***The Official Football Manager Thread***

[gopher_guy]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

I've mentioned previously, but I got FM18 this year after playing FM13 for the last 5 years. It's been awesome. I expected some changes in how tactics worked, but one thing has been extra surprising, frustrating, and wasn't sure if you guys had insight.

In FM13 when I had a team with a more limited budget, I'd switch to a 3-5-2 so I didn't need to worry about getting fullbacks at all, so it's 1 less position to fill. I would get tall CBs and encourage teams to pump in crosses all game while the 3 guys at the back took care of all of them. In FM13 it worked great. I took a Swedish team (AIK) to the Champions league group stage and knockout stage several times, even tying Barcelona, beating some EPL teams, etc.

In FM18, the tactic cannot stop opponents at all. It's like the 3 CBs have constant brain farts and never mark anyone who comes into the far side of the 6 yard box (not even 18 yard box, just don't mark in the 6 yard box). It's not forcing many crosses at all, despite clogging the middle with 3 CBs and 1-2 CDMs, teams just work the ball into the box.

I've had way better luck with regular 4-4-2 or similar formations, and was just curious if you guys had any thoughts.

I've played with 3 at the back a little bit this year, and one tweak that I made which seemed to improve things was to set the "outside" two CBs to mark tightly, but then have the middle CB in a cover role, marking less. I noticed that cover CB acting as more of a sweeper, staying back to be the last line of defense if the other two mess up and miss a tackle.

It was not an ideal tactic, but I did see better results when I did that.

[Kobalt]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***



Look man, if every generation is a golden generation, is any generation really a golden a generation?



Ok.... not bad...

[studbucket]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

I've played with 3 at the back a little bit this year, and one tweak that I made which seemed to improve things was to set the "outside" two CBs to mark tightly, but then have the middle CB in a cover role, marking less. I noticed that cover CB acting as more of a sweeper, staying back to be the last line of defense if the other two mess up and miss a tackle.

It was not an ideal tactic, but I did see better results when I did that.

Thanks, that's a good idea. I messed around some with ideas like that, but perhaps not enough.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

On the topic of 3-at-the-back, which is often one of my preferred tactics, I've not found it great without the use of wingbacks. As soon as I push wingbacks up to the midfield the central defenders become worse. I normally set them up as ST-CO-ST with wingbacks though, and that works marvelously. I once had a formation with 1860 that also had an Anchor Man sit in front of the defence, and we had multiple games where we allowed 0 shots on goal. That being said, I can't explain why it won't work with midfielders in the stead of wing backs.

[studbucket]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

On the topic of 3-at-the-back, which is often one of my preferred tactics, I've not found it great without the use of wingbacks. As soon as I push wingbacks up to the midfield the central defenders become worse. I normally set them up as ST-CO-ST with wingbacks though, and that works marvelously. I once had a formation with 1860 that also had an Anchor Man sit in front of the defence, and we had multiple games where we allowed 0 shots on goal. That being said, I can't explain why it won't work with midfielders in the stead of wing backs.

Yeah, I saw a similar thing. With wingbacks, it was great, but then I go to a 3-1-4-2 or 3-2-3-2 and it just all falls apart. Glad I'm not completely alone here.

[Kobalt]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

Yeah, I'm not having much success with 3 CBs in this year's version.

[Zac]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

You guys know whats fantastic though. Segundo Volantes.

[Zac]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

Well, I'm getting bored in Asia in my current save. And this created club thing keeps peaking my interest. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I gave up because of the crashing issues over a month ago. So I'm doing that again. This time not using the create-a-club in game, but making the team in the pre-game editor. To try and avoid the issues I had last time.

I'd like to introduce everyone to Halifax United. Who will compete in the 9th level of the English Pyramid for their first season.



I used the club Staveley to make this one (due to proximity to Halifax). Left everything about stadium and players as is and removed all history. Set the founding date to 2017. So we currently play in the Staveley stadium in Staveley. I'm hoping the game is smart enough, when the time comes, to build a new stadium in Halifax. Although Staveley isn't far from Halifax. I also created one youth prospect. Felix Pickles. A young player with loads of potential (for lower league), but is pretty crap to start at 17. I also used a former local company for the first kit sponsor.

There was a club called Halifax F.C. that only existed for three years, 1897-1900. They were one of the founding teams for the Yorkshire football league in 1897. In 1900 they folded due to lack of funds. Then in 1911 Halifax Town A.F.C. was founded, which is the club that became F.C. Halifax Town in 2008 (the team currently playing in the Vanarama North). So I'm pretending the chairman is the great grandson of one of the founding members of Halifax F.C. And he dislikes F.C. Halifax Town. So he is "resurrecting" the original club under the name United. So set them as our rival.

I've also made like 20 logos. I decided on this one to start. Even though its more of a South American style badge than an English one. But I'll update it as the years go on. I've also made 40+ kits with different sponsors. So I can update that every few years. Or when the game says we have a new sponsor deal. I also really got into making the logs and kits. And made a bunch for the Spanish club I tried before. So I can do that later. And I made some for a club in Germany also.

Now I have to spend hours finding a squad and staff. Because I'm the only staff member. And I only have 6 players. The goal is to win a champions league, eventually. Might take 40 years. This wont be as easy as Wembley. I kind of cheated a little with Wembley. No in game editor for this save.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

Well, I'm getting bored in Asia in my current save. And this created club thing keeps peaking my interest. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I gave up because of the crashing issues over a month ago. So I'm doing that again. This time not using the create-a-club in game, but making the team in the pre-game editor. To try and avoid the issues I had last time.

I'd like to introduce everyone to Halifax United. Who will compete in the 9th level of the English Pyramid for their first season.



I used the club Staveley to make this one (due to proximity to Halifax). Left everything about stadium and players as is and removed all history. Set the founding date to 2017. So we currently play in the Staveley stadium in Staveley. I'm hoping the game is smart enough, when the time comes, to build a new stadium in Halifax. Although Staveley isn't far from Halifax. I also created one youth prospect. Felix Pickles. A young player with loads of potential (for lower league), but is pretty crap to start at 17. I also used a former local company for the first kit sponsor.

There was a club called Halifax F.C. that only existed for three years, 1897-1900. They were one of the founding teams for the Yorkshire football league in 1897. In 1900 they folded due to lack of funds. Then in 1911 Halifax Town A.F.C. was founded, which is the club that became F.C. Halifax Town in 2008 (the team currently playing in the Vanarama North). So I'm pretending the chairman is the great grandson of one of the founding members of Halifax F.C. And he dislikes F.C. Halifax Town. So he is "resurrecting" the original club under the name United. So set them as our rival.

I've also made like 20 logos. I decided on this one to start. Even though its more of a South American style badge than an English one. But I'll update it as the years go on. I've also made 40+ kits with different sponsors. So I can update that every few years. Or when the game says we have a new sponsor deal. I also really got into making the logs and kits. And made a bunch for the Spanish club I tried before. So I can do that later. And I made some for a club in Germany also.

Now I have to spend hours finding a squad and staff. Because I'm the only staff member. And I only have 6 players. The goal is to win a champions league, eventually. Might take 40 years. This wont be as easy as Wembley. I kind of cheated a little with Wembley. No in game editor for this save.

You should just re-start and make the Football Manager thread goers your staff in the pre-game editor

[Zac]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

That sounds interesting. I did this once on here with FIFA back in the day.

Okay, you guys have until tomorrow evening to claim a spot on the staff.

Post what position you want. I'll use everyone's usernames on here as nicknames for the staff so you don't have to give me your real names if you don't want. If spots aren't filled by then, I'll pick frequent posters and just give them a spot.

Staff spots I have available to me (first come, first serve):

Assistant Manager - ImTellinTim
Fitness coach - jb12780
Goalkeeping coach -
Head of Youth Development - Suntan Superman

Chief Scout -
Scout -
Chief Data analyst - studbucket

Head Physio -
Physio -

U23 Manager -

U18 Manager -
U18 Assistant Manager -

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

I'll take Head of Youth Development, Michael Petersen(my name is all over my screenshots anyway, like I care) 29 years old, high defense/working with youngsters low fitness/goalkeepers. Rest of the stats I'm ambivalent about.

EDIT: I suggest high loyalty as well so we don't try and leave the club, and low reputations.

EDIT2: American/Danish nationality, born in Viborg, Denmark if you care to get that detailed.

[jb12780]

***The Official Football Manager Thread***

Tommy Johnson fitness coach.

Outstanding fitness coach, highly motivated and determined.

Does not work well with youngsters.

British/American nationality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Zac]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

if you care to get that detailed.

Any details you guys want give is good. I'll put in what I can in the editor.

We are a 9th level club, so I wont make anyone crazy good. If I did everyone would leave for bigger clubs at the first asking. I'll give everyone potential so they develop and get better. But expect everyone to be around a National A/Sunday league level. Which is what the game thinks is a the "recommended" setting for this team.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***

I don't normally do long-winded posts for season wrap-ups or anything like that, but this season has been crazy at Lille and I feel bad for not keeping better track of it.

First off, Alexander Isak joined from Dortmund for 2.2m the January after I joined, and after 18 months of playing first team football, he's wanted by Madrid. He's scored 46 goals in 47 appearances so far. Current value is at 39m.

In less spectacular news, the club was facing a bit of a financial crunch so in off-loading a lot of dead weight I left some positional gaps at Lille. In comes Jeff Mensah from 1860. He started there, but was meant to be a backup here, and backup he has done. His ability to play LW, AM, RW, CM, and LB made him a pretty easy choice. Many times he's come up on the "coach's recommendation list" to set to "not needed" and to "transfer list" him. Here we are, my starting LW due to injury on the day of the final for the Coupe de la Ligue, what does Jeff Mensah do? Slot home a wicked cross from Jeff Reine-Adelaide at :45 into the first half. Lille win the Cup 1-0. Mensah even got a bit of stick from the fans during a short run of games earlier in the year. Stuck it right to them didn't he?!

Martin Odegaard, who joined in the summer from recently relegated Darmstadt, whom he had joined on a free from Madrid previously seemingly in a bit of downspiral, has notched a tidy six goals and seven assists in 27 league matches so far, and has been heavily influential in the centre of the pitch during games. I had soured on attacking midfielders, preferring defensive midfielders in my 3-man setups, but Odegaard completely displaced former captain Thiago Maia.

So after a disastrous start to the campaign, getting knocked out of the Europa League in the qualifying rounds, we've managed to surge into second place in Ligue 1(more like first, because lolpsg) win the Coupe de la Ligue, and we're into the Semi-Final in the Coupe de France, having previously bested Monaco in the league 5-1 about 3 weeks ago.