Football manager 2015

[mongers]

Are these football managements games the fan's quest for the perfection that doesn't happen on real grass?

[Syt]

Are these football managements games the fan's quest for the perfection that doesn't happen on real grass?

In Germany we have a saying that when the national team plays there's 80 million coaches sitting in front of the screens who know better. Many fans think they could do better than the actual coaches. So in many ways, sports management games are wish fulfillment in that regard. "Why is he starting X? Y would be so much better in that position! And Z should be in central midfield, not on the right wing!"

[Josephus]

I find that the game's working as it should. Yes, I lose players to injuries when I over-train them, and you'll end up with lots of deflections playing teams sitting back. Get your set-pieces in order, and you'll score anyway.

OK, so help me. I have six players injured right now. Playing in MLS so squad is thin. Big problem. I've changed my training intensity to low but guys are having all sorts of training related injuries, weights, muscles, etc.

[Norgy]

Some players are just plain injury-prone and play maybe a fifth of a season altogether. Reading your physio's reports on your players should give you an understanding of who they might be. Rotation is most likely the best practice, but that's not always possible, as most squads won't have the depth.

My advice is to get more and better physios. And fitness coaches who weren't at Treblinka.

[Josquius]

I can't decide what to do with Martin Odegaard. I don't use central attacking midfielders....so should he be a winger or a central midfielder

[Liep]

So I bought this. It's good, as always, but I really think they're making the players too bitchy. I had a player complain about lack of first team playing after 7 games in the league, 3 of which he started with 2 subs.

Come on. In a 42 games league.

[Norgy]

Never really had much of an issue with players complaining.
Just one. I signed him on a free. He looked good. Spanish winger. I probably made a huge mistake by praising him after his first game.

I have very little time for assclownery by my players, so after five more games I transfer-listed his ass hard and basically gave him away to Palermo. I hope he sleeps with the fishes.

[Liep]

It's not much, and I've already been drawn back into this game, but it's still annoying. First team player gets sidelined for 2 months and before he's even fully recovered (orange inj) he's complaining about lack of first team football. I threw a fit and send him to the reserve team.

[Josquius]

How do you tackle over confidence and cocky players?

[Norgy]

In teamtalks, warn against complacency when possible. Don't always listen to your assistant.

There are no "super tactic" in FM anymore, but I have found that four at the back, with the full-backs in supporting roles, two deep midfielders where one is on on ball-winning duty and the other is a deep-lying playmaker, two wide players on the wings and a trequartista and a poacher make for some rather liquid, flowing attacking play.

Instructions:
Control
Flexible

Short passes
Run against defenders
Low crosses
Work ball into the box

Exploit the flanks
Look for overlap

More pressing
Push higher up
More closing down

At the back, use tight marking and preferably man-marking between the two in central defence. (Set in individual instructions)

And spend time setting up your set-piece instructions.

I am still at loss with coping with a team just sitting back, though.

[Josephus]

What does 'run against defenders' do? I've never really used it.

[The Larch]

What does 'run against defenders' do? I've never really used it.

If I get it right it means that your players will try to dribble past defenders rather than cross into the area.

[Josephus]

I thought that's what "work ball into box" does.

[Josquius]

Work ball into box is try and pass the ball right into the goal.
Good for keeping possession, less good for scoring

[Norgy]

I can't decide what to do with Martin Odegaard. I don't use central attacking midfielders....so should he be a winger or a central midfielder

Ødegaard in real life plays as a winger cutting inside when attacking and as wide midfielder when defending.

I notice the Spanish paper AS blaming him for Castilla's failure to gain promotion.