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

Hard to say, but from the info you have provided, you are likely to be inferior to your opponents and so might not have the right mix of players to pull off that style of play - and a 4-4-2 really isn't a possession orientated formation either. I'd suggest using a Mentality like Counter or Standard to create space for the pacy players, and then try to focus the ball specifically towards the quick guys. If they are on the wings, try to Exploit The Flanks, if central try to Exploit The Middle. Consider Pass Into Space, but again be mindful of the passing capability of your team.

Thanks for that, very helpful. WE certainly are inferior to most opponents, I might switch onto the counter for a while and see how that goes. My quick players are definitely the two forwards. I set up a 4141 to help against opponents who exploit the space between the banks of four. Haven't had a chance to test it out yet though.

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

If I'm managing a weaker (predicted 2nd last), semi professional side in a division comprised of professional and semi pro sides, would a defensive, stand-offish, possession based tactic be viable? I'm using a 442 as it suits what players I do have (don't have any AM players and only one DMC, and no one really wants to sign for me). My squad is very thin and lacks overall quality, but is fairly quick up front. I tried the direct passing tactic I used in the lower divisions but my team can't really pass for peanuts and the long balls are getting cut out by the better quality defenders I'm now facing, so I'm thinking shorter passing. I am concerned about the amount of space that appears between the midfield and defensive lines as well as behind my wingers.

I struggle with the tactics in this game, not really knowing how to read what the game tells me. For instance I took my new short passing tactic into a friendly against a lower division side who lined up in a 451 and we never felt in control of the game.

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

Does anyone have advice for handling a team that is obviously worse than every other team in the league - in terms of player ability?

I'm HSC-21 in the Dutch Jupiler league, a formerly amateur team that somehow has managed to avoid promotion for the last two seasons. We are billed to come last, the player quality is dreadful compared to every other club. I've set up a defensive 4-1-2-1-2 (with a lot of help from Cleon's Defensive Arts thread) - largely due to the fact that we had no wingers, and it feels ok, match stats are generally good, it's playing the way it should, but I was managing in the Belgium Pro League for the last six seasons and the players I'm up against in this league wouldn't be out of place there. It feels like managing a Skrill South club that got magically promoted to League 1 with none of the development in-between.

No-one really wants to sign for us, even youth players listed for loan from Dutch clubs turn their nose up.

Is this just a case of the gulf in quality being too great and that sound tactics aren't going to make up the difference?