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

A situation I haven't been able to resolve. I'm playing in the Irish First Division with Finn Harps and generally play a 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1. My entire back line is set to Limited Defender - Defend. In the 4-4-2 I also play a MC as DLP - Defend; in the 4-1-4-1 I have the DMC as defend. I've tried the DMC as either a Half Back or Anchor Man without much difference.

No matter what I've tried, opposition strikers or wingers always split between the DL/DC or DR/DC for a clear quality chance on goal. I've tried various types of team instructions, marking, you name it. I really I don't have a lot of quality on the team but there's got to be a way to close that gap. I thought playing narrower with a low defensive line would help but it always happens. It's either a bug or my players are dumb as bricks.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

What are your MCs roles?

I am not a tactical expert by any means, but I play a 4-1-4-1 as well and here are some things that have helped me with this problem:

- The fullback's positioning attribute won't solve the problem entirely, but it helps. Work on it through training or get fullbacks with good positioning. Concentration is important too. Possibly Anticipation helps as well, but in practical terms I am not sure on that one.

- I have found that the roles/mentalities of MCs are very important in order to deal with this. When my MC on the same side with the fullback has a more defensive role/mentality, I find that my fullback sits better and is more careful. Probably because he thinks that the space in front of him is covered, so he can focus on the purely defensive space.

- Having 2 limited fullbacks will generally not work in FM14. You have to make the opposition worried too, otherwise they will overload you and you are basically dead meat. Have one fullback more attacking (eg. FB(A)) and have the corresponding winger/WM to a non-attacking duty so that he covers when the fullback gets forward. This will keep the opposition honest, and give you more options in attack too. If you find that you are conceding too many because the FB(A) is caught out of position in counterattacks, play around with the role and duty of the corresponding MC as well.

- If the passes to the opposition Winger/IF usually come from a specific place, you can try to mark that guy out of the game. No passer, no problem. It is usually their TM that does that to me, so I use opposition or specific man marking instructions to take the TM out. In specific instructions, the choice of defender to do the marking is important too.

Other than that, in my game I find that DMCs are good with doubling on opposition wingers, while Anchors are really good against 4-4-2 in order to have a 3vs2 defense in central defense. But when I play against a lone striker with no AMC behind him, I change my Anchor into a DLP(D) to help with attack more.

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

Took a complete break after FM09 as RL took over. Only started playing again with FM14 and I am enjoying it immensely again.

One change that I don't like is that there is no T&T off-topic thread any more.

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

Wow, Lyssien - delighted to see an old legend return to the forum. You were one of the first forum analysts to get me so hooked on the game. Are we going to be seeing more of you??

Cheers, phnompenhandy! I will be around but I am not planning on doing any comprehensive research. Training has already been covered by Cleon's excellent work, so the only non-tactical part of the puzzle that is missing is a comprehensive work on team talks. But hopefully someone else will do it eventually so I won't have to do it.

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

I have noticed a couple of my players have an increasing aggression curve in my training overlook, but I don't know why. And this decrease in aggression as a result of red card punishments that Lyssien mentioned is still there.

Welcome back Lyssien, btw; long time no see.

Hi thomit, cheers!

Interesting, I wonder if that could be due to the tactics you are training? I don't know as this is all new stuff to me, but it would be fun if training e.g. Hassle Opponents favored an increase in aggression. Just brainstorming here.

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

Very quick question - will tutoring improve aggression?

And, if not, is there another way to improve aggression?

Tutoring will not improve aggression. Tutoring affects the hidden personality stats and determination.

I have never found a way to improve aggression on purpose, maybe it is not possible. (It may be possible however to decrease it: in older versions, a player's aggression could decrease if you warned/fined him for yellow cards and such. Not sure about FM14 though.)