Crab Lungs

I

Uh oh...! To be fair, I experimented a few different team instructions in the first 4-5 games, then decided to "stick" to my original formula. For some reason, the season then turned around and we were gradually getting better. Hopefully I won't expect your 2nd half of the season crash, but I'm now bracing for it!!!!

Hey Tokes x Well, only tested for half a season but so far... You do get caught a couple of times because of the high-line but so far, it seems to be working out ok. Still trying to get them to pass more though, we're only the 4th highest passers in the league; that said, the calibre of players at my disposal aren't exactly that of my rivals! I can't find a way at the moment to get any set piece routines working at the moment... you got any tips? We've been awful from set plays!

Hi all I've been at the tactics creator again and have managed to fashion up my first version of the "Pochettino tactic" for this year's version of FM. I haven't got time to go into massive detail about it but as you know, it's a 4-2-3-1 formation, high-pressing, two defensive midfielders, ball playing centre halves, distribution via the goalkeeper is almost always on the floor and the fullbacks provide the width. An attacking trio support the lone striker and there is a significant emphasis on passing. Here's the file; http://www.filesnack.com/files/c7tiy93u You may want to alter this to suit who you're playing, but here's the default "team instructions" setup you must enter for it to work; - retain possession - hassle opponents - stay on feet - higher tempo - shorter passing - much higher defensive line - roam from positions There has been individual tweaks to suit players per their position too but that's within the tactic so you don't worry about changing them, just set the above. The main key to this tactic is persistence - it'll be awful for the first couple of weeks before suddenly everything clicks as the players adapt to the formation, tactics and become familiar with it. Then you'll start to see the results (and performances) radically changing! You'll often dominate possession against 85% of teams and this will be reflected in the statistics (often 60% dominance) and if you watch the game, the performances. I'm still working on it being an exact replica, but it's as good as I can muster up for now! Enjoy!

'This whole "win ratio" b0ll0cks is starting to do my head in. For a starter, his win ratio includes less games than his predecessors (because he keeps getting sacked for being, errr, rubbish). Secondly, Spurs were massively carried by Bale last season. Irrespective of the above, if you've ever watched football at any great length then surely you'd recognise a poorly organised, motivated and coached side if you see one? AVB was utter dross at Chelsea and has been utter dross at Spurs (with the exception of Bale dragging them out of the crap last year). Ask some Spurs fans - the general feeling and consensus is what I've said above and what I've been saying for frickin' months - AVB is a Mancini clone; Has no presence, is ruled by his players and has absolutely no idea how to motivate or coach a football team. Their teams have no pattern of play, they're just a group of players thrown together, hoping that one of their individual stars will see them through (see Bale last season, see Mancini in their title-winning season... yes, they won the title but it should have been at a canter). Both have underperformed spectacularly in the respective roles for the money lavished on those squads. I'm not joking, Tony Pulis could do far better with that kind of money at his disposal.

Karl Darlow, Forest goalkeeper. Superb prospect. Saw him playing for Walsall on loan last year, was very mature and confident for his age. And he actually saves shots

Thank you to everyone who recommended - I've gone for Templeton Place (thank you, mdearlove!)

Hi guys Just looking at your recommendations now. Found a decent hotel in Ealing (Hotel Xanadu) but the location is a friggin' pain. Looked at some serviced apartments (Premier) in Limehouse and now I'm looking at CitizenM which isn't too far from Covent Garden. I'll take a look at what you guys have recommended too though, thanks so much for the help! :-)

OK, it's that time again. So..... say, if you wanted to book a nice little, bespoke, chic hotel not too far from the bright lights (preferably walking distance) of Leicester Square, Soho, Covent Garden etc, would anyone here have any recommendations? Found quite a few off the beaten track but just wondering if anyone has any recommendations themselves? Thank you all in advance! x

I said to my friend yesterday that the amount of shots on target will equal how many we concede and I wasn't too far off. Every time I see him, it's as if he is way to slow to react. It's almost as if he's given up hope before it's even gone in and the reaction is just that, a delayed, going through the motions reaction. He just doesn't save anything. I hope he has a blinder against city but god knows how we'll cope with aguero and co. We could get pummeled because he literally cannot save anything.

Great players, but they're not a great team. We'll lose by an odd goal but we'll have more than enough of the game to warrant a point.

You wouldn't say that if you knew just how right it is!!!!

Whhaaaaaaaaa? A maze!?! In the dark!??!?!

Thank you! And I promise, no fireworks... Just want to enjoy the vista :-)

Not what I had in mind, hahaha.

Oh yeah!!!!

Quick question for the Winch locals... Any idea if it's accessible at night?????

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/10454157/Gibraltar-v-Slovakia-I-had-to-get-permission-from-work-just-to-train-says-Jeremy-Lopez.html

I've really enjoyed reading up on Gibraltar's quest for UEFA membership, it's acceptance (finally!) and now, in anticipation of their very first game as a member versus Slovakia, I found this rather interesting piece (if anyone else cares/has been following their journey): http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24942820 That said, it's absolutely mental an enclave of that size geographically with only one football stadium can have a national team, but it's going to be fun all the same! Interestingly (and as mentioned before on here) Danny Higginbotham will be debuting tomorrow for them!

Thank you, thank you for those highlights. I thoroughly enjoyed them ... sometimes, this emoticon isn't enough ---->

Excellent shout, that. Can I also throw in Darius Henderson, too. Shame Steve Howard is "Scottish"

This'd probably be my list after I'd rounded it down from about 30 odd, form and fitness pending of course. 1 Joe HART 2 Kyle WALKER 3 Ashley COLE 4 Jack WILSHERE 5 Phil JAGIELKA (vc) 6 Gary CAHILL 7 Leon BRITTON 8 Frank LAMPARD © 9 Daniel STURRIDGE 10 Wayne ROONEY 11 Will HUGHES 12 Jordan HENDERSON 13 Ben FOSTER 14 Theo WALCOTT 15 Michael DAWSON 16 Michael CARRICK 17 Andros TOWNSEND 18 Jermain DEFOE 19 Rickie LAMBERT 20 Adam LALLANA 21 Micah RICHARDS 22 Nathaniel CLYNE 23 John RUDDY Standby; Forster, Shaw, Smalling, Chamberlain, Lennon, Milner, Barkley, Welbeck. Players of Interest that I considered: Caulker, Ward-Prowse, Gerrard, Shelvey, Redmond, N Dyer. I think there's a nice balance to the squad, for example; Clyne can play in either FB position (versatility), Richards can play fullback or centre half (versatility), Townsend/Walcott/Sturridge provide pace and the squad also has a good selection of "technical" footballers like Wilshere, Britton, Rooney, Lallana and, yes, Will Hughes of Derby. A nice blend of strikers with different attributes (most notably, Rickie). Somehow, after considering things, I elevated Jordan Henderson to the final 23 for "Milner" purposes. He's quite a disruptive player, so he'll be someone I'd use to come on to defend a lead if required, though I'd much rather the team be more dynamic than that and won't fall back on defending. That said, his pass completion rate is actually very, very good... And yes, I have left out Gerrard. Too old, too slow, constantly tries "Roy of the Rovers" stuff and pointless long balls. His time is over. Almost ditched Lampard too, but decided I needed SOME experience of tournament football and because I do believe he still has something to offer. So, without further ado, here's my starting eleven (4-2-3-1); ------------------------------------------Hart -----Walker--------------------Cahill--------------Jagielka--------------------Baines ----------------------------- Carrick----------------Britton -------------------Townsend-----------Wilshere------------Lallana ---------------------------------------Rooney

The only position out of the one you've mentioned that I wouldn't be too worried about is Schneiderlin's. He's immense, but if he was out for 3, 4 or 5 games for whatever reason I don't see why Jack Cork couldn't step in and make a decent fist of things - same goes for Wanyama if that happened. However, yes, GK, CB and LB injuries could impact us pretty horribly if they happened.

Good response and... I'm glad you've taken me off "ignore" FWIW I do agree that out-and-out wingers aren't really are thing. If we can pick up a few options to Lallana, Rodriguez etc and possibly another centre-half then I'll probably be more than happy. I did think about what'd happen if Schneiderlin/Wanyama rack up a load of bookings but with Cork on the bench and Davis also able to adequately deputise, I think we're ok there. Possibly left-back cover, but then that would go against the mantra of bringing players in to improve the side I guess...

Is anyone really surprised Spurs are sh1t? They have a terrible manager. Bale dragged them through the season last year... ... dare I say it, but they could really use someone like Saggy with the talent they've got at their disposal.