Pros and Cons of Gung Ho Tactics in FM08
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This guide looks at using Gung Ho tactics in FM2008 and the benefits and drawbacks of going into a match with the mentality of making sure you score one more goal than the opposition rather than a more balanced tactical approach, concentrating equally on both defence and attack in Football Manager 2008.
"Scoring one more than the opposition"?
If I'm not turning senile, I seem to remember Real Madrid president Ramón Caldéron once famously stating that a winning formula within football is to "score one more than the opposition”, meaning a ‘gung-ho!' siege mentality. "What does he know?”, I hear you ask. That is to be debated…
Many seem agree with this point, which is understandable. It seems common sense that, if you score bucket-loads, the opposition can't compete with you, or does it?
I happen to strongly disagree with Mr. Caldéron's theory. In my opinion, it is far too risky. Put into certain scenarios, this theory seems completely illogical. Granted, Real Madrid were one of the strongest teams in the world, with a fantastic attacking force at that time. However, a weaker team would certainly slump to defeat with a siege mentality. How can you expect to score one more than the opposition, when their squad is superior? It's nigh on impossible with a siege mentality I'm afraid…
Even if your team happens to be superior, you can be tactically screwed out of a match with a blatantly ‘Gung Ho!' mentality. Counter attacking kicks in, and you're defeated. Surely, opposition in the same league as you aren't far inferior of you; if you can score 4, who says they can't?
So, we've established the potential weaknesses of "scoring one more than the opposition”, but which other avenues can we pursue? To me, shutting up shop from the kick-off is relatively dumb. No team should do this in my opinion. However defence is a priority. Before you do anything in the league, a solid defence is a must-have. Ironically, this is something Real Madrid possess at the moment. Having one of these is a platform for winning matches. It is easily possible to nick a goal, no matter how poxy or beautiful it is.
"So what is the advantage of a strong defence?” I can hear you screaming at your monitor. Well, it's pretty simple.
It mightn't be true that one formula makes less errors than the other, but, for the sake of the scenario, lets say it does. If the ‘score one more' theory slips up, the odds are that you will lose, and to a rather embarrassing scoreline. Whereas, using a firm defence, you would be more likely to draw, should you slip up. Obviously, this would earn you a point. Better than a big fat zilch.
To conclude matters, I'm not going to tell you how to approach it. I wrote this as an article, not a guide. Take what you wish from it, and devise your own theory.
Will you score one more than the opposition?
If I'm not turning senile, I seem to remember Real Madrid president Ramón Caldéron once famously stating that a winning formula within football is to "score one more than the opposition”, meaning a ‘gung-ho!' siege mentality. "What does he know?”, I hear you ask. That is to be debated…
Many seem agree with this point, which is understandable. It seems common sense that, if you score bucket-loads, the opposition can't compete with you, or does it?
I happen to strongly disagree with Mr. Caldéron's theory. In my opinion, it is far too risky. Put into certain scenarios, this theory seems completely illogical. Granted, Real Madrid were one of the strongest teams in the world, with a fantastic attacking force at that time. However, a weaker team would certainly slump to defeat with a siege mentality. How can you expect to score one more than the opposition, when their squad is superior? It's nigh on impossible with a siege mentality I'm afraid…
Even if your team happens to be superior, you can be tactically screwed out of a match with a blatantly ‘Gung Ho!' mentality. Counter attacking kicks in, and you're defeated. Surely, opposition in the same league as you aren't far inferior of you; if you can score 4, who says they can't?
So, we've established the potential weaknesses of "scoring one more than the opposition”, but which other avenues can we pursue? To me, shutting up shop from the kick-off is relatively dumb. No team should do this in my opinion. However defence is a priority. Before you do anything in the league, a solid defence is a must-have. Ironically, this is something Real Madrid possess at the moment. Having one of these is a platform for winning matches. It is easily possible to nick a goal, no matter how poxy or beautiful it is.
"So what is the advantage of a strong defence?” I can hear you screaming at your monitor. Well, it's pretty simple.
It mightn't be true that one formula makes less errors than the other, but, for the sake of the scenario, lets say it does. If the ‘score one more' theory slips up, the odds are that you will lose, and to a rather embarrassing scoreline. Whereas, using a firm defence, you would be more likely to draw, should you slip up. Obviously, this would earn you a point. Better than a big fat zilch.
To conclude matters, I'm not going to tell you how to approach it. I wrote this as an article, not a guide. Take what you wish from it, and devise your own theory.
Will you score one more than the opposition?
