3 hours ago, herne79 said:

Holy moly that’s certainly some dedication there Vince.

This probably isn’t what you want to hear but this is my workaround - I don’t use set pieces.  At all.  Personally I simply don’t see any tangible difference between spending ages setting them up (as I used to) and not bothering with them.  Which is perhaps a wider issue.  Of course I appreciate other people’s mileage may vary, I just stopped using them several FMs ago because I felt I was wasting my time.  My players still take up decent attacking or defensive positions all by themselves and we still (infrequently) score or concede goals without any additional input from me.

Hopefully someone does have an actual workaround for you.  If not, I’d suggest running your own test to see if you notice any tangible difference yourself.  If nothing else it’ll give your mouse a longer life .

Yeah. It's a lot.

I was compromising by just fixing the corner routines and living dangerously with the free kicks and throws but the AI has gotten good at spotting that their tallest player is covered by a rather short AMC/MC/DMC. Was dropping a good number of points over the course of the season. 

If I can't get a good work around I might have to scrap set piece setups too. But I figure that they are netting me about 10 or so goals per season over default between the additional goals scored and goals prevented. Even more important, these set piece goals are making a huge impact in those close games and a deciding a lot of games for me. 

For reference, I'm getting about 20-30 goals off set pieces in a season and normally can keep it under 5 conceded. I have only allowed 1 corner goal over the last 2 seasons. Really don't want to go back to default and let in these goals that I know I can stop. 

My current solution, which I came up with last night, is to reverse engineer the changes and pre-empt them in the saved set pieces. This requires that I always start a match in my 3-4-3 even if I know I'm going to play the 4-4-2, and them make the tactical change pregame or in the first minute. It worked alright. Certainly better than the 168 clicks. But I need to remember that I can't start the match with my 2nd or 3rd trained tactics and if I do, then I'm back to needing the 168 clicks to fix the problem. 

Maybe setting it up as multiple routines could also be a solution for that so that I have the default reverse engineered one and a second one if I start the match directly in the 4-4-2. I dunno. Still playing with possible solutions but this seems to be a potential fix. 

 

[VinceLombardi]

2 hours ago, plcarlos said:

1 - Click on Tactics - Set Pieces - Corners. Set and then click save all routines.

2 - From there you should be able to select all of the Tactics in each slot.

3 - Simply select The Tactical slot required, and then hit Load all Routines

I will give this a try. I didn't think to save and reload the routines to see if that will reset them. That's a great idea. Appreciate it. 

[BadAss88]

Do they rotate between the different routines? 

[plcarlos]

49 minutes ago, BadAss88 said:

Do they rotate between the different routines? 

Yes, there are 3 routines I've set and they rotate between all 3 rotines in match randomly as well. Sill tweaking some of them.

 

1 hour ago, VinceLombardi said:

I will give this a try. I didn't think to save and reload the routines to see if that will reset them. That's a great idea. Appreciate it. 

Glad to help. Can also confirm that this is working for me when changing Tactitcs in match. I need to refine a few more to fix a few issues, but that's my setup at fault, more than anything.

[VinceLombardi]

On 02/10/2021 at 08:58, VinceLombardi said:

I will give this a try. I didn't think to save and reload the routines to see if that will reset them. That's a great idea. Appreciate it. 

 

On 02/10/2021 at 10:05, plcarlos said:

Glad to help. Can also confirm that this is working for me when changing Tactitcs in match. I need to refine a few more to fix a few issues, but that's my setup at fault, more than anything.

Unfortunately this did not fix the issue. Will need to stick to my reverse engineered janky fix and always start in my 3-4-3.

It does load the routines, but they still have the weird changes caused by the formation change. 

Bummer.

[VinceLombardi]

On 10/10/2021 at 21:11, VinceLombardi said:

 

Unfortunately this did not fix the issue. Will need to stick to my reverse engineered janky fix and always start in my 3-4-3.

It does load the routines, but they still have the weird changes caused by the formation change. 

Bummer.

I've played around with this reloading all routines option some more and it does have an effect. It's just not as predictable as the changes made by the initial formation switch issues -- which are very consistent and can be prempted within your set piece instructions.

That said, reloading the routines does make an honest attempt at repairing the damage the formation switch does. It is useful and does generally reduce the number of clicks needed to fix the set piece tactics by more than 50% and sometimes as much as 90%. It's not perfect, but it does make for a good starting point. Thanks @plcarlos

Edited October 14, 2021 by VinceLombardi

[Rashidi]

On 02/10/2021 at 10:42, VinceLombardi said:

So, as many of you are aware, if you make a mid-match formation change it can cause all kinds of knock on effects in your set pieces. Its been an issue since at least FM16 (my first FM) and given the amount of time everybody puts into their tactics (and set pieces) over here, I was hoping somebody had a work around to fix this or at least minimize the amount of clicks needed to do the clean up.

As is, I'm currently running a 3-4-3 as my main tactic and a 4-4-2 for my 2nd and 3rd tactics and when I switch between them in match, it takes, at minimum, 168 clicks to reset my set pieces back to their default pre-match setups. I just can't anymore. I'm really hopeful somebody has a workaround that can fix this problem.

Additionally, if this is an issue you would like to see addressed, I invite you to join me and share your experience in the suggestion forum:

Much appreciated. And here is hoping somebody has something to help me out. 

This is what I think of the setpiece creator..**leaves room for everyones imagination**

Your best options : Dont use it leave it on default, if you do then do just one thing, fullbacks default to taking every throw in, so make sure you if you want them staying back, make sure another player joins them. Just pick from one of the GFs
Option B: NEVER create multiple routines, this is the big bugbear I have. When you create multiple routines for a corner for example, it can cause all kinds of headaches. You suddenly see set piece takers you never appointed having instructions you cant remove. So Just create one for each side and leave it at that. Now export that as a collection and use it all the time.

I have done the export all and load all routines as a collection,  it works best when you have no assigned takers in which case, short corners are the best routine for corners all the time.

[fraudiola]

On 02/10/2021 at 13:36, herne79 said:

This probably isn’t what you want to hear but this is my workaround - I don’t use set pieces.  At all.  Personally I simply don’t see any tangible difference between spending ages setting them up (as I used to) and not bothering with them.  Which is perhaps a wider issue.  Of course I appreciate other people’s mileage may vary, I just stopped using them several FMs ago because I felt I was wasting my time.  My players still take up decent attacking or defensive positions all by themselves and we still (infrequently) score or concede goals without any additional input from me.

you can rely on getting at least 10 goals a season just by having a giant mofo attack near post and a good corner taker. even more if you include free kicks + play for set pieces. really cheezy but you gotta do what you gotta do as the underdog. 

[VinceLombardi]

15 minutes ago, Rashidi said:

This is what I think of the setpiece creator..**leaves room for everyones imagination**

Your best options : Dont use it leave it on default, if you do then do just one thing, fullbacks default to taking every throw in, so make sure you if you want them staying back, make sure another player joins them. Just pick from one of the GFs
Option B: NEVER create multiple routines, this is the big bugbear I have. When you create multiple routines for a corner for example, it can cause all kinds of headaches. You suddenly see set piece takers you never appointed having instructions you cant remove. So Just create one for each side and leave it at that. Now export that as a collection and use it all the time.

I have done the export all and load all routines as a collection,  it works best when you have no assigned takers in which case, short corners are the best routine for corners all the time.

Yeah the set piece creator has been a thorn in my side since I started playing. It was especially difficult just to understand what was happening on the UI when I first started. It's really an area where I think a little love from SI could do a lot to improve player experience. 

100% agree on the single routine for each tactical situation. I have tried more than one setup at once and it goes all to hell real quick in my experience. Granted I haven't tried in FM21, but FM16 & 18 didn't take kindly to it and I see no reason to think it's improved now. 

I wish I could be satisfied with just leaving default. It would make my life so much easier. Maybe if they gave a way to designate who you want in the box and who to stay back the way that they allow you to designate the set piece takers, I could be satisfied. But as is they aren't real good a selecting who goes forward or who stays back and how many of each to select. 

I put up over 25 goals in Spanish First Div last season off set pieces, with 20 of them from corners and indirect free kicks. That falls to 10-15 range on default. That's a lot of goals to throw away. 

Edited October 14, 2021 by VinceLombardi

[Rashidi]

I have one set piece routine that serves as a collection and I only use that, i am solid in most cases apart from those throw ins where the wide player on attack duty comes in unmarked on throw ins,  I would suggest a simple set up. For corners for example, you can use 1 of 2 approaches since FM18. Defending you make sure you have two on near and two on far, one at edge of area and one MT. You can opt to have one on counter or if you have someone really fast, put him on edge of area. Having eveyrone back can also work, if the one at edge of area is as fast as mbappe