Justified

I tend to do overloads. If you can get a fullback, wide player and a Mez into the same space on one flank it means your opposition will move players to that side to defend leaving more space on the opposite side.

Good guide on how you can tweak a 4-3-3 to the squad you have. In your examples it's very much based on that "industrial" midfield model which allows you to have the width on your flanks through your WB's.

Been following this in the shadows... But great content as per usual @_Ben_ ! Fun to see that we approach training very similarly however I never use training schedules that focus on training marking for the attacking unit so things like Transition Restrict and Defending from the Front (or even the General Defending schedule) is just something I never do as I feel it doesn't fit into my DNA. Be interesting to hear what your thoughts on that would be.

You should be able to tell when you're watching the match. If you're not getting the ball into the space because the opposition are sitting back then it's basically not working. Because you're not "camping" in the opponents half, it could working for you if you have pace up front. I usually use it when I want to exploit a team trying to attack me hard and I can counter using the space they leave in behind. To be honest though, I've not used it a lot recently as I find direct + counter pretty much do the same thing if I'm using that sort of strategy.

At first glance I'd say PIS + WBIB + Counter + Overlaps doesn't really make sense to me. WBIB + Overlaps feels more like a patient possession instruction but PIS and Counter are more fast and direct. Judging by roles and duties I'd say you're looking to be quite fast in transition so I'd potentially lose WBIB + Overlaps and see how that goes. WB's will overlap naturally anyways. I'd keep an eye on PIS and Counter because these I use situationally if there is space to actually attack. Otherwise you just run into a brick wall if the opposition is parking the bus. Consider maybe a FBsu at right back as well. The Wat keeps the width anyways plus your centre mids could be caught out at times.

Knew it'd be today Thanks SI!

Tbh I've always played on databases over 100k players on it so I've never really paid attention to the speed so much. It's subjective really, what one person finds fine someone else might find it sluggish. Also computer dependent of course. For me personally, the game world is important. The setup that Dreambuilder posted first would be a low database for me. Not unplayable at all but it would probably be as low as I would go. However your suggestion would be a no go for me, it just wouldn't feel big enough.

Silence it is then...

I sit on around 20 nations. I always add International players for all continents and then the rest I tweak depending on how many players I want. I could simply just add National players from all continents, continental competitions or sometimes I add top leagues from the top 50 FIFA nations. I end up around 100-120k players per save. Personally I think 90k+ players is needed for a good gaming world but that's just my opinion.

Hoping it'll be today. Got the evening free and looking forward to starting a new save today. @Neil Brock if it's not out today, could you give us a sign? If not, I will take your silence as the patch will be out this evening.

And he doesn't disappoint me again this year Funny thing about Nic is, every time I see his name on here I think of that scene in Wolf of Wall Street SCCCHHTEEEVE MADDEN

It'll be out today. No two ways about it.

You need to wave or a GIF of a wave... But you're new so I'll let you off

Wayheyyyyy!!! Happy Beta Day to you, Alex!

@Marc Vaughan is on the forums..

@Nic Madden You never let me down you ME Ledge. COME IN AND GIVE US A WAVE!!

@Alex Hall Join in and give us a WAVE!!!

Another Legend added to the Beta thread. Good lad!

@Jack Sarahs Definitely gave us a wave last year... C'mon CAPTAIN JACK!

@Julius Flusfeder Don't think we got the pleasure last year... GIVE US A WAVE!!!

Wayyyyyy Absolute legend!

@Christopher Lewis We got a wave from you last year! C'monnn, you know you want to

It's coming tomorrow... However the only way you are getting it is if you @ SI employee's and ask them to wave in the thread. It worked last year. Just saying

I'd only bring them if you need the depth. Otherwise I see no point in doing it as the training camps are quite short. Usually, when you're a big side with loads of internationals, when it's a Euro or WC year they will be on holiday so that could be an opportunity to bring some kids in to look at them whilst the international players are on hols.