Quickfire Questions and Answers Thread (Tactic and Training Questions Only)

[Cleon]

Hmmm. My Junior Coaching is only listed as 'Good' but I only have the option to decrease them.

It'll happen over time, keep checking every so often.

[RTHerringbone]

So is playing a higher tempo going to cancel out 'retain possession' or will the shout just lower the tempo from very high to high or high to medium for example?

Higher Tempo plus Retain Possession basically just equates to Shorter passing.

[Sunstrikuuu]

If I'm playing two defensive midfielders with defend duties, will a BPD with a stopper duty interfere? I'm trying to recreate some of the 1978-86 Argentina tactics.

[RTHerringbone]

If I'm playing two defensive midfielders with defend duties, will a BPD with a stopper duty interfere? I'm trying to recreate some of the 1978-86 Argentina tactics.

Interfere in what sense? I'm not familiar with the specific style of play you're replicating, but Stoppers will tend to press the ball harder, but that behaviour might be suppressed if you have 2 DMs covering the space in front anyway.

[Sunstrikuuu]

I'm concerned about having too many players in a small space. I'm trying to stop players running through the center of the pitch, drawing a cb out of position after bypassing the midfield, and poking a through ball to a striker. I concede a lot of goals this way in all my saved. I'd like to push play out wide.

[Rock787]

I've started a save playing in the lower leagues and was hoping to use a tactic which I've used in other saves that has a CF and a T. Now being in the lower leagues I can still find players with the attributes for the roles but they don't have the gold star rating for the role. Does that matter?

[Dr. Hook]

Hmmm. My Junior Coaching is only listed as 'Good' but I only have the option to decrease them.

I remember this coming up when the Jr Coaching was first introduced, and IIRC, it was said that the option to increase only exists if the club believes it could be improved. It seems your club should have the option to move it up, though, being a Premiership club of quality, right? You might raise this in the bugs forum and see what they say.

[Charlie_B]

I've got my AM setting up individual training for my first team. Some players, who I've also asked to do other training (PPM or new position) are unhappy with their high workload. If I remove their individual training they're happy, but then the AM adds it back again. Is there any way around this other than to set all individual training manually?

[phnompenhandy]

I've started a save playing in the lower leagues and was hoping to use a tactic which I've used in other saves that has a CF and a T. Now being in the lower leagues I can still find players with the attributes for the roles but they don't have the gold star rating for the role. Does that matter?

I don't think so. As a LLM I'm using a 442 Diamond formation with a DM but no MC. One of my best players is supposed to be MC only and is brown at DM, yet he seems to be doing fine playing at DM whilst he's retraining in that position. So just try them (ideally in pre-season friendlies) and see how they do.

[yipster1986]

What exactly does the bravery stat do? Is it the willingness to attempt a challenge?

[Double0Seven]

I'm playing my Hull side and w have been successful this season. My best player is not the 30m striker who is scoring a bunch of goals for me but my defensive midfielder Jay Spearing. For those who don't know him he is just an avg Championship player for me. He is captain of the team, squad status key player and for reason he outperforms everyone, never gets injured, very fit and when I click on my players profile almost all of them have as positive 'thinks that spearing is a good player'. Indeed he is good despite having not the best attributes. I have atleast three better players for his position but they seem to never outperform him. Is there any explanation behind this? I want to sell him but I'm sure the whole squad will complain.

[rferry]

Are there any tactics I could try with a lower league squad with no MCs and no reliable DMCs and AMCs? I have all of one MC on the roster. I'm training a winger to play DMC and a striker to AMC but they're months away from gaining familiarity with those roles. As for the rest of the squad I have a good depth at defense to play 5 defenders, a good keeper, average target man and above-average wingers.

[Dr. Hook]

What exactly does the bravery stat do? Is it the willingness to attempt a challenge?

That, and willingness to go into high traffic areas and fight for the ball, or otherwise risky situations injury-wise.

[phnompenhandy]

Are there any tactics I could try with a lower league squad with no MCs and no reliable DMCs and AMCs? I have all of one MC on the roster. I'm training a winger to play DMC and a striker to AMC but they're months away from gaining familiarity with those roles. As for the rest of the squad I have a good depth at defense to play 5 defenders, a good keeper, average target man and above-average wingers.

Not that unusual at LL level. See my post above where i have an MC playing at DMC despite having zero ability in that position according to my staff. He's actually doing very well. So try out some players in 'wrong' positions and see how they get on.

[herne79]

With regards negative PAs, will the game actually assign an unknown PA to a player from within the relevant range? For example, a player has a -8 PA so will the game actually assign him a PA from within the range of 130-160, so the player would actually end up with a PA of, say, 145?

Or, will the PA range stick and it is therefore up to us as managers to try to develop him up to his full potential, potentially allowing us to take his CA as high as 160 (to follow the example)?

I'm guessing it's the former.

[Dr. Hook]

With regards negative PAs, will the game actually assign an unknown PA to a player from within the relevant range? For example, a player has a -8 PA so will the game actually assign him a PA from within the range of 130-160, so the player would actually end up with a PA of, say, 145?

Or, will the PA range stick and it is therefore up to us as managers to try to develop him up to his full potential, potentially allowing us to take his CA as high as 160 (to follow the example)?

I'm guessing it's the former.

Your first guess is correct, it's randomly determined within a range each new game that is started.

[herne79]

Cheers Doc

[Lilah]

Does height and weight make any difference? Will a 6'3" 180lb Target Man be more effective than a 5'10" 160lb Target Man with identical attributes?

[santy001]

Height does make a difference, it determines whether a player needs to jump or not. Weight is more reflected by strength and balance, as weight itself doesn't play a part at the moment.

[Dr. Hook]

Does height and weight make any difference? Will a 6'3" 180lb Target Man be more effective than a 5'10" 160lb Target Man with identical attributes?

Edited in light of santy's comment; things have evolved in that regard.

[wkdsoul]

In preseason, i'll usually d/l a few tactics to lok at and try out from a few sites.

can you import more than one at a time?

[RTHerringbone]

In preseason, i'll usually d/l a few tactics to lok at and try out from a few sites.

can you import more than one at a time?

You can have as many tactics in your tactics folder as you like.

[wkdsoul]

You can have as many tactics in your tactics folder as you like.

Yep, got that bit its the importing to the tactics list via FM. it seems you can only load/import one fmf at a time?

much prefer the stick files in folder, tactic appears in drop down from last year, but meh. works for tac files at least, can you get an .fmf file into a .tac?

[Cleon]

Does height and weight make any difference? Will a 6'3" 180lb Target Man be more effective than a 5'10" 160lb Target Man with identical attributes?

You have to remember height in the game is reflected by jumping reach, so depending on how tall the player is will determine how high that attribute can actually rise.

[jumbohotdog]

how important is possession in how you play

[Cleon]

how important is possession in how you play

Not very really, its the type of possession you have and it what areas what matters. Some people like to see lots of possession but majority of this happens in none threatening areas or near their own half rather than it being possession that can really hurt the opposition with.

[AllUrBase]

I edited nothing of yours just the quote you quoted. It was wrong and I quickly changed it to stop people from getting the wrong idea about what I wrote. What undermines the forum is misinformation which is what my post was, its no slippery slope at all and as the moderator of these forums its our jobs to enable people get factual information not something that is inaccurate. If you have an issue then use the contact us button at the bottom of the forum and take it up via the proper channels.

I don't think there was any risk of people being misinformed or the forum integrity being undermined, you corrected yourself in the very next post. This is how virtually all forums work and how they make sure that information is correct and integrity is maintained.

There can be good reasons to edit one's own posts and I fully support that feature. Editing other members' posts is something that is reserved for moderators and administrators and for valid reasons only. I highly doubt, that selectively going 'off the record' is one such reason. What you did also put me, as a fellow forum member, undeservedly in a bad light, where my response to your post ends up being nonsensical. This is not fair to me or the post I made. My response made sense in a specific context and then you changed it.

If you truly can't see the problem here, then yes, I will contact the board owner and ask if this way of moderation is acceptable. At least I will know whether I in future should engage in a discussion with a moderator or not.

[Cleon]

Contact them because I did nothing wrong and even deleted your post after I responded. Lighten up there's more important things going on in life, no-one died . The contact us can be found at the bottom of the forum, if you want to take this further then use that or PM me, no need to derail a thread with something that isn't important.

[Johnny Ace]

Not tactical but stupid, down in the the lower leagues, how do I know who's going to accept a non-contract? Is it in the search filters or something or do you just offer them to players already on a non-contract?

[ggwood]

I'm playing FM 14 classic mode, and have very poor facilities, including training. Outside of very young players, my players do not seem to develop, much. I've never had this condition before and I'm curious exactly what is happening. Are they developing slowly, or not at all? Are they regressing? Are the older players declining faster?

I'm not sure this is known, but I'm curious if my training facilities have a "current ability" cap, like, say 100 to pick a random value, and players cannot pass that line via training, or if it is like a % of top potential ability, like, say, 3/4 of max potential so if I had a player with 100 potential ability, he would reach 75. (Note: this may not seem to matter, it does, see below).

Background: I started with the team predicted to finish last in the Northern Irish 3rd division. They had very poor facilities at that point. Then I got them promoted twice, and I'm starting the third season in the top flight. Via qualifying for the Europa league, and other prize money, we pick up enough money that I think we're finally turning a profit each year, so I am considering asking the board for improved training facilities. But mostly I'm signing players off the street. It's Northern Ireland: really good players are available for free. There are basically no paid transfers, except off the island.

I have a suspicion that my training facilities are so poor that I will have to improve them multiple times to actually get to where they should be. If there is a current ability cap, I may raise this cap, say from 100 to 120, but the players I'm signing are already at 140 (just to pick random numbers), and so I'll not see any improvement. Instead, perhaps if it is a % of potential, say, it is 60% now and I raise it to 70%, a player with 100 potential would be around 60 now, but be able to rise up to 70 after, so I would see dramatic improvement over the squad.

Just curious. As it is classic mode, my understanding is that the staff I hire do not effect training, which is handled via the team's training facilities. Thus, just signing a better assistant manager won't help.

[kingjericho]

Not tactical but stupid, down in the the lower leagues, how do I know who's going to accept a non-contract? Is it in the search filters or something or do you just offer them to players already on a non-contract?

I'm not sure what you mean. In the scout report it should say if the player is interested in joining you, and how much will he ask for wages or if he wants to sign a non-contract.

[kingjericho]

I'm playing FM 14 classic mode, and have very poor facilities, including training. Outside of very young players, my players do not seem to develop, much. I've never had this condition before and I'm curious exactly what is happening. Are they developing slowly, or not at all? Are they regressing? Are the older players declining faster?

I'm not sure this is known, but I'm curious if my training facilities have a "current ability" cap, like, say 100 to pick a random value, and players cannot pass that line via training, or if it is like a % of top potential ability, like, say, 3/4 of max potential so if I had a player with 100 potential ability, he would reach 75. (Note: this may not seem to matter, it does, see below).

Background: I started with the team predicted to finish last in the Northern Irish 3rd division. They had very poor facilities at that point. Then I got them promoted twice, and I'm starting the third season in the top flight. Via qualifying for the Europa league, and other prize money, we pick up enough money that I think we're finally turning a profit each year, so I am considering asking the board for improved training facilities. But mostly I'm signing players off the street. It's Northern Ireland: really good players are available for free. There are basically no paid transfers, except off the island.

I have a suspicion that my training facilities are so poor that I will have to improve them multiple times to actually get to where they should be. If there is a current ability cap, I may raise this cap, say from 100 to 120, but the players I'm signing are already at 140 (just to pick random numbers), and so I'll not see any improvement. Instead, perhaps if it is a % of potential, say, it is 60% now and I raise it to 70%, a player with 100 potential would be around 60 now, but be able to rise up to 70 after, so I would see dramatic improvement over the squad.

Just curious. As it is classic mode, my understanding is that the staff I hire do not effect training, which is handled via the team's training facilities. Thus, just signing a better assistant manager won't help.

With poor training facilities your players will develop less. For example if you have a youngster with 1* ability and 5* potential it's likely he will not reach his full potential because he doesn't have the conditions to do so. Nobody will develop as well as if they were using the facilities of top clubs.

For older players it's more clear, after 24 years old there are no big changes in attributes, and with poor facilities it's likely they will drop as time goes by.

[kingjericho]

Say I have two formations, a 4-4-2 and a 4-1-4-1, both on control mentality. Will the defensive line of the 4-4-2 be higher because there is no DM?

[THOG]

Say I have two formations, a 4-4-2 and a 4-1-4-1, both on control mentality. Will the defensive line of the 4-4-2 be higher because there is no DM?

It will be slightly higher. The idea is that the defensive line needs to compress the space between the lines more aggressively in the absence of a DMC. Another way to look at it is that a DMC effectively makes your defence more compact, so your defensive line is free to drop off a bit more without having to worry as much about creating space in which an advanced midfielder or deep-lying forward can operate.

[yipster1986]

How do you go about looking for youth for the U18 squad? My youth recruiting isn't good enough to produce quality regen so I rely on looking for them elsewhere but I'm not certain how to go about this.

[chesterfan2]

ok, here's a stupid question, do I have to set all my player to 'Shoot less' ? as playing with the 15.1.2 match engine my players suddenly seem to be shooting from everywhere and when there are far better options available.

I'm playing about with the tiki-taka formation that's done by wwfan on this board (apologies if I have the creator of that thread wrong) and apart from being taken apart by a team adept at breaking the offside trap (an obvious need for a Plan B here I should think) my main issue with it is that my centre forward (Sturridge) will shoot from anywhere, even as Sterling powers into the box and a decent through ball will be a certain goal.

[Double0Seven]

PPM's? Role? Attacking roles will shoot more because they tend to be more advanced, closer to the goal and have an attacking mentality.

[Double0Seven]

Is it bad to have a playmaker who plays short simple passes ppm? I have sergi roberto as my DLP. He has 17 passing and 17 first touch yet he doesn't want to unlearn that PPM.

[Cleon]

Is it bad to have a playmaker who plays short simple passes ppm? I have sergi roberto as my DLP. He has 17 passing and 17 first touch yet he doesn't want to unlearn that PPM.

It depends. Normally you'd like a playmaker to play all types of passes and not a specific kind as it could restrict them in certain situations.

[llado01]

hi to all !

thx 4 ur great job

1st sorry for my poor english

my question is :

some TI's when ur is a very underdog team is very under pressured playing against top teams , and attempt make some counter?

clear ball to flanks and more direct balls , maybe another TI's and change the mentality to defend ?

thx a lot 4 ur time

[Ö-zil to the Arsenal!]

Does anyone know if the stat for goals from a corner includes in-direct goals from the corner, i.e passing to a free man who lays it off to another player who scores?

I have noticed I am scoring a lot of goals indirectly from corners but my report says I only scored 7. My impression from watching was that it'd be higher.

[Hootieleece]

How does one create a relatively dependable offensive cornerkick tactic? I just used a tactic for defensive I found in another thread because I'm tired of the AI winning on repetitive corners until it scores.

[Hootieleece]

Also how to get my players not to fall down when AI players "Breathe" on them? Also what stats are good for them to be interested in chasing the ball when it goes by them?

[Double0Seven]

http://strikerless.com/2014/12/07/using-set-pieces-to-break-open-a-match-and-preventing-your-opponent-from-doing-so/

What I use. Scored 20 goals from corners in 38 matches.

[Lilah]

Not really a stupid question, more like a stupidly late observation, but the performance of a formation/tactic is really way more variable depending on the players in your squad than a new FM player might think. I've been using the same tactic in three different saves (a 4-1-4-1 DM) and in each save, different positions have the most goals (WM/A, WM/S, CM/A) and different positions are excelling in ratings between the saves. Player performance is hugely affected by the performance and playing style of those around them. Problems I thought may lie in the tactic itself may just be chemistry problems between players themselves.

[phnompenhandy]

Not really a stupid question, more like a stupidly late observation, but the performance of a formation/tactic is really way more variable depending on the players in your squad than a new FM player might think. I've been using the same tactic in three different saves (a 4-1-4-1 DM) and in each save, different positions have the most goals (WM/A, WM/S, CM/A) and different positions are excelling in ratings between the saves. Player performance is hugely affected by the performance and playing style of those around them. Problems I thought may lie in the tactic itself may just be chemistry problems between players themselves.

No doubt about that and it is as it should be. To fit the squad I've developed, I constructed an unusual 4-3-3 formation with the front three being DF(d) TM(a) DF(d).

For my first choice front three it's genius, but switch any one back-up player in and it's not effective at all. Maybe I should inform Van Gaal.

[bdixon]

Both CWB(A) have a shockingly low crossing percentage, is there any way I can increase this? or maybe stop them from wasting so many attempts?

[Double0Seven]

I have been playing with a very strong kind of striker up front who knows how to head a ball. My other players who are often in the box for a cross are also decent headers. Crossing just seems to be very hard in this game. I would just try to provide passing options for your CWB(A) and tell them to cross less. PI.

[RTHerringbone]

Both CWB(A) have a shockingly low crossing percentage, is there any way I can increase this? or maybe stop them from wasting so many attempts?

See if the problem is the quality of cross, or the movement / abilities of the intended target(s). If you want fewer, more accurate crosses, look for a Role which can be instructed to do all or some of this: Cross Less Often, Pass Shorter and make Fewer Risky Passes.

[egg]

How to create SPACE.

I'm with Balanced Counter 4-1-4-1.

2,5 specialist roles.

GK Defend.

DR Wingback support.

DC's defend.

DL Complete wingback attack.

DMC Defensive midfielder defend.

MR Wide midfielder attack.

MCr Advanced playmaker attack.

MCl Roaming playmaker support.

ML Wide midfielder support.

ST Advanced forward attack.