MOTFA Episode Three - "Tactically Wizardry........"

Safehands · Cult Status

MOTFA Episode Three - "Tactically Wizardry........"

messiah · Cult Status

Thanks to simon for the invitation to be the guest on this topic. Last episode I was speaking about having a plan and I try to pick how I want my team to play as a part of my plan. Napoli played the same tactics every week because they were built that way. I changed all the main players after I took over and it helped me make them very good at the way I wanted them to play. I was very attacking in a league where most of the teams cancel each other out. Not many of them could score more than a goal a game so my idea was if I score two a game I was not likely to lose.

Now I have joined watford and I picked a new way I wanted them to play. I did not think the way napoli played would work in england because I see all the leagues having different strengths. In england I think teams need to be more adaptable and I have two tactics I normally use for watford that are working now. I have tried others but the same players have less effect playing other ways.

I let my formation be more flexible. I have a favourite formation but I will pick it last after I have looked at the opponents team and manager and after I have decided what tactics I will be using. I think if your formation is right it can improve the effect of your tactics so I pick them this way. It works for me but if it stops working I will have to change that approach.

I do look at my opponents because if you can guess who they will playit can help you guess what tactics they may use and then I look at ways to defend their strength or attack their weakness. I like to attack their weakness more but some teams I try to cancel their strength first and then look at what I have left to attack them with. I pick my team to attack more than defend because I think it is better to lose 4 - 3 than 1 - 0.

I like to get to know managers personality. That helps me guess how they will play. I think every one will see my participation in the media before some games and that is because I am bored at work or I am trying to work out the other manager. I think the way I work my team is quite successful but it might look different from the out side. It would be interesting to know if managers pick in a very different way to me.

Steve · Cult Status

I think one of the key issues is to have a balanced team. Too many managers chuck in odd players out of position e.g. 2 x RB and no LB or play unusual formations. It's worth looking to sell unnecessary players to bring in cover for all positions in the team even if your cover players are much weaker.

I also think that pressing the opposition is important and you can best do this if you look to get a good match of players. Having one winger who is much better than the other doesn't achieve this - you need to put pressure on over bigger areas and stretch the oppositions resources. Managers need to look at the links in their team. Good striker not scoring goals? Is it because your midfield is weak or has mainly defensive stats so the service to your forwards is poor?

Either make the best of the squad you have and play a way that suits what you have. Or decide how you want to play and bring in the players that will allow you to play that way.

Steve
Juventus

-- Edited by Steve at 23:06, 2008-07-16

Sinky2707 · Cult Status

Hi everyone,

i usually go for attacking option as i think its best in the lower league to push on i usually set up with a 4-2-4 or 4-3-3 and i agree with Jamie that i'd rather lose 4-3 than 1-0 and my attacking formationt seemed to work with Cagliari

At Ascoli i hope to sign 2 players in every department which i a hard ask so i am therefore able to use a wide range of formations in games to suit my team best or to combat other teams formations and tactics

This however i think will effect my team at the beginning of the season because i am making so many changes to my team so that i can use a wide range of tactics and formations that can give me advantage i feel over other teams but this season my main aim is to just dvelop my youngsters and build a team that is capable of winning serie b and pulling my own weight in serie a so this season my aims are to try different formations/players see what works best for the team in the long run as i'm not just planning for this season but the next one after that and hopefully my team will still be good enough to reach the play-off with the talent i have in the team

tactics and formations have big affects on transfers and on people i choose to loan out because i want two players for every position its hard to be willing to let anyone out on loan except strikers and cm's

the tactic i use is be sed upon certain indiiduals in the team i have experimented a lot with tactics in my team andhave found a couple are much more effective than others but also the tactic has to work with the formation i mean you can use the tactic wing back without wingbacks can u and itd be pretty stupid being defensive and using the attacking formation like the 4-2-4

i think using a set formation and tactic is good for a team as they get used to this tactic and formation and feel comforable and this should get the best out of the players but the problem is it can become a tad predictable to other teams and they can try and expolit to their advantage so i try to mix both my tactics and formations if i can because of the way i go about my transfer dealings and it makes it harder for other manager to workout my game plan and this is why i don't tend to talk to the media about my team until after games as i don't to give anything away that could give my managers a chance to work my team's game plan

Thanks Jonny

Luke_C · Cult Status

I always like to play with balance although unlike others I have decided against getting two players for every positions.

I made the choice at the start of the season to not have back up in any of the wide positions (LB, RB, LM, RM) and instead bring in an extra CB and CM.
My LB, RB, LM and RM are all of a good age, talent and decent quality and should all play in the majority of games if needed so even if I brought in very average back up for 2.5m a player I would still be spending 10m on four players who will make very little impact over the season and in any game.
Instead I chose to bring in an extra CB and CM of better quality and who can make more of an impact over a season.
When/If any of the wide players did get injured it still gave me the option of playing three CB's or three CM's. I believe this gives me more options even with few players as I have full confidence in all squad members (Carl Cort aside) to deliver in any game I need them.

I also think its important to rotate enough to make sure players don't get injured. I think I only had one "out" last season and that was a suspension for Eboue.

As for tactics I have three preferred formation depending on who I am playing, who they have "out" and then make a decision but im always happy to try a new formation if I think it is going to work.

Luke
Man City