[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

Il Capitano - I'm not an expert (far from it) and am just trying to find my way around the tactics system myself and this is just my thoughts... In this instance, I would say the key lies in a combination of the tempo shouts, player roles.

Tempo shouts - slowing tempo down and 'take a breather' would (in my opinion) cause your team to play slower, and take their time to pick out the pass, rather than look to break with speed on the counter.

Player roles - I am currently trying to play a short passing game with a Vanarama South team, I had some initial success but then started struggling, when I was watching the full match highlights (for first 15 minutes anyway) I did notice that when my central defender's got the ball they were hoofing it long to my deep lying forward, or straight out of play. Their player roles were set as 'limited defenders', I changed this to 'central defender' with the same duties and all of sudden they were playing neat short passes to the midfield players. This could be what's causing your players to clear the ball as opposed to find a pass.

In terms of maintaining good defensive intensity, i would assume the 'press more' or 'press much more' instructions would make you hassle the opponents, along with the opposition instruction 'close down often'.

Just my thoughts though, would welcome other peoples views and feedback!

Cheers for the input. It's not easy this, but that's what makes it so much fun.

Playing away against United as we speak, so I'm abandoning the pressing and experimenting a little bit. Trying to find out how to play a very controlled game; basically setting things up to keep the shape, and be patient and cautious in possession. Defensive mentality, very rigid, a lot of defensive roles in central areas. Also including the 'Pass into space' shout, as I'm guessing it makes them mix things up a little bit and look for balls over the top.

Then, after thirty seconds we win the ball in a semi-decent position and BAM!!: everyone except my goalkeeper and centre backs charging forward - and we lose the ball and give them a chance to counter on our counter attack. Precisely what I was trying to avoid.

[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

Questions about FM 14:

Is it possible to instruct the team to not counter attack at all, while maintaining good defensive intensity? Basically: press aggressively, and then calm down once they win the ball. I've tried experimenting with mentalities and shouts, but can't seem to find a good formula. I'm asking because I sometimes think my team are too keen on bombing forward when winning the ball, when I'd rather they just slowed things down and kept the ball. Particularly when they're a goal up with a few minutes to go.

I'm not necessarily asking for a detailed recipe, by the way. Just wondering whether it's possible at all, or if this is perhaps too complicated for the match engine? Depending on player roles, perhaps?

Also, a similar question, related to goalkeepers: I usually instruct my GK to distribute to defenders. The problem is that he often is in a hurry to distribute the ball, for instance after saving a shot or catching a cross, meaning my defenders receive the pass/throw before they're in position to receive the ball and then end up hoofing it because they naturally get closed down immediately (because the opposition's forwards are just a few yards away from them when they receive the ball). Is this down to team mentality and tactical instructions, or is this something that will happen anyway?

One last thing: when a player suddenly clears the ball for no apparent reason, is this because there is a conflict between the player's mentality and instructions of team and player? I think I've read that before on the forum, but I haven't found out exactly how to avoid this yet.

Some hints and tips would be appreciated. I've been playing FM on and off for many years, but I still haven't really learned how to "read" the match engine and determine how x+y becomes z.

[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

On the U21 page, it should say "Shared Facilities" in place of where you would adjust the setting... in which case it will use the same general settings as the senior team.

Ah, thank you.

Follow up question, if you don't mind: why is the workload then different for the 1st team and the U21's, if the training schedule is the same? Is it because the 1st team spend more time on match preparation, which lowers the overall workload?

[Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)]

Question about training workload:

How do I adjust it? Is it by deciding the intensity level of the general training, combined with the individual focus? I notice the overall workload for my U21's is Very Heavy (while the 1st team level doesn't seem to go over Medium); is there a way to adjust this or is this the U21 manager's decision? It seems like I can't control it like I can with the first team and U18's.

Just bought the game and haven't played since FM12, so the training is very different from how I remember it.