Help Need help with small team tactics

[George M9]

So i recently started a AFC Bournemouth save and it is going really bad I started the season really badly with losing all the friendly matches and then I started the EPL with a 2-2 draw which I barely turned around and after then my team just can't win any games I have tried almost all the underdog tactics in fm20 tactic index and non of them is actually working I but I started to clutch some 1-0 victories and then I start to lose games again i just want to get some advice 

I have seen people winning EPL and big leagues with really bad teams IN OnLY 1 seaSon and I don't get it how they do it ???? 

I have tried everything but it just doesn't work if the tactic is the problem please tell me which tactic you recommend for my AFC Bournemouth save plz 

[RichD]

When you said small clubs I thought it was going to be conference or something 😁

Can you show how your set up and what your squad looks like? May be able to advise what may work better 👍

[Rhewi]

So I had a look at Bournemouth to see what you had to work with. If I were starting this save I would probably go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with attacking mentality and narrow width for more possession with normal tempo and balanced creativity to keep possession by limiting mistakes.

For defense I would use all over pressing and committed tackling, for high line and offside trap I wouldn't use those for this team but you can if you really want, otherwise go balanced line and no trap. I only use time wasting when leading after the 80th minute or when im a lower league team playing a big team in a cup game. 

As for your attack I would use look for overlap for your IFs, work ball into box and the 3rd one can be your choice but I prefer run at defence. Use short or mixed passing with mixed focus and since you have a BPD I would put my GK to short passing also.

You could also use a 4-2-4 but I like 4-2-3-1 better. For your players you dont have a lot of depth at MC and both of your starters are DMC hybrids with BWM role so I would look for an advanced playmaker to play at MC and AMC as my first priority. Im not sure if the roles were messed up when I created the save but it had Callum Wilson as AF. I prefer him as a poacher. I bought him during my Dortmund save to keep from wearing out Haaland lol.

I made a couple of "best 11s" for the formations suggested. You could slide Ake to CD on the left side and start Rico at LB. 

[George M9]

19 hours ago, RichD said:

When you said small clubs I thought it was going to be conference or something 😁

Can you show how your set up and what your squad looks like? May be able to advise what may work better 👍

Ok here are some screenshots

 

 

[George M9]

4 hours ago, Rhewi said:

So I had a look at Bournemouth to see what you had to work with. If I were starting this save I would probably go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with attacking mentality and narrow width for more possession with normal tempo and balanced creativity to keep possession by limiting mistakes.

For defense I would use all over pressing and committed tackling, for high line and offside trap I wouldn't use those for this team but you can if you really want, otherwise go balanced line and no trap. I only use time wasting when leading after the 80th minute or when im a lower league team playing a big team in a cup game. 

As for your attack I would use look for overlap for your IFs, work ball into box and the 3rd one can be your choice but I prefer run at defence. Use short or mixed passing with mixed focus and since you have a BPD I would put my GK to short passing also.

You could also use a 4-2-4 but I like 4-2-3-1 better. For your players you dont have a lot of depth at MC and both of your starters are DMC hybrids with BWM role so I would look for an advanced playmaker to play at MC and AMC as my first priority. Im not sure if the roles were messed up when I created the save but it had Callum Wilson as AF. I prefer him as a poacher. I bought him during my Dortmund save to keep from wearing out Haaland lol.

I made a couple of "best 11s" for the formations suggested. You could slide Ake to CD on the left side and start Rico at LB. 

Ok thank you very much I appreciate that you had a look I will try this but I have a question should I play with attacking mentality all the time ? If yes then what about big clubs and will I concede a lot cuz I am small team and I. Might not be able to score again or is the attack best defence this is my question or should I change it sometimes depending on game or the team I am up against

Oh and also I bought Alena and sold Ake cuz he was being money beggar what can I do 

Edited October 31, 2020 by George M9
Forgot somethign

[RichD]

1 hour ago, George M9 said:

Ok here are some screenshots

 

 

Not a bad set up mate. I would change a few things, I personally always have two CB’s so wouldn’t have the NCB, the centre backs keep it simple enough, and I’d change the DM to a DLP, so the centre backs on my experience pass out to him quite a bit. I do like wing backs ahead of full backs. Only other bit I would change is changing Josh King to a Advanced forward or a complete forward, I’ve had great success with the complete forward on this years version.

I think your shape is fine, maybe go attacking home games against teams in and around you. I have found playing defensive against the big boys has worked well for me.

Defence I would change and close down all over, I tend to leave the others depending on my players. You can keep committed if you’re not getting too many bookings or sending offs.

You’re attacking options I like mostly, I’ve used shoot on sight a lot this year, I would take early crosses off though and put look for overlap on, I would switch through balls to run at defence. That’s it then 😁