Tactics Tree's Basic But Effective 2-2-2-2-2

[Mr Tree]

Results: I've been using this for the last 10 seasons on my "Goal a mile" career. I've taken East Fife from SFL2 to SPL with 3 promotions in a row, Bonnyrigg Rose the same plus 2nd place in first SPL season, then back-to-back promotions with Bradford in VNL and EFL2.

Not really tested at the highest levels yet, but it's the same tactic i used last season at Liverpool too and it was effective then... Let me know how you get on! 

 

Setup: well, here it is...

...yep, that's it really. I don't do anything here:

or here:

 

I don't want them to only do one thing - i want them to assess the options and choose the right one...

I find that the IWB's basically act as BWM's, which frees up the second CM to become a BBM, alongside the playmaker. I like the idea of the RP... i used AP last year and it was effective, but i found RP better this time. 

Always IF on the wings - i find it the most effective of those options, very dangerous. 

I don't really mind what roles the strikers play, i do whatever they're comfortable with, although not P-P or AF-AF. I don't mind TM-TM, that can be effective (not used it much this season though, haven't had the right players). TM, AF or P are my favourite striker roles but like i say, i don't mind much. 

 

In-game: simple - if drawing at half-time, i turn on Early Crosses and Shoot on Sight. If losing at half-time, i do that plus all the defensive options to the right (except Timewasting of course) - so High Defensive Line, Press All Over, Committed Tackling and Offside Trap. 

I generally take off the two lowest condition players 65-70 minutes, and change the tactical setup again as above, if needed. If still losing, I'll go to Overload. 

 

Players: i do two types of Search - i look for players with Decisions, Passing and Teamwork, or players with Technique and Teamwork. I filter it down to a reasonable amount, and then get the scouts to check them out. I also basically use the Coach Report to pick the team. I believe in the stars!!

For the IWB's I'll add Positioning too... for centre-backs and strikers, i add Ariel and Strength to the basics, plus Positioning for the defenders and Movement for the strikers... and if I'm not finding the right players, I'll allow a bit lower passing (or teamwork for the strikers).

 

I tried to be brief but yeah, that's how i do it - I'm nowhere near as good as some on here, but i can vouch for this setup being effective if you're looking for something simple

Let me know any feedback, questions, etc. Good luck!

[StuartM]

I really like the look of this Mr Tree, thanks for sharing, the results are very impressive. On one of mine I have the IWB in the back line... did you try that before settling on this shape?

[Mr Tree]

59 minutes ago, StuartM said:

I really like the look of this Mr Tree, thanks for sharing, the results are very impressive. On one of mine I have the IWB in the back line... did you try that before settling on this shape?

yeah it started as a 4-4-2 (or 4-2-2-2), just with Full-Backs though. I haven't tried the IWB's back there since it was added this year. But yeah (i meant to say) - they tend to play as a defensive four when we're defending anyway, so all good. Maybe sometimes you get exposed - some midfield three's ping passes around you. But the computer doesn't seem to really take advantage of it much, plus you can hurt them. I love it cos you seem to cover the field really well, and there's always options nearby. At its best, the highlights show you totally swarming the other team, not letting them out, relentless pressure. Great to watch

[Rich]

Looks good Mr Tree, I love this kind of formation, haven’t tried to implement one of these yet. I’m also like you the less the better with defensive instructions. Good work 😁

[Ersel39]

It really works congratulations. I use FB in standby more effective.

[Liisandro]

What tactical style to use? tiki taka, vertical tiki taka

[Schwantz34]

24 minutes ago, Liisandro said:

What tactical style to use? tiki taka, vertical tiki taka

This is being repeated constantly on the site now. The tactical style doesn't make a difference, it is simply a template for the style you choose and you can either keep it or adapt (probably better to adapt the defaults) it to what you want your team to do.

[Mr Tree]

9 hours ago, Schwantz34 said:

This is being repeated constantly on the site now. The tactical style doesn't make a difference, it is simply a template for the style you choose and you can either keep it or adapt (probably better to adapt the defaults) it to what you want your team to do.

Yep exactly. I just skip that part and then move my players around as above. 

[Rehans]

What a great and beautiful tactic. Doubted it at first because going on winless streak at first, but after getting the right players and developed the relationships i been banging goals for fun. 

[Rehans]

seems like playing with counter is more effective than attacking when using smaller teams. when i go counter, my Twente beat Napoli 7-1 in CL, then in the 2nd leg i tried attacking mentality but lost 3-1 to them

[Mr Tree]

Interesting, cheers for the feedback @Rehans! I mostly use small teams but i haven't tried different options much so who knows...

[Liisandro]

Could you put all the instructions you use in the corners both in defense and in attack?

[Mr Tree]

12 minutes ago, Liisandro said:

Could you put all the instructions you use in the corners both in defense and in attack?

Nope - i don't think they have much impact, i don't put much effort into them. You have to amend them, cos the AI does crazy stuff otherwise. But I'm not doing anything special. 

[Kjoeew]

Brilliant tactic, especially when you use the right players! I really like the basic setup.

Won the VNL and the FA Trophy.

Some season statistics : 

Spoiler

 

[daniel1130]

On 1/19/2021 at 14:32, Liisandro said:

Could you put all the instructions you use in the corners both in defense and in attack?

This is like the 20th time you've asked this and the question about tactical style lol, corner instructions do almost nothing and tactical style is just a preset.

[snell89]

Finding this tactic is quite good at getting results. But I am sometimes conceding more shots than my opponent for some reason.

 

Guess I am getting results so it doesn’t matter too much. 

[Rehans]

I think somehow this tactic has been nerfed in the latest update. Results getting worse with 10 winless matches. IWB not as powerful as before

[Stuttgartsteve]

I love the simplicity of this tactic Mr Tree and I think I might give it a go myself in a lower league save.

[Mr Tree]

On 24/03/2021 at 16:53, Rehans said:

I think somehow this tactic has been nerfed in the latest update. Results getting worse with 10 winless matches. IWB not as powerful as before

Still seems alright to me, but I'm only using it in a crap league for now so who knows... Thanks for trying it and giving the feedback, anyway!

Thanks to you too, @Stuttgartsteve- good luck with it! 

[Rehans]

18 hours ago, Mr Tree said:

Still seems alright to me, but I'm only using it in a crap league for now so who knows... Thanks for trying it and giving the feedback, anyway!

Thanks to you too, @Stuttgartsteve- good luck with it! 

Yeah i guess the quality of the league affetcts it. Been managing many clubs in Holland and changing clubs per 3-5 seasons. Ajax, Breda, and Twente, moved to EPL for 2 seasons, then back to Eresivise with Uthrect where suddenly this tactic not working well anymore and had to tweak it. I guess the eredivise league improved a lot, and when i faced all my former teams i always got massacred conceded 3-6 goals 😂. Funny though because i was the one who turned them into monsters. Thanks for this very very good tactic man