Hattrick guide, part III: matches lineup and tactics

Hattrick Guide: it is fundamental to have a precise idea of the lineup to set and to foresee the lineup that your opponent will probably set. As a matter of fact it is not rare that an inferior team, with good settings, could win against a better team.

To set the lineup we should consider the following factors:

• Formation
• PIC or MOTS
• Weather
• Player specialities
• Tactic

The standard formations are 7: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 3-5-2, 5-3-2. 3-4-3, 5-4-1.

Each of them has a game experience that could be reached using it. The 4-4-2 has an excellent experience by default, hence it is a good starting point. However it is appropriate to choose a different formation.

The first choice depends on a factor: the number of young players that we want to train. If we have 10 young defenders, with any doubt the best choiches will be the 5-3-2 or the 5-4-1 in order to train 5 defenders during the saturday match and 5 during the friendly match.

The most common formations are the 3-5-2 and the 4-4-2. The first one is due to a game peculiarity: the midfield is the “engine” of the team. The greatest is the value in the midfield the more are the opportunities to score.

The 4-4-2
This is the default formation. Even if this is a balanced scheme, when we put 2 midfielders and tow wingers, the midfield is weak. The alternative is to put 3 midfielders and only 1 winger, letting a side empty.

The 4-3-3
It is a very offensive formation well covered in defense. It works with 3 midfielders and no wingers. However both the sides are not covered. The chanches will come from the center, so attack in the middle is the right tactic.

The 4-5-1
It is a good formation. Several teams win championships with the 4-5-1, with a Coach fond of attacking. and a very strong forwarder supported by offensive midfielders. However this is not a formation that allow us to score so many goals.

The 3-5-2
The most common and the most suitable for beginners. 3 defenders (a right and a left back or two centrals and 1 left/right). 3 midfielders, 2 wingers and 2 forwarders. If the midfield is better than the opponents’ and the defense is at a good level, the victory will be easy.

The 5-3-2 and the 5-4-1
These formations are perfect fot the counter-attacks tactic.

The 3-4-3
This is the most offensive formation. Usually the lineup has 3 midfielders and just 1 winger. Let’s hope that the opponent scores less than us.

PIC or MOTS

There are 3 different attitudes to choose for the match. The normal attitude is set by default. When the opponent is weaker than us when can set the “Play it Cool” (PIC). On the other hand, if the match is too important for the team you can choose the “Match of the Season” (MOTS). This will improve the midfield value, but has also a negative effect: the Team Spirit will go down, with a negative impact in the following matches.

Weather and Specialities

Some players have a specialy. These could be:

• Powerful
• Quick
• Technical
• Head
• Unpredictable
• Regainer

Specialities have pros and cons; the first and most important advantage is that they raise the probability that a positive special event happens (with “head” raises the probability to score by head). Other advantages are connected to the weather:

Technical players don’t do their best in attack or defense with the rain; at the opposite they play very well if it is hot. Powerul players get a bonus in attack, defense or midfield if it rains; at the opposite, if it is hot they get tired.
Quick players get a malus with the rain, and with the sun they get a malus only in defense.

The player’s role is important too:

• The umpredictables can create a good score opportunity if they play wingers or attackers. As defenders they can “help” the opponent.
• Technical players can have several chances if the play against players with Head speciality.
• Head players can score by cross, but it is not good to set them as defenders.
• The Powerfuls are good if the team play Pressing.
• The Quick should give positive chances as attacker or winger. In defense they are good if the opponent’s forwarders are quick.

Tactics

The last option to choose before the match is the tactic. The tactics can be used to gain an advantage against some particular opponent. They are 6:

Attack on wings (AOW): is usually underestimated but can be letal. First of all it is necessary to put two left/right back and 2 wingers. can be played with the 3-5-2, 4-5-1, 5-4-1 or, in extremis, with the 4-4-2. If we play against a AOW it is better to have 4 defenders.

Attack in the middle: this is the most used. We should have at least 3 midfielders (better with a winger towards middle). That’s the easyest tactic to play against: put 2 central defenders is a good way to reduce the “damage”. Also, trying to use the sides is a good idea.

Pressing: must be used only if we need a draw. Pressing reduces the goal occasions. Powerful players are needed, better if defenders. Someone thinks that it is good to use if the team is very strong. I don’t.

Contropiede: la tattica più pericolosa!! Va usata in caso di inferiorità a centrocampo. Servono 5 difensori, ma servono anche degli attaccanti che finalizzino il contropiede. Quindi il 5-3-2 è la tattica ideale. Si vincono molte partite con il contropiede anche se si parte sfavorite, affinare questa tattica, soprattutto all’inizio, è importante. Ricordate però: i difensori devono avere un buon valore in passaggi/cross.

Play creatively: like Long shots It is not clear if there are any advantages from these tactics. The first one implies a lot of players with specialities, the second needs high skills in passing and shots, especially in defenders. The only think we know is that play creatively imply a loss in defense.

Here’s the list of the topics we are going to analyze:

* First things to do as new managers
* Lineup and tactics
* Training
* Youth Team
* Finances
* Matches
* Special events
* Staff
* Team Spirit (TS)
* Market and Transfers
* How to make money on hattrick