Voodoo management, and 'total'ly weird formations!

[Philip L. Willis]

Ok guys, simple question, how do these nonsense formations win so many game for their managers!!!! Some people call it ' 'TOTAL' or "PURE" football theory.



Is there a theory behind all these weird formation? Ws, Ss, Zs and any old how lopsided way they care to put them. I personally have never lost to one of these Voodoo managers as yet, well I rarely lose, but that is beside the point. I go with the usual formations, counters and advice from managers that think straight.



I do not understand why these formations win their managers so many games. I manager logically, rationally and work hard. I always watch my matches, watch friend's matches too, train my team all through the day and give them lots and lots of Stars, plus a good bit of planning on my part.




So can anyone explain this to me, the use of these sometimes illegal, always lopsided way of lining up your team, it this all trial and error? Or it there a Voodoo "GENIE" that slip in between the game engine logic of Nordeus' program.

A Bermuda triangle in the formation vs counter chart!






"There are no KATAs" ~ Bruce Lee.
"Be like water my friend, be like water" ~ Bruce Lee.
"Hit em where they ain't no light" ~ 'Earnest goes to camp'

[RJSlow]

I wish I could use some Voodoo from time to time to help me out. I guess i will keep looking for a magic lamp in Top Eleven

[Gintaras Račas]

Can someone summarise to me in understandable language what Philip wrote.

[Dman2pt]

Can someone summarise to me in understandable language what Philip wrote.

I was thinking the same thing!

[paul northey]

neither can i. lol

[RJSlow]

Can someone summarise to me in understandable language what Philip wrote.

RJSlow general translation: Why do people use weird formations not used in real life

[Celtic]

RJSlow general translation: Why do people use weird formations not used in real life

Yup.

Nonsense formations that would get you crushed in real life, here work perfectly against logic.

And they work even better when managers are not present, just like in voodoo.

[Gintaras Račas]

Oh! Ooooooooooooh! With pictures it all makes sense! Too bad, I have no idea how to answer.

[Buffs Mad]

irl players have free will (except those managed by Alex Ferguson ) and instant feedback for their actions and inactions with an ability to react - in a game they do not, even the most sophisticated simulation can't do it. Its useful sometimes to make rl comparisons to game mechanics but they're not and can't be the same.

But, that said, in the game one of the intentions is to find space for players. At a very basic level we don't know if formations are purely 'player placement' or if there are deeper programmed associate actions - truth is likely to be between the 2. If we assume formations have more to them than just placement then we might think of established/recognised formations as controled formations (with advantages/disadvantages or srengths/weaknesses). Soooooooo, unusual formations are free from that (be it an advantantage or disadvantage) - their intent therefore is to find space and avoid coverage.

Another intention of an unusual formation might be to cause the opposition to do something different and force a mistake.

Ofc, most of these different placements are not that different....just a slide one 'square' either way for single players.

On the other hand, we can see this as just farting about with words and thoughts, reject it and get on with playing the game.