Tactical Planning

Opposition Weaknesses & Strengths

Listed below are some general weaknesses and strengths that you may want to look for in the opposition team, along with some suggested changes that you can make to your team’s line-up, formation or tactical style.

Exploiting Opposition Weaknesses

Lack of players in the central midfield and defensive central midfield positions (for example, only two players in these positions with little support from central attacking midfield), or poor general defensive abilities in these areas.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team plays very wide.

• A more patient attacking style with shorter passing focused mainly through the centre using Exploit The Middle, such as the Passing Through The Defence style. This can help your team to gain control in the middle of the pitch.

• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style with shorter passing focused mainly through the centre using Exploit The Middle, such as the Running At The Defence style, especially if the opposition team lacks both numbers and general defensive abilities in central midfield.

• Play Narrower to help your team to dominate play in central areas.

• Supporting and attacking players who have good general attacking abilities in central positions, perhaps including a player in a playmaker role.

• Three or more players in the central midfield and attacking central midfield positions.

• A player in central attacking midfield, especially if the opposition team has no central defensive midfielder.

Defenders and defensive players who have poor mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace).

• A more patient attacking style, such as the Counter Attacking, Passing Through The Defence, or Attacking With Creative Wingers styles. This can encourage the opposition team forward, allowing your players more space to attack into behind the defence.

• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style, such as the Running At The Defence or Attacking The Flanks styles, to more frequently test the mobility of the defence.

• One or more attackers who have good mobility and attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) in areas where the opposition defence has poor mobility. A more attacking player behind a supporting player can help to create overloads in these areas.

• Passing focused to the area where the opposition defence has poor mobility; for example, using Exploit The Middle or Exploit The Flanks.

Defenders and defensive players who have poor aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to defend poorly against direct passes.

• An attacking style with more direct passing focused to the area where the opposition defence has poor aerial and physical presence or tends to defend poorly against direct passes (for example, using Exploit The Middle or Exploit The Flanks), such as the Playing To A Target Man or Attacking The Flanks styles.

• Alternatively, a more patient attacking style and Exploit The Flanks to encourage more crosses to be made.

• One or more attackers who have good aerial and physical presence in the areas where the opposition defence has poor aerial and physical presence or tends to defend poorly against direct passes, along with sufficient support for these attackers.

• Float Crosses or Whipped Crosses to take advantage of the better aerial and physical presence of your attackers.

Central defenders who have poor general defensive abilities.

Your analysis indicates defensive weakness in the central areas or defensive strength in the wide areas.

• At least one central attacker who has good attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) or dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair). Good attacking movement can be particularly effective against a defender with poor marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning), while good dribbling ability can be particularly effective against a defender with poor tackling ability (Tackling and Decisions).

• Three or more players in the central attacking midfield and striker positions to try to overload the opposition team’s central defenders. A more attacking player behind a supporting player can help to create overloads

• Exploit The Middle.

• Low Crosses or Whipped Crosses to take advantage of the opposition defenders’ poor marking ability.

One or both wide defenders have poor general defensive abilities.

Your analysis indicates defensive weaknesses in one or both wide areas or defensive strength in the central areas.

• A wide attacker on the appropriate flank (or two wide attackers) who has good attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) or dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair) and who stays wide rather than cutting inside. Good attacking movement can be particularly effective against a defender with poor marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning), while good dribbling ability can be particularly effective against a defender with poor tackling ability (Tackling and Decisions).

• One or more overlapping wide defenders who have good attacking movement or dribbling ability to try to overload the opposition team’s wide defenders, perhaps in combination with Look For Overlap.

• Exploit The Flanks, possibly as part of the Attacking The Flanks style.

Attackers who have poor mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace), attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) and dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team’s attackers do not tend to make a lot of successful runs.

• A higher defensive line, possibly as part of a more aggressive defending style. This can keep the opposition attackers further away from your team’s goal where they are likely to be less effective, and allow your defence to provide better support to your midfield. Use Offside Trap may not be necessary if your team’s defenders have better mobility than the opposition attackers since they should be able to catch them if they get behind the defensive line. In fact, playing the offside trap can instead make it more difficult for your team’s defenders to get back quickly enough if the trap is beaten.

Wide attackers who have poor mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and general attacking abilities, wide players who have more defensive roles and duties, or no players in the winger positions.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team’s wide players take up less advanced positions.

• Wide defenders who have good general attacking abilities and more attacking roles and duties (on the appropriate side if only relevant to one of the opposition team’s flanks). This can be particularly effective against lone wide players or wide defenders with little support from their wide partners.

• Wide defenders who have good endeavour (Work Rate and Stamina) and who can contribute to attacking play but still track back to help defend when needed.

Attackers who have poor aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to play unsuccessful direct passes.

• Prevent Short GK Distribution to encourage the opposition team’s goalkeeper to use longer distribution which can be more easily dealt with by your defence.

• Close Down More or Close Down Much More specific player instructions for your attackers or close down alwaysopposition instructions for opposition defenders to encourage the opposition to make more direct passes from deep areas.

Generally poor focus (Composure and Concentration), mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace), control (First Touch and Technique) and dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team often concedes possession.

• Close Down More or Close Down Much More, possibly as part of a more aggressive defending style.

• Closing down always opposition instructions for those players who have poor ratings in these attributes or who have been identified as often conceding possession.

Generally poor endeavour (Aggression, Bravery, Determination and Work Rate) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

• Get Stuck In, possibly as part of a more aggressive defending style.

• Hard tackling opposition instructions for those players who have particularly poor endeavour and physical presence.

A very defensive formation or very poor overall ability.

• A more patient attacking style, such as the Passing Through The Defence or Attacking With Creative Wingers styles. This can help to create gaps and space against an opposition team that is likely to sit very deep and defend extremely cautiously, often referred to as “parking the bus”.

• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style that makes use of direct dribbling, such as the Running At The Defence style, to try to destabilise the opposition defence.
• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style that uses attackers who have good aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength) to take advantage of a deep opposition defence, such as the Playing To A Target Man or Attacking The Flanks styles.

• A more cautious defending style to try to encourage the opposition team forward when it has possession, making it more vulnerable defensively when your team wins the ball back.

• Alternatively, a more aggressive defending style to try to win the ball back quickly and give your team more time in possession to try to break through the opposition team, as well as to try to force and exploit mistakes.

Countering Opposition Strengths

For a particularly dangerous opposition player you may want to use a specific man marking instruction. This tells one of your players to shadow the opposition player wherever he goes on the pitch in order to restrict his availability to his teammates when he is off the ball and his time and space when he is on the ball, therefore limiting his ability to influence the match. For such marking to be effective your player should have good marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning), and preferably good tackling ability (Tackling and Decisions) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

However, the nature of man marking means that the marker can easily be dragged out of position, and so the instruction should be considered carefully. It is advisable not to give specific man marking instructions to more than one player in the same area of the pitch, or to central defenders as it is important for them to stay in their positions.

You can give a player a specific man marking instruction by accessing his specific player instructions at any time during or immediately before the match (after confirming your team selection) and using the Mark Specific Player drop-down list in the Defending category.

A defensive formation with five or more players in the central midfield, defensive central midfield and central defender positions, or very good general defensive abilities in these areas.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team plays very narrow.

• A more patient attacking style, such as the Counter Attacking, Passing Through The Defence or Attacking With Creative Wingers styles, using a deep midfield playmaker. This can encourage the opposition team forward, allowing your players more space to attack into behind the defence.

• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style that bypasses central midfield, such as the Playing To A Target Man or Attacking The Flanks styles.

• Exploit The Flanks where the pitch is likely to be less congested.

• One or more overlapping wide defenders who have good attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) or dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair) to try to overload the opposition team’s wide defenders, perhaps in combination with Look For Overlap.

• Play Wider to give your players more space.

• Float Crosses if the opposition defenders have good marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning), unless they also have better aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength) than your attackers.

Attackers who have good aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to play successful direct passes.

• A higher defensive line, possibly as part of a more aggressive defending style. If the opposition attackers also have good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) then Use Offside Trap or using defenders who have good mobility can help to reduce the risk of a high defensive line.

• One or more defenders and defensive players who have good aerial and physical presence in the areas where the opposition attack has good aerial and physical presence or tends to play successful direct passes to.

• A tight marking always opposition instruction for an attacker who has particularly good aerial and physical presence or who tends to win aerial challenges often, as long as you are confident that he will be competing against a defender who has better or similar aerial and physical presence. You should keep checking the position of the attacker throughout the match in case you need to change the position of his marker. Otherwise, tight marking never and closing down always opposition instructions can be used.

• Specific man marking of an attacking midfielder who has particularly good aerial and physical presence or who tends to win aerial challenges often by an appropriate midfielder who has better or similar aerial and physical presence.

Defenders and defensive players who have good aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to defend well against direct passes.

• A more patient attacking style with shorter passing, such as the Passing Through The Defence or Attacking With Creative Wingers styles. Your team will be more likely to keep the ball on the ground and so less likely to lose possession with unsuccessful aerial passes.

• Alternatively, a quicker attacking style with shorter passing, such as the Attacking The Flanks or Running At The Defence styles.

• Low Crosses or Whipped Crosses to reduce the use of high crosses that are likely to be headed away.

• Exploit The Flanks to avoid aerial balls into central areas, especially if using an attacking style with more direct passing. If you are using an attacking style with shorter passing then Exploit The Middle can be used to reduce the number of crosses attempted.

Attackers who have good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace), attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball) or dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique and Flair).

Your analysis indicates that opposition attackers tend to make a lot of successful runs.

• A more cautious defending style.

• If instead you use a high defensive line then Use Offside Trap can help to reduce the occurrence of situations where your defenders have to chase opposition attackers who get behind the defensive line. However, opposition attackers who have good attacking movement are more likely to beat the offside trap.

• One or more defenders and defensive players who have good mobility and general defensive abilities, and more defensive roles and duties, in the areas where the opposition attack has good mobility, attacking movement or dribbling ability, or where opposition attackers tend to make at lot of successful runs.

• Specific man marking of a player who has particularly good mobility, attacking movement or dribbling ability, or who tends to make a lot of successful runs, by a player in an appropriate position who has good mobility and general defensive abilities. For on the ball runs tackling ability (Tackling and Decisions) is particularly important while for off the ball runs marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning) is particularly important.

• A tight marking never opposition instruction for a player who has particularly good mobility or attacking movement or who tends to make a lot of successful off the ball runs, and closing down never and easy tackling opposition instructions for a player who has particularly good mobility or dribbling ability or who tends to make a lot of successful on the ball runs.

Wide players who have good mobility or general attacking abilities, or wide players who have more attacking roles and duties.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team’s wide players take up advanced positions.

• Wide defenders who have good general defensive abilities and more defensive roles and duties (on the appropriate side if only relevant to one of the opposition team’s flanks).

• A holding midfielder playing off-centre to give extra protection on one side, either because of a bigger threat on that side or a wide defender who has poorer general defensive abilities or a more attacking role and duty.

• If the opposition winger on one side is less of a threat then a holding midfielder playing off-centre can be used to help to protect that side instead of a wide defender who has good general defensive abilities or a more defensive role and duty, allowing this defender to provide more attacking support.

• The Defending The Flanks defending style, especially if your team has a narrower formation than the opposition team.

Three or more players in the central attacking midfield and striker positions or central attackers who have good general attacking abilities.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team’s central players take up advanced positions.

• Ideally, one player in either central defence or defensive central midfield, or a holding midfielder in central midfield, for each opposition player in these areas. However, wide defenders can also help defend against off-centre attackers in a narrow opposition formation.

• Defensive and supporting players who have good general defensive abilities in central positions.

• The Defending The Middle defending style, especially if you are using a wider formation than the opposition team.

A midfielder or attacker who has good creativity (Anticipation, Decisions, Flair, Teamwork and Vision) and passing ability (Passing and Technique), especially if he has a playmaker role, or possibly a wide player who has good crossing ability (Crossing).

Your analysis indicates that a player poses a passing threat or attempts crosses often.

• Specific man marking of the player by a player in an appropriate position, who preferably has good endeavour (Aggression and Work Rate), physical presence (Balance and Strength), Stamina and general defensive abilities, to make it harder for him to distribute the ball dangerously. This can be particularly useful if the opposition team uses a deep midfield playmaker, since such a player tends to otherwise receive a lot of space, while he will not be able to create space for attacking teammates by dragging his marker (a more attacking midfielder) out of position.

• Tight marking always, closing down always and hard tackling opposition instructions for the player.

• If your defenders are capable of dealing with the opposition team’s crosses then you may prefer not to focus on preventing crosses being made. To help you to decide whether this is the case you can consider your defenders’ aerial presence (Jumping Reach) and physical presence (Balance and Strength) if the opposition attackers have good aerial and physical presence, and their mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and marking ability (Marking, Anticipation, Concentration and Positioning) if the opposition attackers have good mobility and attacking movement (Anticipation and Off The Ball).

Midfielders or attackers who have good long range shooting ability (Long Shots and Technique).

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to attempt a lot of successful shots from distance.

• Tight marking always and closing down always opposition instructions for one or two players who have particularly good long range shooting ability or who attempt a lot of successful shots from distance.

A very attacking formation with four or more players in the wide and central attacking midfield and striker positions, or very good general attacking abilities in attack.

Your analysis indicates that the opposition team tends to have a lot of good chances against teams of a similar quality to your own.

• A more cautious attacking style, such as the Counter Attacking style.

• A more cautious defending style.

• Supporting and defensive players who have good general defensive abilities.

• A tight marking always opposition instruction for a particularly dangerous attacker who tends to have a lot of good chances.

A good scoring record or threat from free kicks.

• You may want to instruct your team to Stay On Feet, possibly as part of a more cautious defending style.