Guide to win 4-4-2

[Toxcatl]

I wonder why do people start with such strange orders, like Hard Defending, Short passes and Hard tackling. Why?
From my experience it is much better to start with everything Normal/Mixed/Off and change them when you see how the game goes. I mean, sometimes it is reasonable to start with Attacking or Defensive mentality, or use c-attacks from the beginning, or even M2M, but using such specific orders all together like those I mentioned above... I just don't understand. It makes your team stiff. I believe that's why you've lost: you can't react adequately on what happens on the field.
You've chosen a very narrow tactics and got yourself countered.