Duties and set pieces

Tactics set the character of the whole team. A duty lets you tune it for one player — for example, let one full-back go forward and keep the other one back.

Where to set it

Tap a player on the pitch in "Tactics" — "Player decisions" opens (a panel on the right on a computer, a sheet from the bottom on a phone). There you find:

• "Positional role" — three duty buttons;
• "Assign set pieces";
• "Move", "Replace", "To the bench" and "Remove from squad".

The same place shows the player's fitness, morale and form and whether he is in his own position.

Three duties

A duty is a player's personal lean, not a second mentality: it does not change the team's overall shape. On the pitch a "D" or "A" appears by the player's surname; "Neutral" has no mark.

When to use which

• "Attack" — for a full-back who can dribble when the opponent is weak on that flank, or for a holding midfielder you want to join the attack.
• "Defend" — for a full-back facing a fast winger, a holding midfielder who has to cover the centre-backs, or everyone when you need to protect a lead.
• Do not give everyone "Attack": nobody will be left at the back. That is what mentality is for.

Duties are set for starting players only. When a player leaves the club, his duty is cleared.

Set-piece taker

"Assign set pieces" makes the player the first taker of corners, free kicks and penalties while he is on the pitch. An "SP" mark appears next to him on the pitch, and in his decisions the button becomes "Takes set pieces" — tapping it again removes the assignment.

• There is one taker per team; a new one replaces the previous one.
• If the taker is substituted, sent off or not assigned, another player takes the set piece — the game picks him.
• When the taker leaves the club, the assignment is cleared — remember to pick a new one.

Whom to choose: for corners and free kicks passing and finishing matter, for penalties above all finishing. Some traits also affect set pieces, but you have to reveal them first.