I dont disagree with your points about points per match being the most important stat @Nikko and @Milakus. This is why it is the main stat I have used in the summary results. However, I think winning the league means you had the best side that year in that league, so I think it is a supplementary indicator.

In terms of the variables and random factors, I think that the extent of the testing would reduce these somewhat. The higher the number of games played the lower the random impacts will be. For example. 1800 games testing should provide a much better picture than say 150 games.

I love FM Arena. The concept is brilliant and value to the FM community is huge. However I have often thought that by using teams with talent at the levels of EPL and Champions leagues, the testing doesnt always assist us lower league players. And I certainly like that there are differing views put forward on the forums.

Having said all that, I did this for fun and dont claim it to be definitive. Take what you want from what I have produced. I play the lowest tier in each save and will certainly be favoring ZaZ Blue 2.0 until the next major update from SI.

An important thing worth noting is that ZaZ Blue 2.0 produced 18 champions from the 40 seasons across all leagues including one for a lowest ranked side. This is without buying any players. Very impressive. Also worth noting that Phoenix wasnt far behind and performed better with some of the lower ranked teams. Viola was a bit behind the other 2 tactics but mainly with underdog teams. Viola was still very competitive though.

Hope this has helped people who play the lower leagues. It certainly will inform my approach going forward.  A special thanks to the people that develop the tactics, @ZaZ @Egraam and @Magician.

I will have more of a look through the results over the next few days and add observations here.

OK, the results are in. Just under 1800 games for each tactic.

Points per match by league using top ranked and lowest ranked sides:



I think ZaZ Blue 2.0 is a clear winner for lower league management.

Points per match by club:



Weymouth are a bit of an anomaly. I feel inclined to take the challenge and try and win something with them on my next save using ZaZ Blue 2.0.

ZaZ Blue 2.0 Summary results and individual test results:



Phoenix v3.0 Summary results and individual test results:



Viola V1 Summary results and individual test results:

@ZaZ All the numbers are average points per game. The top ranked sides and low ranked sides were determined using FM Scout when the game was first saved. So low ranked sides were expected to be relegated and top ranked sides to be promoted. Non League sides are Vanarama leagues. Hope that helps

I have split the tests between 2 groupings - Van South, L2 and Champ/ Van North, Van National and L1. So halfway through it is hard to compare. Phoenix is the only tactic so far to span both groups. So probably unfair to compare them at this stage. Observations to date: ZaZ does look very strong for lower leagues especially those teams that are not favored. 6 of their 10 test groups have had both sides in the top 4 and twice the bottom ranked side has finished in front of the top ranked side. Viola seems to be behind with the lower ranked side always substantially behind in the finish order. Still waiting for test 6 to finish so probably done for tonight.

As it stands:

ZaZ Blue 2.0
Ave Pts 1.982
Top Rk sides 2.172
Low Rk sides 1.792
Non League sides 2.081

Phoenix v3.0
Ave Pts 1.782
Top Rk sides 1.977
Low Rk sides 1.588
Non League sides 1.762

Viola V1
Ave Pts 1.722
Top Rk sides 2.011
Low Rk sides 1.432
Non League sides 1.630

The tactics are Viola V1, ZaZ Blue 2.0 and Phoenix v3.0. No transfers selected, which I think disadvantages the tactics but keeps it even, so I would expect the results to be less than what you could do through recruiting decent players. I took default manager stats. Just running test 5 so test 6 should be finished in around an hour and that will be halfway through. Will post something after that run. Final 6 tests and final results might be a day or two.

Here are the selected teams we are testing:

League    High    Low
Van South    Ebbsfleet    St Albans
Van North    Fylde    Leamington
Van National    Notts Co    Weymouth
League 2    Salford    Leyton Orient
League 1    Charlton    Accrington
Champ    Norwich    Wycombe

I thought I would look to see how the 3 top tactics here go in all the English Leagues below EPL. I have loaded all the English and UK leagues only in a large database and custom added all UK region players. I then saved and looked at the top and worst ranked sides in each league. I am going to test each tactic 4 times at each level and compare the outcomes to try and see which tactic is best for lower ranked sides. I will post results here in the next few days

RESULTS

I like the idea of having a good park the bus tactic @ZaZ. I have just been changing mentality to cautious on ZaZ Blue 2.0. You might want to try it as the benchmark.

@ZaZ I have started with St Albans predicted 16th Vanarama South. Halfway through the season with ZaZ Blue 2.0 and on top with 17-2-1 record. Really havent been able to get players I want for the roles in Zaz Blue. Thinking of changing maybe 3 of the positional roles to better to suit the squad but keeping structure and leaving positional instructions as close as I can. What do you think? And loving your tactics by the way.

I played FM14 where shadow strikers ruled. Then didnt update until FM19. Here I am with FM21 playing shadow strikers again. I am going to experiment with some of the other pre 21.2.0 patch successful tactics with SS and see what happens. Will definitely be using this one though

This is the most downloaded tactic on FM Scout for FM21. I was wondering how it stacks up against the others already tested on FM Arena. If you get a chance it would be great to find out, I have attached the tactic. Thanks