Football Manager 2011 Handbook

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Football Manager 2011 Handbook
www.footballmanagerstory.com
2011 Darren Smith & Johnny Karp
Index
1. Introd ction !page "# 2. $hapter 1 % &he 'irst 2( )o rs !page (#

back room staff scouting essential player attributes contracts formations team instructions player roles set pieces match preparation pre-match meeting researching the opponent squad selection opposition instructions team talks substitutions and tactical changes touchline shouts
". $hapter 2 % * ilding &he ' t re !page +#
(. $hapter " % ,iecing &he , --le &ogether !page 1.#
.. $hapter ( % ,re/match * ild 0p !page ""#
1. $hapter . % 2inning &he 3ame !page (1#
+. 4ppendi5 / sef l reso rces !page (6#
Introduction
&his is not yo r s al 'ootball 7anager g ide beca se we are not yo r s al 8'7 g r s9. 2e are Darren Smith and Johnny Karp: 'ootball 7anager addicts ; st li<e yo . 2e=>e been reading se>eral g ides and we <now that yo ha>e been doing that too b t we felt that o r comm nity needed something different: a g ide that wo ld be simple: honest and straightforward. 7ost people thin< that we are good at this game: some e>en say that we might e>en be the best. &hat might be tr e or not b t the res lts that we ha>e achie>ed co ld entitle s to claim that we=re pretty good at 'ootball 7anager. 2hat ma<es this g ide different is that we are not telling yo what to do beca se we=re not g r s: remember? 2e are ; st going to tell yo what we do: how we approach certain aspects of the game and we=ll ma<e that in a clear and simple way. 7any readers ha>e as<ed s this @ estion time and again after congrat lating s for some nice res lts in the gameA 8)ow do yo do it?9. &he answer is in the following pages: we hope that yo will en;oy reading this g ide and that o r e5perience will help yo win trophies and con@ er the world in 'ootball 7anager 2011.
Begards: Darren Smith and ohnny !arp
Chapter 1 - The First 24 Hours

4nalyse: compare: sac<: hire
So: yo too< o>er a cl b: the ;ob is yo rs and the f t re is in yo r hands. 2hat we want yo to do is ta<e a deep breath: ha>e a c p of tea and don=t hit 8contin e9 ntil we say soC &he initial 2( ho rs at the new cl b are e5tremely important for the f t re so don=t waste any time: ma<e s re that yo lay the fo ndations correctly right from the start.
The Assistant Manager &he >ery first thing that yo need to do is chec< yo r assistant manager: see who he is and what he can do. )e will be yo r right hand and if he isn=t good eno gh yo r tas< of analysing the c rrent s@ ad might t rn into a real nightmare. )ere are the most important attrib tes for an assistant managerA 7an 7anagement &actical Knowledge J dging ,layer 4bility J dging ,layer ,otential 7oti>ating !if yo want yo r assistant to handle team tal<s#
J dging player ability and potential are e5tremely important d ring the early stages so pay special attention to those. If yo thin< yo can find a better assistant yo can go to staff search and filter the potential candidates by those attrib tes. Do can also set yo r assistant manager to filter o t nrealistic targets: he won=t <now that yo =re loo<ing to sac< him and replace him with another person E#
The Players Fow that yo are s re of ha>ing the best assistant yo can afford yo can as< for his ad>ice to see which players sho ld remain at the cl b and which ones can pac< their bags. Start with yo r first team s@ ad: switch to 8assistant reports9 >iew and ; st co nt the stars. 4ny players with ; st one star nder 8potential ability9 m st go immediatelyC )ere are the steps that yo ha>e to ta<eA Gffer them to cl bs for the defa lt fee and ma<e s re that yo chec< the 8transfer list and set player to not needed9 option. If there are no interested cl bs try offering them again: this time for free. If nobody wants them for free then yo ha>e no other choice than to release them on free transfers. Do will ha>e to pay compensation b t that=s ; st a minor loss compared to the ad>antage that yo gain by clearing p some of the wage b dget. Gnce yo ha>e gotten rid of the dead weight in the first team s@ ad ; st do the same thing with any other s@ ads that yo might ha>e: li<e reser>es or yo th. $hec< yo r s@ ad again and ma<e s re that yo ha>e no more than two players for each role. If yo ha>e more: sell or loan the wea<er ones !if a yo ngster has aro nd " stars potential ability he might be worth sending on loan to help his de>elopment#. Do r wage b dget sho ld be a lot friendlier at this point so yo can proceed to the ne5t step. The Sta Do ha>e a good assistant manager and yo also got rid of the dead weight in the s@ ad: now it=s time to add @ ality to yo r non/playing staff. )ere are the attrib tes that yo sho ld <eep in mind when loo<ing for new sco ts: physios and coachesA Fitness Coach Strength % !'itness: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# 4erobic % !'itness: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating#
!oal"eeping Coach 3K Shot Stopping % !3oal<eeping: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# 3K )andling % !3oal<eeping: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# Coach &actics % !&actical: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# *all $ontrol % !7ental: &echnical: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# Defending % !Defending: &actical: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# 4ttac<ing % !4ttac<ing: &actical: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# Shooting % !4ttac<ing: &echnical: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# Physio % !,hysiotherapy: Determination: Discipline: 7oti>ating# Scout % !J dging ,layer 4bility: J dging ,layer ,otential# &he minim m n mber of coaches that yo sho ld ha>e is nine: one for each category. 2hat yo sho ld do is assign each coach to do what he <nows bestA go to training % coaches and set the assignments for each of yo r coaches. !see screen shot belo"#
If yo feel that yo need more staff don=t be shy: go to the boardroom and as< those gentlemen to allow hiring more people. 7ost times they agree so it=s worth a try.
Chapter 2 - #uilding The Future

Sco ting So: yo sent the wea< players pac<ing and yo ha>e bro ght in some good new staff to help yo at the cl b. &he ne5t thing yo ha>e to do is bring in new and better players and that=s where yo will need yo r assistant manager and yo r sco ts. 'irst of all yo ha>e to set assignments for yo r sco ts and the most ob>io s places yo can send them to are as followsA the nation yo are in the leag e ; st below yo : yo r c rrent leag e: the leag es abo>e yo reser>es and yo th competitions So th 4merica international yo th competitions !0nder 21: 0nder 16 etc.# if yo manage an H ropean cl b yo can try sending the sco ts to the Hastern H ropean H.0. member states !Bomania: * lgaria: $-ech Bep blic: ) ngary: Slo>a<ia: Slo>enia: ,oland#. &hose co ntries ha>e good cheap players and: being H.0. nationals: they don=t re@ ire wor< permits. If yo didn=t find good players to co>er a role in yo r team yo can also try to as< yo r assistant manager to compile loan a>ailability reports for a specific position. 0s ally most assistants can come p with a few recommendations of players that are a>ailable on loan and willing to ;oin yo r team for a while.
&he last method for finding good players is to loo< for them yo rself sing filters. &he ideal sit ation re@ ires yo to decide which tactic yo want to se $e ore del>ing into the transfer mar<et for new players: that wo ld allow yo to spend less and get e5actly the players that yo need for yo r tactical approach. )ere is a list of the most important attrib tes for each position and roleA !oal"eeper $omm nication: )andling: Befle5es: $oncentration: ,ositioning: 4gility: J mping S%eeper &eeper $omm nication: )andling: Befle5es: B shing G t: 4nticipation: *ra>ery: $oncentration: Decisions: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: 4gility: J mping S%eeper ' (e end )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $oncentration: Decisions: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: *alance: J mping )i$ero ' Support Dribbling: )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $oncentration: $reati>ity: Decisions: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 4cceleration: *alance: J mping )i$ero ' Attac" Dribbling: )eading: Iong Shots: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $oncentration: $reati>ity: Decisions: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 4cceleration: *alance: J mping Central (e ender ' (e end )eading: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: $ompos re: $oncentration: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength Central (e ender ' Stopper )eading: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4ggression: *ra>ery: $ompos re: $oncentration: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength
Central (e ender ' Co*er )eading: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $oncentration: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: J mping: Strength )i+ited (e ender ' (e end 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength )i+ited (e ender ' Stopper 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4ggression: *ra>ery: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength )i+ited (e ender ' Co*er 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: Determination: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: J mping: Strength #all-Playing (e ender ' (e end )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: $ompos re: $oncentration: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength #all-Playing (e ender ' Stopper )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: 4ggression: *ra>ery: $ompos re: $oncentration: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: J mping: Strength #all-Playing (e ender ' Co*er )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $oncentration: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: J mping: Strength Full$ac" ' (e end 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $oncentration: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina Full$ac" ' Support $rossing: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $oncentration: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina
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Full$ac" ' Auto+atic,Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $oncentration: Gff &he *all: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina -ing$ac" ' (e end 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: Decisions: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina -ing$ac" ' Support $rossing: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: Decisions: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina -ing$ac" ' Auto+atic,Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: Decisions: Gff &he *all: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration: Stamina Anchor Man ' (e end )eading: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $oncentration: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: 2or< Bate: Strength (eep-)ying Play+a"er ' (e end 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: $ompos re: $reati>ity: Decisions: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: Strength (eep-)ying Play+a"er ' Support 'irst &o ch: ,assing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: $ompos re: $reati>ity: Decisions: Gff &he *all: ,ositioning: &eam 2or< Central Mid ielder ' (e end 'irst &o ch: )eading: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: Decisions: Determination: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate Central Mid ielder ' Support 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: Gff &he *all: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate Central Mid ielder ' Attac" Dribbling: 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: ,assing: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate
www.footballmanagerstory.com 2011 Darren Smith & Johnny Karp
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#all--inning Mid ielder ' (e end 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4ggression: *ra>ery: Determination: ,ositioning: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina: Strength #all--inning Mid ielder ' Support 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: 4ggression: *ra>ery: Determination: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina: Strength #ox-to-#ox Mid ielder ' Support Dribbling: 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: )eading: Iong Shots: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: *ra>ery: Decisions: Determination: Gff &he *all: ,ositioning: 4cceleration: Stamina: Strength Ad*anced Play+a"er ' Support 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: ,assing: &echni@ e: $reati>ity: Decisions: 'lair: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina Ad*anced Play+a"er ' Attac" Dribbling: 'irst &o ch: ,assing: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: $reati>ity: Decisions: 'lair: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or< Attac"ing Mid ielder ' Support 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: ,assing: &echni@ e: $reati>ity: Decisions: 'lair: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: *alance Attac"ing Mid ielder ' Attac" Dribbling: 'irst &o ch: ,assing: &echni@ e: $reati>ity: Decisions: 'lair: Gff &he *all: 2or< Bate: 4cceleration Tre.uartista ' Attac" 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: ,assing: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $reati>ity: 'lair: Gff &he *all: 4gility -ide Mid ielder ' (e end,Auto+atic,Support,Attac" $rossing: ,assing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: Decisions: Determination: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina
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-inger ' Support,Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: &echni@ e: Decisions: 'lair: Gff &he *all: 4cceleration: 4gility: *alance: ,ace (e ensi*e -inger ' Support,Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: &echni@ e: Decisions: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina: ,ace Inside For%ard ' Support Dribbling: Iong Shots: ,assing: &echni@ e: Decisions: 'lair: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 4cceleration: ,ace Inside For%ard ' Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: 'inishing: ,assing: Decisions: 'lair: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 4cceleration: ,ace (eep-)ying For%ard ' Support Dribbling: 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: ,assing: &echni@ e: $reati>ity: Decisions: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: Strength (eep-)ying For%ard ' Attac" 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: ,assing: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $reati>ity: Decisions: Gff &he *all: *alance Ad*anced For%ard ' Attac" $rossing: Dribbling: 'inishing: )eading: 4nticipation: $ompos re: 'lair: Gff &he *all: 2or< Bate: ,ace Target Man ' Support 'irst &o ch: )eading: Iong Shots: 4ggression: *ra>ery: Determination: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: J mping: Strength Target Man ' Attac" 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: )eading: 4nticipation: *ra>ery: Determination: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: J mping: Strength Poacher ' Attac" Dribbling: 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: 4nticipation: $ompos re: Gff &he *all: 4cceleration: 4gility: *alance: ,ace
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Co+plete For%ard ' Support,Attac" Dribbling: 'inishing: 'irst &o ch: )eading: Iong Shots: ,assing: &echni@ e: 4nticipation: $ompos re: $reati>ity: Decisions: Determination: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 4cceleration: 4gility: *alance: J mping: ,ace: Strength (e ensi*e For%ard ' Support 'irst &o ch: Iong Shots: 7ar<ing: ,assing: &ac<ling: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: ,ace: Stamina: Strength (e ensi*e For%ard ' Attac" 'inishing: 7ar<ing: &ac<ling: 4nticipation: $ompos re: Gff &he *all: &eam 2or<: 2or< Bate: Stamina: Strength
$ompare
&he best way to decide whether to sign a new player or not is to compare him with yo r c rrent players. &he assistant manager and sco t reports will help yo with that b t it ne>er h rts to ha>e a loo< yo rself.
2hen it comes to a player=s potential s ally the n mber of stars nder potential ability in the sco t reports are a good indicator b t yo can also consider a player=s personality. 4n ambitio s yo ngster is more li<ely to s cceed than an nambitio s player or one with low self belief.
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$alc late
2hen offering contracts to new players we wo ld ad>ise yo to ha>e a noteboo< ready and <eep trac< of yo r wage spending. Don=t sign too many players on high wages beca se yo r payroll b dget might go thro gh the roof and that can get yo in all sorts of tro ble. Spend wisely and don=t ; st sign players nder the effect of the 8transfer mar<et adrenaline r sh9. &a<e yo r time: analyse: compare: calc late and then do the spending only when yo are s re that the new signing adds something to the team while <eeping yo r wage b dget nder control.
Ioo< at the f t re
H5perienced players are always good to ha>e b t a s ccessf l cl b has to in>est in the f t re and that means bringing in talented yo ngsters that will grow along with the cl b. &his approach is beneficial from the financial point of >iew as well beca se it allows yo to spend less for players that yo can sell for a m ch bigger fee in a season or two. 4nd it=s also worth mentioning that a yo ngster will s ally re@ ire a m ch lower wage than an established footballer. Gnce yo sign a promising yo ngster yo ha>e to remember that he will need as m ch first team football as possible in order to de>elop so yo will either ha>e to loan him o t to another cl b or <eep him in yo r s@ ad and send him in as often as possible. H5perience can only be gained thro gh playing: yo m st not forget thatC
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Chapter / - Piecing the Pu00le Together

Step 1 / Selecting yo r formations
&his chapter is eno gh to ma<e e>en Jose 7o rinho po t. &actics: formations and set pieces are a <ey ingredient to s ccessE some may say the most important. In this chapter IJll start by sharing my recommended formations: and then weJll loo< at some more general tips and try to teach yo the basis to ma<e yo r own nstoppable tactic. Ho% +any or+ations should you ha*e1 Simple @ estion: followed by a simple answer. Do sho ld ha>e a minim m of two pre/set formations. *oth sho ld be >ery different and adaptable in order to wor< against >ario s opposition. I personally se a (/./1 and (/(/2. &hese seem to wor< in many different co ntries and if sed in the correct manor against >arying types of opposition. *elow is the tho ght process yo sho ld se before selecting yo r formation. 4re yo pic<ing a formation based on the c rrent s@ ad: or pic<ing the s@ ad based on a formation? H.g. my (/./1 re@ ires fast wingers and a reasonably @ ic< bac< fo r. &herefore I co ld either sign players to s it this formation: or try a different formation that s its my c rrent s@ ad. )ow good is yo r s@ ad? If yo Jre in the lower leag es: <eep the formation simple and strict. Iower leag e players may ha>e a poor nderstanding of tactics. &herefore: a more complicated formation will res lt in a disorganised performance. Gn the other hand: yo may want to spice things p a bit while managing in the top flight.
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7y (/(/2 and (/./1 formations are >ery >ersatile: so weJll base most of this chapter on them. &he main reason I created them: is beca se both can be adapted to different styles: and also at different le>els of football. My %orld $eating 4-2-1 4-2-1 % &his formation has seen me lift the treble with Fewcastle: win leag e and c p do bles in Italy: Spain: 3ermany and Hngland. In fact: IJ>e also done the clean sweep with 4rgentina which incl ded the 2orld $ p. &his (/./1 is my main formation and tends to be sed nless my assistant recommends a different tactic against specific opposition. ,robably aro nd K.L of my matches feat re a (/./1. I ha>e tried p shing the central midfielder forward into an 47$ role and also bac< into a D7$ role: b t always re>ert bac< to the flat three: as this seems to be the most consistent. , shing both wide men forward into 47 positions is >ital. &his really helps o t the lone stri<er and I find one of the wingers tends to assist a lot: while the other scores a lot. )a>ing three men in the middle means domination in one of the most important parts of the pitch. If yo get the roles spot on: these three can r n a game. (on3t orget your $ac"up or+ation4 &here are so many different formations and I personally s ggest trying to ma<e yo r own. It ta<es time and a lot of effort: b t when yo land on the perfect combination the rewards can be great. ,l s: if yo create yo r own formation yo Jll nderstand it far better than someone elseJs. Hither way: when yo J>e selected yo r main formation: start thin<ing abo t a bac< p.
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&his sho ld be >ery different and aimed towards any wea<nessJ yo r main formation may ha>e. I tend to se a (/(/2 alongside my (/./1: b t also try others. I wo ld recommend three optional formations to accompany my (/./1. 4 flat (/(/2 wor<s well: b t if yo ha>e an 47$ who str ggles in the $7 position IJd maybe try a (/(/2 diamond formation. Gne of my other fa>o rites is a (/1/"/2. 3reat to sta>e off to gh opposition: b t also sef l on the co nter.
)opef lly yo ha>e selected yo r two formations. If not do so now and sa>e them. Bemember that one of these sho ld be preferred and sed at least K0L of the time. Do canJt e5pect consistent performances when yo r formation isnJt consistent. Fow weJre ready for step 2.
Step 2 % Setting team instr ctions

I ha>e tho ght abo t how to str ct re step 2: and here is what I ha>e come p with. 'irst of all we will loo< at each setting within team instr ctions: then IJll e5plain which ones I se and why. )opef lly this will gi>e yo eno gh information to pic< yo r own: b t if not: yo can always fall bac< on mine. IetJs get the ball rolling with philosophy and strategy: both new feat res to '7 2011. &hese may set the tone for yo r teamJs performance.
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Philosophy $hoosing yo r teams philosophy is basically telling the players how m ch freedom they ha>e within yo r formation. 7ost people get the wrong idea and thin< this relates to how attac<ing yo r tactic will be. 4ltho gh philosophy does affect that: all it really does is decide how strictly each player m st stic< with their positions. *elow are the effects of each option I se and my recommendation for when to se them. #igid % 4n organised and strict philosophy. ,layers in midfield will contrib te to more than one phase of play. &he more defensi>e $7Js will defend and help with transition play: while more attac<ing $7Js will help with the attac<ing play and transition play also. Stri<ers will concentrate on attac<ing and defenders will concentrate on defending. Hach player has ne5t to no creati>e freedom. I %ould reco++end using this %hen +anaging in the lo%er leagues5 I5e5 )eague T%o and $elo%5 Alternati*ely6 i you3re in the top light and playing the li"es o #arcelona a +ore strict philosophy +ay %or"5 $alanced % 4 well ro nded philosophy: balanced is e5actly what it says on the tin. Defenders will defend: b t also help lin< the bac< to midfield. 7idfielders will help lin< the middle to defence and attac<: b t they will also loo< to p sh on if in a more attac<ing role. 'orwards are no longer ; st responsible for attac<ing: they m st get bac< and help with linement of players between positions and <eeping its shape. I al%ays use this philosophy %hen +anaging in the top t%o di*isions o any country6 no +atter %ho I3+ against5 Fluid % &he players are allowed a lot more creati>e freedom here. &he team is separated into two sections: the more creati>e players assigned to attac< and the more defensi>e minded players assigned to defend. )owe>er: both sections m st help with transition play when the opport nity arises. I personally ne*er use this philosophy6 as I eel +y tactics aren3t $een adhered to5 Ho%e*er6 the li"es o
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#arcelona and other creati*e tea+s +ay $ene it ro+ this6 or i you3re trying to create an Arsene -enger style tactic5 Strategy Fow yo nderstand the effects of philosophy: itJs time to loo< at yo r strategy. ,hilosophy sho ld be selected pre/season and probably st c< by for most of the season nless yo r s@ ad changes greatly. )owe>er: yo r strategy will >ary from game to game and sometimes e>en within a match. 4s before: IJll e5plain what each setting does and also offer my opinion on when to se them. %ontain % 4ll o t defence. &his strategy will aim to get e>eryone behind the ball and fr strate the opposition. Keeping the ball on the gro nd: playing at a slow tempo and time wasting are characteristics of the contain strategy. 7nly use this in the last 18 +inutes o a +atch %hen you don3t %ant to concede6 any earlier and you ris" $een $ro"en do%n5 -e %ill loo" at %hich touchline shouts are needed %ith this later5 Defensi&e % 4gain: this strategy aims to slow play down: restrict the opponents and get men behind the ball. 0nli<e contain: the defensi>e strategy will loo< to play direct balls and score from well selected co nter attac<s. I rarely use this6 $ut should $e good %hen you3re +assi*e underdogs5 I ha*e ound it use ul in 9urope %hen de ending a t%o goal lead or +ore in the second leg5 %ounter % If yo e5pect to lose the battle for possession: co nter strategy will get players behind the ball when defending. * t offer a @ ic< attac< e5ploiting spaces with swift high tempo mo>ement. 2hile a defensi>e frame of mind is sed: players will loo< to get p and s pport when co ntering. I use this i +y tea+ are the underdogs6 or during stic"y a%ay ga+es5 #asically6 i I a+ not con ident6 the counter strategy is used5
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Standard % &his strategy is >ery balanced: weighing p ris< and reward. Do will ha>e time to see how yo r team are playing before selecting a more specialised strategy: sho ld it be re@ ired. This is +y +ost co++only used strategy5 I %e3re a*ourites6 or e*enly +atched $ut at ho+e6 standard strategy is used5 I then change +y strategy i the +atch isn3t going to plan5 %ontrol % 3ood when yo Jre the fa>o rite: this strategy helps probe the final third waiting for an opening. 2hile yo r team will ta<e the initiati>e: they will be wary of the opponents co nter attac<. I rarely use this strategy ro+ the start5 I tend to start %ith standard and then change to control i +y tea+ aren3t controlling the ga+e as I expect5 'ttacking % &his strategy is sed when yo e5pect to win and dominate possession. Do r players will want to e5ploit space in the final third and loo< for any opport nity to score with a direct and high tempo game. I only use this near the end o a ga+e6 %hen goals are needed and +y side don3t loo" li"e scoring5 (&erload % H5actly what it says on the tin: this strategy will throw bodies forward in search of that winning goal. Defence will be in the bac< of yo r players mind while they do e>erything to score. I hardly e*er use this tactic5 7nly in extre+e cases during the last 18 +inutes o a +atch5 Playing style 2hile yo Jre playing style is partly down to the strategy and philosophy: yo sho ld loo< to set these p caref lly. IJll offer a @ ic< r n down of each option and then e5plain which ones I se. Passing style % Do can either play li<e 4rsenal with a short passing game: where yo r player will loo< for the nearest team mate: or yo can play more direct5 &his may in>ol>e defenders searching for the stri<ers and midfielders trying diagonal balls o>er the top. ) prefer using a direct passing game* )t pro&ides more goals as ) use a standard and counter strategy* )f using more attacking strategies and
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more fluid philosophies+ you may benefit more from a short passing game* Creati*e reedo+ % 0nless yo Jre as good as *arcelona I s ggest lea>ing this at Mdefa ltJ as opposed to Mmore e5pressi>eJ. If yo r side lac< creati>ity: it may be worth sing Mmore disciplinedJ. ) personally use the default option here* ,ach indi&idual player can be changed* Closing do%n % *y pressing +ore6 yo r s@ ad will roam f rther o t of position to close the ball down. &hey will also loo< to get possession bac< @ ic<er. 2hile sing stand-o +ore6 each player will bac< away ntil a challenge needs to be made. ) tend to press more+ but this "ill depend on your personal style* -hile closing do"n more could lea&e gaps and tire the team out quicker* Standing off gi&es the opponent.s time to make decisions and get a shot off* Tac"ling % 3oing into a tac<le +ore aggressi*e will help brea< the opponents play p: b t co ld res lt in more fo ls and cards. 2hereas been +ore cautious will wor< well against a strict referee: b t wonJt nsettle the oppositions <ey players. ) struggle to decide bet"een these t"o options+ so /ust set tackling to default* Mar"ing % &his is down to personal choice. Man +ar"ing will ma<e each player pic< an opponent which co ld lea>e spaces d ring set pieces. :onal +ar"ing will lea>e yo r players to mar< spaces rather than opposition players. ) al"ays use man marking+ because 0onal marking causes too many mistakes* Crossing % )ere we decide how best to deli>er balls from the flan<s. 2hen yo select loat crosses: the ball will be looped in: whereas drilled crosses will be str c< with pace towards the near post. 7y tho ght process is to se float crosses when yo Jre playing a tall stri<er. $ecause ) use a poacher upfront+ ) usually stick "ith default here*
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;oa+ing % &his will be affected by yo r philosophy and strategy. *y sing more roaming: each player will ha>e more freedom to mo>e from their positions. If yo choose stic< to positions: the players wonJt ha>e as m ch freedom. ) use default because roaming is generally effected by your philosophy any"ay* &o s mmarise: yo sho ld consider how each of the abo>e options blend. *een Mmore e5pressi>eJ b t also as<ing the players to Mstic< to positionsJ wo ldnJt ma<e m ch sense. I ha>e pro>ided a screen shot on how I s ally set my playing style.
Speci ic instructions Specific instr ctions sho ld be set to yo r teamJs strengths. &hen changed for some matches depending on the opponent: b t weJll loo< into that d ring chapter (. *eca se these will >ary depending on the opponent: I will ; st e5plain how my specific instr ctions are set. I ne>er lea>e my defensi>e line: width and tempo to be decided by other settings. I always tic< the bo5 and set them as below. )owe>er I always lea>e Mtime wastingJ: Mco nter attac<J and Mplay offsideJ to be decided by my strategy and therefore lea>e those bo5es n/tic<ed. I do always se Mfoc s passingJ. &his sho ld be selected based on the biggest area of threat. 'or instance Ke>in 7ayo from 'ootballmanagerstory.com tends to foc s his passing Mdown the left flan<J. &his is beca se Ke>in has his most prominent attac<ing threat down the left. I personally try to ma<e s re both wings are strong and foc s my passing Mdown both flan<sJ.
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Play+a"er and target +an &he <ey to finding an immense playma<er and target man is to not be biased. DonJt ass me a playma<er sho ld be in central midfield and target man pfront. Do sho ld select them based on merit and how they ma<e the team tic<. 2hen it comes to selecting yo r playma<er: ; st thin< of which player creates the most opport nities for yo r team !this is s ally one of my wingers.# 'or the target man: wor< o t which player is most clinical in front of goal. Fow ; st decide how the target man sho ld be s pplied. I ha>e my stri<er set to poacher roleE a s pply of pass into space s ally wor<s best for this role. J st decide where yo r target man is strongest. )ere are the options and what sort of players s its them best.

1o feet % players with good techni@ e and strength: b t lac<ing in pace may s it this s pply. 1o head % Gb>io sly target men with good header: and ; mping attrib tes will s it this s pply. #un onto ball % ,layers with great pace and off the ball mo>ement s it this s pply: generally stri<ers played in a poacher role.
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Step two has been long winded. 'or those of yo who are str ggling to ma<e decisions: I ha>e pro>ided screen shots of all my settings below.
Step " % pic<ing player roles

I co ld tal< all day abo t player roles. H5plaining where: how and when to se them. * t to be honest: yo Jll finish reading this more conf sed than when yo started. &here are so many different combinationsE I canJt e>en thin< of where to start. So instead of e5plaining e>ery role a>ailable: I will try to e5plain the mi5 I loo< for within my s@ ad. *alance is e5tremely important: if yo ha>e too many attac<ing roles within a tactic: it will fail. If yo ha>e too many defensi>e roles within a tactic: it will also fail. Do m st get the perfect mi5 and not only select yo r roles based the playerJs attrib tes: b t also to ma<e each phase of the tactic blend into one. I assign my player roles d ring pre/season and then try to sign the appropriate players to slot into my >ision. )owe>er: when this isnJt possible I do change the roles to s it my c rrent s@ ad.
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The $asics *efore I get too technical: letJs ma<e s re yo f lly nderstand how to select the best role for each player. 3o into yo r s.uads tactics screen. Fow clic< ne5t to the name of a first team player. Do will see a player instructions screen fill one side of the page. 7a<e s re yo Jre in $asic mode: and loo< thro gh the players attrib tes. 4ny attrib tes in a different shade are re@ ired to f lfil the d ties of the re@ ested role. I.e. the abo>e screen shot shows part of a players technical attrib tes within the tactics screen. Do will see MdribblingJ and Mfirst to chJ attrib tes are a different shade of green. &his is beca se the ad>anced playma<er role with attac< d ty re@ ires good dribbling and first to ch attrib tes along with many more not >isible. *asically the game offers yo a massi>e hand here: re>ealing which players will be best for each indi>id al role. 2hen yo ha>e assigned each player within the formation: start loo<ing at their re@ ired attrib tes within the roles yo want to se. Bemember to get the best roles for each player: b t donJt sacrifice the mechanics of a tactic for one players preferred role. *elow are the roles I se within my (/./1 tactic and my >ision on how theyJll wor<. !&A Bole % 3oal<eeperE D ty / Defend (;A Bole % Full back2 D ty % 'utomatic ()A Bole % Full back2 D ty % Support (CA Bole % %entral defender2 D ty % Defend (CA Bole % 3imited defender2 D ty % Defend MCA Bole % %entral midfielder2 D ty % Support
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MCA Bole % $all "inning midfielder2 D ty % Defend MCA Bole % 'ttacking playmaker2 D ty % 'ttack AM;A Bole % -inger2 D ty % 'ttack AM)A Bole % )nside for"ard2 D ty % 'ttack STA Bole % 4oacher2 D ty % 'ttack The $ac" our I always ha>e one of my centre bac<s in a standard Mcentral de enderJ role. &his will re@ ire him to do the s al defensi>e d ties. I then assign the other $* a Mli+ited de enderJ role. 2ith this role the centre bac< will concentrate less on aerial challenges and playing the ball. Instead heJll sweep p and clear away any danger in a no nonsense fashion. 2ith regards to f ll bac<s: I li<e them to get forward. &he faster of the two: will be assigned an Ma tomaticJ role. 7eaning he will attac<: s pport or defend according to my strategy. So when weJre going for the win heJll attac<: b t when weJre trying to hold a lead heJll defend or s pport. &he other f ll bac< is assigned a s pport d tyE itJs ne>er good to ha>e both f ll bac<s charging forward all the time. 7aybe select one: or do what I ha>e done. The +id ield three ' nucleus o the tea+ 7y three $7Js hold e>erything togetherE they connect defence to midfield and midfield to attac<. &herefore it only ma<es sense to assign them three differing roles. Gne midfielder sho ld be defensi>e in order to help the bac< fo r and co>er when the f ll bac<s bomb forward !ball winning role: defence d ty.# 4nother sho ld stay p t in the middle in case an attac< is bro<en down and also to ping the ball aro nd !central midfield role: s pport d ty.# &he last midfielder sho ld pro>ide a bridge from midfield to attac<. 7a<ing forward r ns with the ball and lea>ing all defensi>e d ties to other players within the team !ad>anced playma<er role: attac< d ty.# &he image abo>e ill strates my >ision for
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these roles. &he three players circled in red are my midfield three. 4 red arrow signals where a player will r n: the p rple arrow shows where a player will s pport. So far we ha>e two f ll bac<s connecting defence to midfield. 2e also ha>e one $7 connecting defence to midfield: another as the bridge from defence to attac< and my third $7 connecting midfield to attac<. I hope yo Jre starting to see a pattern here. &he more lin<s we ha>e thro gh each phase: the faster and more acc rately we can mo>e the ball and hold ontoNwin bac< possession. The attac"ing trio ' %here do goals co+e ro+1 &hese three are more abo t scoring than blending with the team. I donJt want them thin<ing of defence and that is why my lone stri<er is ne>er really alone. 4ssigning one winger the role of MwingerJ and the other a role of Minside forwardJ wor<s a charm. &he winger loo<s to h g the line and sho ld s ally ha>e the best crossing ability. &he inside forward will try to c t inside his defender and score or line flair: dribbling and finishing ability. Fow weJre ; st left with the lone stri<er. )is role will depend largely on personal choice and yo r players. 2ithin my (/./1: the stri<er is best sed in a poacher role. 4lways loo<ing to snea< ro nd the bac< of a defence: pic< p on mista<es and charge forward carrying the ball. Conclusion Gne pict re says a tho sand words. &herefore chec< o t the image below. &his sho ld ill strate how I see my team blending within the roles mentioned. &he red arrows are mo>ement and the p rple arrows are passingNs pport.
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Step 4 ' creating set pieces

7any football p ndits will arg e Sto<e s r>i>ed within the ,remier Ieag e beca se of their set pieces. &his only demonstrates the amo nt of goals possible from a caref lly planned corner or free/<ic<. In step fo r I will share how I set o t my team d ring these cr cial set pieces. It is all common sense and the games defa lt settings are fairly good. * t if yo want those e5tra 6 goals a season from set pieces: maybe try some of these tips. Fote I will not mention throw/insE IJm yet to master them. Corners % 2hile setting these p: there are a few important points to remember. IetJs r n thro gh them now.
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The corner "ic" ta"ers a$ility - &his g y m st be born to cross the ball. Ioo< for high attrib tes in corners6 crossing and techni.ue. 2hen I say high: anything below 11 may be a waste of time. -ho to ta"e %hich corners - If yo only ha>e one good corner ta<er: se him for corners on both the left and right. If yo ha>e more than one: left footed players sho ld ta<e corners from the right and right footed players sho ld ta<e corners from the left. #uying the right players - GK I <now this so nds e5treme: b t try b ying players s ited to set pieces. 2eJ>e already disc ssed the ta<er. Do also want a tall centre bac< with good ; mping: heading and strength attrib tes.
Corner "ic" instructions ' I always say selecting yo r corner ta<er is >ital: b t getting the instr ctions right is ; st as important. *elow I will pro>ide a screenshot of my corner <ic< instr ctions. Hach player is n mbered and below the image is the instr ctions yo sho ld gi>e to each player and what type of player sho ld fill that d ty.
Corner "ic" ai+ ' I always prefer aiming my corners to the ar post. Player instructions F mber ": challenge "eeper % &his d ty sho ld be f lfilled by a tall C#. )e can distract the <eeper and pic< p any loose balls near the goal line.
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F mber 1K: attac" ar post,stand on ar post % &his sho ld be yo r best header: ; mper and preferably a $*. )eight always helps too. F mber .: lur" outside area,attac" $all ro+ deep % Someone with good techni@ e and shooting ability is re@ ired here. &hey can pic< p any bad clearness for a long range effort. F mbers 11: 6: + & 11 go or%ard % 3eneral attac<ing players or anyone with great height sho ld be set for these d ties. F mbers 12: (: & 2 stay $ac" i needed % 4ny lefto>er players sho ld be set to this. 0s ally f ll bac<s and spare midfielders. 4lways lea>e yo r goal<eeper on de ault5
(e ending corners ' J st as important as attac<ing corners. Do need to caref lly consider these roles. Bemember too many players staying forward will lea>e yo short staffed in the bo5. GK: so below is how I set my instr ctions when defending corners.
Player instructions F mber .: +ar" near post % 4lways se a f ll bac< for this d ty. ItJs >ital to co>er both posts with a defender. F mber (: +ar" ar post % Same as abo>e. F mbers 1K & " +ar" tall players % 4lways se yo r tallest players for this d ty. 0s ally yo r $*Js are best.
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F mber +: edge o area % &his player needs to pice the long ball to force a brea< away. 7aybe e>en se a strong stri<er to hold p play while waiting for s pport. F mbers 2: 12: 11 & 6 go $ac",+an +ar" % 4ny remaining players sho ld go bac< or man mar<. 2hich one is p to yo and yo r playing style. &he taller these players are the better.
Free "ic"s *elow are a few e5tremely important pointers to consider. Do m st ha>e the correct free <ic< ta<er: so se these attrib tes as an indicator. Free-"ic" ta"ing6 long shots and techni.ue are >ital. If yo can find someone with higher than 1. in these areas: yo Jll ha>e yo rself a potential 10 goals pl s a season from free/<ic<s. If yo ha>e more than one free/<ic< ta<er: set a right footer to ta<e from the left and left footed player to ta<e free/<ic<s from the right. Fow letJs chec< how I set my free/<ic< instr ctions.
Free "ic" ai+ ' I generally choose $est header: b t yo e5periment to see what wor<s best with yo r s@ ad.
co ld
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Player instructions
F mber ": challenge goal"eeper % &his d ty is important: if yo can distract the goal<eeper there is a greater chance of scoring. 4pply yo r best header and ; mper to this assignment. Strength also helps b t height is the real <ey. F mber (: disrupt %all % 4lways a good idea to ha>e someone distracting the wall: it doesnJt really matter who does this. F mbers 1K: 11: 6: +: & 11 go or%ard % Do want any $*Js bar the one mar<ing the <eeper: doing this. 4long with tall: strong players with good heading ability. )a>ing fi>e players forward will help win the ball. F mbers 12: . & 2 stay $ac" i needed % 'ree <ic<s are hardest to score from: which means the opposition may be able to co nter @ ic<ly. &herefore always <eep aro nd three player bac<: s ally f ll bac<s and a spare midfielder.
(e ending ree "ic"s ' Fo image re@ ired here. I ; st set fo r spare players to or+ %all5 &hen se the rest to +an +ar". 3oalie sho ld be de ault5
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Chapter 4 - Pre-+atch #uild ely new feat re for '7 2011. 2hile Mmatch preparationJ wonJt win yo a game o tright: it will help yo r players perform to their best. If sed correctly: the oppositions strengths: or e>en yo r own wea<nessJ can be handled. I personally se the team settings to assign this tas< to my assistant manager. &hey s ally do a good eno gh ;ob: b t if yo are losing matches and r nning o t of options: I s ggest preparing for the match yo rself. &here are only two <ey decisions to ma<e. 'irst of all which tactics to prepare before match day and secondly yo r special foc s area. Do only ha>e one choice within the special foc s area whether it is Mteam blendJ: attac<ing mo>ementJ: Mdefensi>e positioningJ: defending set piecesJ: or Mattac<ing set piecesJ. Currently acti*e tactics are >ery straight forward. 2e ha>e already disc ssed selecting yo r formationNtactics: simply add these to the Macti>e tacticsJ list. Do can add p to three sa>ed tactics and I recommend selecting all the tactics yo may call pon d ring the season. Special ocus areas can be a little more complicated. )owe>er: remember my n mber one r le: 'ootball 7anager is based on real life: itJs not simply a game. &hin< li<e a real manager and consider yo r team as well as the oppositionJs strengths before selecting an area. *elow is a screenshot of the special foc s options: weJll analyse when each one sho ld be most effecti>e.
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=one / I wo ld ne>er recommend sing this option. Tea+ $lend / *est sed d ring and ; st after pre/season or e>en after the winter transfer window. If yo ha>e a lot of new players: it ma<es sense to wor< on yo r teamJs chemistry: so this is yo r area. 4s a side note: <eep team blend in mind when yo r s@ ad arenJt creating chances and seem to be misplacing passes. (e ensi*e Positioning / Iea<ing lots of goals and ma<ing simple mista<es at the bac<? Start sing this area. 4lso consider defensi>e positioning if yo Jre p against a really to gh opponent. 7y r le of th mb is if weJre the nderdogs and I e5pect to ha>e o r bac<s against the wall: defensi>e positioning will be my choice. Attac"ing +o*e+ent / &his area is good for matches yo f lly e5pect to win. &rain yo r players in attac<ing mo>ement to ma<e s re their ready to ta<e any goal scoring chances. 4lso a good choice if yo r team are lac<ing goals: or ; st donJt loo< li<e creating any opport nities. (e ending set pieces / &his can be a >ery to gh area to select. Do sho ld consider two things before ma<ing a decision. 'irst of all: how many goals ha>e yo conceded from set pieces? If the answer is a lot: then why ha>enJt yo selected this area already? Second @ estion is how good are the opposition at set pieces? Ioo< thro gh their main players for high attrib tes !1+ or higher# in McornersJ: free/<ic<sJ: Mthrow/insJ etc. 4lso chec< to see how tall the centre bac<s and forwards are as well as strength: heading and ; mping attrib tes. If these are all high !11/1+ or higher#: chances are their good at set pieces and yo Jll need to prepare for this. Attac"ing set pieces / 7y first tho ght wo ld be to chec< how well yo do from set pieces. If it is a grey area: then maybe try preparing in this category for the odd game. )owe>er: reality is yo r set piece ta<ers or tactics are to blame. &herefore: I wo ld only select this area for one reason: if the opponents str ggle against set pieces. Gb>io sly yo sho ld be good at them to start with: or yo Jre ; st trying to ta<e ad>antage in an area of wea<ness for yo rself. $hec< the opponentJs a>erage height in their cl b information. If itJs significantly less than yo rs: try to ta<e ad>antage by selecting this area.
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&he -or"load is completely down to personal choice. It depends on what yo want the s@ ad concentrating on and if they are fairly fit. I personally lea>e it at ; st abo>e a>erage as shown in the image below.
Bemember to choose yo r Mspecial foc s areaJ well in ad>ance of the ne5t match. &he more time yo r s@ ad ha>e to prepare: the better the res lts.
,re/match ad>ice meeting

&he ne5t part of pre/match b ild p comes when yo r bac<room staff offers some ad>ice on how to approach the game. 2hile yo can gain a lot of important information from this: it is all self/e5planatory. &herefore we wonJt spend too m ch time co>ering this topic. *elow is an e5ample of what yo r pre/match ad>ice meeting may loo< li<e.
*efore I start: please remember that yo will not always get all the information listed below. &he game wo ld be too easy if yo did. 'or most matches yo Jll be l c<y to recei>e tips on two of the abo>e fo r s b;ects. &hen in other games yo may get none at all. &his depends on yo r coach: form: cl b etc. 5ery useful information % (e ensi*e line analysis6 te+po analysis6 %idth analysis and or+ation analysis5 GK: abo>e are the most sef l s b;ects that may be offered by yo r coaching staff. I always loo< at these and tend to do whate>er is ad>ised. 'or e5ample: if yo r coach s ggests the opponents str ggle against a (/./ 1 formation: I se my (/./1. If my coach s ggests the opposition play well
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against a deep defensi>e line: I a>oid sing a deep defensi>e line. 2e co ld go on b t yo sho ld get the idea. J st remember yo r coach wonJt always get it right: if yo J>e played the opposition before and disagree with the ad>ice on offer: maybe stic< with yo r g t instincts. 6seful information 7 S.uad ad*antages and disad*antages5 4lmost e>ery pre/match ad>ice meeting sho ld incl de yo r s@ adJs ad>antages and disad>antages. 2hile this information may not help yo win matches: it certainly sho ld gi>e yo an o tline on what to prepare for. 'or instance: if yo ha>e a disad>antage in speed: yo may want to rethin< the match tactics to co nter this !maybe a deep defensi>e line.# &he same can be said for techni@ e. 4 higher le>el of techni@ e may lead to yo sing a @ ic<er tempo in order to se this strength. )nformation to ignore 7 Player instructions6 ie closing opponent players do%n5 2hile yo r coach may ha>e a point: yo can gain more from the in match opposition instr ctions ad>ise. So maybe ignore this information and weJll address it in the Mwinning the gameJ category.
Besearching the opponent and e5ploiting wea<nessJ

2hile this is not a necessity: researching your opponents can pro>ide the %inning edge. 7ost gamers will ; st glance thro gh the assistantJs ad>ice and di>e straight into the f n partOthe match itself. 'ootball 7anager is >ery addicti>e and itJs easy to fall into la-y habits: b t the more thoro gh yo are: the more s ccess yo Jll find. 2o ldnJt it be nice to win a match beca se of one big decision DG0 made: the sense of achie>ement ma<es the e5tra time worthwhile. )ere is how I research my opponents pre/match. Bemember: we are only loo<ing to find o t what the Mpre/ match ad>ice meetingJ failed to offer. St ff li<e: the best formation to se: high or deep defensi>e line and where to foc s attac<s etc. 1he opponent.s last si8 matches9 3lancing thro gh yo r opponents most recent res lts will offer the most information. Do can see which
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or+ation they se: what their or+ and as a res lt +orale is li<e: and also who their inform players are and main goal threat. 1he opponent.s squad and key players9 &a<ing a loo< at the opponent3s s.uad sho ld show which areas of the pitch are most deadly and which areas are wea<. Ioo< at defenders with the lowest a>erage rating. If yo r opponents seem wea< down their left flan<: be s re to foc s the passing down yo r right flan<. 4re-match odds 7 H5tremely important: the pre/match odds sho ld dictate a few things. Do r team tal<: strategy and how aggressi>ely yo attac< the game. 7aybe e>en swapping some players roles for more defensi>eNattac<ing ones. Ho% to use this research (pponents. formation 7 2e co ld find a million different combinations of cl bs and formations: b t here are my tips based on tactics yo may come p against.

3enerally a 4-4-2 is co ntered well when sing 4-2-1. 7ost other formations depend on opposition players and their manager: b t IJ>e fo nd the 4-2-1 a >ery >ersatile formation. If yo Jre p against a team sing the (MC position: play with a *ery deep de ensi*e line. If yo Jre p against a team sing the AMC position: se a slightly high de ensi*e line.
(pponents form+ morale and squad 7 4gain: yo co ld ta<e many different things from form: morale and an opponentJs s@ ad. * t below are the important parts I loo< for.

If the opponents ha>e end red a poor run o or+: I tend to se a standard strategy both at home and away. 2hen against an in or+ side: I opt for the counter strategy. 2hile yo sho ld set > ocus passing3 to whate>er area is yo r strongest: always ta<e the opponents into consideration. &ry foc sing yo r passing where>er the opponent is wea<est: whether that is the +iddle6 do%n the le t6 right or $oth lan"s5 H.g. if
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yo ha>e fast wingers: b t the opponents ha>e a slow right bac<: foc s passing down the left flan<. If yo r opponents seem to ha>e a small !height wise# s@ ad with $ad aerial a$ility: yo sho ld se direct passing5 If they seem strong and good in the air: b t maybe a little sloppy technically: try sing short passing. !2hen yo r s@ ad str ggle sing short or direct passing donJt ta<e the opponents height or strength into consideration: ; st play to yo r teams strength.#
4re-match odds 7 &hese are straight forward and >ery general. *elow is what I ta<e from the pre/match odds. If my team are the a*ourites: a standard strategy is sed. If my team are not the fa>o rites: a counter strategy is sed. 2hen the match odds are >ery close and donJt really fa>o r either team: I se a co nter strategy: b t may se a standard strategy at home when the match is winnable. 2hen yo are clear fa>o rites to win: maybe try changing yo r midfield roles to be more effecti>e. H.g. I se a s pporting midfielder within my (/./1 which is fairly ca tio s. If I f lly e5pect the >ictory: this is changed to a deep lying playma<er or bo5 to bo5 midfielder.

7atch day s@ ad selection

2e ha>e co>ered almost all the pre/match details: now itJs time to pic< yo r starting PI and s bstit tes. Do need to ta<e a few things into acco nt here: donJt ; st di>e straight into the match selecting yo r best PI. &hin< of the opponentJs strength: yo r s@ adJs fitness: the ne5t match and yo r best s ited players for the indi>id al opponent. IJll brea< this down in order of what sho ld be ta<en into consideration first. 7pposition strength and i+portance o ixture % 2ho are yo against? &he li<es of 7anchester 0nited and $helsea etc. will re@ ire the
39
strongest starting PI. 2hereas a c p match against * rton 4lbion may only re@ ire yo r reser>es. 4lso se the match odds !if a>ailable# to decide how strong yo r starting PI sho ld be. If yo are the clear fa>o rites: maybe ignore this paragraph and mo>e onto the ne5t three. )owe>er: if yo are the nderdog: e>enly matched or the match is of great importance: yo Jll need to pic< yo r strongest s@ ad first: then ta<e the below paragraphs into consideration. S.uad itness and next ixture % 4lways consider yo r teamJs fitness. If the starting PI is too fatig ed: this will ha>e a more negati>e effect than sing a wea<er b t fitter line/ p. *elow are what I loo< for in team fitness and when IJll play or drop a player. ?2-188@ itness % Fo problems here: s ch fitness is eno gh to ma<e the staring PI. A2-?1@ itness % S ch fitness may be a little worrying. 2hile yo co ld ris< the player: he may nderperform. ,l s: yo will probably ha>e to s b him later in the game. &ry and a>oid sing players with this le>el of fitness: b t if yo feel the player is important or ha>e no replacements: donJt panic. Do will ; st ha>e to rest him for the ne5t game. )ess than A2@ itness or +inor inBury % Do not play someone with s ch bad fitness or a minor in; ry. &hey will need to be s bbed: co ld play badly or e>en get in; red. If yo ha>e a h ge game coming p and want yo r best players f lly fit. I wo ld s ggest resting them the game before if the games are fo r days or less apart. 4lso rest the player if heJs less than K(L fit. &his will ens re any <ey players are prepared. S.uad selection to suit opponents % &his is simple: ; st se logic and select yo r team based on the opponentJs strengths and wea<nesses. *elow: I ha>e b llet pointed some e5amples to ill strate what I loo< for.
(pposition striker 7 If a tall6 target +an is been sed: I donJt worry abo t pacey centre bac<s. Instead I loo< to se $*Js with good heading: ; mping: positioning: and tac<ling attrib tes and height. 2hen the opposition se more of a poacher with pace and dribbling s<ills: I change to the opposite. 7y $*Js then need good pace: compos re: tac<ling and concentration attrib tes.
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(pposition "ingers 7 2hen the wingers are fast and loo< dangero s: I try to se my fastest f ll bac<s and prefer defensi>e attrib tes. )owe>er: if the opposition donJt seem to se the wings: or ha>e little to no threat in that area. I then l c< for more technically gifted f ll bac<s that can offer more going forward. (ppositions general ability % 2e all get a general pre/match feeling which depicts whether weJre confident or not going into the game. 0se this feeling to decide if the opposition are better going forward than yo : and if they offer a bigger threat. If yo are comfortable and thin< yo hold the better attac<ing players: se central midfielders with the best attac<ing attrib tes. )owe>er: if yo feel threatened by the opposition try sing central midfielders with better defensi>e attrib tes. &his will ma<e winning the ball bac< m ch easier and stop the more dominant side from retaining so m ch possession. Gb>io sly yo sho ld only pic< the more defensi>e players for m lti/p rpose roles li<e Mcentral midfielderJ with Ms pportJ d ty. It wo ldnJt ma<e sense to ha>e an Mad>anced playma<erJ with defensi>e attrib tes so se some common sense here.
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Chapter 2 ' -inning The Match

2hat to do before the first whistle % opposition instr ctions
IJm s re most of yo do the pre/match team tal<: and then contin e right thro gh to <ic</off. 2ell yo co ld be missing some >ital preparation. )a>e yo e>er noticed certain opposition players getting tonnes of time on the ball? 2ell yo can a>oid this by sing the opposition instr ctions. 3o to yo r assistant managerJs feedbac< within the match screen. Fow chec< what instr ctions he recommends for opposition players. Do can set these recommendations p in Mopposition instr ctionsJ. J st clic< on the players name and then add the instr ction s ggested by yo r assistant. Do can change and add these at any point within the game. If one partic lar player is getting too m ch time on the ball: ; st go into Mopposition instr ctionsJ: clic< on the player and nder Mclosing downJ select the MoftenJ option. *elow is how I se the opposition instr ctions. I donJt se opposition instr ctions against >ery easy opposition. &his is beca se I want my side to concentrate on attac<ing only. If I ha>e decided to se opposition instr ctions: I will listen to my assistantJs ad>ice before <ic</off and at half time. 7y assistant canJt be spot on 100L of the time. If I feel the opposition ha>e a dangero s central midfielder who controls the game: I will set opposition instr ctions to close him down often. If the opposition ha>e a target man who scores with his head b t isnJt @ ic<: IJll set him p to be mar<ed tightly at all times. If an opposition defender is str ggling and ha>ing a bad game: IJll set opposition instr ctions to tac<le him hard. *asically it is all common sense and following yo r assistants ad>ice. J st remember this game is based on real life 'ootball. It only ma<es sense for yo r decisions to be made as tho gh it were a real game.
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&eam &al<s
Do r team might be as good as it gets b t yo will still ha>e to wor< yo r way into the players= minds and ma<e s re that yo get the best o t of them on the pitch. &eam tal<s are a manager=s main psychological weapon and yo will ha>e to se it right if yo want to get the best res lts. )ow a manager interacts with his players depends a lot on his or her personality b t as a general r le yo will ha>e to ma<e s re that yo r words to the players ser>e these two important p rposesA moti>ate and limit damage to their morale. *y moti>ate we mean ma<ing s re that yo r players will be fired p by yo r words and become determined to gi>e o t their best on the field b t if the res lt doesn=t wor< o t yo might consider being lenient on the players in order to <eep their morale to a decent le>el. Iet=s go thro gh the >ario s sit ations that yo might enco nter. Pre-+atch % 2hen it comes to competiti>e games yo will probably se one of these two messagesA 8Do can win todayC9 or 8'or the fansC9: these two ser>e the p rpose of moti>ating yo r lads. * t if yo =re managing Qa 5hall 7otors and yo are abo t to meet Beal 7adrid we ad>ise sing a more ca tio s approach: something li<e 8,ress re is off9. Do can=t as< too m ch from yo r players or set yo r e5pectations too high: that can damage their morale and yo will ha>e lots of problems when the players become low on confidence. Hal ti+e % Do ha>e to remember that yo ha>e to ; dge yo r players by their performance on the pitch and not only by the res lt. Iet=s say that yo r team played >ery well d ring the first half: dominated the game: b t somehow the opponents scored a l c<y goal ; st before the brea<. Do will ha>e to enco rage the players in s ch a sit ation: don=t tell them that yo are disappointed beca se yo really don=t ha>e any reason to be. )alf time team tal<s are generally abo t enco raging the team and ma<ing s re that they p their performance in the second half. * t if the team had a poor first half then don=t be shy: tell them e5actly what yo thin<C !8I want to see more from yo C9E 82here=s the passion: lads?9#
43
Full ti+e % Do will ha>e to <eep two things in mind when choosing the f ll time team tal<A the game that ; st finished and the ne5t game. Do will ha>e to find the right balance between telling the players what yo thin< abo t their performance and <eeping them moti>ated and confident before the ne5t game. * t this is not as complicated as it so nds: yo ; st ha>e to p t yo rself in their shoes and imagine what they wo ld li<e to hear after a match. 'or instance: if yo get beaten by a s perior opponent then the 8Sympathise9 option might be a good choice: the players won=t feel too bad and they will ha>e some confidence left to try winning the ne5t game. If the team played well don=t be afraid to praise the lads: do that whene>er yo feel that they deser>ed it. * t if they played a lot worse than yo <now they can show yo r disappointment: most of them will be <een on pro>ing themsel>es ne5t time. 4lternati>ely yo can lea>e the team tal<s to yo r assistant manager: yo can always re>iew and modify the options that he selects. * t remember: if yo lea>e the team tal<s to yo r assistant ma<e s re that he has high attrib tes for 8moti>ating9: 8determination9 and 8man management9. &hose are general r les when it comes to team tal<s b t yo ha>e to be aware that each person is different and yo r players are too: they ha>e different personalities and what moti>ates one player might ha>e a detrimental effect on another. &he best way to monitor that is thro gh the assistant manager team tal< feedbac< reports: yo can see what goes on after each team tal< and <eep those things in mind for the f t re.
44
$hanging the game

Some decisions that yo ma<e d ring a game can ma<e the difference between s ccess and fail re. Do ha>e to <eep an open mind and to be creati>e d ring a game: both when it comes to s bstit tions and tactical changes. Su$stitutions ' &he most fre@ ent s bstit tions come when a player is too tired to contin e the game. 4s a general r le any player whose condition drops below 60L is a candidate for the bench: e>en if he is yo r star stri<er or yo r best defender. $hanging a tired player with a fresh one can ma<e a big difference so don=t be afraid to do that: regardless of the player=s name. 7oreo>er: a tired player is more li<ely to pice the team=s performance: replacing a player can sometimes change yo r team=s display dramatically. &here are a few standard sit ations that yo might enco nter b t this list is not e5ha sti>e beca se e>ery game is different and so are the decisions that yo can ma<e. If yo r team str ggles to <eep possession then yo might send in a midfielder with good passing and techni@ e. If yo r team str ggles to create chances then it might be a good idea to send in a creati>e player that co ld throw the opposition defense off/balance. If yo are in the lead and intend to play on co nter attac<s then send in @ ic< players !wingers or stri<ers# to ta<e ad>antage of the gaps behind the opposition defense. If the opponents are constantly creating chances down the flan<s send in @ ic<er f ll bac<s if yo ha>e them.
45
Tactical changes ' Sometimes changing tactics is the only way to clinch a good res lt. &he most common change comes when yo want to hold on to a narrow lead or to a precio s draw: the opponent might switch to an ltra/offensi>e (/2/( set p and yo will ha>e to deal with that. &he best way wo ld be to switch yo r strategy to co nter: defensi>e or contain. It=s abo t adapting to the opponent=s strengths: if yo r team is ha>ing problems in dealing with them then yo will ha>e to react. 'or instance: if the opposition has an attac<ing midfielder that constantly creates danger yo might want to consider dropping one of yo r midfielders to a defensi>e midfielder position to <eep that 47$ @ iet. &hat=s ; st an e5ample b t yo can only notice that if yo >iew yo r match in 8e5tended9 or 8f ll match9 >iew: otherwise it will be pretty diffic lt for yo to notice s ch aspects of the game. &actical changes are not only abo t adapting to the opposition tho gh: yo can ma<e s ch changes to impro>e yo r side=s performance and chances to win. 'or instance: if yo normally play (/(/2 b t one of yo r stri<ers doesn=t perform well and yo ha>e a good attac<ing midfielder on the bench yo can change the tactic to (/(/1/1 and ma<e se of the best players at yo r disposal. Gr if yo r opponent is down to 10 men and sing ; st one stri<er yo can consider p lling off one of yo r centre bac<s and replacing him with a midfielder or a stri<er. &here is no fi5ed recipe for s ch changes: yo ; st ha>e to <eep an open mind and yo r eyes wide open d ring a game. 4nother way of changing the game is thro gh to chline sho ts: read below to find o t how those wor<.
46
&o chline sho ts

Some gamers donJt belie>e these wor<: b t I ha>e witnessed the difference between sing to chline sho ts and sitting @ ietly. It can t rn a draw into a >ictory: or e>en a>oid conceding that gasp goal. Bather than e5plain each indi>id al sho t: I will list a few scenarios and e5plain the sho ts I might se. Struggling to score9 If sing a direct passing game IJll sho t get $all or%ard and get stuc" in. 2hereas a shorter more possession orientated tactic warrants %or" $all into $ox and retain possession5 1-0 up and trying to see the first half out9 0se retain possession and hassle opponents if still playing well. )owe>er: when yo Jre worried abo t conceding sho t pass into space and get stuc" in !these are best sed with a co nter strategy.# -inning the match "ith 10 minutes to go Sho t retain possession: drop deeper and play sa er. &hese sho ts m st be sed with contain strategy: b t only se them with less than 10 min tes remaining. )n desperate need of a late goal "ith 10 minutes to go Sho t push higher up: get stuc" in and ta"e +ore ris"s. &hese m st be sed with o>erload strategy. -hen the opposition are e8tremely "eak do"n the flanks 0se exploit lan"s and loo" or o*erlap5 Gnly loo< for o>erlap of yo Jre not worried abo t the oppositions attac<ing threat. -hen the opposition seem to be dominating the middle 0se play narro%erE e@ ally se play %ider in the opposite sit ation.
47
)opef lly these e5amples sho ld gi>e yo a better nderstanding of the <ey to chline sho ts. 0se common sense and try to implement some of these d ring the right sit ation. If yo li<ed the g ide please stay in to ch by following s on the social networ<sC 'ollow s on 'aceboo< 'ollow s on &witter
O and don=t forget to >isit o r websiteC
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Appendix ' <se ul ;esources

!uides

Darren Smith=s financial g ide !part one and part two# 'anty=s 8)ow to loo< after yo r golden oldies9 !lin<# H5cessi>e=s bac<room staff g ide !lin<# Darren Smith=s tactics g ide !lin<# )ow to get the right coaches !lin<# )ow to find the right players !lin<# Johnny Karp=s lower leag e management g ide !lin<#
Tactics

Fotts $o nty (/(/2 attac<ing tactic % download 4na 3arciaJs 4ttac<ing (/(/2 % download 4na 3arciaJs Defensi>e (/(/2 % download SayamJs * ry '$ tactics % download Ke>inJs 2re5ham (/(/2 % download
Training Schedules

Ian $Js training regimes !f ll time: part time and yo th# % download '7 $oach $alc lator % download
Shortlists

*est '7 2011 free players shortlist % download *est '7 2011 nder 16 wonder<ids % download *est '7 2011 bargains !players nder 100 K# % download *est '7 2011 Hnglish yo ngsters % download

Football Manager 2011 Handbook

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