Top Eleven Tactical Details Explaination
Arrows in Top Eleven Football Manager
It is used to give specific instructions to individual players regarding their movement and positioning. Here’s how you might use them:
Upwards Arrow (Attacking):
- When to use: Use this when you want a player to make forward runs and join the attack. This is particularly useful for midfielders and full-backs who have good attacking attributes.
- When not to use: Avoid using this for players who lack stamina or attacking skills. Also, be cautious using it for defenders against teams with fast forwards, as it could leave space behind for them to exploit.
Downwards Arrow (Defensive):
- When to use: Use this when you want a player to stay back and focus on defensive duties. This is particularly useful for defenders and defensive midfielders.
- When not to use: Avoid using this for your key attacking players or when you’re chasing a game and need a goal, as it could limit your attacking potential.
No Arrow (Supporting):
- When to use: Use this when you want a player to hold their position and support the play from the side. This is particularly useful for wingers and wide midfielders.
- When not to use: Avoid using this for central players or when you’re trying to play through the middle, as it could make your play predictable and easy to defend against.
Team Mentality
Hard Defending:
Hard defending requires your players to prioritize defensive measures such as blocking shots and intercepting passes in order to keep the opposition from scoring. The squad keeps a deep defensive line and a compact structure, making it difficult for opponents to find gaps and lowering the danger of conceding goals. While the offensive risks are restricted, when the side regains control, there are counter-attacking opportunities to take advantage of.
When to use?
- It must be used in situations where you are trying to protect your slim lead.
- If your opponent is using counter-attacking strategies.
- It will increase your chance of not conceding but also limit the chance of scoring.
Defending:
This mentality is typically used to focus your team to defend against the opponent and prevent the opponent from scoring. It gives more priority to defending over offensive.
Why to use:
- It will be effective when you are facing a team that is strong in attack.
- It is useful when you want to protect your lead or play the draw in the game.
Why not use:
- It might limit your own team’s scoring opportunities so If you want to create lots of goal-scoring opportunities then don’t use this mentality.
Normal:
This mentality is typically used to focus your team to defend against the opponent and prevent the opponent from scoring. It gives more priority to defending over offensive.
Why to use:
- It will be effective when you are facing a team that is strong in attack.
- It is useful when you want to protect your lead or play the draw in the game.
Why not use:
- It might limit your own team’s scoring opportunities so If you want to create lots of goal-scoring opportunities then don’t use this mentality.
Attacking:
When to Use Attacking Mentality:
- When you’re down in a match and need to score goals quickly.
- When your team has the ‘tools’ – aka players – to attack quickly. Look at your formation and identify who is breaking immediately when the ball is won.
- When your formation effectively covers every opposition player. For example, narrow formations miss the opposition fullbacks. 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, 4-2-1-3, 3-4-3 variants are all examples of formations which will press effectively.
When Not to Use Attacking Mentality:
- When it leads to an increased frequency of long passes that go nowhere near their target.
- When it results in awful shooting from everywhere on the field.
- When you’re vulnerable to counter-attacks because your defensive line is high and you’re coughing up possession a lot.
- When your formation does not effectively cover every opposition player. For example, narrow formations miss the opposition fullbacks.
Hard Attacking:
When to Use Hard Attacking Mentality:
- When you’re down in a match and need to score goals quickly.
- When your team has the ‘tools’ – aka players – to attack quickly. Look at your formation and identify who is breaking immediately when the ball is won.
- When your formation effectively covers every opposition player. For example, narrow formations miss the opposition fullbacks. 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, 4-2-1-3, 3-4-3 variants are all examples of formations which will press effectively.
When Not to Use Hard Attacking Mentality:
- When it leads to an increased frequency of long passes that go nowhere near their target.
- When it results in awful shooting from everywhere on the field.
- When you’re vulnerable to counter-attacks because your defensive line is high and you’re coughing up possession a lot.
- When your formation does not effectively cover every opposition player. For example, narrow formations miss the opposition fullbacks.
Focus Passing: Short
When to use Short Passing:
- Possession Play: Short passing is ideal when your team is built around maintaining possession and controlling the pace of the game. It allows your players to make safe, close-range passes and keep the ball within your team.
- Against High Press: If the opponent is using a high press strategy, short passing can be effective as it allows for quick distribution of the ball, making it harder for the opponent to intercept.
- Skilled Midfielders: If your team has skilled midfielders who are good at passing and controlling the ball, short passing can be very effective.
When not to use Short Passing:
- Long Ball Strategy: If your strategy is to quickly get the ball to your forwards via long balls, then short passing might not be the best option.
- Against Deep Defense: If the opponent is defending deep in their own half, short passes might not be effective as it might be difficult to break down the defense with short passes.
- Lack of Skilled Midfielders: If your team lacks midfielders who are skilled at passing and controlling the ball, short passing might lead to loss of possession.
Focus Passing: Mixed
When to use Mixed Passing:
- Versatile Strategy: Mixed passing is ideal when you want your team to be adaptable to changing situations in the game. It allows your players to choose the best type of pass based on the situation.
- Balanced Team: If your team has a good mix of players who are skilled at both short and long passes, mixed passing can be very effective.
- Uncertain Opponent Tactics: If you’re unsure about the opponent’s tactics or their style of play, mixed passing can be a safe option as it doesn’t commit your team to one specific style of play.
When not to use Mixed Passing:
- Specific Strategy: If your team is built around a specific strategy (like possession play or long ball), then mixed passing might dilute the effectiveness of your strategy.
- Lack of Versatile Players: If your team lacks players who are versatile and can effectively switch between short and long passes, mixed passing might not be the best option.
- Against Specialized Teams: If the opponent team is specialized in countering either short or long passes, using mixed passing might play into their hands.
Focus Passing: Long
When to use Long Passing:
- Counter-Attacking Strategy: Long passing is ideal when your team is built around a counter-attacking strategy. It allows your players to quickly launch attacks by bypassing the midfield.
- Against High Defensive Line: If the opponent is playing with a high defensive line, long passing can be effective as it allows your forwards to exploit the space behind the defense.
- Physical Forwards: If your team has physical forwards who are good at winning aerial duels, long passing can be very effective.
When not to use Long Passing:
- Possession Play: If your strategy is to maintain possession and control the pace of the game, then long passing might not be the best option as it involves more risk.
- Against Deep Defense: If the opponent is defending deep in their own half, long passing might not be effective as there might be limited space for your forwards to exploit.
- Lack of Physical Forwards: If your team lacks forwards who are good at winning aerial duels, long passing might lead to a loss of possession.
When to use Passing Down Both Flanks:
- Wing Play: If your team has fast and skillful wingers, passing down both flanks can be very effective. It allows your team to stretch the opponent’s defense and create crossing opportunities.
- Against Narrow Defense: If the opponent is defending narrowly, passing down both flanks can exploit the space on the wings.
- Full-Backs Pushing High: If your full-backs are pushing high up the pitch, passing down both flanks can utilize their attacking potential.
When not to use Passing Down Both Flanks:
- Central Play: If your team’s strength lies in the center of the pitch, with a strong midfield and a target man upfront, then passing down both flanks might not be the best strategy.
- Against Wide Defense: If the opponent is defending wide or has fast full-backs, passing down both flanks might be less effective.
- Lack of Wing Play: If your team lacks fast and skillful wingers, passing down both flanks might lead to loss of possession.
When to use Passing Through the Middle:
- Central Play: If your team’s strength lies in the center of the pitch, with a strong midfield and a target man upfront, then passing through the middle can be very effective.
- Against Wide Defense: If the opponent is defending wide, passing through the middle can exploit the space in the center.
- Skilled Midfielders: If your team has skilled midfielders who are good at passing and controlling the ball, passing through the middle can be very effective.
When not to use Passing Through the Middle:
- Wing Play: If your team’s strength lies on the wings, with fast and skillful wingers, then passing through the middle might not be the best strategy.
- Against Compact Defense: If the opponent is defending compactly in the center, passing through the middle might be less effective.
- Lack of Skilled Midfielders: If your team lacks midfielders who are skilled at passing and controlling the ball, passing through the middle might lead to loss of possession.
When to use Mixed Passing Style:
- Versatile Strategy: Mixed passing style is ideal when you want your team to be adaptable to changing situations in the game. It allows your players to choose the best type of pass based on the situation.
- Balanced Team: If your team has a good mix of players who are skilled at both short and long passes, mixed passing can be very effective.
- Uncertain Opponent Tactics: If you’re unsure about the opponent’s tactics or their style of play, mixed passing can be a safe option as it doesn’t commit your team to one specific style of play.
When not to use Mixed Passing Style:
- Specific Strategy: If your team is built around a specific strategy (like possession play or long ball), then mixed passing might dilute the effectiveness of your strategy.
- Lack of Versatile Players: If your team lacks players who are versatile and can effectively switch between short and long passes, mixed passing might not be the best option.
- Against Specialized Teams: If the opponent team is specialized in countering either short or long passes, using mixed passing might play into their hands.
Force Counter Attacking: Yes
When to use Force Counter Attacking:
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy and looking to exploit the opponent on the break, then forcing counter-attacks can be very effective.
- Fast Forwards: If your team has fast forwards who can quickly transition from defense to attack, then forcing counter-attacks can be a good strategy.
- Against Possession Teams: If the opponent team likes to keep possession and commit many players forward, forcing counter-attacks can exploit the space they leave behind.
When not to use Force Counter Attacking:
- Possession Play: If your team’s strength is keeping possession and controlling the game, then forcing counter-attacks might not be the best strategy as it involves quickly giving the ball away.
- Lack of Fast Forwards: If your team lacks fast forwards who can exploit the space behind the opponent’s defense, then forcing counter-attacks might not be effective.
- Against Defensive Teams: If the opponent team is playing a defensive strategy and not committing many players forward, forcing counter-attacks might not be effective as there might be limited space to exploit.
Force Counter Attacking: No
When to not use Force Counter Attacking:
- Possession Play: If your team’s strength is keeping possession and controlling the game, then not forcing counter-attacks can be a better strategy as it allows your team to dictate the pace of the game.
- Slow Forwards: If your team lacks fast forwards who can exploit the space behind the opponent’s defense, then not forcing counter-attacks can be a good strategy as it allows your team to build up play more methodically.
- Against Attacking Teams: If the opponent team is playing an attacking strategy and leaving space behind, not forcing counter-attacks can be effective as it allows your team to exploit the space at the right time rather than rushing to launch a counter-attack.
When to use Force Counter Attacking:
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy and looking to exploit the opponent on the break, then not forcing counter-attacks might not be the best strategy.
- Fast Forwards: If your team has fast forwards who can quickly transition from defense to attack, then not forcing counter-attacks might limit their effectiveness.
- Against Possession Teams: If the opponent team likes to keep possession and commit many players forward, not forcing counter-attacks might limit your team’s ability to exploit the space they leave behind.
Pressing Style: Low
When to use Low Pressing:
- Conserving Energy: Low pressing is ideal when you want your team to conserve energy and focus more on maintaining their shape and structure. It allows your players to stay in their positions and not expend energy chasing the ball.
- Against Skilled Teams: If the opponent team has skilled players who are good at keeping possession, low pressing can be effective as it reduces the risk of your players being pulled out of position.
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy, low pressing can be a good option as it focuses more on denying space to the opponent rather than winning the ball back quickly.
When not to use Low Pressing:
- High Intensity Play: If your team’s strength is high intensity play and winning the ball back quickly, then low pressing might not be the best strategy.
- Against Less Skilled Teams: If the opponent team is less skilled at keeping possession, low pressing might not be effective as it allows them more time on the ball.
- Attacking Strategy: If your team is playing an attacking strategy and looking to win the ball back quickly to launch attacks, then low pressing might not be the best option.
Pressing Style: High
When to use High Pressing:
- High Intensity Play: High pressing is ideal when your team’s strength is high intensity play and winning the ball back quickly. It allows your players to put pressure on the opponent and force them into making mistakes.
- Against Less Skilled Teams: If the opponent team is less skilled at keeping possession, high pressing can be effective as it puts them under pressure and increases the chances of them losing the ball.
- Attacking Strategy: If your team is playing an attacking strategy and looking to win the ball back quickly to launch attacks, then high pressing can be a good option.
When not to use High Pressing:
- Conserving Energy: If your team needs to conserve energy and focus more on maintaining their shape and structure, then high pressing might not be the best strategy.
- Against Skilled Teams: If the opponent team has skilled players who are good at keeping possession, high pressing might not be effective as it increases the risk of your players being pulled out of position.
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy, high pressing might not be the best option as it focuses more on winning the ball back quickly rather than denying space to the opponent.
Tackling: Low
When to use Easy Tackling:
- Avoiding Fouls: Easy tackling is ideal when you want to minimize the risk of committing fouls. It allows your players to focus on intercepting the ball rather than going in for hard tackles.
- Against Fast Players: If the opponent team has fast players who are good at evading tackles, easy tackling can be effective as it reduces the risk of missing tackles and leaving spaces open.
- Conserving Energy: If your team needs to conserve energy for other aspects of the game, easy tackling can be a good option as it requires less physical exertion than hard tackling.
When not to use Easy Tackling:
- High-Intensity Play: If your team’s strength is high-intensity play and winning the ball back quickly, then easy tackling might not be the best strategy.
- Against Physical Teams: If the opponent team has physical players who are good at shielding the ball, easy tackling might not be effective as it might be difficult to win the ball back.
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy and looking to disrupt the opponent’s play, easy tackling might not be the best option as it might not put enough pressure on the opponent.
Tackling: Normal
When to use Normal Tackling:
- Balanced Approach: Normal tackling is ideal when you want your team to maintain a balanced approach between aggression and caution. It allows your players to go for tackles without being overly aggressive or too cautious.
- Versatile Players: If your team has versatile players who can adapt their tackling style based on the situation, normal tackling can be effective.
- Uncertain Opponent Tactics: If you’re unsure about the opponent’s tactics or their style of play, normal tackling can be a safe option as it doesn’t commit your team to one specific style of tackling.
When not to use Normal Tackling:
- Specific Strategy: If your team is built around a specific strategy (like high intensity play or conserving energy), then normal tackling might not be the best option as it might not fully align with your strategy.
- Against Skilled Dribblers: If the opponent team has skilled dribblers who are good at evading tackles, normal tackling might not be effective as it might not put enough pressure on the dribblers.
- Against Physical Teams: If the opponent team has physical players who are good at shielding the ball, normal tackling might not be effective as it might not be aggressive enough to win the ball back.
Tackling: Hard
When to use Hard Tackling:
- High Intensity Play: Hard tackling is ideal when your team’s strength is high intensity play and winning the ball back quickly. It allows your players to put a lot of pressure on the opponent and force them into making mistakes.
- Against Physical Teams: If the opponent team has physical players who are good at shielding the ball, hard tackling can be effective as it puts them under pressure and increases the chances of winning the ball back.
- Defensive Strategy: If your team is playing a defensive strategy and looking to disrupt the opponent’s play, hard tackling can be a good option as it puts a lot of pressure on the opponent.
When not to use Hard Tackling:
- Avoiding Fouls: If your team needs to avoid committing fouls and getting cards, then hard tackling might not be the best strategy as it involves a higher risk of fouls.
- Against Skilled Dribblers: If the opponent team has skilled dribblers who are good at evading tackles, hard tackling might not be effective as it increases the risk of missing tackles and leaving spaces open.
- Conserving Energy: If your team needs to conserve energy for other aspects of the game, hard tackling can be a bad option as it requires more physical exertion than easy or normal tackling.
Offside Trap: On
When to use Offside Trap:
- High Defensive Line: The offside trap is most effective when your team is playing with a high defensive line. This strategy compresses the space in which the opposing team can operate, making it easier to catch opponents offside.
- Well-Coordinated Defense: If your defenders are well-coordinated and can move as a unit, the offside trap can be very effective. Timing and teamwork are crucial for this strategy to work.
- Against Direct Play: If the opponent team relies on direct play or long balls, using the offside trap can disrupt their strategy by catching their forwards offside.
When not to use Offside Trap:
- Against Fast Forwards: If the opponent team has fast forwards who can time their runs well, the offside trap might not be effective and could lead to dangerous situations.
- Lack of Coordination: If your defenders are not well-coordinated, the offside trap can backfire, leading to goal-scoring opportunities for the opponent.
- Deep Defensive Line: If your team is defending deep in your own half, using the offside trap might not be the best strategy as there’s less space to catch opponents offside.
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