Roles and duties - aiming for compactness more than anything, If you kept most of them all at support it would be even more compact, but you need a bit of adventure somewhere My best player is the IF, want him getting in the box, so on attack, just got the attacking CM, he much better than most of my players, so want him to create going forward. Before I got him that CM was on support with further forward. Might actually change it back. The IW gets in the box but also crosses for the IF at the back post who is ok on the air. I force that in the PPI's if their RB is vertically challenged, sometimes even swap the beanpole TM with the IF to really get an advantage on the back post
Special attention - By that I mean spot the their most creative/dangerous player (via the overload of data SI provides) and either deny him the ball by pressuring the players that most often pass it to him, or pressure the player himself, or both. Especially if any of them have low first touch/determination , I do that via the opposition instructions. Try to do it without disrupting your own defensive shape too much though.
More attacking - is still Lower Defensive line but with a midblock and one of the FB on attack. But to be honest I have hardly used it.
Park the bus- Defensive mentality, Low def line Low block, two DM's and one CM. Everyone on support apart from DM's and CD on Def, slightly lower pressing all round to remain even more compact, play out to the wings, I needed that as the AI tended to hunt in packs and force turnovers in the middle where one pass and they are in behind. Use with a lead around 85mins. And more disciplined ticked
But sometimes when all else fails (like the last match) get desperate and chuck everyone forward and press like crazy
PS
Still early days with this tactic, I have tons of possession and way above average for shots, but my guys can't hit a barn door with a banjo. Though just got someone on loan that might change things
Don't forget, these are lower league players so I limit the personal player instructions as much as possible, Maybe for upper tier pro teams you can give them more to think about as they are more capable. My guys are all butchers and bakers.
I love that, when we lose the ball they will tackle back like crazy, Klopp would be proud, even the forwards, that's with everyone on balanced pressing.
Oh one last thing, watch a chunk of match on full every now and again. You will see how they are playing, and where the problems are. That is not something you get from highlights
Shout out to SI, know there are some grumblings about the match engine but I am loving this years. Especially when being much less hectic and attacking with my team. Actually looks like real football. Maybe people are trying to use last years tactics with this years game like I did. My heart can't take 5-5 draws.