Free Online Football Manager Game

Understanding the tactics

This article will enlight the matter of which extent the managers can affect the results of the matches they play at Xpert Eleven, with the tactical settings they have access to today. The article is based on my answers in a thread started by Nobego that questioned the importance of tactical preparations. This is a question that keeps getting asked from several managers now and then. So we thought it would be a good idea to publish an official article about the subject which probably will be of interest for most managers at Xpert Eleven.

The tactics should obviously be of importance
Of course it should be of importance to prepare the tactics and the statements from managers that the tactics are pure luck etc is something we take seriously. Nevertheless it´s easy to get an idea of that you have set the perfect tactics if you only look at the most obvious choices as Off.Strategy, Def.Strategy, Playmaker and Defence against. If you hit those perfect it´s easy to think that you made everything right.
However, these choices represents maybe 10-15% out of the tactical space. Because of this it could be that the match wasn't played perfectly despite the most obvious choices were set perfectly. You could ask yourself the question if you should be guaranteed a victory if you have set have the perfect tactical settings for 10-15% out of the whole tactical space. I'll leave that question unanswered.

The tactics have significant importance
Is it really a fact that the importance of tactics isn´t big enough? From my point of view I don´t think that is the case. If you´re a good manager who succeeds in mastering the tactical space and also creates a decent development of your team, you will be successful. This is something that Nobego himself already proven by his success in both Xpert Champions League and his Xpert league. If Nobego only been half as good as manager, he would never had been champion of his Xpert league 8 times out of 10 possible.
I would also like to say that I´m pleased that a well-qualified and skilled manager as Nobego obviously doesn´t master the game and it´s tactical settings entirely. This means that no matter how good you are at Xpert Eleven, you can always get better.

Unexpected losses can always occure in individual matches
There is always a slight probability that you will lose regardless of predictions and how good your tactics were set before the game. There are never ever any guarantees to win. But when looking at an entire season it is extremely rare (if it ever happens) that the team which becomes the champion is a complete surprise for everyone.

More matches means greater challenge
I can agree that it´s tough for a team to play as many matches a week as Nobego´s team does (3 matches per week). But is it really wrong that more matches affects a team negatively? Is that not how it works in real life? It might be a good idea for a successful team with a lot of matches every week to consider increasing his team's squad to be able to handle the situation.

The cup needs to be more attractive
It might very well be that we will have to make changes to make the cup more attractive. But you could also see the same problem in real life. Many of the cup tournaments played aren't very attractive (i.e Carling Cup in England) and the question is in what way we should make the cup more attractive. That is however a completely different subject and we'll leave that for now.

There's more to tactics than one might think
The tactical choices you make on the tactics page only represents 25-40% of the whole tactical space. The remaining part of the tactical space includes for example the line-up which contains a larger number of tactical choices as team composition, special qualities, average age, teamwork etc.

Today it´s rather 40% than 25% that the tactical settings you make on the tactics page represents out of the tactical space in total. But it´s hardly bigger and it could vary between games. Note that these percentages I mention is far from a fact. It´s just my own estimations. The tactical space includes everything that can affect the players and the game itself and that the manager have influence over in any way.

Each individual tactical choice has less influence
You might have noticed a difference that every tactical choice used to have a greater impact. This may be a correct observation as the specific individual tactical setting alone has lost its impact while Xpert Eleven has developed. As we have added more tactical choices that can affect the games, the tactical space has grown gradually. But the specific tactical choices alone has remained unchanged. This means that as the tactical space has grown bigger a specific tactical choice's part of the whole tactical space now is smaller than it used to be.

The tactics is now more important than ever
In other words, it would be correct to say that the tactical possibilites to influence the matches are greater today than it has ever been. It would also be correct to say that each specific tactical choice alone has less influence on the matches than it used to have.

The importance of the most obvious tactical choices
The tactical choices of Off.Strategy, Def.Strategy, Playmaker and Tightly marked are the choices many managers look at when he/she tries to see if he/she succeeded with the tactics. But if you only look at these most obvious tactical settings, then you will often feel that the tactical settings are of less importance.

The specific tactical choices will be reviewed.
As some certain tactical settings are more obvious to managers, we might have to think about increasing the importance of these settings and by that increase their tactical part of the tactical space. This would probably increase the faith of the game engine.

Still, we need to maintain a good balance between the influence of the tactical settings in relation to the strength of the teams. Also, we have to keep some room for unexpected results to keep the excitements.

The human effect on the number of matches
There is also another thing I would like to bring attention to that affects your trust in the game engine. This is the number of matches you play each week. The more teams a manager controls, the more matches the manager plays each week, the higher probability there is that you will lose a match unfairly. Unfair losses are much easier to remember than an unfair victory. To play a lot of matches every week makes a big difference, compared to play only one match a week like many other similar sites, especially to the game engine which is exposed for a lot of reviewing.

If you encounter one unfair loss every week you won't forget the unfair loss you had before you encounter another one. But the victories you have along the way doesn't stick to your memory as hard as the losses. Even if you get a unfair victory you won't remember that match at all as much as you will remember an unfair defeat. From my part of view I would like to challenge the doubtful by claiming that unfair losses represents a less part of the matches played at Xpert Eleven than most other manager games online.

But as said earlier you are surely experiencing unfair losses more often at Xpert Eleven just because you are playing a lot more matches here compared to other sites you may have tried. And this may cause you to think that the game engine is more random than it really is.

Summary
You have never had as much influence on your matches at Xpert Eleven as manager as you have today. It's a fact that the tactical space has grown gradually and its influence on the matches has grown for every new feature that has been introduce. But as the "old" tactical settings has remained the same these old individual tactics settings each has lost some of its influence as they represents a smaller part of the tactical space as whole. We will review the tactical space and restore the importance of some of the more obvious tactical settings if needed. These changes will be done gradually and it isn't likely you will notice anything on the short term but you might do it in the long term.

This article is basically directly translated from Swedish so it might be hard to follow. And it may create a lot of questions about stuff you might think you don't know but should know. However there are no questions around this that doesn't have its answer in the rules in one way or the other. We will never reveal the most inner secrets of how the game engine work as the game of Xpert Eleven is supposed to be hard to master. Easy to play but hard to master.

Regards
Iwe
The X11 Crew
Head developer

2007-10-20 19:46	24649 Views		iwe

Xpert Champions League LXXIV

The 74th season of Xpert Champions League has been drawn.

Xpert Champions League LXXIII

The 73rd season of Xpert Champions League has been drawn.

Xpert Champions League LXXII

The 72nd season of Xpert Champions League has been drawn.

*New update 2024 - AI and more*

The game has seen updates in a number of areas, that were all implemented on the 1st of April

Xpert Champions League LXXI

The 71st season of Xpert Champions League has been drawn.

2023-11-15 12:28	Xpert Champions League LXX
2023-08-02 10:08	Xpert Champions League LXIX
2023-04-19 10:18	Xpert Champions League LXVIII
2023-01-04 15:20	Xpert Champions League LXVII
2022-09-20 17:10	Xpert Champions League LXVI
2022-06-08 09:50	Xpert Champions League LXV
2022-04-02 00:39	Resource page for smartphone
2022-03-11 14:18	Community manager report - February
2022-02-22 14:58	Xpert Champions League LXIV
2022-02-04 15:51	New "Community manager" for the site
2021-11-09 15:20	Xpert Champions League LXIII
2021-07-28 10:21	Xpert Champions League LXII
2021-04-14 14:45	Xpert Champions League LXI
2020-12-29 10:48	Xpert Champions League LX
2020-09-15 17:10	Xpert Champions League LIX
2020-06-02 16:40	Xpert Champions League LVIII
2020-02-18 17:25	Xpert Champions League LVII
2019-11-05 17:39	Xpert Champions League LVI
2019-07-23 17:10	Xpert Champions League LV
2019-04-09 17:46	Xpert Champions League LIV
2018-12-25 10:40	Xpert Champions League LIII
2018-09-11 15:31	Xpert Champions League LII
2018-05-29 21:15	Xpert Champions League LI
2018-02-13 19:10	Xpert Champions League L
2017-12-04 22:35	Answers to questions from QA
2017-11-30 22:06	Watch the live stream in replay
2017-11-30 17:27	Live stream - link here!
2017-11-28 22:17	More info about Live stream & questions
2017-11-20 20:27	Invitation to Q&A livestream Nov 30
2017-10-31 19:00	Xpert Champions League XLIX
2017-07-18 10:00	Xpert Champions League XLVIII
2017-04-04 20:30	Xpert Champions League XLVII
2016-12-20 17:01	Xpert Champions League XLVI
2016-12-02 15:00	Ads
2016-09-06 15:00	Xpert Champions League XLV
2016-05-24 19:31	Xpert Champions League XLIV
2016-02-10 08:40	Xpert Champions League XLIII
2015-10-28 09:30	Xpert Champions League XLII
2015-07-14 21:00	Xpert Champions League XLI
2015-06-17 11:20	New SQ and game engine improvement
2015-03-31 11:27	Android app is here!
2015-03-31 10:00	Xpert Champions League XL
2015-01-22 10:56	A new year with X11
2014-12-17 11:00	Xpert Champions League XXXIX
2014-12-04 14:27	The iPhone app is live
2014-11-26 12:11	iPhone app info
2014-11-14 13:02	iPhone app 1st version
2014-09-03 09:45	Xpert Champions League XXXVIII
2014-05-21 10:40	Xpert Champions League XXXVII
2014-02-05 10:00	Xpert Champions League XXXVI
2014-01-30 15:22	Database merging complete
2014-01-21 13:16	Planned downtime
2014-01-15 11:31	Update: no more banner ads for VIP
2013-12-23 10:43	Merry christmas and a happy new year!
2013-10-30 13:51	Time zones
2013-10-23 09:35	Xpert Champions League XXXV
2013-10-02 14:09	New tactics page
2013-08-14 14:32	Autumn at last
2013-07-10 13:45	Xpert Champions League XXXIV
2013-07-09 10:23	Summer updates
2013-06-13 11:21	New release – here’s what’s new!
2013-05-29 13:09	New update and a new blog
2013-04-10 11:43	Some updates
2013-03-27 10:45	Xpert Champions League XXXIII
2013-03-22 10:33	One week later - what happened?
2013-03-21 13:27	Let´s go
2013-03-14 16:39	Still problems with the servers
2013-03-14 02:59	Xpert Eleven up and running again
2013-03-12 14:17	Big system update tomorrow
2013-02-21 16:25	Big survey response
2013-02-13 07:59	Big survey 2013
2012-12-20 09:21	Merry christmas and a happy new year!
2012-12-05 10:13	Xpert Champions League XXXII
2012-11-14 09:25	A new lobby is launched
2012-10-24 13:44	New header in place
2012-09-14 10:17	New menu launched
2012-09-06 10:46	Trophy room and more
2012-08-22 10:38	Xpert Champions League XXXI
2012-08-05 16:03	Xpert Eleven outage (5th of August)
2012-06-18 12:06	Some changes
2012-05-10 13:25	Xpert Champions League XXX
2012-04-24 11:58	Compatibility changes
2012-04-02 11:59	Extended team quota
2012-02-29 13:49	Game improvements
2012-02-21 10:52	VIP subscription for all
2012-02-20 11:58	The tour
2012-02-09 13:47	Problems in UK
2012-02-07 09:13	VIP subscription
2012-01-25 12:10	Xpert Champions League XXIX
2011-12-22 13:13	Merry christmas and a happy new year!
2011-11-22 08:08	New owners statement
2011-11-18 15:11	Time to pass the ball
2011-11-04 10:19	Team of the month
2011-10-27 16:03	Why always me? (Inactivated?)
2011-10-21 15:04	Reduced costs for evaluations
2011-10-17 09:52	Midnight break
2011-10-13 12:05	Best ever manager stats
2011-10-12 12:54	Xpert Champions League XXVIII
2011-09-16 13:51	Behind the scenes
2011-08-03 12:47	The winners are decided
2011-07-20 12:42	Youth investments
2011-07-15 16:26	Majority want a change
2011-07-12 13:50	Ways to win VIP status
2011-07-05 09:26	Substitutions and more
2011-06-29 10:27	Xpert Champions League XXVII
2011-06-10 13:42	Clarification of teamwork update
2011-06-10 03:05	More importance for teamwork
2011-05-20 15:07	Introduction of a new SQ!
2011-04-21 09:34	Additions to match reports
2011-04-13 11:27	Recruiting contest winners
2011-03-25 11:38	Xpert Eleven as a Facebook app
2011-03-22 10:51	Reminders with fast lane
2011-03-17 14:50	Xpert Champions League XXVI
2011-03-03 15:16	Recruiting contest
2011-03-03 13:47	Assistance
2011-02-22 14:48	Lobby update
2011-01-19 11:41	Improved match simulator
2010-12-31 13:10	Another year is coming
2010-12-10 13:42	One more job centre update
2010-12-01 12:22	Xpert Champions League XXV
2010-11-26 14:15	Friday updates
2010-11-18 18:02	Oldies no goodies
2010-11-12 13:22	Job centre
2010-10-29 15:40	Transfer bug
2010-10-28 15:17	Finally second kits
2010-10-21 17:06	Changelog down below
2010-10-12 12:20	Gerrard FC is no more
2010-10-01 07:33	Club groups and player squad value
2010-09-24 10:14	An update to simplify
2010-09-09 17:37	A promising kick off
2010-08-19 12:00	Xpert Champions League XXIV
2010-07-15 14:53	Mobile X11 and new shirts
2010-06-15 12:56	Assistance with DV & ME
2010-05-25 16:17	Faces and friendlies etc
2010-05-05 13:44	Xpert Champions League XXIII
2010-05-04 09:34	Opponent overview and more
2010-04-15 13:02	The goalie stats are back
2010-04-07 14:56	Revised player page etc
2010-03-11 08:31	Whole lotta new things
2010-03-09 17:16	More importance for match experience
2010-02-25 10:35	A month later
2010-01-28 14:02	A New Xpert Eleven
2010-01-20 12:02	Xpert Champions League XXII
2009-12-23 15:22	A New Xpert Eleven
2009-10-28 12:43	The Advisory Board
2009-10-19 17:15	Monitoring of the transfer market
2009-10-07 12:21	Xpert Champions League XXI
2009-10-06 15:46	League rating revised
2009-09-01 16:26	Small changes to the last update
2009-08-27 09:59	Finally an update
2009-06-24 11:07	Xpert Champions League XX
2009-06-01 15:39	Clarification of match experience
2009-05-12 13:00	New rules for the job centre
2009-05-04 15:25	Site conversion
2009-03-13 11:27	VIP via SMS in the UK
2009-03-11 12:40	Xpert Champions League XIX
2009-03-09 08:11	System updated
2009-03-07 00:44	Sunday night update
2009-03-01 11:26	Network failure
2009-01-30 14:25	Status report
2008-12-23 14:34	Merry X-mas!
2008-12-16 11:10	The design competition is over
2008-11-26 12:20	Xpert Champions League XVIII
2008-11-12 14:49	Design competition
2008-11-04 14:15	VIP-prize packages
2008-10-28 10:18	Updates
2008-09-25 11:40	New additions
2008-09-12 09:24	Portuguese Xpert Daily and some updates.
2008-09-01 19:42	New update
2008-08-27 19:37	Team quota inspections
2008-08-14 13:16	Xpert Champions League XVII
2008-08-06 16:09	Offline due to network failure
2008-07-09 15:18	General info
2008-06-26 08:16	New updates
2008-06-12 08:47	5 years of Xpert Eleven
2008-05-27 16:35	New updates
2008-05-25 11:29	Don't miss the poker championship!
2008-05-16 13:39	Xpert Eleven's Poker Championship!
2008-05-07 10:35	Bug fix and adjustment of friendies
2008-05-07 09:53	Xpertsvenskan is now Xpert International
2008-04-30 15:49	Xpert Champions League XVI
2008-04-29 15:28	Euro League and some small additions
2008-04-21 11:56	Credit card problems solved
2008-04-20 11:58	Problems with credit card payments
2008-04-16 17:22	New league admin features
2008-04-01 12:20	Hattrickligan becomes Hattrick League
2008-04-01 10:53	Problems with credit card payments
2008-03-25 09:56	Final League goes international
2008-03-20 18:33	Another failure...
2008-03-17 19:06	Database crash
2008-03-17 16:20	Important Notice!
2008-03-13 12:02	Xtreme League goes international
2008-03-11 10:09	Portuguese and some new additions.
2008-02-27 12:48	League criterias and league admin forum
2008-02-21 15:43	Polish and new criterias
2008-02-19 13:37	Resources and aggression
2008-02-14 16:51	Portuguese forums
2008-02-13 13:24	New colours
2008-02-11 15:32	Network issues over
2008-02-11 10:01	Network issues...
2008-02-01 14:18	Changes February 1st
2008-01-17 14:36	Xpert Champions League XV
2008-01-11 16:02	Happy new year!
2008-01-11 12:54	Server issue
2007-12-17 17:13	X-mas VIP
2007-12-04 13:07	Power failure
2007-11-30 15:42	Don't miss the poker championship!
2007-11-23 00:03	Spanish is released
2007-11-19 13:36	Xpert Eleven's Poker Championship!
2007-11-15 11:07	Xpert Eleven in Norwegian
2007-10-31 09:57	Personalizing players
2007-10-20 19:46	Understanding the tactics
2007-10-17 10:15	Dutch language live!
2007-10-17 10:09	New VIP-feature
2007-10-07 17:03	Finally back on track
2007-10-07 15:51	Status at 15.50
2007-10-06 14:17	Xpert Eleven hijacked
2007-10-03 13:22	Xpert Champions League XIV
2007-09-27 11:15	Congratulations Hellmoppers FC!
2007-09-14 17:04	Small changes here and there
2007-09-05 13:51	Xpert Eleven in Malay
2007-08-22 17:31	Visual presentation of match experience
2007-08-10 10:56	Welcome Germans!
2007-07-21 23:41	Preparation and experience
2007-07-06 17:30	System adjustments
2007-06-19 13:44	Xpert Champions League XIII
2007-06-18 19:08	Server down again
2007-06-17 13:35	Confusing values
2007-06-14 16:02	The new transfer system
2007-06-11 19:27	Server went down
2007-06-07 13:34	Xpert Eleven's Poker Championship
2007-05-31 12:35	Congratulations Skultorp United!
2007-05-29 15:04	Creative event writers selected
2007-05-23 16:06	Riders on the storm
2007-05-23 14:51	With a little help from our friends
2007-05-11 16:50	Wind of change at Xpert Eleven
2007-03-29 23:06	Wayne - New employee at X11
2007-03-07 17:37	Xpert Champions League XII
2006-12-28 12:38	Xpert Daily
2006-12-11 17:35	Xpert Champions League XI