Subject: Ireland Vs...

The addition of Paraguay has just ended any slim chance we had of getting into that top 30. Basically we, along with Switzerland, just got screwed.
Thankfully it's only Paraguay they've added or we'd be looking at ending up in the 5th seeding group.

What are peoples thoughts on trying something new tactically in these next two games, seeing as we now cant get into the top groups?
Tactically i think we've become a bit predictable, i was looking at formations this morning and i've had a few ideas that might make us a bit more solid.
Oh and for the record. I have no plans on using that 3-5-2 with the 1 defensive mid again. The new engine means we're far too exposed.
I'd really love to find a decent 4-4-2 but it seems very limited when you consider having to keep at least one defensive mid. We either end up with no width and get overrun by better teams or we stretch it and get overrun anyway. Thats why i've stuck rigidly with a 5 man mid.
I'd like Shanes formation but I'm not entirely convinced that it works when you're the weaker team or whether i'm even capable of recreating it adequately from the 1 game i've played against him. I'll have a look.
Nope, cant do it because he didnt use it against me
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Hm..Paraguay won't take part in quals, will it? As I remember new countries doesn't start in quals..:s

Wait and see i guess. I'm hoping you're right

I'm pretty sure they do.

They did when I was England manager, as there was Turkey and Cymru in the group when they had just got their NTs.

Ahh right...there's one season without NT at all, not without quals...

Hm...the draw will take part this saturday, right? Before or after the games?

Morning updates I think.

I thought it happened right after the last game of the current manager, basically after we play Costa Rica.

I had a lovely new tactic i wanted to use tomorrow. Unfortunately their setup looks like a pretty good counter to it, so it's going to have to wait.

I'm looking forward to tomorrows game. I've made quite a few changes because i think we were getting a bit predictable. They'll either work wonderfully or it'll be a miserable failure. Hopefully the former given that they were designed for this game.
Thats something i think i need to get back to. Designing tactics, i've gotten a bit lazy recently by taking old tactics and then just adapting them for each game.

A few stats for ya

We started with 1277.11 points
We now have 1456.31 points
We're ranked 12th/65 for ranking points gained with 179.2
Belarus are top with 325.82


We started ranked 45th
We are now 36th (Not including Paraguay)
We're ranked 11th/65 for rank movement, having moved up 9 places
Wales are top having moved up 22

We have 3 new additions to the squad and 1 player has been droped.

Dave Dallas (Defender) He's never come close to being called up this season and at 29, he's not going to be improving.

In
Jerry Lestina (Defender) - He's not likely to play unless we're short but is a better option than Dallas and 7 years younger.

Steven Dean (Midfielder) - A potentially very good mid with training. Is unlikely to play but his inclusion will encourage his training.

Joe Phelan (Forward) - Is unlikely to feature this season but could be looking at a place on the subs bench by the end of it. His inclusion is also to encourage his training.

Other players may follow in or out. There is a ? hanging over Martin Fairclough.
Whats becoming clear though is the need for defenders. I have around 30 listed who aren't in the squad and none of them look good enough. It's a problem that could be critical by the start of next season so for those who are looking for something new to train, there you go.

With regard to designing tactics what you need to start doing is rotating your midfield across the pitch. Wingers are only needed when you're attacking down their side, when the ball is in other areas you can tuck them in to help the dms. I know you can't look at my formation in action but Sweden did the same thing against you recently. This should give you the tactical options you need.

I dont so much rotate them as just move them across, with the far side taking up a more advanced position. By having a defensive mid i'm very limited with how much i can do. I dont like pulling players too far out of their positions because the new engine seems to be centering the ball a lot more often and it leaves big gaps.
Balancing attack and defence seems almost impossible but i think i've done it reasonably well today.
I'd love a decent 4-4-2 but having a 3 man mid leaves us too exposed. I think the only way to do it is to drop the wings like you do. It's not easy to pick up mid tactics from watching games. Any other position is simple but with 4 mids, who are each going in different directions it's hard to keep track.

For gods sake, divine keeper in dvine form and he lets that in!

I really dont get whats going on with that midfield at the moment. They're being disposessed every single time they're challenged for the ball and their passing is terrible. There is absolutely no reason for any of it.

I dont know what the hell is going on with the throwins either. I spent 20 minutes sorting that out and then they just go and ignore it.
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