HotPizza87

I've heard before that scouting U23 competitions and the like is a great way to find young talent. But I cannot figure out how to do it FM23. Help, please?

Maintain your level, then wonderkids will make you better over time.

A better investment will be someone who can jump and head the ball and who has the strength and will to do so. Delivery is a niche attribute, whereas aerial prowess is useful very often in a match.

Yes it's possible using individual role training. Like jumping reach, it is not an attribute that quickly develops. In those earlier FMs you could game training so that team training formed a low percentage of each player's workload, so you might set your general team training to low intensity (usually Balanced/Low), but then you'd set their individual training to heavy intensity, so that the bulk of their training took place focusing purely on the attributes you told them to focus on. You'd also set the match preparation to low once your team had gained high familiarity so they spend only enough time doing that to maintain their familiarity. If you want to see faster results you should try that. If you have don't have patience I recommend you sell players who don't work hard for the team and sign players who do.

Erm... changing my midfield to CAR and Mez(S) worked wonders. 0 goals from set pieces, 2 goals from the IF(A), 1 goal and 2 assists from the Mez. 3 shots conceded with only 2 on target, 0 chances conceded, won 4-0 first go using this. But we were against the 2nd from bottom team. Anyway: IF(A)-AF-W(A) CAR(S)-MEZ(S) DM(D) WB(S)-BPD-CD-IWB(S) Positive Hit Early Crosses Low Crosses (opposition had beanpole defenders) Underlap Right Slightly Lower Tempo Throw It Long Distribute To Full Backs Hold Shape Much Higher D-Line High Press Slightly Less Often (give myself a few more transitions from deep/tire my lads out less, none of them have above 14 stamina, mostly 12) No OIs and PI set. I'm gonna keep going with this, and if it keeps working, I'll be getting myself a better carrilero midfielder. Considering using a spare full back Regan Poole or Sam Curtis as carrilero. I like this carrilero business. Doesn't get in the way of the IF, gives my midfield extra steel.

This is something I worked on today before I read the thread. The interaction with Mez(A) was really good, with typically the Mez being the one getting into goalscoring opportunities from it. Their full back couldn't stop it, only their midfield could do something to stop the ball being played in, and the DCs typically were pinned by the Poacher (I quickly abandoned Pressing Forward or support striker in STC because I don't have the personnel for it). I used IW(s) and W(A). The playmaker on MCL varied and didn't seem to matter too much. I also put my D-Line on the Much Higher with Higher engagement. I realised that if I am going to get my two CMs involved into the half spaces, I had to push up on the opposition. They are going to park the bus anyway, so it's not like I'm boxing them in with the press. Crossing noticeably increased in frequency using the wingers. Hi Daljit. I'm not sure it's too many if I tell the IF(A) to stay wider. But using when I tried IF(A), with or without Stay Wider, it was noticeably quiet on that flank, mainly because the IF(A) ran at the byline and failed to cutback quickly, but it meant my Poacher had a bit more fun. Watching the behaviour of IF(A), I fear there is a problem with the match engine in the release of the ball, including even if I instruct Dribble Less. The delay in release is consistent, even though there are bodies running into the box ready to receive the ball. Also noticeable those bodies tended to run too far forwards (Mez and Poacher stood next to opposition GK) to receive a true cutback, but if it was a cross, they would score. The problem is the cross from an IF(A) never comes. I want to believe IF(A) can work. I'm winning every match so maybe it isn't necessary after all. But why does he run at the byline consistently, instead of cutting in and shooting? I'm never seeing the typical Man Utd Antony-style individualist horizontal dribble across the edge of the box and shoot, nor am I seeing the same run to thread a pass through to the back post. Come to think of it, in the past few FMs I'd abandoned using AML/R because of failures in their behaviours and was a firm believer in the 442 narrow diamond, focused on playing through the middle. I can't help but be frustrated that if I want my primary goalscorer to be a wide player in the form of IF(A) or even Raumdeuter, I'm out of luck. How have you got your IF(A) to work in the past? I was thinking of even subscribing to your Patreon for another coaching session and get my save on a Gamechanger video to get this sorted. Anyway, I will play with your suggestions in the quote and see how it goes.

This was my tactic last season: gh My team reached the playoffs and was knocked out in the playoff final. The only thing that I would tweak is the type of playmaker used in MCL, going DLP if I needed more solidity. There were some problems I noticed: 1) The Poacher saw very little of the ball and only scored if he could get in behind. 2) The inside forward and inverted winger almost never crossed as soon as the opportunity arose (which would mostly have created a goal) and almost always tried (and failed) to cut back, hopelessly releasing the ball far too late, by which time the opposition had bodies in the box to defend most shots. 3) If I used either IF or IW on Attack duty, we never scored from open play. To be fair, we were dominating most matches and winning them comfortably and seldom conceding goals either. So I tried to bring that tactic into the next season but quickly found that every team was parking the bus and my front 3 was getting very low ratings, and our shots to shots on target ratio was much higher than last season. That is, most shots were not on target and we couldn't get any joy in the middle. I think what happened was the AI thought last season my team was a mid table side. It was our first season in EFL1 after all, so they didn't respect us as much as this season. So we had a lot of fun through the middle. But this season they've closed up shop. Naturally I tinkered to respond, keeping the same roles, trying to make the striker a support striker instead with the IF on Attack and/or increasing attacking width and passing length, but the result was the same. Keep in mind that 10 matches in, we have still won 9. But the wins were very scrappy and I am not happy at all with how my team has played because I can't get my players to find space in central areas at all now. All my goals have been lucky, except against the rare team that has given us space in behind. So I thought about Man City, as you do, and how Pep Guardiola likes to get his wide players to stay as wide as possible and then he likes to get his central midfield players to move into the half spaces, forcing the full backs to choose between marking one of these players. I believe the cool kids call this an "overload". This is what I came up with. Don't get me wrong, I want to use a Poacher, but it's having no results and I think that means I need to get my goals from the flanks instead. I now need to stretch the opposition because they park the bus, but I don't have the players to play 2 wingers because I finished the transfer window thinking I'm going to use two wide players who cut inside - and so I didn't shop for people who are good at crossing. So I've got it into my head that I've got to feed my AML and get goals from him. The first game I played with this tactic? Drew 1-1? Both goals from a corner. So I need some help here...

There's no reason tactically why it wouldn't work. Obviously in terms of players if you try to fit square pegs into round holes you can't be surprised if you face problems on the field. I guess it might be different for you if you use wildly different team instructions and mentality.

You could probably increase your probability by having 2 players in DM on support and by reducing the verticality of your team. Just off the top of my head, if the space between your D-line and forwards is low, there is more chance your non-defensive players will pick up the second balls. Then with the support duties your players will want to be close to the play more and make themselves more available. Other than that, tackling/timing of the challenge, height/jumping, aggression, stamina, speed and work rate will count for something when it comes to second balls as well.

Typically I would use this against opponents who themselves have tried to sit back in the game and let me come to them. I hope this tactic will render that ineffectual.

This is what I have got so far. Any tweaks?

When I reach a comfortable lead in the match I often want to manage the game so that I don't waste my players' energy and don't give the ball away. So I am thinking of developing a tactic where I minimise my risk taking and generally try to kick the ball around in my own half. I have no intention of attacking or countering with this tactic. So I was wondering whether Very Defensive mentality would be good for this, say, in the last 20 mins of a match where I am leading by 2 goals or more? My team is one of the most dominant in the league. I would ideally adjust my defensive line and engagement to keep it the same as my regular tactic but I'm hoping for my defenders to pass it amongst themselves and keep ball progression and running to a minimum. I might also try to put more players on support duty so they are available for passes more readily.

BWM(D) works well with DLP(S). Both hold position. A quintessential double pivot.

Hello friend. I exclusively used this formation in FM18 and eventually came upon a perfection of it. The main way I avoided defensive problems was by using this midfield configuration: AMC: Trequartista/AM(A)/AP(A) Honestly the most important thing here is the role is on attack but I feel AM(A) is the least problematic and most configurable. Tactically, using a playmaker here seems attractive but this area of the pitch is one where I don't want my player to attract the opposition more - here I want to have a lot of space. If you use a playmaker, your team pass to him more but if he is heavily marked it's a problem. Better to have a variety of options. Attacking full back side of central midfield: DLP(S) or CM(S) with Hold Position instruction. He stays deep and passes the ball around while your full back bombs on. As well as creativity and ball control, tackling and positioning is important for this player. Support full back side of central midfield Mez(s): Runs into the box, runs into right channel, but also tracks back. Very athletic player with work rate and tackling necessary. Ideally has decent finishing and long shots. You don't need an attack duty here because you've got 3 attackers ahead of you plus a full back bombing on. Both central midfielders: Close Down More. This is because I want both CMs to come out to the flank and close down more than my TIs require. One stays more central, the other closes down wide. DM: Ball Winning Midfielder (Defend) Lots of tactics gurus say the BWM is not a good holding midfielder because he closes down like crazy everywhere. That is true, but when you have a second midfielder who also holds position, this is not a big problem. I used to play Anchor Man here and was getting killed on the flanks and have tried everything but BWM was honestly my most successful. This guy is the steel of your midfield. High defensive attributes and good athleticism required. First touch and passing only has to be decent. Expect mediocre match ratings from this player - he will rarely contribute towards your attack. For the attacking threat, I started off with DLF(S) and P(A), which eventually became CF(S) and CF(A), which eventually became T(A) and P(A). This transition was affected by the quality of my players. In League One I use DLF(S) and P(A), but when I'm winning Champions Leagues every season, I use T(A) and P(A). I'm careful to use a combination of some players who move into channels, and others who stay central. So, Mezzala and Trequartista move around and roam a lot, but AM(A) and P(A) are staying mainly between the goal posts. Some players draw defenders away, other players attack the space. I also experimented with a lot of success telling my strikers to run wide with the ball. This opens a lot of space up for the other striker and AM(A) to attack.

Part 1) It may be as simple as that your players aren't good at tackling. Who is a tackler? Fernandes? No. Whoever that striker is? No. Rashford? No. Antony? No. Eriksen? No. You've got Sabitzer, who afaik is basically an average ball winner, I suspect he is not really a ball winning midfielder naturally. Utd as a team don't have any steel in the midfield, and that was why Casemiro dramatically improved their situation. Fred and McTominay were good ball winners, but then they didn't have creativity. What Utd need is a creative player in the centre who can tackle to accompany a primary ball winner like Casemiro. Otherwise teams like Wolves will just walk through them as they did this season. Part 2) Tactically you can improve things by pulling back your press and defensive line. The main issues with high press are a) it tires the hell out of your players, b) it boxes the opposition in, making it very hard for your team to find space in behind and c) if the opposition break your press with direct play you are extremely vulnerable. I suspect what is happening is your guys are failing to win the ball high up the park because they are simply not that hard working or good at tackling and then the press is bypassed. Rein it in. Turn off counterpressing. Bring back your defensive line to standard. Give yourself a mid block. You'll get more goals and you will be more defensively solid. Trust your team to win the ball back in those conditions. They can do it!