Football Manager, Part I

[Cannon]

Started a new career with Heerenveen in the Dutch League. First season went well. Very streaky, mainly using a 4-1 (dm)-3 (m arrows forward)- 2, I finished 3rd. Got rid of some players with five figure salaries in the off season and signed quite a few top players. Especially non-EU players.

The dutch league rules except for the stupid 2 game ban bug. :mad: I'm probably going over there to get Haarlem promoted after I've conquered the EPL with my recently promoted Wolves.

I've been having great success with a 4-1-3-2 scheme that looks like this:
-----SC----SC-----
^----------^---------^
!----------!---------!
ML------MC------MR
------------------
-------DMC--------
------------------
DL--DC-----DC---DR
-------GK---------

I play it home and away against all but the clubs currently out of my league (Arsenal and ManU; note that I own Chelsea. :cool: I've knocked them out of both cups over the last 2 seasons even while in the Coke league and got 4 points off of them this season). Against the top teams I take a SC away and add another DMC when playing away. That switch has been very good in the cups. The other team get few shots (good because my GK is dodgy at best), my DMCs kill everything in the middle with few problems, and my fast mids counterattack using the SC (who rules the air) as a targetman to hold the ball and lay it off to them. Either the mids burst through a hole for an open shot or they play a 1-2 with the targetman who scores. I don't want to drop the name of my great targetman but will say he is old, was free the first summer window, and I've been amazed at his usefullness despite his age.

Anyway, the tactic shown above works well against all manner of formations. It makes great use of my best players (the mids and 1 targetman) while covering my team's weakness in wide defense and gk. I dominate possession and get numerous chances to score. Plus its looks pretty damn cool since the players combine really well and play beautiful attacking football. You need to modify the width (and weather-related aspects) a bit from game to game but otherwise it is relatively tinker-free. Now to lead the Wolves to Europe and start really giving the top EPL clubs reason to worry about the title race. First, I need to sell to get some funds and free some salary.

General settings: Attacking, short passing, creative, close down a little above the middle except for strikers and DCs, tackling varies by position, targetman enabled, defense line is middle, Corners into the box, long free kicks, and quick throws. You will need to sub for the mids since they are running a lot.

Targetman is typical except he runs with ball more. Other striker is useless but eats up a defender and crosses to the targetman for some nice assists. Mids are all attacking with the center one being a bob-to-box creative, tireless mid. It helps to have at least one mid who can play free role to create problems for the defense. DMC needs stamina, hangs back, and can chip in with some throughballs and longshots. FBs stay back mainly since mine are slow and suck and if they press up I can be countered too easily. The CBs stay home except on set pieces when the dominate the 6yard box.

Tick counterattack if losing possession battle by about 10-15%. Tick playmaker and or specify passing direction to target holes in their defense if you run into problems getting into the final third with possession.

[Cannon]

When I am traveling to a major oponent I usually change my tactic to a defensive attitude. It usually helps to calm the guys down and not let any easy holes open up. I've beaten many a higher ranked foe with this simple change. I'm not talking switching to total, bunkerball, defensive. Just a step in that direction.

I found that I would draw or lose too often with that style. It seems much harder to go from defensive to attacking then the other way especially on the road. I attack against all but the best defenses and even then I play a medium style between attacking and defense. The only thing I adjust for the road is I sometime change the width, tempo, and closing down a bit. I find that I usually score fairly early with this style so I can then sit back a bit more and kill them on the counterattack as they press to get equal at home. I love seeing the "Team X's supporters are leaving" message. :D

[panicfc]

I'm playing a 4-3-1-2 with B1909 and just won promotion, scored 82 goals, gave up 20 and I'm sure you can guess I attack my ass off.

[Bonji]

I've been having great success with a 4-1-3-2 scheme that looks like this:
-----SC----SC-----
^----------^---------^
!----------!---------!
ML------MC------MR
------------------
-------DMC--------
------------------
DL--DC-----DC---DR
-------GK---------

This was a "super-tactic" in CM3. I used to dominate with it. I started a career with Barca in CM3 using this tactic. I played 5 years or so with them, winning everything; La Liga, Spanish Cup, Champions League, etc. I think I had 4 league titles and 6 or 8 cups in those 5 years with Barca. Then I took a job with the Spanish Nats and it didn't work as well in the World Cup or Euro Championship. I can't remember which. I was fired the same day as Real Madrid's manager was so I took that job. I know, ultimate traitor. I managed Real for at least 10 season again winning everything. I had some amazing players. I think I won the league 8 times and Champions League 3 times in a row. That tactic was awesome in CM3. Anyone I brought in flourished in it.

I tried it in WWSM 05 and it didn't work all that well.

[ibreak4coffee]

This was a "super-tactic" in CM3. I used to dominate with it. I started a career with Barca in CM3 using this tactic. I played 5 years or so with them, winning everything; La Liga, Spanish Cup, Champions League, etc. I think I had 4 league titles and 6 or 8 cups in those 5 years with Barca. Then I took a job with the Spanish Nats and it didn't work as well in the World Cup or Euro Championship. I can't remember which. I was fired the same day as Real Madrid's manager was so I took that job. I know, ultimate traitor. I managed Real for at least 10 season again winning everything. I had some amazing players. I think I won the league 8 times and Champions League 3 times in a row. That tactic was awesome in CM3. Anyone I brought in flourished in it.

I tried it in WWSM 05 and it didn't work all that well.

My experience exactly. I was getting caught too many times outnumbered at the back... the computer was skilled at breaking up attacks and turning back down the field with half their team.

Take note that this is currently my formation for Not. Forrest in the Championship English Division. However, I've had great success with it and am currently sitting pretty in 4th with 15 games to go and an easy schedule ahead.

At home I play with flank play emphasized (all SC and MC heading toward the flanks) in attacking mode with tons of creative freedom... I usually win most of my games.

-------SC--------SC-------

----------AMC-------------

-----MC------------MC-----

-----------DMC-------------

---DL-----DC----DC-----DR-

This year for away games I went with this formation, with play emphasized through the middle, normal attacking and creative play not emphasized. I havent won much, but I don't lose much either. I even won one against rival Wolves 6-2.

------------FC---------------

------------AMC--------------

----------MC-----MC----------

DML---------DMC-----------DMR

--------DC----DC----DC---------

[Cannon]

This was a "super-tactic" in CM3. I used to dominate with it.
I tried it in WWSM 05 and it didn't work all that well.

I never played CM3 but given the changes in the match engine since then I'm not sure its particularly relevant to FM. It is certainly not a super tactic just a really good one. I still don't score as much as I'd like given my number of attacks and possession but I think that is more because of my limited talent at the SC position than a problem with the overall tactic.

My experience exactly. I was getting caught too many times outnumbered at the back... the computer was skilled at breaking up attacks and turning back down the field with half their team.

I keep my DCs back a bit, the FBs play deeper than a traditional 442 since I don't need them to assist in the attack and with hard tackling they usually kill wingers attacks before they get close enough to do any damage, the DMC plus my tireless MC/AMC cut off the middle of the park and usually provide me with a 2 on 1 situation against the other team's player on the ball, and my GK is a physical freak (amazing pace and acceleration combined with high anticipation and reflexes) so he can quickly fly out to stop long ball tactics. I've had great success with the GK since I started playing him with higher tackling closing down and with tight marking ticked. I had by far the best defense in the Coke league (somewhere around 8 to 10GA) and still am in the top few in the EPL so I can't say I've had any problem with it from a defensive point of view. Most teams have little possession against me so my defense is rarely under pressure. The tactic completely dominates teams with lower passing and possession capabilities so that they often get less than 5 attacks a game against me. I still have a problem against super fast skilled SC like Henry but who doesn't? Its not like I have world class defenders so I'm not sure any tactical changes will significantly improve the defense against players of that level.

[Cannon]

This year for away games I went with this formation, with play emphasized through the middle, normal attacking and creative play not emphasized. I havent won much, but I don't lose much either. I even won one against rival Wolves 6-2.

------------FC---------------

------------AMC--------------

----------MC-----MC----------

DML---------DMC-----------DMR

--------DC----DC----DC---------

I tried this but found I had trouble against strong DC pairings since the could shut down the FC and not enough players would get forward to create attacking options. It simply didn't result in enough goals for me. Do you play with any arrows forward? I tried that with the Wingbacks but then found that the other team was constantly getting into the space they left behind them and causing me problems. However my WBs are not that fast so that might have been the issue.

[ibreak4coffee]

I tried this but found I had trouble against strong DC pairings since the could shut down the FC and not enough players would get forward to create attacking options. It simply didn't result in enough goals for me. Do you play with any arrows forward? I tried that with the Wingbacks but then found that the other team was constantly getting into the space they left behind them and causing me problems. However my WBs are not that fast so that might have been the issue.

I have both MC's making diagonal runs to the flanks. This seems to work OK for me as I have four wingers with crossing and dribbling abilities between 15-19. You're right, however, that this formation results in a lot more 1-0 and 2-1 games than other formations.

[FC Carolina]

Take note that this is currently my formation for Not. Forrest in the Championship English Division. However, I've had great success with it and am currently sitting pretty in 4th with 15 games to go and an easy schedule ahead.

At home I play with flank play emphasized (all SC and MC heading toward the flanks) in attacking mode with tons of creative freedom... I usually win most of my games.

-------SC--------SC-------

----------AMC-------------

-----MC------------MC-----

-----------DMC-------------

---DL-----DC----DC-----DR-

I use this as my preferred formation for pretty much every team I play. I'm currently managing Tranmere in League 1 and I'm doing great...34 points from my first 13 league matches. I'm concentrating on the league at the expense of the cups, but my supporters don't seem to be minding much.

[subbuteo]

I frequently yell at my players, and I celebrate when we score important goals. My wife thinks I'm crazy. I assured her I was.

Since I started my last game some time last week I have played over 48 hours. That's more than I've slept.

I'll pump my fists when a vital goal is scored and I'll give a "bad call" on those phantom offside calls. I usually get some time in during "work" :D

[subbuteo]

WarrenAbao, I play MLS, too. I'm managing DC United. I applied for some jobs in lower-England and got a couple offers, but turned them down because I wanted a little more kitty to work with if I was going to take over a team staving off relegation. Now I'm applying for everything in sight but no one will bite. My plan is to 'leave' DC United but then generate a new manager to re-take the reins at United---I assembled a pretty nice group of players and want to see them win a couple more titles (have won two on the trot) and I feel like I'm vested now in some of the young prospects I've got.

Anyway, one thing I thought was funny was that the Crystal Palace manager left CP to manage Colorado. He had CP in second in the Championship and left them for MLS! Pretty funny.

~~~
the other team I'm managing in my game is Chelsea. They are going bonkers for the second straight season and look a sure bet to win the league title again. Riquelme has been a nice addition this season, with Ronaldinho, Kompany and Chivu set to join in the summer. Lampard is on his way out, but I'm sure I'll find $ome way to get by :D

but now I'm ready for a "challenge" and to take over a team that needs to get promoted

[ibreak4coffee]

Just lost in the English Championship playoff for the second year in a row, on penalities to boot... I just cant seem to make it over the hump.

Miraculously however, a new board got installed, and gave me 8 million euros to spend!!!!!

[TheImposter]

After most of 3 seasons with Bocholt in the Belgian 3rd division I took the reins at Bradford City -- 22nd in League 1 with something like 9 games to go. I took over on a match day, lost 1-0 to another struggler, then didn't lose another league game (just the LDV Vans Trophy final) and we finished 16th. We've got big time money problems, though. Only 260K to spend for the next season, and have to dump salary. I've got a 36 year-old defender with a year left on his contract who makes twice what anybody on the team makes, all my coaches agree that he's no longer a worthy member of the team, but no one wants him (even when I offer him for free), and he doesn't want to be forced out. I put him on the reserves, hoping he'd get the message and retire, but for 7,200 USD a week I'd probably sit with the reserves too. I'm expected to be safe mid-table this year, and I think I can do it. We'll see.

[Bonji]

I am in withdrawl because my computer went down last weekend and I haven't been able to play WWSM since. I was worried the HD had blown and I'd lose my great so far game with Barca, but it turns out it was the processor. A new one is on the way so I should be up and running next week with a faster processor and 512 more MB of RAM. I'll be up to 1 GB there so the game should perform better. I can't wait!

[subbuteo]

Just lost in the English Championship playoff for the second year in a row, on penalities to boot... I just cant seem to make it over the hump.

Miraculously however, a new board got installed, and gave me 8 million euros to spend!!!!!

nice!

[Bluto11]

my new computer will be up and running WWSM on April 10th. I can't wait that long!!! I'm four games into my seaons with UCD in the Irish First Division and things ain't going so well. I've been picked to win and so far have one win, two draws, and a loss. both draws were the result of late goals and the loss was to the bottom team at home.

[Bonji]

I got my computer back up and running last night. New processor: AMD Athlon XP 2800 Barton. This is an upgrade from an AMD Athlon XP+ 2400. The biggest difference is the BUS speed changed from 266 to 333. The Barton has some more cache memory as well. I also added another 512 MB of RAM to total 1GB. Things load much more quickly. I need to defrag the hard drive and things like that to get the thing running at peak performance. I'm happy so far.

All that to say that I didn't have a chance to play WWSM last night with the upgraded system. I expect the database to load more quickly and hopefully time in between games will go down. Can't wait to try it out!

[ibreak4coffee]

This is ridiculous. After losing on penalities last year for promotion to the premiership, I have already clinched first place in the Championship with 15 games to go. I have a +56 rating on goals scored, and at one point won 12 straight games!!!! This is giving me a real chance to test out some younger players and see who to drop or play more next year.

What I need help with is retaining players. All my star strikers and defenders want to leave all of a sudden, and they all have minimum release clauses. I had a young Jerome Aliadiere develop into an 5 million euro player, but had to accept an offer for 1.3 million euros becuase of the release clause. When I negotiate new contracts, everyone wont accept unless I keep a clause in there.

Anyone able to help with this? Granted it makes the game more challenging, but at the same time I've built a team I really like and I dont want to lose everyone.

[TheImposter]

Well, I got Bradford City into the Championship. Had only 260K to spend, but sold several players to bigger clubs, made some cheap buys, and got some loaners that proved the core of my team. Expected to achieve a safe midtable position, I ran away with League One, ended up with a goal diff of +50. Signed a couple of my loaners when their contracts ran out after the season, have only made one minor buy so far. In my first 3 games in the Championship I had a win, a draw and a close loss. My last 2 I've gotten hammered, though. Interestingly the odds on my gaining promotion are 40-1 -- exactly the same as they were last year in League One. We'll see how it goes.

[csc7]

I've been with Ajax for 4 years now and need to replinish my youth team. How do you find 15-16 year old players? I've had my scouts looking for them in Holland and Belgium, but they are coming up empty...so how do you rebuild the youth system?