Tactics dials
The ten dials of the game plan and the seven ready-made plans — what each changes on the pitch and who it suits.
A game plan is ten dials. You do not have to turn every one: start from a ready-made plan and change one thing at a time.
Ready-made plans
The "Game plan" drawer opens from the plan row above the pitch. At the top are the "Ready-made plans": one tap sets all ten dials.
Plan
Plus
Minus
Balanced
Plusno weak spots
Minusno clear advantage either
Ball control
Plusyou keep the ball and stretch the opponent
Minusfew sharp chances against a deep defence
High press
Plusyou win the ball near the opponent's goal
Minusfitness drains faster, space behind the defence
Counter-attacks
Plusyou strike into space when the opponent opens up
Minuslittle of the ball, almost no attacks against a passive opponent
Wing play
Plusstrong wide players get the ball more often
Minusa thinner middle
Low block
Pluscompact near your own goal — to hold a lead
Minusyou create almost nothing yourself
All-out attack
Plusas many players as possible near the opponent's goal
Minusthe defence is exposed, every loss is a threat
Change any dial and the plan becomes "Custom plan". None of the ready-made plans has a conflict.
The main dials: mentality, pressing, tempo
- Mentality — "Very def.", "Defensive", "Balanced", "Attacking", "Very att.". The more attacking, the more players go forward: more chances — at your own goal too.
- Pressing — "Low", "Medium", "High". High brings many interceptions but drains fitness. Low saves energy but gives the opponent the ball.
- Tempo — "Slow", "Normal", "Fast". Fast means forward with the first touch: many chances and many losses. Slow means long build-up and little risk.
Details: seven more dials
Dial
Options
What it changes
OptionsPossession, Tiki-taka, Direct, Wings, Counter-attack
What it changesthe route the team attacks by
OptionsLow, Medium, High
What it changesa high line squeezes the pitch for the opponent but leaves space behind
OptionsCounter-press, Balanced, Regroup
What it changespress the ball at once or drop back into shape
OptionsOn, Off
What it changeswhether the back line steps up together to catch the striker offside
Which players it needs
A dial only works when the players can carry it out:
- Possession and tiki-taka need passing and first touch in midfield.
- Wings needs strong wide players who can dribble and pass.
- Direct needs a physically strong attack that wins the long balls.
- Counter-attacks need quick forwards and patience: against an opponent who also sits deep there are few chances.
- High pressing and counter-press need players with stamina and a fresh bench.
- A high line and the offside trap need quick defenders; against fast strikers they are a risk.
Changing the plan
- Every change saves by itself, and "Line strength" in the drawer immediately shows which way it pushes the team.
- If a dial contradicts another one, a conflict mark appears next to it and "Details" opens by itself. How to fix it is in "Tactics conflicts".
- Change one thing at a time and test it in 2–3 friendlies.