Top 8 Football Manager Mistakes to Avoid

Master Football Manager by Avoiding These Common Tactical Errors

Football Manager is an incredibly rewarding game, but it can also be quite challenging, especially when you're trying to nail down the perfect tactics. We've all been there – stuck in a frustrating slump, wondering why our team isn't performing as expected. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, it's easy to make mistakes that can throw off your entire strategy.

That's why I've put together this guide to help you avoid the most common tactical errors players make. Here are the top 8 mistakes to watch out for, along with practical tips to help you steer clear of them and keep your team on track for success.

1. Aggression Matters More Than You Think

Many Football Manager players underestimate the importance of the Aggression attribute. Aggression is crucial because it significantly affects a player's ability to win the ball. Players with low Aggression may struggle to win the ball back or put in strong challenges, even if they have excellent technical abilities.

The Dirtiness attribute, which affects a player's likelihood of being sent off, is a hidden stat related to Aggression. Strikers with high Aggression and Competitive Streak can be valuable assets, as they may make unexpected defensive contributions to win the ball back.

PRO TIP

Aggression can be a hidden asset in attack. Use pressing forwards or aggressive attacking midfielders to disrupt opponents higher up the pitch, forcing mistakes and creating unexpected scoring opportunities.

2. Don't Click Every Single Instruction

Another common mistake is the tendency for new players to try and utilize every single tactical instruction available in the game. If you take every single option, you are actually restricting your players even more. You are limiting what your players can do. It is usually a bad option. So you want to keep things as simple as possible.

Start with a simple, well-rounded tactic and only make targeted adjustments based on your team's strengths and the opposition. Avoid the temptation to click every single instruction, as this can often do more harm than good. Focus on empowering your players to make decisions on the pitch, rather than micromanaging every aspect of their play.

PRO TIP

Test your tactic in friendlies with minimal instructions first. Observe player behaviour and identify natural strengths before layering on additional instructions—let them inform your decisions, not the other way around.

3. Don't Overreact to Your Opponent

It's easy to get caught up in the moment and make drastic tactical changes in response to your opponent's formation or approach. Making sweeping changes can torpedo your Tactical familiarity and obviously take players out of their position to be their best. Stick to a tactic that you know works and that your players are comfortable in.

Make minor, targeted adjustments to your lines, marking, and closing down to accommodate the opposition, rather than completely overhauling your approach. Trust in your system and your players' abilities, rather than panicking and making drastic changes.

PRO TIP

Use opposition reports to spot patterns over multiple matches. Instead of changing tactics mid-game, plan ahead by analysing their tendencies in advance and countering them without overhauling your strategy.

4. Don't Drop Your Lines When Winning

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A common misconception in Football Manager is that when you take the lead, you should drop your defensive line back towards your own goal to "park the bus" and protect the lead. It might not be the best approach.

We recently discovered that particularly defensive tactics were often more effective when they were higher up the field, because you're able to close down the service to players like Erling Haaland. Maintain a high line of engagement to continue pressing the opposition and limiting their opportunities, even when protecting a lead.

Consider switching to a more counter-attacking oriented tactic, with a lower defensive line, but keep the high line of engagement to maintain pressure. Avoid dropping too deep, as this can invite pressure and make it harder to transition into attack when you win the ball back.

PRO TIP

When protecting a lead, consider using time-wasting and lower tempo instead of dropping lines. This keeps your team composed while still applying pressure in key areas without ceding too much ground.

5. Don't Constantly Focus Play in One Area

Another common mistake is overusing the "Focus Play" instructions in Football Manager. SI, the people that make Football Manager, have come out and said that Focus Play is intended for in-game tweaks, because if you focus on a particular part of the field, it will absolutely exhaust the players in that particular part of the field.

Use the Focus Play instructions sparingly and only for specific, targeted purposes. Avoid constantly focusing play down one flank or through the middle as part of your base tactic. Consider using a "Focus Play on the Flanks" approach if you have a team with strong stamina and athleticism, as this can tire out the opposition.

PRO TIP

Rotate your focus dynamically during matches based on in-game conditions. Start balanced, then use “Focus Play” strategically in the final 15 minutes to exploit tired legs and secure a late-game advantage.

6. Tight Marking is Not Always the Answer

One of the most common knee-jerk reactions when facing a dominant opposing player is to instruct your team to tightly mark them. However, this is not always the best approach. If you see a player absolutely shredding you, you can be remiss in thinking that taking on the tight marking will mean that your player will stick with them. But if you are dealing with a particularly pesky Erling Haaland, that is not a very good idea.

What tight marking is going to do is it's going to bring your player closer to Erling Haaland, which considering the pace and movement intelligence means it's actually going to be even harder to defend him if you try to get closer to him. Instead, focus on disrupting the service to the dominant player, rather than trying to mark them directly.

Consider using a more aggressive pressing or counter-pressing tactic to win the ball higher up the pitch and limit their opportunities. If all else fails, a tongue-in-cheek suggestion is to "bust his legs" - though we don't recommend that in real life!

PRO TIP

Use the "Show onto Weaker Foot" option instead of tight marking for tricky, fast players. By forcing them onto their weaker side, you reduce their effectiveness without having to engage in risky tight marking battles, giving your defenders more breathing room.

7. Don't Neglect Substitutions

One of the most overlooked aspects of tactics in Football Manager is the importance of substitutions. You can make substitutions around the 60th-minute mark. Please bring them on, especially for those positions on the pitch that are critical to you.

If I play a 4-2-4, my two DMs are critical, my two wing-backs are critical. So what I do is in the 60th minute, I don't care if you've scored a 10, I don't care if your mother is in the stands watching you play, you're coming off those positions on the pitch. I make sure fresh players are there all the time.

Don't be afraid to make substitutions, even for your best-performing players. Focus on keeping your most critical positions fresh by making timely substitutions. Use substitutions to maintain the intensity and effectiveness of your tactics throughout the match.

PRO TIP

Use the "Substitution Feedback" screen to track player condition and body language throughout the match. If a key player is performing well but showing signs of fatigue or nervousness, make a proactive substitution to maintain the intensity without sacrificing performance. A fresh, mentally sharp player can often make a bigger impact than a fatigued star.

8. Sign Better Players

Finally, a simple yet effective piece of advice. The other huge mistake you're making in your tactic: you're not signing good enough players to do what you're asking them to do. So just sign better players, and your tactic will be better. While tactics and strategy are essential in Football Manager, remember that having a talented squad is key to success.

Don't get too bogged down in the intricacies of tactics if your players simply aren't good enough to execute your desired style of play. Focus on recruiting and developing high-quality players who can thrive in your system. Remember that even a simple, well-rounded tactic can be effective if you have the right players to implement it.

PRO TIP

Look for players with complementary traits rather than just high stats. For example, pair a fast striker with a playmaker who excels at through balls. Building partnerships often boosts performance more than raw talent alone.

READ ALSO: NEW eBook Mastering Football Manager

Conclusion

In this comprehensive blog post, we've explored the 8 most common tactical mistakes made by Football Manager players, and how to avoid them. From understanding the importance of aggression and set piece assignments to avoiding the temptation to overcomplicate your tactics, these insights are invaluable for any aspiring FM manager.

Remember, the key to success in Football Manager is finding the right balance between tactics, player recruitment, and in-game management. By avoiding these common pitfalls and focusing on the fundamentals, you'll be well on your way to dominating the virtual pitch.