Desperately need help - FMT20

[sm1979]

I said after my abject failure on 18 that I was done with the game, I found it ridiculously hard. But here I am again, struggling like hell on FMT20.

My team, Barnsley, probably isn't the best team to start with if I'm so rubbish. But they are my team, and subsequently where I wanted to start.

I just have no idea what to do. Early season and whatever system, style, formation I play, I just get battered. The opposition, whoever I play are worth miles more than my players.  But also, they carve out chances like a hot knife thru butter against me. If I was taking a guess on average of say they have around 30 shots per match, with maybe a dozen on target. I may have 8 shots with 2 on target. This is all despite playing a defensive, counter attacking system. So neither portion of that is working at all.

I have a poor valued squad, outside a transfer window. Should I pick a formation that enables me to field the very best players in my squad and stick to it? I find myself changing formation every other game, simply because my brand new plan fails miserably, and we get butchered 5-0.

I'm even contemplating trying a Wimbledon of old in my next system, 442, route one, horrible to watch, but hopefully effective. I'm bang out of ideas. 

[Experienced Defender]

1 hour ago, sm1979 said:

I just have no idea what to do

The first thing you should do if you want some really meaningful advice is - post a screenshot of your current tactic, so that we could analyze it, see what's wrong and how you could improve it. 

 

1 hour ago, sm1979 said:

My team, Barnsley, probably isn't the best team to start with

 

1 hour ago, sm1979 said:

I'm even contemplating trying a Wimbledon of old in my next system, 442, route one, horrible to watch, but hopefully effective. I'm bang out of ideas

There already has been a thread from a guy who also struggled with Barnsley. My suggestion to him was to try the wide 4132 formation, which can suit underdog teams nicely (provided you set up roles, duties and instructions sensibly). So that's an idea for you to think about. 

[sm1979]

@Experienced Defender the only reason I didn't post my screenshot is because I have tried so many formations that it didn't seem relevant.

Do you know if the preset tactical systems and formations are good to go from the off please?

[summatsupeer]

1 hour ago, sm1979 said:

@Experienced Defender the only reason I didn't post my screenshot is because I have tried so many formations that it didn't seem relevant.

Do you know if the preset tactical systems and formations are good to go from the off please?

If you want general tactics guide theres lots in the sticky.

We dont know your players so whatever "off the shelf" tactic we might suggest/give still might not work for you.

If you want specific advice we need a specific tactic your using and issues your having with it.  Your first step is to identify what your teams strengths/weaknesses are. Even if your team value/expectations are low you need to try and put them in the situations they are best at.

[Vribo FC]

I'm with you, bro. Struggling post-transfer window first season in 22nd place. Bought a whole new midfield in january and giving it another try with 4-4-2. Lord help us.. 

[Experienced Defender]

5 hours ago, sm1979 said:

the only reason I didn't post my screenshot is because I have tried so many formations that it didn't seem relevant

You can try millions of different tactics and all can prove wrong if your basic tactical approach is wrong. Btw, don't confuse formations with tactics, they are not the same thing. 

 

5 hours ago, sm1979 said:

Do you know if the preset tactical systems and formations are good to go from the off please?

I personally never use presets because most of them are full of overkill (especially tiki-takas and gegenpress). But you can try a preset tactic and see. Maybe you find some that works for you and your team. 

[sm1979]

This is my current formation I've just set up. Can you see any flaws please? It's probably the best I can put together with the players currently at my disposal. Not sure Route One will be pretty but I'm just sick of being battered around my own penalty area. First time I will have tried 2 defensive midfielders. I was also hoping the 2 mezzalas will give me a little attacking width.

Just tell me if I should pack in completely, because I'm utter dog poo.

[Experienced Defender]

5 minutes ago, sm1979 said:

 

5 minutes ago, sm1979 said:

This is my current formation I've just set up. Can you see any flaws please?

Tactic, not formation. And yes, I can see a number of flaws. 

 

7 minutes ago, sm1979 said:

It's probably the best I can put together with the players currently at my disposal. Not sure Route One will be pretty

Nothing wrong with Route One (a.k.a. "hoofball") provided you have the right players for that particular style of play. The problem is that your tactic is not designed in a proper manner.

First off, the Route One is a very simple style, which does not utilize those exotic roles like mezzala, F9 etc. Up front, you need a target man and either AF or poacher or PF on attack. And you can even play both strikers on attack duty, so that they would look to attack spaces as early as possible during attacking transitions.

Before I can give you any further advice, I have to ask why have you chosen this particular narrow formation? Is it because you don't have (enough) wide midfielders or for some other reason?

[sm1979]

I do have 2 reasonable wingers actually, but one is injured for 3 to 5 weeks, so had to revert to this unfortunately. I did say formation as it actually is a new formation, although as route one is also new, I guess you're right in saying tactic.

I do have a better option up front in Woodrow, but want to rest him for the next match. Same with Cavare at right FB. You think in this formation then I should go more simple with just a couple of attacking CM's instead of Mezzala's? If both forwards are attacking in this system wouldn't the gap between them and the midfield be too big? Although, again maybe not such a massive problem if playing hoofball?

Thanks for this mate really appreciate it.

[Experienced Defender]

3 hours ago, sm1979 said:

You think in this formation then I should go more simple with just a couple of attacking CM's instead of Mezzala's?

When you say "attacking CMs", you you mean them being on attack duty or something else? I am asking this because they do not need to be on attack duty (at least not both of them). 

 

3 hours ago, sm1979 said:

If both forwards are attacking in this system wouldn't the gap between them and the midfield be too big? Although, again maybe not such a massive problem if playing hoofball?

For styles like hoofball and direct counter-attacking football, playing both strikers on attack duties make a lot of sense. However, you need to set up the rest of your tactic in the right way in order for that to work. 

 

3 hours ago, sm1979 said:

I do have 2 reasonable wingers actually, but one is injured for 3 to 5 weeks, so had to revert to this unfortunately

Which means that you don't have other choice at the moment but to play in this narrow 4222 formation, right?

[sm1979]

You said that Mezzala's weren't really suited to this system and keeping it basic I was guessing you meant to keep them at CMa? If you think otherwise then please enlighten me as to why?

As for the formation then I really dont see any other option to play a narrow system due to the personnel at my disposal. If Mezzala's aren't ideal in such a system.

[Experienced Defender]

22 minutes ago, sm1979 said:

You said that Mezzala's weren't really suited to this system and keeping it basic I was guessing you meant to keep them at CMa? If you think otherwise then please enlighten me as to why?

Okay, I think the best way to explain is ti give you specific examples of possible setups. Here is one:

TMat   PFat

 

BWMsu    BBM

Ade       DMde

WBsu   CDde  NCBde   FBsu

GK/SKde

And here is another one:

TMat    PFat

 

BWMsu   CMat

Ade    DMsu

WBsu   NCBde  CDde    NFB

GK/SKde

Then come the instructions, of course. Do you have an idea how you would set them up (taking into account the formation, roles and duties)?

[sm1979]

Brilliant help mate.

I think we can forget the way I'd like to play, as I don't think it would be entirely possible due to being the poorest team in the league. How I think we should play is a more appropriate question. I think route one is the way to go with a high press. 

[Experienced Defender]

2 hours ago, sm1979 said:

I think route one is the way to go with a high press

The Route one makes sense (and the setups I proposed in my previous post were exactly about the route one/hoofball). Not sure about the high press though. 

[sm1979]

4 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

The Route one makes sense (and the setups I proposed in my previous post were exactly about the route one/hoofball). Not sure about the high press though. 

I feared you may say that about the high press. Im really not sure how it may work with only 2 players in attacking positions. I only want it really for 2 reasons (1, it's exciting to watch. 2, my fans and owners want to see it).

[Experienced Defender]

17 minutes ago, sm1979 said:

I feared you may say that about the high press. Im really not sure how it may work with only 2 players in attacking positions. I only want it really for 2 reasons (1, it's exciting to watch. 2, my fans and owners want to see it)

I am not sure what exactly you mean by "high press", so maybe we misunderstood each other. But on the other hand, if your fans and owners want to see such type of football, then the question is whether the route one/hoofball is the right choice of playing style for you. Think about that.

[sm1979]

Longer term, that is the sort of team I want. Hoofball is short term while I have the players I have. I just don't see the squad I have being able to successfully play that way. Every game now I fear the sack as the board and fans have lost faith in me, so this situation is one I need to deal with in a short term fashion. Get some morale back, get some points on the board, get to the transfer window and maybe then I could possibly bring in a couple of new faces to help me play a more favourable style. There is nothing I want more than to please the fans and owners because that's exactly the way I want us to play.

[Experienced Defender]

Okay. Good luck mate 

[sm1979]

10 hours ago, Experienced Defender said:

Okay. Good luck mate 

Thank you for all your help mate. I shall try and put all this advice into practice. With other commitments, family, socialising, shopping etc I don't get the time to play like I used to. But I should be back on tonight for an hour at least before bed.

One final question though for the time being. Apart from the lack of need to play with out of the ordinary player roles, was there anything drastically wrong with the way I'd lined my team up originally? I really struggle with link up play as my team seem to lack cohesion. I will play with the roles you suggested earlier, but just interested as to what was so wrong with mine. Purely for educational purposes only for the future.

Thanks again for all your help mate.

[Experienced Defender]

On 24/01/2020 at 18:42, sm1979 said:

 

1 hour ago, sm1979 said:

Apart from the lack of need to play with out of the ordinary player roles, was there anything drastically wrong with the way I'd lined my team up originally?

You mean in this tactic above (the screenshot)?

[sm1979]

Yes mate

[Experienced Defender]

5 hours ago, sm1979 said:

Yes mate

First off, the setup of roles and duties is pretty disconnected, so struggling to link up play is no surprise. Because you basically have 6 players (defenders and 2 DMs) predominantly responsible for defending, and then all of a sudden 2 mezzalas on attack duty (keep in mind that the mezzala is the most attack-minded CM role by default). 

The problem is then compounded by the combination of both much more direct passing and higher tempo at the same time + 2 NCBs, which means the ball is quickly hoofed forward for the strikers, but in most cases they are left on their own because there isn't enough time for support from deep to arrive. 

[sm1979]

Wow. A fantastic insight mate. Thank you for everything in this thread. I hope I can come to you for more advice. I'll try some new things out tonight. If I get sack, I'll holiday until I get another club. I will then assess the squad and take on board your advice.

Thanks again mate