glengarry224

First, thanks to @werogatda for doing all this work. I second what @herne79 wrote and ask again: does SI have any update or response to this as it is now more than five weeks since @Neil Brockposted that they are looking into it? I don't have the statistical expertise - and in the video, Max sagely acknowledges that he does not either - but these videos do raise serious questions.

With a more versatile backup player, you can sometimes sign a better player who demands more playing time. For example, if he plays DC/DM, he can play 75% of matches: three straight matches backing up DC then DC then DM, then one match off, rinse and repeat. Also depends upon how many subs you are allowed to designate and use per match.

Depends upon your league, your team's expectations/level, the intensity of your tactics, the age and natural fitness of your players, the size and quality of your medical staff, and your schedule. For example, if you play in a reasonably sized league, have mostly superior and fit players, and will mostly play once per week, with some occasional league cup matches (most of which are against lesser teams), you won't need as many and can get away with some good and versatile utility players. Even if a good starter goes down for 3 weeks, he might only miss a few games, likely 1-2 of those against weaker teams. If you'll play a packed schedule of a large league (e.g. the Sky Bet Championship), and/or many cup matches (league cup plus continental), and you play an intense tactic, you'll need at least one per position, and players who can beat lesser opposition, especially if you are playing cup matches 'above your head'. Look at West Ham irl this past season. They lack quality depth and the added matches killed their fitness. The makeup of your league means a lot. If even the lower-half teams are not too far below you, you'll need better backups. Versus, if the league is heavily unbalanced, you can get by giving time to youth prospects.

First, I agree that is not fun. But as as @IbrahimAliMaher points out, the 'game-fun' was a completely unrealistic UCL Group Stage; Second, it seems that your UCL success had a positive effect: the board gave you a lot more money; Third, in support of what as @FrazTpoints out, unless you win the UCL, you will not play any continental football next year; and Fourth, apologies but irl, I think that most clubs the level of West Ham would sack you: for two seasons, your PL results are well below acceptable and they'd prefer to let a different manager spend that money.

Agree with the previous posters and I've become a big convert to 'leadership'. I think that team full of 'leaders' makes more comebacks and does not get 'FM'ed' as often,

please post your tactic

Hard to decipher with so many team instructions but: these instructions all slow down how quickly the wingbacks will cross: 'work ball into box', 'run at defense', 'lower tempo'; you have 'play for set pieces', which tells them to do exactly what you are complaining about; WB(a) pretty much instructs a player to dribble the ball to the byline then cross (or make a cutback pass or attack) vs. WB(s) more often crosses earlier; 'crossing' attribute is more about a player's crossing ability vs. 'decisions', 'vision' and 'anticipation' have more effect on whether he'll cross at the best time.

See above post with some in-games SI tips. Also, I've read elsewhere - can't remember where - that low Match Fitness can increase the chance of injury during a match. I don't know if that's accurate but certainly it's true that players with low Match Fitness tire quicker during matches and irl, I've heard that tired players are more likely to get injured (although in training, we tend to work less fit players harder to make them fit?) Yes, enjoying Sporting but the Portuguese Premier League is so unbalanced that there are too many walkovers. Against at least five teams, I can play all backups and win easy. The real challenge is the squad turnover because it's a development league and any top players want to go play for Man City, Barca, etc. I even had a player demand that I sell him to Norwich, even though we are in the Champions League and Norwich are in no Euro competitions.

From the in-games tips: Natural Fitness reflects how good the player's natural level of physical fitness is; how well he stays fit when injured or not training. This will help to determine how quickly players recover from injury, how well they retain their physical attributes as they go past their peak, and how fast they recover between matches. Bravery primarily reflects how committed and indeed, brave, a player is. Braver players will risk injury more in situations a more cautious player may shy away from. They'll go in where it hurts and lay it on the line for the team. The average team will suffer between 50 and 70 first-team injuries per season, which, for a 25-man squad, means an average of 2.5 injuries per player.Players are no more susceptible to acquiring injuries during training than they are during a match. The underlying cause is typically more important than the incident in which it occurred. Your training schedule will have a considerable impact on your players' susceptibility to injury. Pay particular attention to their workload and heed the advice of your backroom staff where they have concerns. The vast majority of injuries last fewer than 28 days, with more than half of those resulting in absences of less than a week. Your playing style will have an impact on the likelihood of players becoming injured. The more you ask them to do, and the greater the intensity at which you ask them to do it, the higher the risk is of them suffering some misfortune. A player in the 'Red Zone' is at an enhanced risk of becoming injured through over-use. These players should be considered for immediate rest until they are at a more appropriate fitness level to resume playing. Ensure, where possible, that a player isn't thrust into playing after a long spell out of the team. A player who is both physically fit and match sharp stands a better chance of playing well and avoiding injury at the same time. Injury Susceptibility reflects a combination of factors, including Injury Proneness, injury history, Physical Condition and Training, to give an assessment of a player's current likelihood of injury. Too much intense physical training during the season is likely to tire your players out faster and increase the risk of injuries.

Saka is an outstanding dribbler and crosser, extremely quick, great agility and balance. But not a good shooter and a mediocre passer (though with great vision and flair) and below average anticipation. You could try having him 'stay wider', which would give Odegaard even more room to roam, 'take more risks' and 'dribble more', maybe 'cross more often'. If you want teammates to target him more, put him on AP(s) or AP(a) and/or 'focus play down the right, but obviously Odegaard is your best creative player: on AP(a) with 'get forward' and 'roaming', I think he'd eat up opposing defenses. On CM(a), I'd make sure Odegaard moves into channels and/or roams. If you have trouble creating chances, I'd put Martinelli on IF(a) so that at least one of your forwards is tasked to attack the backline more. Saka is also has pretty good defensive attributes for a forward and could be good at pressing/tackling hard, then he'd steal the ball more and create more chances in space...

If you look under 'Training' - 'Rest', you will see that the 'injury risk' is highest immediately after a match, so that's one reason to rest players the next day, or at least individually give them 'no pitch or gym work'. For making sure players are fully fit for the next match, you have to learn your players. Obviously, low intensity sessions will tire players less, but all 'Match Preparation' sessions, except 'Match Review', do 'Slightly Reduce' Condition. 'Rest' improves 'Condition' and reduces 'Fatigue' more than 'Recovery' does but only 'Recovery' reduces injury risk. If a player is very tired and fatigued, only full 'Rest' will make a big impact to get him back. Of course, high 'Natural Fitness' indicates a lot. Each player's ability to recover for the next match is also affected by his levels of fatigue, which you can see under 'Reports' - 'Medical Report': I also use a custom Training squad view which shows Fatigue for all the players. When individual Fatigue gets high enough, a player will become jaded and you might need to send him on vacation for a week. If you plan to do this, you can anticipate it and send a player on vacation before he becomes jaded and during favorable weeks: international-match weeks are best but otherwise weeks against weaker opposition. This problem is best avoided with intense pre-season physical training but it can come up, especially if you play a high-intensity tactic and don't rotate very often.

Depends upon your league, your team's expectations and wealth, your tactics and each player's position. For example, if you are managing Tottenham, I'd say you want key positional attributes to be at least around 14-15 for a starting player to compete with the best teams. Of course, there can be tradeoffs: for example, if a player's role is more creative, you might sacrifice some shooting, for better vision/decisions/flair/passing. By key attributes, I mean the highlighted attributes for each role and duty, plus whatever else you value most for that role.

Tough run, especially lack of goals scored. You need to figure out where you are failing. Losing the ball in your defensive third? Can't transition through the middle third? Good Xg but can't finish? Who is not performing their role? How are you conceding chances and goals? As far as sticking with tactics, I always say play the way the game is fun for you. Also, the players who say "you can just stick with one (or two) tactics" are probably masters at creating tactics and need less changes. The best general observation I have is that your 4-2-3-1 is on 'balanced' and you only have two players regularly attacking the box (AMC and AMR). I think if you can get Palhinha back into a DMC role, that will free up Nunes or the wingbacks to attack more. I think Nunes has the skills to help out in a more going forwards role (BBM, with dribble more and gets forwards, for example). He's not a good shooter, but he has really good dribbling/flair/technique/bravery/concentration and good pace/work-rate/teamwork/passing. Sporting has a lot of players with excellent or very good dribbling, flair and technique. I'd use that to break down defenses.

Both Esteves and Essugo out on loan. I think I'm one year ahead of you? Had to sell Adan (€9M) and Battaglia (€1.4) to the EPL. Used some of those funds plus some of the Nunes (€61M) money to buy Porro and Vinagre and a potential young stud CB from Milan, Matteo Gabbia, because Coates is getting old and Inacio will soon be sold to a higher league: indeed, Man City made me a great offer, which Inacio demanded I accept, just 2 hours before the transfer deadline. I wormed my way out of it by including a clause that I had to find a replacement, which was impossible in 2 hours (though maybe I'd have been better off with the €56M?). Also bought a young-ish Spanish sweeper-keeper, who is ok so far. Cabral has been a solid backup. Loaned in wonderkid striker Armando Broja from Chelsea. Playing a high pressing, high tempo game, I need rotation options against lesser teams. Reis, Queresma, Gabbia, Esgaio, Viga, Edwards, Cabral, Paulhinho, Broja provide me that. I took the risk and in the Champions Cup league playoff rounds (the previous manager finished 3rd in 2020-21) I played all backups in the 4 legs - I blew my opponents out in the 1st leg -- and play all backups in the early Portuguese Cup matches and some backups against the bottom half of the PPL. If you do play a high fatigue tactic, I like to have a 'resting tactic' which I'll switch to someplace between 25-35 minutes until the end of the half depending upon how the game is going. Edwards is kinda' a one-trick pony but his outstanding dribbling/flair/acceleration/technique/agility/otb make him effective at breaking down a low-block as an IW.

Coincidentally, I took over Sporting in June 2022. Against all but two PPL teams, Sporting has superior personnel so you can take more risks and play more aggressively. As others wrote, I'd up the mentality to 'Positive' and even 'Attacking' for stretches against weak teams. You can even play higher tempo or much higher tempo. Only three attacking duties, one out of defense, might be low for a superior team. The attacking players can play multiple positions so you could play with that for alternate tactics. Goncalves is a very good AF and Sarabia is also an excellent central midfielder at CM(a) or AP(a), Sarabia has excellent crossing so can play AMR-IW(a) with 'stay wider' and cross more I trained Goncalves at AML-IF(a) where he is also effective. Santos is a v good AMR-IW(s) to mix things up. Porro is a excellent CWB(a) and I have an alternate tactic using him as an IWB(a): AMR - stay wider, plus some other PIs in the team. note: sometimes the IWB and CM(a) attack too close together so I might switch the CM(a) to Mez, also might switch the AMR to W(s) or AP(s). main tactic: Sometimes increase mentality to 'attacking' and sometimes increase pressing. With more PIs than I usually use: AML - sit narrower, mark tighter, tackle harder; AMR - stay wider, take more risks, tackle harder; RB - take more risks; both CMs on move into channels and take more risks, BBM - get further forward, dribble more, shoot less; many players on 'tackle harder' which I remove in many games, and some others. I could've ticked 'be more expressive' but I didn't want that for the AML, DM or either CB (though one is on BPD). fyi, I could not re-loan Sarabia and sold Mendes to PSG for €61M.

Excellent points. You should always filter FM information - and any information, especially if it appears persuasive - through a lens of critical reading. I'm sometimes as guilty as anyone else and post ideas which are estimation or speculation. Much of the time, I try to base my posts on what you can find 'in the game'. But I do fail. For example, when people debate the difference between an IF and an IW, read/watch what people say but more importantly, look at the game descriptions, including the moving gif's within the tactics setup screen, which will show you how the position is designed to move and where it might receive passes, etc.: of course, the game is complex and doesn't always work 100% as designed. An excellent, verified source of basic information is The Football Manager Show by The Athletic. Iain Macintosh regularly interviews SI people like CJ Ramson, who is the QA lead for the match engine. He also has access to SI to answer listener questions. guidetofm,com has good descriptions and information.

At most, I rest certain tired players, who will play the next match, for 1 day and they are almost always fit for the next match. And rest players who are at very high or higher injury risk. I like to have good backups and try to rotate certain positions. Obviously, I can't do this if I'm playing top teams in succession. Also, in the second half of the season, during packed months, I will lower the automatic training intensity, especially at the lower fitness levels. So if this is my standard setup for the first-half of the season: I'll switch to something like this if the second half is crowded with league games and cup matches: That way, fit players, who aren't playing, are still training harder. Another factor is that if I am about to play tough or important matches, I'll schedule more match preparation and set piece training sessions and those are less intense. A day after the match set for this is very low intensity, especially if a player has his automatic intensity set for 'no pitch or gym work' or 'half intensity': Of course, that day is of little use to a young player who hasn't played the last match. And I will sometimes give a tired player a whole day off. One downside to promoting youth players to your senior squad is that they will miss a lot of training, especially if they are playing in youth matches which are on different days from the senior matches: you lose training on (1) the day of the youth match; (2) the day after the youth match (for recovery); (3) the day(s) of the senior match; and (4) any sessions which are dedicated to senior team match preparation or recovery. I like to schedule a good number of match preparation and set piece training sessions. Some don't agree, but I think those are largely wasted on youth players who need to focus on improving attributes and personalities.

Example: you're playing against Liverpool and you assign your LW to man-mark TTA who is at RB. If Liverpool moves TTA to LB, your LW will continue to man-mark him which will create obvious problems. If instead, you assign your LW to man mark Liverpool's D(L), then if Liverpool switches TTA to LB, your LW will continue to man mark whoever takes TTA's place at RB. One advantage to man-marking a specific player is that if you man-mark TTA and Liverpool subs him off, your LW will not mark TTA's replacement who is certainly a lesser player. One thing not clear to me: if you assign your LW to man-mark Liverpool's D(L), then Liverpool switches to a 3-at-the-back formation and moves TTA forwards to WB(R), will your LW continue to man-mark him? If not, there is another advantage to man-marking the player instead of the position.

The training sessions indicate that the effects of sessions like 'Defending Corners' or 'Attacking Movement' last for the upcoming match. But I've heard and read in a number of places - including in recent, informative Zealand training videos - that the effects last for one week. That's a big difference if we play two matches per week. My inclination is to believe what the game tells me. Anyone know if, contrary to the game, the effects last for one week?

Yes, you needed to switch one of your forwards to a role which tries to get in behind to provide some threat to the backline. With 'Balanced' mentality, a striker who drops deep, 2 IWs, and deep DL and LOE, you provide no threat to your oppponent's backline and it's too easy for them to organize their defense. This is the same reason it's hard to counter from your tactic: your are starting very deep, on balanced mentality, with WBIB. Yes, starting deep draws out your opponent but you have a long way to go to goal. If your players are exceptionally quick and good long passers, you have a very solid defense, and you have a good finisher, this can work though. Think of Tottenham when they played City or Liverpool. But you must have a very fast player attacking the backline, like Son. Probably need to raise mentality a bit. It's a bit hard to figure out how you want to create goals. On the one hand, it seems like you want your LB to swing in crosses, because he is on WB(a), you have focus left (and right), overlap left. However, if that is what you want, you need players attacking the box more for your LB to target. Switching the AML to IF is ok but not ideal for this because they are on the same side. It could work a bit but you should get 1-2 of these 3 positions charging forward: striker, AMR, or RCM - you could switch the AP to CM(a), for example. Also, you are starting so deep and on balanced. Maybe try positive, raise your DL and LOE one notch each, tick 'pass into space' (maybe untick WBIB). You probably don't need overlap left because WB(a) is a naturally overlapping role and the overlap instruction only lowers the mentality of the other players even more. Higher tempo seems good if your players have pretty good ant/dec. Why are you playing wide? Are your players very good passers and good ant/otb/acc? If so, maybe try a bit longer passing. But you should give your IF(a) the PI to sit narrower. Also, wider can also work well against teams which park the bus and you can try to spread them out and move them back and forth. If you are a superior team and that's what you want, you likely need to put your AP or AMR on support and maybe get your RB a bit further forward, like WB(s); raise mentality to positive; and also raise your DL and LOE a bit. If you want instead to build up play and have your right side and center to be creative and feed the AML-IF as primary scorer, then take off focus left and put either your AP or AMR on support. That supporting player and the DLF will then be the creative fulcrum. It might seem like raising the DL could cause you more defensive problems but it might be the opposite. As is, it is extremely easy for your opponent to move the ball upfield into your final third and just attack you. It can work but with this match engine it's difficult to get a lower DL to work. Are the crosses coming in from your left flank? I like how you switched sides with the CMs. CM(d) will cover the left flank much better but maybe have him play wider or could he play BWM, which chases and breaks down play more? I've written too many ideas to try all at once, sorry.

Too hard to answer without knowing how you are struggling. Not scoring enough? High Xg but not enough goals? Teams killing you on the counter? Low possession?

In my experience, and from what I've watched and read, players don't develop much after 23 (with some exceptions), and they will develop more technically and mentally than physically as they age past 20 and each year after that. You can see significant physical improvement from 15-18. Of course, a lot of what you do depends upon your financial situation but look at why a player is not yet ready to play for you in relation to age. For example, if you are managing West Ham, and your 21 year old winger or wingback has Acceleration and Pace of 10, it is highly unlikely that he'll ever improve those attributes enough to play winger or wingback, at all, at the top of the PL but a Cinch or Championship or lower-PL team might buy him for a fair price. And depending upon his other attributes, maybe you could change his position, or should've already. Similarly, if you're managing Fulham, and your 20 year old potential DLP has Acc/Pace of 11, Determination/Teamwork of 15, but only 10 Anticipation and Decisions, he very well could still become a good or useful PL DLP/CM (or very good Championship DLP/CM), and likely will develop enough that you can still sell him later if you're not desperate for money now.

Agree that mentals, including both concentration and teamwork, are the most important. After that, probably marking. For recovery purposes, I'd say Acceleration, Aggression and Tackling. For GKs: anticipation, teamwork, decisions, acceleration, concentration, bravery, rushing out

Initially, I'd lower the LOE one notch and tick 'counter' and see how it works. Maybe add regroup against more dangerous attacking teams. Other possibilities are longer passing, higher tempo, longer/quicker distribution, early crosses -- depending upon your team, etc. If your team is far inferior to some teams, you could train a 4231 with 2 DMs, with a DMC pairing of, for example, a SV(s) and HB(d) (or DM(d)), then the HB/DM frees up your RB to increase his attacking to WB(a), if that works for his skills. The 4231 2DM does add some transition issues in the central midfield, which can be addressed, but it's extremely solid in central defense, even against better teams. If you have good aerial defenders, you can even play narrow and really clog up the box.

Yeah, if they are sitting back, it could be a problem that both wingers and both forwards are on 'attack' duty. Being on attack duty is not necessary to press more. A few things you could try (not necessarily all at once): untick 'regroup' unless your opponent has quicker players and you are afraid of counter-attacks, and against much weaker teams, 'counter-press'; move both your LOE and DL one tick higher to try to win the ball back further up the pitch; change your BWM to 'support'; invert one of your wingers and overlap the fullback on that side; depending upon your opponent's defensive formation, play wider and cross more;