Atarin

I think there has to be a level of mutual respect. Developers need to understand that a yearly game cycle (these games aren't cheap) is going to put that extra focus on unique and significant developments to the game. Incremental and superficial change is always going to make it seem like a cash grab. But fans of the game also have to face the reality that the developers can only achieve so much in the allotted time between games and that ultimately you, as the player, are under no obligation to buy the game. Miles doesn't put a gun to your head and force you to hand over your cash. Personally, I'll be giving this one a miss, like the last one, as I don't think there has been a significant enough development to justify spending the money and upgrading. I don't hold it against SI though. I hope they don't hold it against me.

I didn't buy FM 2022 because I was underwhelmed and it looks like a won't be buying FM 2023 either for the same reason. I'm not especially bothered, FM 21 was awesome, in my opinion, and I could more than happily keep playing that for another year or two. I'll see what they offer up for FM24 before I consider switching. I will say though, that I'm glad they took on my suggestion of adding the puffer jackets back to the manager creator.

My first observation is that there isn't a whole lot of creativity in that midfield three. I don't know what their attributes are but one is being told to get up the pitch ahead of the transition (CM-A), one is being told to work his socks off up and down the pitch (BBM) and one is being told to focus on positional cover (DM-D). Its pretty effective as a defensive unit and might even work in keeping the ball but there's no one really getting on the ball and linking things together. There's no one taking responsibility for switching play or finding a quick dangerous pass before the opposition are set. The focus is on solidity and possession, not chance creation or penetration.

Are you being overrun or are the opposition nicking narrow wins? If its the first option then the opposition are playing more aggressively against you or exploiting weaknesses in your shape. You should decide if you're going to fight back or if you're going to hit teams on the break. If its the latter then you're going to need to make some changes to the way you play in order to create more chances. This could be a change of shape or a change in team instructions. All the opposition can do is change shape and change tactical style.

Depending on your squad I'd go with a very simple 4-4-2. I absolutely blast non-league with the following. Its really forgiving. You can have absolute dross to begin with. In terms of players recruitment I look for everyone to have aggression, bravery, determination, teamwork, workrate and stamina. It might take time but that's your bedrock. Goalkeepers need shot stopping, jumping, aerial reach and if you're lucky kicking. Fullbacks need pace, tackling, positioning. Centrebacks need jumping, strength, heading and bravery. One of them needs high aggression. One midfielder needs positioning, tackling and stamina and the other one needs passing, vision and off the ball. One winger needs crossing, passing and vision. The other winger needs acceleration, pace, dribbling and balance, agility and flair if you can get it. One forward needs strength, aggression, team work, rate and stamina. The other needs acceleration, pace and finishing. Composure, anticipation, off the ball are a great too. You also want to slowly increase the number of players with good personalities and leadership. To begin with one or two leaders is fine. One little tweak I sometimes like to employ is this. You stick your poacher on AF, you stick your more attacking winger on IW (it helps if you've got someone who likes to cut inside onto their stronger foot) and you set the CM inside him to CM(d). The IW exploits the space created by the CM dropping off and the AF driving forward. Its just one possible variation but you could definitely find other tweaks.

The AI does not find out your tactic. It cannot do that. The AI manager you are facing merely assesses your threat based on certain parameters such as form, reputation.etc and sets up according to their tactical preferences. Morale and confidence play a role also. In simple terms when a tactic stops working its because teams that had been passive against you are now aggressive and visa versa.

I pretty much always play in a modded DB that takes the English league down to level 13. One of the frustrations of playing at that level is that when you start a game you start with a really patchy squad. Quite often I find myself without a single CM but always, and I mean always about eight wingers. That could be improved. The second issue is that the youth team is usually generated with fifteen or sixteen 15/16 year olds which, in the name of realism, makes me not want to use them straight away. I think having a more balanced range of 15-17 would make it more realistic and make players like me more comfortable about using them.

My bad. Can you move it to the right sub-forum please?

Whiteley Wanderers Kit As the title suggests, I'm looking for a photoshopable template for this kit design. In particular the angled stripes along the the waist line. I've got the SS'09-14 Templates Pack and the PR Kits Brand Templates 2022 pack but this particular design isn't in there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Mate, your tactic made my eyes bleed. Don't worry about who can play where. Keep it simple. If you've got someone who can do a job out wide then stick them out there. Get some balls in the box. There's nothing wrong with an old fashioned 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 or even a 4-2-3-1 to get your team motoring. Your striker should be fine if you create good quality chances for him. The problem may well be that you're not creating a lot of chances and the ones you do create are not simple. I generally play 4-4-2 regardless of what the position indicators tell me about my squad. If they've got the attributes and don't have any obviously counter-productive PPMs then you're set. Get one winger up the line, one winger pinging balls from deeper. Get one forward dropping into space, another getting in behind. Get both midfielders on CM(s) and both fullbacks on FB(s) unless you've got one who can get up the line. In which case pair him with your deeper winger. It's not complicated. Success is guaranteed with 4-4-2 and players with the right attitude.

I'm a bit of a football dinosaur so you won't get much sophistication from me, but I'd question whether you could play Iheanacho AND two wingers cutting into space. There'd just be too much congestion. You could potentially set Hlozek to IF(s). He'd still score and create goals, maybe even a lot of goals but he'd blend better with Iheanacho & Vignato. Ideally, with two wingers cutting in I'd want a striker who dropped off and linked up but it's not impossible to make it work with a central striker who attacks the box. You just need enough support players around him. If you don't mind me saying, I think your tactic is a bit over the top anyway. You're on Attacking mentality and you have five players on Attacking duties. That's a whole lot of players looking to get ahead of the play.