I usually ignore Decisions. It's one of the most expensive attributes for all positions, but it doesn't have as much effect as other attributes. Pace and Acceleration are also expensive, but they at least have high influence on performance.
When I talk about attribute cost, I mean how much they influence the CA. More expensive attributes means less points in other attributes until they reach their maximum PA.
Pace and Acceleration for everyone, followed by Agility. Make sure defenders and defensive midfielders have decent Jumping Power while more advanced players have some Dribbling and Vision. GKs should have Agility, Jumping Power and Reflexes. That's what I usually look for in players. Other attributes are nice to have, but not a problem as long as they are not all 1's.
The other factor is hidden attributes. Since you can't see those attributes, you have to feel it in the match. Any player that gets injuried or sent off with red card too often should be kicked after one or two seasons. Players that clearly underperform too often should also be kicked out, but don't look at the player grade, look at how many clear mistakes it makes, like losing the ball or doing the wrong decision.
P.S.: I also like my players to have good Natural Fitness, since it's an attribute that costs no points and can not only reduce injuries, but also improve the player's match fitness, which makes the perform better during the season.
Gaksital said: Oh! It's very similar to the tactic I'm testing now. I'm testing an inverted winger version with a wide attack width.
In this tactic, does the large space between RPM and SS not cause problems? Expand
Roaming Playmakers roam from position, meaning they keep trying to find better spaces where they can act. That means having more space in front of them actually help them, giving more options. It's what happens, for example, in Afterlife.
Poacher said: No worries. I'm just letting you know that there's a tactics that looks almost the same as your tactic and that has been tested already. Expand
Changing a bit subject, I just got some idea for a nice shape that wasn't tested yet in FM-Arena while doing those "default formations". In short, 4-2-1-3 similar to Void, but with two RPM instead of a DM, and only one CM. I'll test it and see how it goes.
Just trying to see how far I can go with the default tactic shapes. I started with Blue as base, then tried to change a couple of roles and instructions, like team mentality or passing directness, before updating this one that gave me the best results. Sorry in advance if there are many tactics with the same shape, since it's based on a default formation of the game. Let me know what you think of it in the comments.
Poacher said: As I can see both tactics have 'Positive' team mentality or I'm missing something? Expand
Ohh, Universal is different in the forum post and in the tactic page. I don't know, they look very similar to me, so it probably won't get tested just because of different player instructions. In my defense, last post in that tactic was one month ago, before I posted this tactic. I'm now trying other default formations, since I plan to make at least 4 or 5 tactics in default shapes.
Gaksital said: Maybe they're almost the same. @ZaZ , is it possible to use inverted wingers? Expand
They might be almost the same, since it's common to use high rated tactics as base when developing new ones. I think Blue, Phoenix, Afterlife and a couple of other tactics might have variants in almost all shapes. It's hard to know.
About inverted wingers, @infxamus just posted a new version of his Universal with that role.
I didn't check all tactics before posting this. The difference is probably team mentality, player instructions and set pieces, but I didn't download it to compare. If they think it's too similar, it just won't get tested.
Just trying to see how far I can go with the default tactic shapes. I started with Blue as base, then tried to change a couple of roles and instructions, like team mentality or passing directness, before updating this one that gave me the best results. Sorry in advance if there are many tactics with the same shape, since it's based on a default formation of the game. Let me know what you think of it in the comments.
Gaksital said: Great rating! now I believe it's true that data never betray. If I used BPD and IWB as your advice, I might have gotten a slightly higher rating, but it's enough. I will usefully refer to your spreadsheet link when making tactics. Thank you. Expand
Just don't be too zealous about it, since if everyone follows that sheet, there will hardly be many improvements for other stuff that didn't get good results yet.
With the help of brilliant tacticians, I brought the last version of my tactic for RGA. It did very well with both Leeds and Chelsea. All these are the holiday results!
Leeds qualified for the Champions League, finished 4th in the PL table. Chelsea won the PL with 101pts, also Carabao cup, and Champions League, achieving treble.
I'd appreciate it if this tactic is tested. thank you. Expand
If you want other hints, I'd tell you to change your FB to either WB or IWB with support duty, since those two roles have better performance in this patch. The maximum score a tactic with FB got was 6.5, while WB and IWB were the only roles to score more than 7.0. For the same reason, you could also change your CD to BPD with defend duty. (P.S.: It doesn't mean FB and CD are bad, just that no tactic got good score with them yet.)
For more info about the best score achieved by roles and positions, you can check this link.
Gaksital said: Brilliant tacticians on this site are amazing...! I have no choice but to give up improving this tactic. Expand
You have a big gap in the flanks because your FB don't go up and your W advance too much. Maybe changing the FB to support would help, as well as retreating the W from AML/R to ML/R, with the same role. That would give some extra balance since RGA isn't always in his position.
Machismo said: Can you remind me about in-season training. I downloaded but haven't read any thoughts, comments. In-season training - Is switching to in-season 2nd year for every team in 2nd season or is it for elites only? I'm York 2nd season in (Vanarama Nat.) Expand
It's for any professional teams, since semi-professionals don't train full time. I suppose York is professional, right?
Pre-season is supposed to be used in the first 4 or 5 weeks of the year, while In-season is during the season, starting in the week of the first official match.
Keshk said: should i change their individuals as they want or keep it "Quickness" like what u said ? Expand
Let them whine. If you check the happiness menu, they are still happy despite being unhappy with training. Training is just a very small part of happiness and I prefer to ignore those complains than not develop my players the way I want.
dakiri said: Yes, definitely agree with you both! Just pointing out that if there's a 3 games/week schedule in FM22 (even for just 1 year), it'll be even more important, and some of the lower intensity tactics that tend to score poorly here might be comparably even stronger than they appear. Expand
If you play three matches a week, you need to rotate the entire team for the middle match. For example, you can do team A, team B, team A, or play with mixed A, mixed B, mixed A. As long as you rest players from training after the matches, they will handle it.
I played a game in Brazil with Juventude, considered the worst team from the league, and managed to get the crown in the first season with points to spare, despite playing three matches a week. It's completely doable if you focus on team management. (Thanks @Gpassosbh for the update for South American leagues.)
dakiri said: Hmm, I wonder if that will make FM Arena's current testing method too unrealistic? There's already the conflict where high-intensity tactics can sometimes overperform here since there's no fatigue in the testing league. With good enough players and 1-2 games per week it doesn't seem to really make a big difference in an actual save. But in FM22 if we're forced to use way more backup players due to squad fatigue, I wonder if low-intensity tactics might be a more successful season-long option, allowing the best players to play more often. Expand
Like @Zippo said above, FM-Arena tries to find the best tactic. However, building a balanced squad, rotating and managing players psycology is still a duty for the manager. You can still have a lower intensity tactic for when matches are already decided or when you need to rest players, since you have three available slots for tactics. However, if you want to skip the managing aspects of the game, then you also need to sacrifice the quality of your tactic.
I usually ignore Decisions. It's one of the most expensive attributes for all positions, but it doesn't have as much effect as other attributes. Pace and Acceleration are also expensive, but they at least have high influence on performance.
When I talk about attribute cost, I mean how much they influence the CA. More expensive attributes means less points in other attributes until they reach their maximum PA.
The other factor is hidden attributes. Since you can't see those attributes, you have to feel it in the match. Any player that gets injuried or sent off with red card too often should be kicked after one or two seasons. Players that clearly underperform too often should also be kicked out, but don't look at the player grade, look at how many clear mistakes it makes, like losing the ball or doing the wrong decision.
P.S.: I also like my players to have good Natural Fitness, since it's an attribute that costs no points and can not only reduce injuries, but also improve the player's match fitness, which makes the perform better during the season.
I don't know if you know that IWBs act as WBs if you have 2DMs in your formations so there's no difference between IWBs and WBs
I did not know, thanks for the input!
In this tactic, does the large space between RPM and SS not cause problems?
Roaming Playmakers roam from position, meaning they keep trying to find better spaces where they can act. That means having more space in front of them actually help them, giving more options. It's what happens, for example, in Afterlife.
Changing a bit subject, I just got some idea for a nice shape that wasn't tested yet in FM-Arena while doing those "default formations". In short, 4-2-1-3 similar to Void, but with two RPM instead of a DM, and only one CM. I'll test it and see how it goes.
Ohh, Universal is different in the forum post and in the tactic page. I don't know, they look very similar to me, so it probably won't get tested just because of different player instructions. In my defense, last post in that tactic was one month ago, before I posted this tactic. I'm now trying other default formations, since I plan to make at least 4 or 5 tactics in default shapes.
They might be almost the same, since it's common to use high rated tactics as base when developing new ones. I think Blue, Phoenix, Afterlife and a couple of other tactics might have variants in almost all shapes. It's hard to know.
About inverted wingers, @infxamus just posted a new version of his Universal with that role.
What's the difference between them?
https://fm-arena.com/tactic/987-universal/
I didn't check all tactics before posting this. The difference is probably team mentality, player instructions and set pieces, but I didn't download it to compare. If they think it's too similar, it just won't get tested.
Some formations don't just work.
You won't get a 6.0 with this shape.
With 442
With 451
And only scrape it with 4231.
Sadly.
I'll work on that. Gonna try to make some tactics using default shapes and see how it goes.
Rince said: I think you can get close to 6.0 with this formation if you change the FBs to IWBs
Probably it would also improve if DLP - De was moved to defensive midfielder instead of central.
(like this tactic - https://fm-arena.com/thread/1362-yawn-by-egraam/)
In other words, the link sheet was made after many successful tactics done.
Thank you for your good advice, though.
Yeah, the link considers all tactics tested here with score over 6.0.
I will usefully refer to your spreadsheet link when making tactics. Thank you.
Just don't be too zealous about it, since if everyone follows that sheet, there will hardly be many improvements for other stuff that didn't get good results yet.
With the help of brilliant tacticians, I brought the last version of my tactic for RGA.
It did very well with both Leeds and Chelsea. All these are the holiday results!
Leeds qualified for the Champions League, finished 4th in the PL table.
Chelsea won the PL with 101pts, also Carabao cup, and Champions League, achieving treble.
I'd appreciate it if this tactic is tested. thank you.
If you want other hints, I'd tell you to change your FB to either WB or IWB with support duty, since those two roles have better performance in this patch. The maximum score a tactic with FB got was 6.5, while WB and IWB were the only roles to score more than 7.0. For the same reason, you could also change your CD to BPD with defend duty. (P.S.: It doesn't mean FB and CD are bad, just that no tactic got good score with them yet.)
For more info about the best score achieved by roles and positions, you can check this link.
You have a big gap in the flanks because your FB don't go up and your W advance too much. Maybe changing the FB to support would help, as well as retreating the W from AML/R to ML/R, with the same role. That would give some extra balance since RGA isn't always in his position.
It's for any professional teams, since semi-professionals don't train full time. I suppose York is professional, right?
Pre-season is supposed to be used in the first 4 or 5 weeks of the year, while In-season is during the season, starting in the week of the first official match.
Let them whine. If you check the happiness menu, they are still happy despite being unhappy with training. Training is just a very small part of happiness and I prefer to ignore those complains than not develop my players the way I want.
If you play three matches a week, you need to rotate the entire team for the middle match. For example, you can do team A, team B, team A, or play with mixed A, mixed B, mixed A. As long as you rest players from training after the matches, they will handle it.
I played a game in Brazil with Juventude, considered the worst team from the league, and managed to get the crown in the first season with points to spare, despite playing three matches a week. It's completely doable if you focus on team management. (Thanks @Gpassosbh for the update for South American leagues.)
Like @Zippo said above, FM-Arena tries to find the best tactic. However, building a balanced squad, rotating and managing players psycology is still a duty for the manager. You can still have a lower intensity tactic for when matches are already decided or when you need to rest players, since you have three available slots for tactics. However, if you want to skip the managing aspects of the game, then you also need to sacrifice the quality of your tactic.