Advices for tactics

[t11_fan]

This advices are based on my 36 season experience of leading various clubs on levels 1-24 and some levels were repeated.
They are written in order to adapt tactics to counter your opponent.
There is no universal tactic, that is why we can adjust it Tactics should improve effectiveness of your teams stats. If your team performs bad, remember to check other factors (like form or morale), everything is important, more or less.
Also I would like to invite other experienced players to post their experienced based on various tactics and share with us additional informations and suggestions. Feedback always helps



Mentality
-normal: This is my 1st choice to start match, provides balance between attack and defence, and I usually don't change it if match develops well. During the match I change it if needed to other tactics:
-attacking: I use it against much weaker teams or when my needs goal, but still has enough time to catch result.
-defensive: I use it during when my team has lead and opponent is strong and uses offensive setup to try to catch result.
-very attacking/very defensive: I use it only in last 10 minutes of the match if me/opponent is desperate to score. Those 2 tactics are very risky.

Pressing
I usually use low pressing. High pressing is good when you use offensive formation while opponent has 5 or more players on his side of the pitch. It could also be useful against much weaker teams than yours. It is also risky tactic because gives opponent space for counterattack.

Tackling
-normal: regulary used, usually against weaker teams or against stronger ones when my team has too much fouls and cards.
-hard: good against strong teams, could cause more fouls and cards.
-easy: can't remember when I used it, could be useful when you have high score and you don't want your players booked

Marking
-I usually use zonal, I sometimes change it to man-to-man when opponent is much weaker so that my players. Some players claim that for them MTM marking is more effective than zonal, so I think it is individual. My team Dnipro has received only 2 goals in last 8 matches with zonal defence, so I stay loyal to it.

Passing
Before any passing suggestion, you need to remember to check completed passes % during the match. If it is around 80% or less (after 10-15mins, not in 1st 5min), then change passing settings.
FOCUS
-mixed: against balanced formations like classic 442
-through flanks: against formations with 2-3 wingers (narrow formations with strong centre)
-through middle: against formations which have 1 or 2 central mildfielders (not only MC, also AMC and DMC counted). In this case my counter formation usually has 3-4 central mildfielders.
LENGHT/STYLE
-mixed: my most often choice, suits to most formations and counters
-short: used usually when my completed passes % is weak and against strong teams whose formation has up to 4 mildfielders
-long: used usually when my opponent is strong and has 5 mildfielders formation and/or when opponent has 3 defenders formation.

Some formations have specific passing focus settings, so for example:
-narrow formations like N.diamond or 43N3, usually work best with mixed passing. You don't need to focus it through middle because it is middle-focused formation by default. I've noticed that mixed passing with narrow formation is more effective than through middle.
-2 central mildfielder formations works with mixed or through flanks passing. Through middle shouldn't be combined with these formations.

Force counterattacks
I have to admit that I don't use force counterattacks (CA) button at all. Why? Because I've noticed that fair amount of CA's have been broken, but worse is that then opponent starts CA against team whose CA was broken. Do not force CA when you play offensive! Force CA should be used when defending.

Offside trap
It is useful when you use 3DC defence with offensive formation, whole pitch pressing and you face weaker teams with 3ST attack.

Arrows
I wouldn't suggest to use red arrows on offensive positions (ST, AM) and blue arrows on defenders because that is their task by default. You don't need to order your striker to join attack because he is attacker.

Red - Mostly used when player, usually winger, has open space in front of him (eg. when I have 4 wingers while opponent has only 2). Red arrows are useful when you use defensive oriented formation which needs stronger support in attack, for example 4141 + red arrows on fullbacks. This sometimes creates effect of offensive fullbacks like Marcelo.
You should not use red arrows on fullbacks when your opponent uses AML/R or when he has 3ST in front of your 3-4 defenders.
Blue - when I'm focused on defense or outnumbered in some part of pitch (eg. when I have 2MC+DMC in the middle while opponent has AMC+2MC+DMC, then I use blue arrows on MC's).
Blue arrows could also be used on attacking players when you play offensive formation in order to make them more active in defensive part of game, I mean to create Wayne Rooney's work ratio (attacker who is helps in defending too)
For example, I put blue arrows on 2 side strikers in 3ST formations. Sorry, but I don't like lazy strikers (as Balotelli) who spends most of his time walking around pitch.


I'll try to update this thread (basicly main post) from time to time if I remember something or find out something new.
If someone didn't understand certain part, feel free to ask for detailed explanation

[nikolgiorgos]

Nice thread !
First of all, I want to say that @t11_fan was one of the first guys that helped me a lot when I started playing the game.
We prepared together my team in some semi finals when I was lv2-lv3 and rookie in the forum
I find those tips solid as a manual for playing the game.
I 'm not using all of them, so I 'll put my personal point of view here and maybe adding some tips if I can.

Let's start with mentality.
First of all, I want to say that we can't change the orders many times during the game.
It's football (not basketball) and the game/process needs some time to react to your orders.
So, I change my orders not more than 3 times/game, max 4th, if I 'm desperate.
When I 'm starting a game, I wait till about 30' min, to see how the process- the balance of the game is going on. Then, I 'll decide if I 'll keep that way or gonna change something.

About mentality :
Starting from my 2nd season, I bought my token pack and I made a good team 5* and few early 6* players, so facing weaker teams most of the times I was playing attack. Then I read in the forum from some members (if I remember well, must be RJ Slow & Siddharth) that they were playing 4-5-1V , defense/counters and had many victories with domination. I tried, saw the results and from then I 'm starting that way.

Playing (log in) the game almost everyday, at least I prepare my team for the next match, even if I know that I can watch the game because maybe something gonna happen (some work to do, somewhere to go or internet loss ).
So, I always set the defense mentality because as in real football, the first step to success is not to loose.
Then, when watching the game, I decide if I 'll change anything.

The second step to success is to win of course
I don't care match if I 'll win with a big score. For me a 5-0 victory, without cards or injuries is the perfect game.
Some times of course, I enjoy a great score, more because this will improve the stats of my players and this is gonna be useful later, when the time will come to sell them.

[t11_fan]

Thanks, Nik
I've noticed that many players ask for specific tactics for some formation, while in my opinion one formation can have various tactic setups. Setup varies from formation itself, your team's strenghts and weakness and even more important, from opponents quallity, formation etc.
I agree with your statement that we shouldn't change too much times during the game unless we need it.
I've learned that when players are bad during the match, tactical changes could take low effect on match stats, but usually there was no turnovers in match. However, when players form is good, team is eager to react on changes and it could change match outcome.

Form gives effectivity and importance to tactics while tactics can improve or impair form. It can't be separated.

TE is sometimes hard to understand, and as in real life football, we can't predict match outcome, we can only guess. But there are some things that we can understand, adjust and do what is possible to do, what is in our might, to increase chances for good result.
Football, both real and virtual, would be boring if everything was predictable.

[nikolgiorgos]

ok, let's talk about zonal/man to man marking and pressing style.
First I want to remind that we had a change on those two orders. Now high pressure and man to man can cause more condition loss but give some advantage to the team.
Here we can read this part of the post of Moi, who is an administrator and member of top eleven.

Tactics do have an important impact into the game. Selecting different pressure styles (high pressure - whole pitch vs low pressure - half pitch) HAS an impact in your players and in your team's performance. Same works with man-to-man and zonal defensive styles. More demanding tactics give you a boost on your performance, in exchange of higher condition drop. As in real life. Of course we can't tell you how it affects the performance of your players, this is up to every manager to "investigate", but yes, of course, high pressure gives you an extra performance boost, while normal pressure doesn't (however, it also influences other things).
Before, it didn't make sense to have one tactic (high pressure) giving a team better performance, in exchange of same drop condition than the other option. What we have changed is the impact in the condition that these tactics require, and obviously they're not tactics that should be constantly used, because YES, they use a lot of condition.

This is post #58 of this thread http://forum.topeleven.com/bugs-tech...tml#post363108

My thoughts about that :
Pressing
I don't know what exactly (in the game) meaning high pressure. Does it mean pressing oppo in his (defense) area or it means pressing harder to oppo players. Before this update, I thought high pressure was to press oppo in his defense area, when you have a better team/players, so be more aggressive, with more attacking mentality. Older posts of the forum also mention that.
But if you have a weaker team or want to play defense, this meaning, high pressure doesn't help because defense is more vulnerable that way.
In Greek translation of the game, there are different words , it is "more pressure" & "less pressure".
So, how is it really works

Man-to-man : this should work better if your players are better in q, stronger and faster. If you are weaker and try to play vs Real M. or Barcelona, you 'll start counting the conceded goals

In real football, man-to-man was the old classical way for playing, after that, came the zone marking, then zone plus man-to-man to the best/key oppo player and now in our days, is more complex (triangles). It's a local zone, where oppo star player, when gets the ball, is surrounded from 3 players (we can see that to Messi).
Then why it's said that man-to-man gives advantage in exchange of condition loss ? Is it a calculation/process of the game ?

Moi : Of course we can't tell you how it affects the performance of your players, this is up to every manager to "investigate"

I believe that many things in top eleven cannot be investigated. Every game is different, oppo players, form, system, good/bad day, roll dice, so many factors that I 'm really curious if someone had some solid evidence about this.
I tried "high pressure" and "man to man" in some games where I was loosing (about 10), in one I get finally a draw and in another one I managed to reverse the result and win.
After that, I can say that I cannot see any significant effect in my performances, I never use those two orders (because the condition loss is for sure, while performance booster not) so only in some cases where I 'm desperate, I could use them as another "emergency" button.

[t11_fan]

...

Pressing
I don't know what exactly (in the game) meaning high pressure. Does it mean pressing oppo in his (defense) area or it means pressing harder to oppo players. Before this update, I thought high pressure was to press oppo in his defense area, when you have a better team/players, so be more aggressive, with more attacking mentality. Older posts of the forum also mention that.
But if you have a weaker team or want to play defense, this meaning, high pressure doesn't help because defense is more vulnerable that way.
In Greek translation of the game, there are different words , it is "more pressure" & "less pressure".
So, how is it really works

...

It seems top eleven doesn't show us clear difference between aggresion (on ball, player who controlls ball and space around it) and pressing (attacking opponent on his side when he has ball controll).
As far as I can understand TE, agression is based on your players physical skill and could not be controlled with tactics.
Pressing could be changed (low/high - whole pitch), while tackling settings determine how harsh/lenient your player is going to be when he tackles opponents player.

[t11_fan]

I've written update for counter formations table. 1st version wasn't mine, but downloaded. This isn't final version and lacks some formations, but most of them are here. Feel free to write update yourself if you find something effective, feedback is welcome. Also, don't forget to combine appropriate tactics with this formations, because fomation itself won't have effect if tactical settins are wrong.


F = Flat, V = V-style (DMC+2MC+AML+AMR), W = Wide (wings included)
N = Narrow (without wings in defence or mildfield; without DL/R, DML/R, ML/R, AML/R)
2WM = ML-MR, 3WM = ML-MC-MR
2WAM = AML-AMR, 3WAM = AML-AMC-AMR
2WDM= DML-DMR, 3WDM = DML-DMC-DMR


® 5-4-1 >.< >.< 4-4-2, 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-4-1-2, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1, 3N-1-5-1
® 5-3MC-2 >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2F, 3N-4-1-2, 3N-3MC-2W-2, 4-4-2*, 3N-1-5-1
® 5-3WM-2 >.< >.< 3N-4-1-2, 3N-5-2, 4-4-2*
® 5-DMC-3MC-1 >.< >.< 3N-5-2V, 3N-5-2F, 3N-3MC-2W-2
® 5-DMC-3WM-1 >.< >.< 3N-5-2F, 3N-5-2V
® 5-DMC-2MC-AMC-1 N. Diamond (5ND)>.< >.< 3N-5-2V-Style, 3N-1-4-2
® 5-DMC-2WM-AMC-1 W. Diamond (5WD)>.< >.< 3N-5-2 Flat
® 5-2MC-2WAM-1 >.< >.< 4-1-2-3*, 3W-5-2F*, 3W-1-4-2*, 3W-4-1-2*
® 5-2WM-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 4-2-2-2 Hexagon, 3N-1-4-1-1
® 5-2MC-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 4-3N-3, 3N-2DMC-4-1, 3N-2DMC-3WM-2*, 3N-2DMC-3WAM-2*
® 5-2MC-AMC-2 X-Style >.< >.< 3-5-2 Flat, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2V, 3N-1-5-1
® 5-1-1-1-2 >.< >.< 3-5-2, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2V
® 4-5-1 Flat >.< >.< 3-5-2 Flat, 3-5-2V
® 4-5-1 V-Style >.< >.< 4-3N-3, 4-3MC-2AMC-1*
® 4-4-2 Classic >.< >.< 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-4-1-2, 4-5-1V, 3-6-1 Butterfly, 4-N.Diamond, 4-3MC-1-2, 4-1-3MC-2
® 4-DMC-2MC-AMC-2 N. Diamond (4ND) >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2V, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1, 3N-1-5-1
® 4-DMC-2WM-AMC-2 W. Diamond (4WD)>.< >.< 3N-5-2F*, 3N-1-4-2*, 3N-1-5-1*
® 4-DMC-2MC-2AMC-1 Loop >.< >.< 4-2DMC-3WM-1, 3N-2DMC-4-1, 3N-2DMC-2MC-2WAM-1
® 4-DMC-MC-2WAM-2 >.< >.< 3N-3WDM-2MC-2*, 3W-1-4-2*, 3W-1-5-1*
® 4-DMC-MC-2AMC-2 >.< >.< 3N-5-2V*, 3N-5-2F*, 4-2DMC-3WM-1, 3N-2DMC-4-1, 3N-2DMC-2MC-2WAM-1
® 4-2DMC-MC-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 3N-1-4-1-1, 3N-2DMC-3WM-2, 3N-2DMC-MC-2WAM-2
® 4-2DMC-MC-2WAM-1 >.< >.< 5-2MC-2WAM-1*, 3W-1-4-2*, 3W-1-5-1*
® 4-3W-3 >.< >.< 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2. 3N-1-5-1, 4-4-2, 4-5-1V
® 4-3N-3 >.< >.< 4-1-4-1, 3N-1-5-1, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-1-4-1-1
® 4-DMC-3MC-2 >.< >.< 4-3N-2WAM-1, 3N-5-2F, 3N-5-2V, 451F, 4-1-4-1, 3N-1-5-1, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1
® 4-1-3N-1-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 3N-5-2V, 3N-1-4-2, 3N151, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1
® 4-1-3N-2 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-3N-2WAM-1, 3N-5-2V, 3N-1-4-2, 3N151, 3N-3MC-2WAM-2, 4-5-1F
® 4-1-3WM-2 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-5-1F, 4-4-2, Xmas Tree*, 4-1-4-1
® 4-1-3WM-1-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1, 3N-1-4-2, 3-5-2F
® 4-2DMC-3W-1 >.< >.< 3-6-1 Butterfly, 3N-5-2F
® 4-2MC-3N(AMC)-1 >.< >.< 3N-2DMC-3WM-2, 3N-2DMC-3WAM-2
® 4-2MC-3W(AM)-1 >.< >.< 4-4-2*, 4-1-4-1*, 3W-1-5-1*
® 4-3N-1-2 >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 3N-1-5-1, 3N-5-2V, 4-3MC-2WAM-1*, 4-5-1V*, 3N-5-2*
® 4-3WM-1-2 >.< >.< 4-1-4-1, 4-5-1V, 3N-1-4-2*, 3N-1-5-1*
® 4-3WM-2AMC-1 Xmas Tree >.< >.< 3W-2DMC-3N-1-1 Effiel Tower, 4-5-1F, 4-2DMC-3W-1*
® 4-3MC-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 3N-2DMC-3W-2, 3N-2DMC-4-1, 3N-2DMC-3WAM-2 3N-2DMC-3WM-1-1
® 4-3MC-2(AML/AMR)-1 >.< >.< 3N-2WDM-3N-2, 3-6-1 Butterfly
® 4-2-2-2 Hexagon >.< >.< 3N-4-1-2*, 4-4-2, 4-5-1V, 3N-4-3*, 4-1-4-1*
® 4-1DMC-2MC-3 >.< >.< 4-1-4-1, 3N-2-3W-2, 3N-2-4-1, 3N-2DMC-3WM-1-1
® 4-1MC-2AMC-3 >.< >.< 3N-2DMC-3W-2, 3N-2DMC-4-1, 3N-2DMC-3WAM-2 3N-2DMC-3WM-1-1, 4-1-3W-2*
® 4-2-1-3 >.< >.< 3N-5-2V, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-1-5-1, 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1, 4-3N-2W-1*
® 4-1-4-1 >.< >.< 3W-4-3, 3W-5-2F*, 3W-3MC-3WAM-1*
® 4-4-1-1 >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 3-5-2F*, 4-5-1 V-Style, 3W-2N-3W-1-1, 3N-1-5-1, 4-1-4-1
® 3N-5-2 Flat >.< >.< 4-3-2WAM1, 4-5-1V, 3-6-1 Butterfly*,
® 3W-5-2 Flat >.< >.< 4-5-1 V-Style*, 3N-1-4-2*
® 3N-5-1-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond
® 3W-5-1-1 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond, 4-5-1V*
® 3W-4-3 >.< >.< 4-2-2-2 Hexagon, 3-6-1 Butterfly, 4-4-2
® 3N-4-3 >.< >.< 4-3N-2WAM-1, 4-4-2 Classic, 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2, 3-6-1 Butterfly, 4-2-2-2 Hexagon
® 3W-1-4-2 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond, 4-3N-2AMC-1*
® 3N-1-4-2 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-3N-2WAM-1
® 3N-5-2 V-Style >.< >.< 4-3N-2WAM-1, 4-5-1V, 4-2-2-2 Hexagon*
® 3W-5-2 V-Style >.< >.< 3-6-1 Butterfly
® 3W-2DMC-3WM-2 >.< >.< 3W-5-2F, 3N-5-2F, 4-4-2*
® 3N-2MC-3WAM-2 >.< >.< 4-1-4-1, 4-5-1V, 3-6-1 Butterfly*, 4-4-2*
® 3W-1-3WM-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1 V-Style, 3-6-1 Butterfly*
® 3N-1-3WM-2AMC-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1 V-Style, 3-6-1 Butterfly*
® 3W-1-3W-1-2 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 N.Diamond, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2F, 3W-2DMC-3N-1-1*, 4-3MC-2AMC-1
® 3N-1-3W-1-2 Dandelion >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 4-5-1V, 4-4-2, 4-1-2-1-2 W.Diamond, 4-1-4-1
® 3W-1-3N-1-2 >.< >.< 3N-1-4-2, 3N-5-2V, 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1, 3N151, 3N-1-3MC-2WAM-1
® 3N-4-1-2 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 N. Diamond, 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1
® 3W-4-1-2 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 N. Diamond
® 3N-2WDM-3MC-2 >.< >.< 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-1-5-1, 3N-4-1-2, 4-4-2*
® 3N-2WDM-2MC-2WAM-1 (3-6-1 Butterfly) >.< >.< 4-2-2-2 Hexagon, 4-4-1-1*, 4-3MC-1-2
® 3N-2WDM-2MC-1-2 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 N. Diamond
® 3W-2DMC-2W-1-2 >.< >.< 3W-1-4-2, 3W-5-2V *
® 3W-2DMC-3W-1-1 Maple Leaf >.< >.<3N-1-4-2
® 3W-2DMC-2MC-2W-1 >.< >.< 4-4-2
® 3N-1-4-1-1 >.< >.< 4-1-2-1-2 N. Diamond, 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1
® 3N-1-3MC-2AW-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1, 4-3N-2WAM-1, 4-5-1F*
® 3N-1-5-1 >.< >.< 4-5-1V, 4-1-4-1, 4-3N-2WAM-1, 4-5-1F*

+ Ultimate defensive formation - 3DC-3WDM-3MC-1
Use this formation when you have to defend against very strong opponents. If used well, this formation could be very hard to break even if opponent uses counter.
3DC-3WDM-3MC-1 >.< >.< 3N-5-2F, 3N-1-4-2, 3N-1-5-1*

[BeckStar]

i would sugest to make a new thread with the counter formations and call it
CounterFormations 2015 just so that ppl know it's up to date ;P
many would miss it here and it could be very useful.

[t11_fan]

@BeckStar
Thanks for suggestion. I've made this update this evening, so I couldn't remember all formations and all counters, so I think I'll 1st improve this update, then post it.

[HoofDaddy]

Don't update anything let the bads be bad plz

[t11_fan]

Don't update anything let the bads be bad plz

LOL
Counter formations table was "old as Bible" and lacks a lot of info.