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System Specialisation & Fluidity

System specialisation and system fluidity are two concepts that you may want to incorporate into your tactical style when you choose player roles and duties. However, they are optional considerations and so can be ignored if you have no particular preferences.

System Specialisation Levels

Aim: to choose a system specialisation level according to how you want your players to play as individual ‘parts’ of your playing system.

You will implement your system specialisation level when choosing player roles and duties.

Choose one of the following:

  • 1) I want my team to use a more specialised playing system – your players will play as individuals to exploit their strengths and cover their weaknesses.
    • To implement – choose player roles and duties with generally higher responsibility specialism levels.
  • 2) I want my team to use a more generalised playing system – your players will play as a single unit with nearby players sharing positional responsibilities.
    • To implement – choose player roles and duties with generally lower responsibility specialism levels.
  • 3) I want my team to use a balance or mixture of a more specialised and more generalised playing system.
    • To implement – choose player roles and duties with mixed or balanced responsibility specialism levels.

Tips for making your choice:

  • A more specialised playing system can be more interesting to choose player roles for as it places more importance on the individual contributions of your players.
  • A more generalised playing system can make it easier to create your tactic as it allows you to think of your team as being more like a single unit.
  • Try to choose a system specialisation level that is suitable for your team.
  • If you are unsure then just choose suitable player roles and duties on a player-by-player basis and this will give you a suitable system specialisation level.
  • You can review the attributes of all of your players from Squad > Players tab by either clicking individual players or selecting an Attributes view from the View drop-down at the top-left of the screen. You can filter by playing positions using the Filter drop-down at the top-right of the screen.
    • Select the Attributes > Attacking/Defensive views.
      • For a more specialised playing system – look for big differences between high and low rated attributes for individual players (ignore Free Kick Taking and, for central players, Crossing). Such players are more likely to suit higher responsibility specialism levels.
      • For a more generalised playing system – look for small differences between high and low rated attributes for individual players (ignore Free Kick Taking and, for central players, Crossing). Such players are more likely to suit lower responsibility specialism levels.

Further details:

  • Role Combinations – to implement your system specialisation level by choosing appropriate player roles and duties. This provides details of each player role and duty’s responsibility specialism levels.
  • System Specialisation Levels – tactical theory guide.

System Fluidity Levels

Aim: to choose a system fluidity level according to how you want your players to interchange within your playing system.

You will implement your system fluidity level when choosing player roles and duties.

Choose one of the following:

  • 1) I want my team to use a more fluid playing system – your players will mix play up with nearby players interchanging attacking and defensive positional responsibilities.
    • To implement – use more Support duties (say, six to eight outfield Support duties).
  • 2) I want my team to use a more structured playing system – your players will play in an ordered manner with individual players focusing on either attacking or defensive positional responsibilities.
    • To implement – use fewer Support duties (say, zero to three outfield Support duties).
  • 3) I want my team to use a balance or mixture of a more fluid and more structured playing system.
    • To implement – use a moderate number of Support duties (say, four to five outfield Support duties).

Tips for making your choice:

  • A balance or mixture of a more fluid and more structured playing system can make it easier to choose balanced player roles and duties.
  • Try to choose a system fluidity level that is suitable for your team.
  • If you are unsure then just choose a balance or mixture.
  • Go to Team Report > Comparison tab and view the Mental tab. Assess your team’s attributes relative to the grey bars that show your league’s averages.
    • Tick Defenders, Midfielders and Strikers only.
      • For a more fluid playing system – look for relatively high Anticipation, Decisions, Teamwork and Vision.
  • You can review the attributes of all of your players from Squad > Players tab by either clicking individual players or selecting an Attributes view from the View drop-down at the top-left of the screen. You can filter by playing positions using the Filter drop-down at the top-right of the screen.
    • Select the Attributes > Attacking/Defensive views.
      • For a more fluid playing system – look for average to high ratings in both attacking and defensive attributes for individual players. Such players are more likely to suit Support duties.
      • For a more structured playing system – look for average to high ratings in either attacking or defensive attributes for individual players. Such players are more likely to suit Attack/Defend duties.

Further details: