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

I have a very successful save with Blackburn (won CL and PL last season) and the way I started out was to play Rhodes as a DLF-s and Rochina as a poacher in a 442.

However after a season or two I sold Rochina and switched to a single striker formation (4231 and 41221) and used Rhodes as a CF-s. He was a great striker for me and usually lead the team in goals and assists. I eventually sold him for a younger and better version (after 4 seasons or so.

That is an interesting way to use Rochina indeed. I never thought of that since his natural position is AMC and he has comes deep to get ball too but a poacher would keep him far up the pitch so it might work well.

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

Q. My FBs are coming in tight to join in with the CBs while an opposing winger has space to move into. I want him to say wide and handle threats around the danger area ( where winger is getting space)

Do i change him to a man-marking instruction, or raise his marking area (whole pitch ) , or widen my formation ? ie, What do i do ?

I have seen this too. In fact in case of wingbacks it is so bad that I think its a game breaking bug. If a player comes in the central area the wingback will leave the winger with the ball and rush to close down that incoming midfield player.

This is probably another reason why DW work better than WB.

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

2. Also, I have heard some people mention they asked their xyz player to mark a certain opposition player. How do you do that ? The only place is I see is selecting always in opposition instructions but you can never choose a certain player from your team.

Is it just by looking at the zone and seeing which player will end up marking ?

3. Has anyone able to make a 4-1-2-1-2 work ? The diamond has no width and I get slaughtered on the wings.

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

More basic questions please. How do I play these two ? Playing blackburn my best players are rhodes and rochina. They both have terrible Ppm.

Rochina is worst who comes deep, rwb and shoot long as ppm. He also has poor decision and teamwork. He just takes the ball and takes pot shots at goal and always misses.

Rhodes has back to goals as ppm. What's a good role for him.

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

I have seen way too many times where my WB/ FB is tracking back with the opposition winger and suddenly he moves away and the central defender moves in to track the winger. It almost always ends up with a cross as the winger gets so much space between this swap. Not to mention I lose my CD header clearance power just running behind the winger.

Why does this happen ? zonal marking ?

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

I'm not sure what you're getting at. It isn't 'better' to use one formation over the other, it's up to the players and how you use them. Almost any formation can be successful given the right players and right usage.

But that is exactly what I am asking. I have 3 striker players. Is it better to play them in AML and AMR positions for 41221 or should I try to create a 433 tactic ? Or to rephrase it, would playing them in positions awkward for them hinder success of the tactic too much ?

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

Is it better to use a 433 or 41221 if you have 3 excellent strikers ? In other words, is it better to use 2 strikers not in their natural position (as AML or AMR) but a better tactical shape or use them in striker position (so natural position) but less balanced tactical shape (especially wings).

Interestingly, in tactic creator, for 41221, I moved the two wingers in striker positions, so main difference is that the central 3 are in a very tight triangle and not flat 3 and now the two STCL and STCR cover the fullbacks. Probably because its zonal marking and that zone falls under their purview. Maybe this is the compromise ?

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

c) how does the ai manager analyze our tactics ? it seems to be quite smart and finding the exact tweak to make ?

C. It can only do the things you can do. Actually that's a lie, it can do far less than you can. The AI see's tactics and roles and can't identify any manual changes you've made. So a DLP will always be seen as a DLP by the AI even if you've manually changed every single slider to reflect a BWM etc. It uses the TC so sees things as roles.COLOR]

My question is more towards what is used by the AI to analyze our tactic and implement a change. Example: how does the AI manager decide to use a particular shout ? What is the logic behind it ? Since it is not a human, there must be some computer logic/ data analysis behind it.

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

I have a few stupid questions

a) are there particular roles/duties more suited for younger players..so poor mental attributes like decisions ?

b) all three passing styles - shorter, default and more direct have higher directness for defense than attack if you look at sliders in player instructions. This is completely counter-intuitive to me. The defenders should pass short and midfield such as pirlo ping long accurate passes. I don't know know if as a consequence my defense pass completion is horrendous. The goalkeeper's distribution is the worst. How do i fix it ?

c) how does the ai manager analyze our tactics ? it seems to be quite smart and finding the exact tweak to make ?

d) related to c) but separate too. How do i make back 3 or narrow tactics be defensively strong on the wings ? By second half, the AI probably tweaks to have fullbacks attacking frequently and i usually end up giving up 2-3 goals that way?