Looking for Tactical Input

[Vince]

EDIT -- Posted from a different thread to get some help :)

Ok, here's the situation...

My opponent has an Excellent trainer with Solid leadership (but he was Cupset in round 2). His last match was an away match, and here are his ratings (I'm not sure whether or not he PIC-ed):
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="229"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top">Midfield:</td> <td valign="top">excellent (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=8#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Defence:</td> <td valign="top">excellent (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=8#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">excellent (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=8#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">poor (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=3#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (high)</td></tr></tbody> </table>
In my cup match, I ran a 3-4-3 (now at Inadequate skill in the formation) to see what happened. Here are the ratings:
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="229"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top">Midfield:</td> <td valign="top">poor (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=3#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Defence:</td> <td valign="top">solid (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=7#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">formidable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=9#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Attack:</td> <td valign="top">solid (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=7#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (very high)</td></tr></tbody> </table>
The midfield is a bit low, because it was an away PIC with my trainees in. Here are my ratings for my last 3-5-2 match (away PIC):
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="229"> <tbody><tr><td valign="top">Midfield:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Defence:</td> <td valign="top">solid (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=7#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">excellent (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=8#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Attack:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www19.hattrick.org/Common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (high)</td></tr></tbody> </table>
My TS is at Delirious (just dropped from Walking on Clouds today)...with a MOTs and 3-5-2, I think that I could put up a comparable midfield to his (2 SN+3, 1 Brill+2, winger TM Outstanding +4), but I'm not sure just a comparable midfield is enough with his high defense ratings. I have at least one more cup match to help recover TS afterwards -- I'm thinking that I need to either 3-4-3 CA PIC, or 3-5-2 MOTs. Thoughts?

[tucker rocky]

How about a PIC/CA/ overload, against his weak side. Could be the right by examining his ratings on defense.

[Chubby]

i would go with a 3-4-3 PIC CA with your winger against his weak defensive side and your weakest defensive side against his weakest offensive side.

I would actually consider a 4-3-3 PIC CA as well but it doesn't sound like you are considering that...

[Vince]

Well...at 3:44:50 HT time, I changed my lineup to a 3-5-2 with a MOTs...

...and I won 2-1 on the strength of an Excellent (Very High) midfield and lining up my Excellent (Very High) attack against his weakest defense. I am amazed at the midfield my team put up -- though that's what I had hoped for my team to be able to do, they had never done anything like that (Supporter says my second best midfield ever is 90% of the 100% from that match). So we now have sole possession of 1st place in IV.53, and at least another three or four days of the top Undefeated streak in all of the US :)