The Problem Might Not Be Your Tactics
Dispelling a common myth
The Problem Might Not Be Your Tactics
I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
Sometimes the problem with your team isn’t actually the tactic.
Football Manager is a complicated game. Things like morale and player personalities actually matter.
You might have the best tactic in the world — one of those famous Knap tactics that have been thoroughly tested and customized to be completely failproof. You might even have success with it, watching on with glee as your bottom-of-the-league side suddenly becomes world beaters.
But it can still go south.
I know. I’ve tried it.
The Players Or The Tactics?
Believe it or not, if you’re losing, the problem might be your players.
Here are a few signs of trouble to look for:
Inconsistency. Players who are inconsistent might play really poorly from one match to another, no matter how good or fine-tuned your tactic may be.
Dislike of Big Matches. Do you know what a “big match” is? Neither do I. Stay away from players who dislike them, as they might fall apart for you at random.
Bad Personalities. Stay away from players with bad personalities and poor work ethics. It’s not too bad if they are already well developed. However, keep in mind that leaders with poor determination, poor ambition, and poor professionalism can rub off on your other players.
Lack of Ability. Some players simply don’t have the ability to play at a high level. No matter how good the tactic is, you’ll never get anything worthwhile out of them. This one is harder for those of us who play without star ratings or attributes. If you are crazy like me and go for a deliberate handicap, keep in mind that you can learn about your player’s actual ability from the Coach Report page.
Poor Morale. Unhappy players won’t play well. There is a debate out there as to the impact that unhappiness has on player performance. However, I know from experience that an unhappy team will play far below its potential regardless of how magical your tactic may be.
Wrong Role. Sometimes the players just aren’t suited for the role. You’ve got a choice here: change the player, or change the role. And, once again, this can become very difficult if you purposely play with star ratings and attributes turned off.
More Thoughts
Two of my most popular YouTube uploads discuss this issue in further detail:
I’d love to know what you think!