Hoofenballen

Hello Everyone Without using a cheesy exploit tactic, im struggling with this one. At Arbroath we have a tiny budget, hardly any staff, and only train 4 sessions per week on two days. I just feel its extremely difficult to attract the calibre of player needed to get us into the Premiership. Likewise, with no youth set up, barely any coaches and no training time, you cant really develop players either. When I ask the board about expanding the coaching team, or going full time, they keep knocking me back. Any ideas what to do?

Anyone with any thoughts on Arbroath as a club to manage? seem like big overachievers and a difficult next step tp get them to the Premier League?

Hello Everyone I have screenshots of the tactic ive been working on. I am a real life Leicester City fan, and have set a game up as Leicester with the intention of trying to recreate Enzo Maresca's tactics which see the foxes top of the Championship table. Before I post anything, has anyone attempted an Enzo Maresca recreation, and how are you getting on if you have? Thanks!

It does but the attributes worked on are so broad that in the example of a generic session, surely you arent going to see big gains across all of those attributes if you keep running those sessions? Surely if you want to really boost someone attributes, its individual training you need, right?

Can anyone explain what "Defensive Shadow Play" and "Attacking Shadow Play" sessions do, and what attributes they develop? If im only playing one game per week, i run a custom "Big Match Prep" schedule, and it looks like this (sorry for no pics): Monday: 1. Overall 2. Outfield 3. Goalkeepers Tuesday: 1. Attacking Shadow Play 2. Defensive Shadow Play 3. Chance Creation Wednesday: 1. Defending Engaged/Disengaged (depending on tactic for match), 2. Trainsition Press/Restrict (depending on tactic for match), 3. Chance Conversion Thursday: 1. Attacking Shadow Play 2. Defensive Shadow Play 3. Team Bonding Friday: 1: Set Piece Routines 2. Rest 3. Match Focus Game Day Sunday: 1: Recovery 2. Match Review 3. Rest This is just a basic schedule that is tailored around big match prep, so is this actually improving anyone? Some players do show green arrows to suggest attributes have gone up, is that to do with individual training more so than the overall schedule? or match time? all 3? Its a bit of a grey area this one i find

What difference does it make when choosing generic sessions eg "defending" rather than a specific session such as "defending from the front"??? Logically i would suggest the generic session has a tiny effect on a broad set of attributes, whereas a specific session would improve specific attributes but might even hurt others? I tend to think of the generic sessions as lower league sessions which could be totally wrong

Just from my perspective i like work ball in box but not for the reasons you may think. For me, i think its a great way to attack and press as a unit. I find working the ball into the box is great for transitional situations where its wasier to retrieve the ball back

what player instructions do you use? One obvious issue might be your vulnerability down the flanks because youve got both wingbacks pushing forward. Id say theres not much support around your target man either. Going to put a huge emphasis on him to hold the ball up to get you uo the pitch.

I want to preface this by saying i am Bayern Munchen, which is an easy save in terms of winning things, but one where id really like to implement different styles of play and see exactly what each instruction does on the game. Im also not an expert by any means on the game. I took a few years off the game. I developed this tactic for hard away games like away games in the Champions League or really tough Bundesliga away games where maybe the squad is tired and i cant rotate, or im looking to counter specific threats they have up front, usually 2 players in the attacking mid positions is the one that is particularly tricky. It works around the principle of defending firstly. The two full backs are told to sit narrower, but both perform different roles. Davies sits narrower, but then runs wide. This is to provide extra width down the left and to work in tandem with Sane, so if we do get a bit of possession it can act as an overload/overlap down the left. Davies has excellent dribbling and can carry the ball up the pitch after winning it back deep. Mazraoui sits narrow but then runs inside, so he goes to sit in a more orthodox central DM position where I ask him to cross from deep. Produces lovely through balls. I go with narrow attacking width as a starting point but players can be told to "run wide" with the ball. This coupled with "invite crosses" i think helps keep a narrow "two banks of four"structure to our defending, no spaces in between the lines. I also feel the instruction "be more disciplined" helps keep the solid team structure. In attack, ive sent the mentality to attack, despite the tactic being defensive. Ive heard the game has changed around this, where cautious mentality works well, and ive used this in other tactics at other teams. But i like attacking to encourage fast transitions, and once the players get back into position, an aggressive deep block. All players who arent "sitting" players are told to dribble more, as they are winning the ball back from a deep position and I want them to carry us up the field. Plus it works well with traits. Goretzka has a trait to get into the area, so with box to box he can pick the ball up deep a bit like a volante and get on the end of things in the box. Kimmich has traits to come deep and switch the ball to wide areas, so he acts like a DLP which is ideal. This tactic ive adapted for other clubs, Atletico Madrid i used a similar type structure in a 4-4-1-1 and it made me the highest scorer in the league despite playing on the counter attack (its in the la liga thread), whereas this tactic is solid for clean sheets.

To achieve the shape youre after, id suggest pushing your fullbacks into the wingback slots with the role of WB/D but then have them sit narrower. I think this should do the job for you. Id combine with a DM in the DM slot, perhaps a DM or DLP on support

Quite a few teams use a 4-4-2 defensive shape. I like using 4-4-2 on the game as for me its great in defending space between the lines and in half spaces. I can compress the lines between midfield defence and attack, and tuck the wide players inside with player instructions and trapping instructions, and for me, its led to lots of clean sheets. I agree with @Cloud9 that in this edition of the game, 4-4-2 can be a really effective tactic when setting up the central midfield 2 correctly.

Hello Everyone If youre playing 4-4-2, how are you getting on with it in FM24? Are you using it primarily to defend space in two banks of four? are you trying to bring back old school wing play to a tall striker in the box? Maybe going for something that resembles a Leicester title win or A Fergie era Man Utd tactic? Would live to see your 4-4-2 set up if youre using one

Im currently managing Bayern Munich as a bit of an ego massaging project to be honest. Their squad seems so SLOW, its weird. You have pace out wide but up front and in centre midfield, no pace at all

Hello Everyone What do you think about utilising Harry Kane as a trequartista? If he plays as a trequartista, will his goals output suffer much? In an out and out forward role, his lack of pace annoys me, ive played him quite a bit as a poacher to use his off the ball movement but hes got more to his game than that. Id like to use him as a number 10. Any thoughts?

Hello Everyone Ive got an atletico madrid save i love. Just wondered are there any good teams in europe preferably (but not exclusively) who are in the top division who have priorities for defence first and direct football? Thank You

Sometimes its good to get back to being very pragmatic. My away form in season 2 is very good and i like to sit deep on a balanced mentality and "hit early crosses". A target man or someone who can use a PI to hold up the ball can help you get up the field and win 1st and 2nd contacts. Id suggest floating high balls into the box is an option and getting bodies around loose balls. Yes, its ugly. But its effective

No guides as such. Just take your time to get to know the players with tactics that arent too intricate at first. Trust the opinions of the coaches for now. Test the players in friendlies etc

@Alejandro_FM love the thread so far, Valencia is always a great project to work on within football manager and I was lucky enough to attend the Mestalla stadium tour and a match vs Real Valladolid a few years ago so I do have a soft spot for the club. Setting the ground work for future success with great tactics and transfer activity. Keep up the good work!

I find if you ask your FB/WBs to sit narrower but then run wide/run inside when in possession you get the best of both worlds for covering space in front of the defensive line and for not leaving space in the half spaces

Thanks @Alejandro I managed to recoup about £80 million in the summer, all in up front payments and managed to free up a good chunk of wages. Whilst ive spent a lot of money, theyre on very structured deals that will be paid off over a number of years. Im really interested in seeing how Boselli performs, I had tracked him for a long time and with the low value release clause I felt it was definitely worth bringing him in for the versatility he brings and as a successor to Savic. Really looking forward to season 2 now I feel weve got quality in each area, feel weve got a really good blend of youth and experience now. Im excited

POSSIBLE TAKEOVER ON THE WAY? It would certainly make life easier!

SEBASTIAN BOSELLI - CENTRE BACK/RIGHT BACK COVER; RIVER PLATE A young Uruguyan at just 20 years old, should provide great centre back and right back cover, for only £8 million very good value and comes off the back of an impressive season for River Plate, and an impressive scouting report. Aiming to develop him and give him plenty of game time. GIORGIO SCALVINI - CENTRE BACK/DEFENSIVE MID COVER; ATALANTA I wanted this player from the moment I took the club over. Will be my centre back rock hopefully for a decade to come. Had a tremendous season for Atalanta, 5 star potential for growth, delighted to have him. GUIDO RODRIGUEZ - DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD/CENTRE MIDFIELD; REAL BETIS This was a no brainer. A free transfer that provides cover, but also gives the potential to switch to a system with a DM and 2 central midfielders if necessary. Small wages, and a good rotational option to have around KALVIN PHILLIPS - CENTRE MIDFIELD; MANCHESTER CITY I overpaid for him, but i think he really embodies what I, and the club need in a central midfielder. Tenacious, committed, decent on the ball and will let the more creative players do their thing. JULIAN ALVAREZ - ATTACKING MIDFIELDER/ATTACKING MIDFIELDER RIGHT/STRIKER; MAN CITY Household name. Brings goals, creativity and hard work with versatility to play in a number of forward positions. Board are delighted as he will generate a significant amount of shirt sales. A bumper deal which will never reach its full value

ATLETICO DE MADRID - SEASON 2: THE REBUILD @Alejandro_FM @FMbeginner thank you for your contributions to the thread I had a good look through the squad in the post season, and believe the "core" of the squad is one that can still take us to challenge for honours. When viewing the rebuild, I had a few ideas in mind: I want the rebuild to be gradual. I want to keep continuity within the squad by not having too high a turnover of players. In particular, I dont want to sell too many influential players from the dressing room all in one go. I want to keep the rebuild realistic. I want to sign players who I believe fit the "DNA" of the club, and that for me is players who are prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty, players who will block, tackle and head all game. Players who will run all day, yet stay switched on tactically. Players who display world class levels of work rate and determination. I want to gradually lower the average age of the team. I don't think its necessarily a bad thing to have players at their peak, but it would be good to gradually inject some new blood into the team. The breakthrough of Sergio Carmelo, and the return to the club of Joao Felix (who proved to be un-sellable) will aid the lowering of the average age of the squad. Players who display desirable scout report characteristics. Particularly those who will find it easy to settle into the club and culture, players who perform consistently, and determined, resloute characters. In terms of settling in, ive preferred players who can speak spanish, ideally spanish or spanish speakers i.e. south americans. TRANSFER ACTIVITY INS AND OUTS The transfer activity has been well received by the board and fans. The transfers in are structured and will not cost as much as they potentially could, the transfer fee will not hit its top value. I was disappointed I couldn't get more income but some of my players proved very hard to shift, through a combination of age, high wages, and just lack of demand. I felt there may be more Saudi interest, but only Greizmann wanted to leave and I feel like he has left too cheaply. There was nothing I could do that would shift the likes of Joao Felix, Mario Hermoso, Stefan Savic, Saul and that was disappointing. I also didnt get much back for Rodrigo Riquelme, but I just dont feel he has the development potential I want. Not disappointed to get rid of Azpilicueta's wages. INS OUTS

Hello Everyone Is it worth doing a save as an international manager? I like the thought of being an international manager, as it gets right to the nitty gritty of tactics, managing the matchday, tactical flexibility. Im concerned about the gaps between matches and the amount of watching matches it takes to keep the talent pool up to date. Id like to try and qualify (and ultimately win but its a long shot) for a world cup with BOLIVIA. Any thoughts?

LA LIGA RESULTS CONT. COPA DEL REY RESULTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS FINAL LA LIGA TABLE THE GOOD POINTS Huge goalscoring potential in the team, the most potent in the league Brilliant home form Rodrigo De Paul and Javi Galan vastly exceeding xG totals The emergence of youngster Pablo Barrios THE BAD POINTS WOEFUL away form A very old squad, with only £2.8 million budget for improvements, which will mean selling to invest in youth Tactical refinement required Would be grateful for any thoughts on where it went wrong in season 1, and how it can be turned around. In terms of building the new squad, nothing is off the table. EVERY player except De Paul, Memphis Depay, Javi Galan and Jan Oblak can leave for the right price. In terms of tactics, would love your thoughts. The tactic did stick to the low block, low possession, counter with pace philosophy i wanted, yet somehow let us badly down in the 2nd half of season 2. Im not a great player of the game but i must admit, im finding this team very enjoyable, very frustrating and a real challenge all in one, which is how it should be