[Player Unhappy with General Training - What Does that Mean?]

A player said he felt the general team training was too low.  What does that mean?

[Is This A Good First Start For A Youth Player on the Senior Squad?]

Thanks for the responses.

[Is This A Good First Start For A Youth Player on the Senior Squad?]

So, I had a player that I promoted from the youth squad.  His first performance rating was a 6.53 but he has some impressive stats for a defender.  Is it possible that even though the average rating is not that high, good tackling, heading and similar stats indicate the player has potential?

The image below is of the player in question.

By the way, I have just discovered the player stats screens.  😳😳😳😂   Wow!  I just realized one of my goal keepers is much better than the other.  I will be spending a lot of time there.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

15 hours ago, Robson 07 said:

To pass short you would want team mates in proximity, nearby.  Seems logical to support a short passing game.  Two, maybe three options within what 10 to 20 metres?

If that's the basis of building up play why would you suddenly float crosses?   A nice loopy high cross, from who to who?

By the way, are player roles the way you ensure teammates are in close proximity?

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

2 hours ago, Robson 07 said:

To pass short you would want team mates in proximity, nearby.  Seems logical to support a short passing game.  Two, maybe three options within what 10 to 20 metres?

If that's the basis of building up play why would you suddenly float crosses?   A nice loopy high cross, from who to who?

I see.  I am learning to think more holistically with these comments.  Now I am seeing that tactical instructions should work together as a coherent whole.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

1 minute ago, Experienced Defender said:

Possession football is about being patient when attacking and looking to win the ball back as quickly as possible when defending. So how can then passive defensive instructions such as low LOE and/or regroup and/or stay on feet be possession-friendly? 

Your in-possession TIs are possession-oriented, but out-of-possession ones definitely not.

I see.  Thanks.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

17 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

Because you seem to be trying to play hardcore possession football with a low LOE, stay on feet and regroup, which is obviously contradictory. 

Plus, even apart from the style of play you want to implement (whichever it is), there is absolutely no need to use so many instructions. Especially if you are not a top-level tactician.

Keep the tactic as simple as possible, because most instructions are essentially already defined through your selection of roles and duties. 

I will reduce tactical instructions.  That's good advice.

It seemed to me that a lower line of engagement would keep them from getting caught up too far upfield.  Stay on feet is designed for them not to go in so hard on a tackle and thus let the opposition, which is faster, get by them.  Regroup is so that they retain their shape instead of trying to counter press since the other team is faster.  It seemed to me that such an approach is consistent with keeping the ball since I don't want them chasing the other team around.  If those instructions are not compatible with possession football, how so?  Thanks.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

2 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

The setup of roles and duties definitely looks better - and considerably so 

However, instructions are still highly questionable, to say the least.

Why are the instructions questionable?  Thanks for your insight and feedback.  It is helping me learn the game.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

On 31/01/2021 at 17:24, Experienced Defender said:

Your tactic as a whole looks to me like a much bigger problem than just your slow defense dealing with a "hot striker". It's fairly unbalanced. You play with a much lower LOE under a low team mentality while at the same time having a very porous central midfield setup, which puts unbearable pressure on your defense. 

Remember, defending is a collective (team) responsibility, in which midfield plays an even greater role than defenders. 

Attacking-wise, you play all front three on attack duties - which suits fast styles of play - but then at the same time you use the Hold shape in transition plus in-possession TIs that obviously favor a very slow and patient possession football (short pass + low tempo + WBiB + low team mentality). Therefore, your tactic is quite contradictory overall.

In short, rather than focusing solely on the slow defense vs. hot striker, you should look to address the fundamental weaknesses of your tactic as a whole in the first place. 

Is this better and more coherent?

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

2 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

Your tactic as a whole looks to me like a much bigger problem than just your slow defense dealing with a "hot striker". It's fairly unbalanced. You play with a much lower LOE under a low team mentality while at the same time having a very porous central midfield setup, which puts unbearable pressure on your defense. 

Remember, defending is a collective (team) responsibility, in which midfield plays an even greater role than defenders. 

Attacking-wise, you play all front three on attack duties - which suits fast styles of play - but then at the same time you use the Hold shape in transition plus in-possession TIs that obviously favor a very slow and patient possession football (short pass + low tempo + WBiB + low team mentality). Therefore, your tactic is quite contradictory overall.

In short, rather than focusing solely on the slow defense vs. hot striker, you should look to address the fundamental weaknesses of your tactic as a whole in the first place. 

Also, why did you say the midfield was porous?  I thought one CM on support and the other on attack was well-balanced.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

2 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

Your tactic as a whole looks to me like a much bigger problem than just your slow defense dealing with a "hot striker". It's fairly unbalanced. You play with a much lower LOE under a low team mentality while at the same time having a very porous central midfield setup, which puts unbearable pressure on your defense. 

Remember, defending is a collective (team) responsibility, in which midfield plays an even greater role than defenders. 

Attacking-wise, you play all front three on attack duties - which suits fast styles of play - but then at the same time you use the Hold shape in transition plus in-possession TIs that obviously favor a very slow and patient possession football (short pass + low tempo + WBiB + low team mentality). Therefore, your tactic is quite contradictory overall.

In short, rather than focusing solely on the slow defense vs. hot striker, you should look to address the fundamental weaknesses of your tactic as a whole in the first place. 

If I only I even knew my tactic had a fundamental weakness much less address it - LOL!   Seriously though, your feedback is helpful.  I need to watch more tactics videos.  Do you have any recommendations?  I have a big match coming up against Reading and I am on the hot seat.

Thanks.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

22 minutes ago, zindrinho said:

then you have your 2 other CBs acting as normal CBs and hopefully dropping off and/or tackling the hot striker while he's running from your center CB.

Pace doesnt matter that much, the most important thing with specifically marking the lone striker is jumping reach. I've had Johan Djorou keep everyone from Harry Kane to Sergio Aguero completely shut off the game on FM17. You really want to have 3CBs to do this though, otherwise you leave just 1 cb alone while the other one is chasing the striker all over the pitch.

Your tactics are way too immersive and different from mine for me to have any proper input, I've never played that way so I have no idea how your players other than the CBs will behave, sorry.

Thanks.  Your advice helps out.  So, to be clear, I will tell one of the CBs to mark their hot striker.  Is this different from just selecting "tight marking" in opposition instructions?  If I select "tight marking" in opposition instructions, do I still have to tell a specific person to mark the player?

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

Also, here is my out of possession tactic.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

1 minute ago, zindrinho said:

Many ideas, but what are the weaknesses of this Hot striker? And what are the strengths of your defence? If he's a lone striker and you have 3 at the back and he's fast and you're slow then sit back and have your strongest tallest CB in the center of the 3 and personally man mark the hot striker. If their striker is better in the air than your strongest tallest CB then it's not a guarantee but still good advice IMO.

post some tactics pics, always helps.

I like that idea.  However, supposed the striker is faster than my best CB?

My tactics are posted.

[We Are Facing A Hot Striker and My Defense Is Slow 😳 Any Ideas?]

I play a 3-4-2-1 with 3 at the back and defensive wingers in the middle.  My defense is slow.  I would mark their hot striker but we are too slow to keep up with him.  I am thinking perhaps just sit back and force them outside by bunching up the middle.  Also, I am thinking we need to stay compact and low so that they don't tear us to pieces if we try to engage them high and get burnt.

I am wondering what I could do via player instructions to keep this striker at bay.  The ones feeding him assists are also fast and so I don't want my guys to go out to engage them and get left in the dust.  I also don't want to sit back all day just let them hurl shots at us.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Woohoo! My First Time Coming Back from 2 - 0 Down to Rescuing A Point Against A Much Stronger Team]

So, I was down 2 to 0 against the 4th team in the league (I am down at the 15th position).  Usually I give up at that point and expect the worst.  However, I started the game in a defensive mentality.  So, down 2 to 0 with nothing to lose, I switched to a positive mentality figured I could at least score one goal.  To my surprise, my striker scored 2 goals within 15 minutes.

I was shocked because my team is much slower than the opposition.  Plus the scouting report said the opposition was disciplined, very technical and knew how to finish.  My plan was to identify and nullify their assist leader.  Ha!  That was a failure, he even scored.

What I am also happy about is going into the game, based on the scouting report, I selected members for the squad who were faster and did not include the slower members.  I also played someone out of position.  He performed well enough and I thought he had the stats to play it.  My assistants kept complaining during the match that he was playing out of position.  I had to put him in there though because our regular starter in that position was way too slow and we had no one else fast enough.  In addition, given their speed advantage, I chose not to counter when we won position.  This way, I reasoned we would be stout in the back.  I felt like a tactical genius - LOL!!!

I have come a long way in the game,

At any rate, I was so glad we ended up with a tie.

[Tactical Question about the Counter]

So, it seems no use to do the counter if my attacking players are slower than the defense, correct?

 

[Welp...Is It Time for a New Save???]

Thanks everyone.

I did win my next game.  I will see what happens and keep everyone updated.  I don't want to be sacked 😭😭😭😭😭

Have any of you been sacked?

[Welp...Is It Time for a New Save???]

2 hours ago, danielclouston1 said:

I'd say you have maximum 10 games, maybe less depending on the next few results, to turn it around.

 

If you get fired then you have to look for a new job but considering you're in the first season you'll probably need to look further down the leagues depending on what rep and qualifications you set the manager up with.

10 more games, or 10 games total?  I am in my 7th or 8th game.  So I need to know if I have 2 games left or if I have 10 more games left.  Thanks.

[How to Tell Player to Close Down More? I Can't Seem to Find It]

2 minutes ago, DCastle said:

there are pressing intensity intructions when you go into tactics > player > choose which position/player > edit instructions

I looked for it there, I don't see where it says "Close Down More".  Is it the "Pressing Intensity"?  Is that what it is?

[How to Tell Player to Close Down More? I Can't Seem to Find It]

Greetings, I can't seem to find the instruction that tells a player to close down more.  I don't see it on my central defenders, defensive wing backs, or midfield.  Is it still part of the game?  Is there something that replaces it.  Thanks.

[Welp...Is It Time for a New Save???]

9 hours ago, danielclouston1 said:

Whats your board expectations and your board rating?

Good question, see below.  I have a C-.

Also, what happens if I get fired?

[Welp...Is It Time for a New Save???]

So, my Stoke experiment is going badly.  Seven games in I have 4 points and am plummeting to the bottom of the table.  We are on a new winless streak.  Team morale is in the dumps.  I better understand my mistakes and see why I lost some games.  Despite our record, we have been playing better.

However, is it too late to turn things around?  Am I about to get fired?  Have you ever turned things around after starting so badly?

For some context, I chose Stoke as my team for the save.

[Coaching Recommendations Even for Filled Positions]

13 minutes ago, ralala said:

Either way works. There is some delay between the new coach accepting the contract and confirming the signing. You can sack the previous coach in between.

You can also wait until confirming the new coach, and on the same screen get an option for which coach to remove(if you have maximum amount of coaches).

Thanks!

[Coaching Recommendations Even for Filled Positions]

When my assistant coach recommends a coach even though I have someone in that position, does that mean I should fire someone to make room, then hire the person?  Or should I hire the person then fire someone?