FIFA 11 players should understand why custom tactics are crucial in this game. The objective of this guide is to provide players a clear explanation on the custom tactics possibilities of the game. The guide will also suggest the best tactics for your kind of game. This discussion is divided into the Build-Up Play, Chance Creation, and Defense.

Build-Up Play

The Build-Up Play affects your players in midfield, defense, and in possession. There are three factors that have to be considered in this type of custom tactics.

Speed setting is crucial. In build-up play, speeds could mean two things. It can be the way you pass and your players’ movement away from the ball. It solely deals with the way you maintain possession of the ball and does not affect your speed of passing at all. For players obsessed with possession, the slider must set to slow. The effect is that players will be choosy with their forward runs and try to find good space for passing. On the other hand, set it to fast if you prefer to bring the ball in front fast. This is applicable if you are a counter team. This setting is characterized by forward runs and passes.
Important: Incorporate build-up speed in your tactics. The key in FIFA 11 are excellent passing, possession, and patience. Utilize balance speed from 40 to 55.

The next factor is passing. In build-up play, it means the length of passing you choose and the method your teammates will use to look for space. For short passing, support is always available from the closest player. This is the trademark of teams like Arsenal and Barcelona. To prefer long passes means looking for opportunities to spot your targetman or over the top if the situation allows. Players away from the ball will be the ones who will look for space. Those players close to the ball will anticipate long balls. If you prefer mixed, it is a combination of long and short passes.
Note: Mixed passing settings from 37 to 60 are ideal. The slider must be set at 45 if you want short passing and possession.

Another crucial aspect of build-up is positioning. It is utilized in defense and midfield. In organized, players will remain in position and will retain organization in midfield and defense. On the contrary, there is more freedom in free-form. It is less predictable but risky with loss of possession.
Note: If you are unsure, be safe with organized. There is less risk if you lose possession.

Chance Creation

The Chance Creation affects the players at the 18 yards box of the opponent. To attempt a decisive pass, it is the risk you want to take and how often your teammates will take risks on runs in attacking the third. In safe, you seldom take risks in passing and just maintain possession. You are always on the watch for decisive pass on risky and also take risk in ball possession.

Crossing is the effort of your team to wait for the cross and arrive at the box. Your teammates will make the effort to run out of the crossing zone and you will seldom utilize crosses. In lots, crosses are critical. Earlier runs into the box will be made by you team members. There is also little and lots in shooting. In the former, you are reserved and only shoot if badly needed. You and your team will constantly look for shooting opportunities in the latter.

As in build-up play, there is also positioning in Chance Creation consisting of organized and free-form. In organized, your team is predictable when attacking. As usual, there is freedom in free-form wherein you make runs out of position.

Defense

The Defense is the advance of your team without the ball possession. It is characterized by aggression, pressure, team width, and defender line. In applying pressure to the opponent, it can be deep, medium, or high. Using deep pressure, defense and midfield are compact, but your team drops back. Application of pressure in the opponent’s half is the quality of high pressure. This can be effective but opens a lot of open space. Starting to apply pressure on your half of the pitch is considered as medium pressure. In aggression, you can contain the ball handler through contain. It is press if you slide and tackles hard. When the team sends one player to the ball handler often and tackles to death, its double aggression.

There are only two kinds of team width. Compact defense is the quality of narrow team width. There is more room in the wings when the game is central because team-members concentrate on the middle of the pitch. If it is wide, players on the extreme side will not stay loose and will not pinch more often. In the defender line, there is the cover wherein it allows the opponent to pass easily at your 18 yards box. When the team step up and catch the opposition offside, it’s an offside trap. It is a bit risky but the opponent will not have the capability of pushing high.