Water is a high intensity defensive tactic based on Fire, but with wingers and attacking midfielder dropped to a deeper position. For tips and extra information, check the Fire thread.
The tactic scores most goals from inside the box with advanced forwards, and assists come mostly from wide midfielders.
Water 5.0 Version used in my public run. It's the same as 4.2, but with wing backs narrow like the tactic from @opq, and pass directness set to short since it shows better results for goal difference here.
I also set a light version to be used when you want to preserve energy and avoid bookings. It is attached to this message.
Water 4.2 Back to a minimalistic approach, to measure the impact of the removal of Get Stuck In (as suggested by the admins).
Water 4.0 Adapted to play more through the flanks like the top tactics from the table, since dribbling has higher success rate in this match engine, and passing has lower accuracy.
I will add pictures to console players during the next few days.
ChangelogWater 4.1 Set crosses to near post, to increase goal scoring opportunities, and wingback to FB-At, to participate more in attacking movements.
Water 3.6 WBIF IWB -> WB and W -> IF, in the minimalistic approach. My goal is to check if IWB has anti-synergy with two DMs, or with wingers that run wide with the ball. I believe it's the later, but I need to check in different formations to confirm.
CreeZ said: Firstly, thank you for your comment! as I am kind of testing blue 4.0, if I have to rate my squad`s rate out of 100, I can say about 75, and almost all equal teams are defeated by me. Also, I can say better teams like 85+ overalls almost equalized all the games with blue 4.0. On the other hand, Fire 1.0 was unfortunately sad experience for me. I lost almost half of the games, maybe because my squad and player quality were not able to follow up all the tactics and pressing.
The form analysis says always the same things as;
Is there any recommendation for negative form analysis? Thank you! Expand
Those negative analysis can be very deceiving. For example, few touches to shot can just mean the opponent can't pass the ball very well close to your box, so they need to reach the goal with direct passes instead. It's not exactly a negative. The other about 107 entries by the middle is also a bit deceiving, as it's just slightly above 1/3 of the occasions (which can only happen from three directions).
Anyway, the strong of Fire is the attack, not the defense, so it will always have negatives in the defensive department.
CreeZ said: I have just signed-up to the website to reply this post. ZaZ you are a wonderful guy bro with all the tactics, I used your blue 4.0 all fm22 seasons and carriers, although I scored 100+ goals every season with blue 4.0 on FM22, I couldn`t score and win any game with fire 1.0 on FM23. I loaded blue 4.0 from FM22 save as tactics, and my team started score again and now I win most of the games. I play the team in real life also similar to your tactics but a smaller team than premier league teams. I just wanted to let you know. Thank you for your all help to us. Expand
Fire 1.0 is just Blue 4.0 with Drop Off More and Higher Defensive Line. Results shouldn't be much different, but I will test again to see if it is actually better or worse. Keep in mind that the game was released less than 24h ago, so I didn't have time to test much.
@Zippo, do you plan to test the top tactics of last year, or I should post Blue 4.0 for it to be tested?
I can't find FM23 pre-game editor in steam. I click tools, it shows editor from all previous editions, except FM23. Anyone having the same issue? P.S.: Nevermind, it's a bug that is fixed restarting Steam.
Belladonna said: My results using Fire 0.3 so far after training the tactic preseason, I did move SS to MC At as my best midfielders play there and i feel it provides more cover in central midfield, I'm Airbus in Wales second season predicted 6th I do make the odd tactical change during the match if its not going well ie take off roll it out or play out of defence. I'm really enjoying the tactic and the games are pretty crazy, i feel so far in the beta there are quite a few defensive errors and long balls over the top are a bit op so attack is definitely the best form of defense. I have been using Fire 1.0 light recently to shut out games if winning and it still scores goals, so far so good. Thanks Zaz Expand
Tejash said: Which one is the best you feel or good in defence? Expand
I'm not committing to anything yet, I'm just testing to see which is the best one. I want to set two tactics as a focus for FM23, one for attack and one for defense, and find a way to change in between easily.
P.S.: Remember that FM was not even released yet. There are some good tactics for defense that were tested by other people, like this one here.
Falbravv said: Here is some tests with Low FIRE. Not impressed to be honest, however results are good for Europa teams, but i will run the same test with FIRE 1.0 which is for me clearly the best, with Cautious mentality.
Expand
Thank you for testing! In my experiments, it is as good as Fire, but not much change defensively. That's why I moved to other formations for now.
Wingers in MLR position, like the difference between Blue and Blue Legacy. People have been complaining of Blue being leaky since the first day, and that is one of the alternatives to get better defense, for a variation to use during matches.
P.S.: I pick W instead of DW because you can change to Ease Off Tackles, which helps against cards, or for a light variation to save energy.
Petrades said: I can confirm that is also works with small clubs. I just put one AF as a midfielder. Media prediction is 15. Expand
I have been testing a number of different shapes to improve defense, like moving one striker to CM, or moving wingers to MLR position. I'm still testing to see what option is the best, and it will probably only be finished after the end of Beta.
Thnak you!
I suppose you are talking about someone else, because I'm using default skin and views in all those screenshots.
The tactic scores most goals from inside the box with advanced forwards, and assists come mostly from wide midfielders.
Water 5.0
Version used in my public run. It's the same as 4.2, but with wing backs narrow like the tactic from @opq, and pass directness set to short since it shows better results for goal difference here.
I also set a light version to be used when you want to preserve energy and avoid bookings. It is attached to this message.
Water 4.2
Back to a minimalistic approach, to measure the impact of the removal of Get Stuck In (as suggested by the admins).
Water 4.0
Adapted to play more through the flanks like the top tactics from the table, since dribbling has higher success rate in this match engine, and passing has lower accuracy.
I will add pictures to console players during the next few days.
Changelog Water 4.1
Set crosses to near post, to increase goal scoring opportunities, and wingback to FB-At, to participate more in attacking movements.
Water 3.6 WBIF
IWB -> WB and W -> IF, in the minimalistic approach. My goal is to check if IWB has anti-synergy with two DMs, or with wingers that run wide with the ball. I believe it's the later, but I need to check in different formations to confirm.
Water 3.5
Same setup as Fire 2.5.
Water 3.1
Same setup as Fire 2.4.
Water 3.0
Water 1.0
Water 2.0
Leave a comment below if you liked the tactic and make sure to share your results. Enjoy!
Yes, it's actually the one I used in FM22.
The form analysis says always the same things as;
Is there any recommendation for negative form analysis? Thank you!
Those negative analysis can be very deceiving. For example, few touches to shot can just mean the opponent can't pass the ball very well close to your box, so they need to reach the goal with direct passes instead. It's not exactly a negative. The other about 107 entries by the middle is also a bit deceiving, as it's just slightly above 1/3 of the occasions (which can only happen from three directions).
Anyway, the strong of Fire is the attack, not the defense, so it will always have negatives in the defensive department.
I just wanted to let you know. Thank you for your all help to us.
Fire 1.0 is just Blue 4.0 with Drop Off More and Higher Defensive Line. Results shouldn't be much different, but I will test again to see if it is actually better or worse. Keep in mind that the game was released less than 24h ago, so I didn't have time to test much.
@Zippo, do you plan to test the top tactics of last year, or I should post Blue 4.0 for it to be tested?
I just ran a holiday test here and got 170 goals with Manchester City. They still seem to be scoring.
Thank you!
There was no change to the match engine. What you are feeling is just random deviation.
P.S.: Nevermind, it's a bug that is fixed restarting Steam.
the first half of the season
prediction 17 and i am first
Thank you for testing, and good luck in your season!
I do make the odd tactical change during the match if its not going well ie take off roll it out or play out of defence.
I'm really enjoying the tactic and the games are pretty crazy, i feel so far in the beta there are quite a few defensive errors and long balls over the top are a bit op so attack is definitely the best form of defense. I have been using Fire 1.0 light recently to shut out games if winning and it still scores goals, so far so good.
Thanks Zaz
Thank you for testing! Glad it's working for you.
I'm not committing to anything yet, I'm just testing to see which is the best one. I want to set two tactics as a focus for FM23, one for attack and one for defense, and find a way to change in between easily.
P.S.: Remember that FM was not even released yet. There are some good tactics for defense that were tested by other people, like this one here.
They are all different formations.
Not impressed to be honest, however results are good for Europa teams, but i will run the same test with FIRE 1.0 which is for me clearly the best, with Cautious mentality.
Thank you for testing! In my experiments, it is as good as Fire, but not much change defensively. That's why I moved to other formations for now.
Wingers in MLR position, like the difference between Blue and Blue Legacy. People have been complaining of Blue being leaky since the first day, and that is one of the alternatives to get better defense, for a variation to use during matches.
P.S.: I pick W instead of DW because you can change to Ease Off Tackles, which helps against cards, or for a light variation to save energy.
Those are the three formations I'm testing for a more defensive tactic. Feel free if anyone wants to help testing them.
P.S.: I'm also trying some variation with Frost (based on Green), but I didn't manage to get it right yet.
P.S.2: Added Water, the one I'm currently testing right now.
I have been testing a number of different shapes to improve defense, like moving one striker to CM, or moving wingers to MLR position. I'm still testing to see what option is the best, and it will probably only be finished after the end of Beta.
Still testing if it's better or worse.