nick1408

I'm watching this closely as I've just signed Mac Allister for my Everton side. I've pinpointed a poacher in Jovan Milošević originally from FK Vojvodina in Serbia as a poacher as I didn't think my current strikers suited the role. I'm hoping as a 19 year old he can develop like Sesko and see a lot of similarities - I just saw Sesko as out of my price range: I'm interesting in your 4-2-4 as I have a 4-4-2 I'm using but with a deep lying forward/advanced forward combination which I want to change as once I lost Dominic Calvert-Lewin I also lost goals. A lot of it was due to my DLF not being suited to the system but without Calvert-Lewin I couldn't cover for the DLF anymore. Why did you go for a 4-2-4 to fit in your F9? My general feeling is a 4-4-2 would suit better as it would allow players to start deeper and run past as the F9 is dropping potentially opening up space. I get in your system it probably plays more like a 4-2-3-1 but with only a poacher as the out-and-out goal-scoring threat and a lot of buildup players it seems there would be a lot of frustration in there. I'm looking forward to seeing this series in full.

@causticgrip How'd you find the change with DM>BWM and BWM>CAR?

So, I've plumped for this for the moment: Usually, I wouldn't have a CM-At in the middle but with the IWB behin him I was happy with the gamble. Also, decided to make the left ultra attacking due to the CM-De offering cover. Some screenshots of a game versus Stuttgart: All of this is from the same play (I'll put a video in at the end). WP-At has the ball on the left with the WB-At overlapping. BPD and CM-De offering options. Note the box shape starting to take form in the CD line and the CM-DE/IWB-Su forming up just in front. This is what I wanted to see. With the IWB tucking in the WP-Su starts to operate like a full back on the right. Same buildup play and the IWB has received the ball. The WP-AT is now starting to tuck in. The WB-At is charging forward and the WP-Su is operating wide right. Clear that four lines are formed (CD x2 - CM-DE & IWB - WP-At, CM-At, WP-Su - Strikers) Stuttgart are narrow and have regrouped. Ball went from IWB to WP-Su to advance. Stuttgart striker has picked up the CM-De and left the IWB unmarked which becomes a get-out option if needed, Two full backs have now come into line. WP-At and CM-At have become the forward two midfielders as per what @crusadertsar was attempting in the opening post, albeit from different positions: In my case the #11 has moved like the #2, the #2 fills the #8 spot and the #8 moves to where the #11 would be. Same end product, just a different way to do it. All screenshots were taken from the video below in case you want a look. 1769487827_Untitledvideo.mp4

I have a feeling it's a game mechanic. I have been searching but can't find confirmation. Maybe someone from SI or @Cleon or @Rashidi can confirm if I am right or wrong. Also, we can try it in game and see what happens.

Be careful with an IWB and two DM's. I have a feeling with two DM's you don't get the inside movement.

It's funny a few are trying this out in Germany. I started a RB Leipzig game to test this out as well. Olmo on the left, Nkunku/Szoboszlai on the right. In general, I''m happy with how it plays but I feel I'm missing something. I'm tempted to push the DM's up to CM but also to try the VOL out as an attack rather than support. I've not tried any PI's or OI's yet so I could play around there until I am happy but overall @crusadertsar's opening post was excellent. Ironically, I'm looking at players similar to what he has used in the past (Marcus Edwards as an example) as additions to my side.

I've been using a 5-3-2 that @Rashidi did a video on a while back. It's also possession-based similar to the second one @Cleon wrote about here (@Cleon - if you want me to delete this post let me know). While I'm still working on the tactic I did want to post something that is important to me when building tactics. Disregard the score and xG for a minute (I won with a penalty) - 6 shots to 5 with the same on target isn't something to write home about. There is a glimmer of hope for my poor Hellas Verona side though. of those six shots five were shots from outside the box. I really like this as a metric as it's a simple guide that lets me know I am really only letting Sampdoria have speculative shots. If I then have a look at clear cut chances I can confirm they really didn't get a good shot away. The average positions also show I am strong in defence. Offence isn't looking great but I am weak and need to build the squad a bit. Finally, having a look at the actual shots Sampdoria took I can see by stifling their possession and being strong in defence lead to the poor shots the stats actually showed above. For comparison, I've put my shots up as well. 4/5 shots came from the strikers. Unfortunately, it was from the targetman rather than the pressure forward. Like I said, I need to fix offence but this post was more about using some simple metrics to show how I look to see if defence is working while using concepts posted above.

@Cleon - do you use specific opposition instructions to help your gameplay or only to negate dangerous players?

Certainly does - thanks for the reply.

Hi @bababooey - sorry to drag this up again but I am trying to do something similar to you (well, at least your 3-5-2) - same league but different team. I've gone with Hellas Verona. I don't have the out-and-out quality Iner Milan has but there are similarities - I have a truckload of targetmen with plays with back to goal plasyer traits, I have a decent-enough playmaker in Veloso and I have big, tall (albeit slow) centrebacks. I do have a couple of questions: I get why you have used opposite foot for the full backs in the opposition instructions but if you are inviting crosses would this not be better of being left off altogether? AMR/AML is a different story like you said but the full backs I can see an argument to let them flick in some poor crosses as they are typically the lesser-skilled at crossing compared to wingers. I wouldn't have thought your mid-block was anything other than a basic framework (sans-player instructions) but I am starting to get the feeling that it may work better for Inter than Verona. I'm looking for a mid-table finish but seem to be struggling against those sides around the same spot as me. As I am typically using the mid-block should I consider being a bit more attacking versus teams around me? You do allude to the player quality at Inter but I don't see why this couldn't translate lower down the table. I've added a couple of instructions like Float Crosses and Aim Cross Centre for the full backs. Would you consider this overkill? Also, would you lower tempo with a lesser quality team? I find that there is less pressure on the ball in Italy so have been playing around with tempo to try and cover for some bad passing/movement.

First off, I love your write ups. Detail is great. Now into the questions. Why a PF-Su rather than a true creator/drop deeper role like a DLF, trequartista (I guess this may be due the the AMC), F9 or even CF-Su? I get the lack of a TM-Su (although, I think it could work in specific circumstances) but to me the PF isn't screaming 'fluid movement' when I'm thinking of roles and duties. For what you have here I'd have thought F9 or DLF-Su to allow the two AMC's to push ahead while the striker drops deeper. Is it something to do with player instructions? Are you asking them to stay wider like the AMC's? I haven't used carrileos before - I've never been happy with how they worked within my particular tactics so the use of two here intrigues me. Do you setup one to have some more ballplaying responsibilities (more direct passing, more risky passes)? As they are typically support players does one get some more defensive responsibilities? Is this just me over-thinking it as I haven't used them before? Was there a reason for the change form attacking to support? Do you go attacking or even a split between the two due to the opposition? Overall, you have the fullbacks, carrileros and AMCs staying wider. You also have the team instruction of fairly wide. Do you ever have issues centrally? To me, on the surface I feel there could be some issues through the middle rather than wide as is usual with a narrow tactic.

There's a couple of ways I'd attack it but ultimately it's a position of needing to change tactic to suit who you are playing against. Ask the AMR, AML and ST to specific man-mark the three central defenders. Get the full backs to provide the width (assuming the AMR and AML are cutting inside). If the wide players are wingers or a mixture of IF/IW and winger: IF/IW and ST to pick up CD's as well as AMC i\In a 4-3-3 I'd consider getting an CM-AT to pickup the third CD. Not pickup any CD's but play wide and draw the CD's out of position for the ST and AMC/CM-AT to exploit. Picking up from the above; don't pressure them directly but indirectly by dragging their players out of position. Play the ball wide. Exploit their flanks and put their full back under immense pressure so the CD's have to help and thus leaves gaps centrally If you are playing a mezzala I'd change role to CM. Reason being you are already overloading that particular flank so don't need a 3 vs 1 when a 2 vs 1 is fine and the third man can be used elsewhere If there is a DM you will also need to potentially overload this position. Again, it shouldn't be hard if you have the ball on the flanks Ultimately, there is no need to change shape but you may need to change roles, duties or instructions.

The problem is he hasn't actually decided on Italy over Australia yet. He isn't cap-locked either as he had Australian nationality prior to gaining his underage caps with Italy. I'd suggest leaving him unlocked to represent his current status and the quotes he has made.

Cristian Volpato should not be locked to Italy. He has been quoted as not making a decision yet - https://www.sportingnews.com/au/soccer/news/cristian-volpato-socceroos-world-cup-australia-italy/hj4zy0ubglykwdlruhbir45y and thus should still be eligible for both Italy and Australia.

I don't think he should be locked. He has clearly stated he hasn't made a decision yet - https://www.sportingnews.com/au/soccer/news/cristian-volpato-socceroos-world-cup-australia-italy/hj4zy0ubglykwdlruhbir45y

I'd be tempted to get it tattooed on my forearm/back of hand. Then again, an extra tattoo wouldn't affect me but could affect others.

AFC Cup is the Europa League of Asia. Asian Champions League is a tier above. AFC Cup does give the winner a spot in the Chamlions League the following year.

Is there a way I can add the above (from the 'Coach Report' page) next to either line here: I know I'd need to shorten the search bar somehow and I'm not sure if putting it next to 'History' is possible, I just want the current ability (including the description) visible when viewing a player.

I've had a bit of a think about what I want to do going forward. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not but hopefully it works. I feel there were too many matches being played for my Under 18's and Under 23's - 50 (8 friendlies) in the 23's, 49 (7 friendlies) in the 18's. This was limiting the training I could apply to both squads. For the next season I will be testing the following: Removing the Under 23's from the Premier League 2 Most of my Under 23's team will be suited to League One - Championship level football. I will be attempting to get friendlies against clubs in the following leagues - Norway, Sweden, USA, South Korea, Finland and maybe Ireland. Reason being these are calendar year seasons so hopefully will be willing to compete against my Under 23's in their off-season but will also be at the level to suit my players. I've put some pictures below to show where the leagues rank compared to Championship and League One No friendlies created when the Champions League B matches are being played Limit Under 23 squad to about 15-20 players (allows for first team players gaining fitness and/or injury) The Under 18's I can't take out of their competition so they stay with no friendlies being created Hopefully this allows for more or less one match per week plus training for the group. I'm after less two match weeks for this age group overall. This will all come to nothing if I can't get the applicable friendlies. If I can't I'll be looking to rejoin the Under 23 league the season after. Edit: So it turns out the clubs I tried to get friendlies organised against didn't want to agree with me as they saw no benefit. I've since accepted the Premier League 2 invite but will not play friendlies to try and limit the games I play to one per week. I'll try a bit later in the season again against the Scandinavian teams but it looks like best laid plans won't come to fruition.

I didn't know Windows search searched for text within the file. There you go! I'm trying to make the scout cards default to Attributes - what are the applicable instructions to do this?

Is there a list of all the XML's where this could be? I'm also trying to remove the Instant Result button but can't seem to track them all down. There's 700-odd files and it's hard to track down all the stuff you don't want like the Z button and such.

Thanks for coming in and clarifying your schedules. What I saw would match exactly what you describe - even gains across the board with an emphasis on mentals. Individual training can be added to boost physical stats if needed.

Thanks for your input. I've adjusted my youth schedule(below). I threw in the two goalkeeping sessions but put them in times where the team would be travelling for away matches so it'll only get used for every second week essentially. I planned it to start heavy earlier in the week and taper off towards gameday. I'll give it a crack with my new batch and see how they go. An update on how my players are going - I'm now in July 2024 and a few have come on nicely. I've pretty much used Rashidi's schedules as the default ones I wasn't happy with. Remember, as I'm in July there will be some red arrows. Sesay has come on nicely. I introduced him to my first team at the end of the season prior. The coaches are saying he is at Championship level but I'm happy with his few contributions so far. Dribbling and first touch have increased by two, Marking, passing and technique are all up sightly. Mentals have all grown nicely and balance up two I am happy with. As a 17 year old I am happy with progress so far. He is slow so I might give him a couple of months of quickness training. Irving has also progressed nicely. Dribbling up significantly. Mentals have also improved well. Agility is up four points. I'm not sure he will make it as a starter for me but will earn me quite a lot if I do sell him. Parker hasn't really progressed how I would have liked. Likely I chose the wrong role for him. I'm thinking of converting him to a centreback now. Will definitely be sold at some stage. Again, not a lot of progress. Will be sold at some stage. Dyson has had good gains in physicals and mentals. Now you pointed it out I can see him as a full back too. Marking is a bit low for centreback. Will probably hold him for now but will also be a sale candidate. Ben Simpson has progressed well. Better than I expected. Will now keep an eye on him to see how he progresses with dedicated goalkeeping training.

Thank you - I really appreciate the explanation on everything here.

I figured that was the case. Sesay's development already looks better after a short stint in the 19's. I'm still not sure I've made correct decisions around the rest though re: individual training.