Help

If you do not have the ball, then you have to try to recover it and tackling is one of the most effective techniques. There are 5 options available - Timid, Soft, Normal, Hard and Aggressive. The style that you choose will determine the level of commitment and aggression your players have when they try and win the ball.

Timid and Soft tackling won't win you much possession and it gives your opponents and easier time, but it will help prevent injuries and disciplinary action against your players. Hard and Aggressive tackling disrupt the opposition as you try and exert your authority on your opponents, but it is also likely to attract the referee's attention. Normal tackling is a happy medium of the 5 settings.

This determines the type of passing that you want your team to play when they are in possession of the ball. The drop down box has 4 options – Short, Mixed, Direct, and Long Ball. Do you play a short passing game or do you play long balls? Are you looking to play a direct game or do you want to play a combination of passing styles? When deciding upon the style of passing you want your team to adopt, you need to consider other aspects of your tactics like mentality and tempo.

The short passing game represents a team working with each other and knocking the ball around with style in a series of short passes, whereas the long ball is the direct opposite with players encouraged to hoof the ball up the pitch towards their forwards which could result in regularly giving away possession. Direct passing means that the player with the ball will try as fast as he can to search a forward passing to his attacking teammate. If you’re looking to play a direct game with an attacking mentality, your players may be launching longer passes from positions further up the pitch, which may prove wasteful.

This determines the speed at which your players attempt to play. The drop down box has 3 options - Slow, Normal and Fast. The tempo employed by your team could affect the success of your passing. For example mistakes could happen if they attempt to play the ball fast as the pass could go wayward.

This describes your general approach to the game and should be selected on the type of result that you think you can realistically manage. The drop down box has 5 options – Very Defensive, Defensive, Normal, Attacking, Very Attacking.

A Very Defensive mentality is used when you want to 'park the bus' in front of goal as you are expecting a very hard game. A Defensive mentality means that your players are more restrained in their approach. If you want to be more cavalier in your approach and are expecting an easy game then you can select an Attacking mentality. However, if you are after a couple of goals (for whatever reason) then you could select a Very Attacking mentality. A Normal mentality is a happy medium of the 5 settings.

This determines the area of the pitch that you want your team to focus the majority of their attacks. The drop down box has 5 options – Down Both Flanks, Down Left Flank, Down Right Flank, Mixed and Through the Middle.

If you are playing with two wide men then you may decide to attack Down Both Flanks so that they put plenty of crosses into the box. If you want to play to the strengths of your team and the weaknesses of others you may decide to attack either Down Left Flank or Down Right Flank. If you are not playing with wide me then you should channel your attacks Through the Middle. If you want to keep your opponents guessing where you are going to direct your attacks then you can select Mixed.

This determines where you want your players to close down and press the opposition when your opponents have the ball. The drop down box has 3 options – Own Area, Own Half and All Over. Closing down and pressing the opposition will increase the chances of taking the ball from them and dependent on which area of the pitch you do this will help determine your overall strategy.

If you are deploying an overall defensive system with the intention to soak up pressure then you could ask your players to press only in their own area as this would keep your shape due to players not chasing the ball. If you are happy for your opponents to have the ball in their own half then you could ask your players to press only when the ball is in their own half. If you are deploying an overall attacking system then you could ask your players to press all over as this is the definition of defending from the front.

This sets the playing style for your team and there are 6 options to select: Counter-Attack, Tight Marking, Use Playmaker, Men Behind Ball, Play Offside Trap, Use Target Man.

If you are planning to play on the break or facing a superior opponent then the Counter-Attack is a good option as you will look to launch attacks at high speed with directness in order to catch your opponent on the 'break' after they have give away possession in midfield or attack.

If you deploy Tight Marking then each player on your team is responsible for an opponent at all times. Using Tight Marking can come at the expense of attacking because defenders may become preoccupied with their defensive markings and be reluctant contributors to the team's offense.

If you select Use Playmaker then you are nominating a specific player to control the flow of your team's offensive play. This player will predominantly be involved in passing moves building up to an attempt on goal.

If you have adopted a defensive mentality then you may also decide to select Men Behind Ball if you are defending a lead or holding out for a result, but in doing so you will be ceding possession to your opponents.

You can decide whether or not your defensive unit should play the offside trap. If you deploy the offside trap then your defenders will attempt to 'trap' the opposition player in an offside position by moving up-field in a relatively straight line in order to put the attacker behind them just before the ball is kicked.