Basic Tactics bring success?

[van Niewenhuyze]

Having just got hold of this game, I was rather cynical about it; having thought it was just for young people and those older ones with too much time on their hands. I am pleased to say I was very wrong. Championship Manager is very addictive and an excellent game of strategy!

Talking of strategy and tactics. I've looked at many CM forums since buying this game, and seen the most in-depth and mind-boggling team formations espoused as being the only ones to bring you regular victory. I've also read about pointing player arrows all over the place and where to position your players when not in possession of the ball. In honesty, these type of formations make my head spin so I decided to keep it simple. I've just finished third in the Premiership, won the League and FA Cups with Crystal Palace in my second season, having won the 1st Division title in my first. I played nearly every game home and away, with a basic 4-4-2 formation, and the occasional 4-3-3 if I was ever down a couple of goals with 20 minutes to go, say. I had the centre-backs marking particular players, with direct passing, one midfielder in a free-role with all the midfield short-passing, and left the team tactics green box to default, the regular 1st team was:

1) Daniel Andersson
2) Teddy Lucic
3) Paul Dillon
4) Danny Murphy (Loan)
5) Brahim
6) Taribo West
7) Kulkov (Player Coach)
8) Ishizaki
9) Ibrahimovic
10)Touma
11)Vassall (Loan)
Subs
Kirkland
Mete
Gray
Carlisle
Richard Harris

Can you consistently be successful using basic game plans, or is it just early luck?

[Ian Hart]

I don't know about your tactics, but you've certainly changed the team around a bit in only two seasons!

[Steve in Phoenix]

To answer your question - yes you can be successful with doing the basics. Sorry if I guessed wrong but it seems like you already knew the right players to go after (Dillon Ibrahimovic Touma Ishizaki and co) which always makes it a bit easier.

CM really is a great game - you can be successful with tweaking your own methods which isnt to say its always an easy ride.

[Neil]

That's some severe squad butchering you've done there. Tactics-wise, I think you can get quite involved, but as you've proven, providing you have the players that are intelligent enough to learn when to make the runs and not get caught out of position, you can be successful with the very basic formation.

I'm playing at the moment as Rushden (wanted a break from Palace and also a bit of a challenge) and I play a simple 433 formation, dropping the right sided forward position (actually filled by a AM R) back slightly and making a forward run for him. The rest of the midfield are in holding positions but the centre-most of those midfielders (Garry Brady) is almost the top scorer. Kind of takes me back to the first version of CM2 where you'd pick up Neil Lennon and Danny Murphy really cheaply from Crewe and them ending the season as joint-top scorers!

Oops, think I've digressed!