ZaZ
Here is the link for the spreadsheet. I will populate it with tactics that I feel are worth uploading, instead of the tests I do for smaller changes (tested around 100 variations so far).

P.S.: Updated the link to give view permissions.
sponsorkindest said: Hi @ZaZ : All 3 tactics are super solid, is it possible to publish an excel file showing the scores of your test runs.

Sure, I will organize a spreadsheet here with the best iterations of my tactics, and add other good tactics for reference.
Just the standard aggressive 4132, based on Blue, which was my tactic of choice for FM22. Team instructions are simply Tackle Harder for all positions. Let me know how it performs for you.




Just the standard balanced 424, based on Sapphire, which was my tactic of choice for FM24. Team instructions are simply Tackle Harder for all positions, and Make More Runs for the four frontliners. Let me know how it performs for you.




Pictures added to Summer. I should probably upload it to the tactics area, even though tests did not start, just so people can find them more easily.
max 737 said: Thank you @ZaZ so for plug and play which tactic do you recommend as I wanna run a test?

Winter 0.1 is more solid, so it has less variance. Summer 0.1 will give you more big wins, but also some losses that wouldn't happen with Winter 0.1. Personally I prefer Winter 0.1, but it is more about what you prefer to see in play.

I will add some screenshots for Summer 0.1 later today as well.
I will keep this version of Summer here. It scores less than Summer 0.2, but it is more balanced and has a better win rate (point per match) than Summer 2. The difference of this to the other is that in this version the frontline is set to track back in OOP. (Number is 0.1 because it was tested before 0.2. I did 0.01 - 0.10, then the best tactic of that group was called 0.1. Then 0.11-0.20, and the best was called 0.2.)

For anyone interest in how I decide which tactic is best, my tests are based on 8 league runs with different teams, then I rank the results and discard the best and worse, using the sum of middle 6 ranks as my score.





ZaZ - Summer 0.1.fmf
Downloaded : 57 times
Uploaded : Nov 7, 2025
max 737 said: @ZaZ  thank you Zaz but what’s the difference between the winter and summer tactic also which one is better?

Winter:
- Defense oriented, good when you want to play safe.
- Concedes up to 50% less goals than Summer (depends on the team).
- Two DMs needed.
- Slightly higher point per match (win rate) than Summer.

Summer:
- Attack oriented, good for matches where you want to see lots of goals.
- Scores up to 50% more goals than Winter (depends on the team).
- One DM and one AM needed.
Skillz92 said: has the update affected this tactic at all? also any news on the home tactic your working on? find your tactics always work very well and thank you!

I didn't notice much difference compared to beta. About the more attacking tactic, it is not there yet, but I can post the current iteration below. It has a much better goal scoring ability, but I still want to get the win rate a bit closer to Winter tactic.
ZaZ - Summer 0.2.fmf
Downloaded : 74 times
Uploaded : Nov 6, 2025
Skillz92 said: Hi do you have any advice for away games or against a bigger team?

This tactic is generally good for away matches or bigger teams. If anything, I would use a more attacking tactic for home matches or against smaller teams, just to see more goals happening. I am working in one right now, but I am not entirely satisfied yet.
max 737 said: Dear @ZaZ Do you use any OI's or dugout shouts or any set pieces? Many thanks! I am testing your tactic..

Hi, Max! I will work on some efficient set pieces later, but there are some very good ones being shared around.
Added pictures to the post. https://fm-arena.com/find-comment/44536/
max 737 said: Dear Zaz I'm your big fan since many years because of your work. Highly appreciate you serving the FM community.
Regarding this tactic can you post the results etc


Sure, I will post it later today.
Here a simple 424 that has been working well for me. Below are some results in holiday mode, just starting a new game and setting the tactic (no team selection, set pieces, or anything else).





ZaZ - Winter 0.1.fmf
Downloaded : 212 times
Uploaded : Nov 5, 2025
FaltaM said: In theory, we can combine the most effective out-of-possession (OOP) shape in FM24—like 4-4-2 or 4-2-4—with the most goal-productive in-possession (IP) shape, such as a 1-4-2-3 or a more conservative setup like 2-2-5-1. These shapes often rely on two defensive midfielders (DMs), similar to the 4-2-3-1 gegenpress meta that's widely used in FM24

Unfortunately, it is not that simple. The position of players when you recover the ball have great influence on how counter-attacks develop, so the OOP is very important for attacking, not only for defense. The same can be said about IP for defense, on how you are positioned against counter-attacks. The game is still in beta, we will see lots of fun tactics when tests start.
I have tried tactics with one DM, but they work the same as FM24. Not completely bad, but apparently two DMs still work better. There is still a long way to test combinations of IP and OOP, though.
I am so frustrated with this new version. The UI is terrible, and it takes 10x more clicks to reach the same things, when you can find them. Then when you find it, you click out of the intended area and it goes to a completely random place. They tried to make the tactics screen look intuitive, but it is a complete mess, and I still don't know how to see player and team instructions easily, without having to click each of the players. It is really hard to enjoy the game when the only improvement seems to be the in and out possession feature, and everything else seems like a downgrade.
The UI seems better organized, but looks much worse than before. I also had the game crashing three or four times already, and I cannot go in vacations with more than one manager. I know they changed to Unity Engine, but it seems like those two years were not enough to make a polished product.
Germaniac said: Player traits and opposition instructions.

Sure, I will add that.
johnconnerson said: This is more of a website suggestion, but on the tactics table I'd love to also search by Player Role not just by Position.

Well, I don't work at FM-Arena.