Set pieces | Tactics FM 2014 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Set pieces are arguably very important in modern football, so you shouldn't ignore this element in Football Manager. Placing the team properly during defensive free kicks and corners will lead to losing less points. Offensive set pieces are sometimes the only way to score a goal.
Main types of set pieces:
1. Free kicks (offensive and defensive)
2. Corners (offensive and defensive)
3. Throw-ins (left and right)
4. Penalty kicks
You can change preferences of set pieces with SP Creator.
Detailed description of preferences below.
Free kicks
You can change the way of doing free kicks on both left and right side. Combining it with instructions for individual players is a key element, essential if you want to score goals in free kicks. Placing the players correctly during defensive free kicks will prevent the opposition from scoring. Remember to pick the right players for that, the most important attribute is obviously Free kicks.
List of settings below.
Attacking free kicks
Mixed | Computer decides. |
Short | Playing to the nearest teammate. |
Long | Playing further forward |
Near post | Playing towards the near post. |
Cross centre | If possible, crossing into the penalty area. |
Far post | Playing towards the far post. |
Best header | Attempt to play to the teammate who's the best at heading. |
Players' behavior during attacking free kicks
Default | Computer will place the player according to tactical settings. |
Stay back | The player will stay back during a free kick. |
Stay back if needed | The player will stay back only if he's needed to (for example, to mark an attacker). |
Disrupt wall | The player will look to disrupt the defensive wall. |
Mark keeper | The player will try to stand in front of the goalkeeper to obscure his view. |
Stand with taker | The player will stand near the free kick taker to provide help if needed. |
Default | Computer will place the player according to tactical settings. |
Stay back | The player will stay back during a free kick. |
Stay back if needed | The player will stay back only if he's needed to (for example, to mark an attacker). |
Disrupt wall | The player will look to disrupt the defensive wall. |
Players' behavior during defending free kicks
Default | Computer will place the player according to tactical settings |
Go back | The player will go back towards the goal to mark the incoming attackers. |
Stay forward | The player will wait near the penalty area for an opportunity to counter. |
Man mark | The player will mark an attacker. |
Form wall | The player will stand in the wall. |
Stand on near post | The player will stand on near post. |
Stand on far post | The player will stand on far post. |
Corners
You can change corner settings for left and right side. During defence, placing the players properly and giving correct instructions are essential. To score goals, you also have to pick a player with high level of Corners.
List of available settings below.
Attacking corners
Mixed | The player will choose where to play. |
Short | Playing to the nearest teammate. |
Near post | Playing towards the near post. |
Far post | Playing towards the far post. |
Penalty area | Playing into the penalty area. |
6 yard box | Crossing into the 6 yard box. |
Players' behavior during attacking corners
Default | Computer will place the player according to tactical settings |
Stay back | The player will stay back in defence. |
Stay back if needed | The player will stay back only if it's necessary (for example to mark the attacking opponent). |
Go forward | The player will move into the penalty area. |
Attack near post | The player will look to attack the near post. |
Attack far post | The player will look to attack the far post. |
Near post flick on | The player will attempt a near post flick on. |
Stand on far post | The player will stand at the far post. |
Attack ball from deep | The player will attempt to attack the ball from near the penalty area. |
Challenge keeper | The player will try to challenge the goalkeeper and distract him. |
Lurk outside area | The player will stand in front of the penalty area. |
Offer short option | The player will move near the corner of the field to help the teammates. |
Players' behavior during defending corners
Default | Computer will place the player according to tactical settings |
Edge of area | The player will stand outside of the penalty area, around the 16th meter. |
Go back | The player will go back but stay in the penalty area. |
Stay forward | The player will stand far from the penalty area, hoping for a counter. |
Man mark | The player will mark the opponents. |
Mark near post | The player will defend the near post area. |
Mark far post | The player will defend the far post area. |
Mark tall player | The player will try to mark one of the tall players. |
Mark small player | The player will try to mark one of the shorter players. |
Close down corner | The player will stand near the taker to make a short pass impossible. |
Mark six yard box. | The player will mark the opponents inside the six yard box. |
Throw ins
An underestimated part of the game. Performing a throw in correctly will let you initiate an offensive situation or take a defender out of the penalty area. Important attribute: Long throws.
List of preferences below..
Throw ins
Mixed | The player will decide how to perform the throw in. |
Short | Playing to the nearest teammate. |
Long | Playing further forward. |
Quick | Performing the throw in a quickest possible way. |
Players' behavior during throw ins.
Default | Places the player according to tactical settings. |
Stay back | The player will stay back during the throw in. |
Come short | The player will stand near the touchline as a pass option. |
Lurk outside area | The player will wait for a pass near the penalty area. |
Near post | The player will stand at the near post. |
Forward | The player will move forward to an attacking position. |
Penalty kicks
There's nothing to show off here. Every penalty kick should result in scoring a goal. To do it, it's essential to choose the right player for this set piece. The most important attributes are obviously Finishing, Composure and Penalty Taking. The player you choose should have these attributes at highest possible level, especially Penalty Taking. It's a good idea to choose more players so that nobody with lower skills would do penalty kicks.
If you defend, it's a game of chance, believe in your goalkeeper's skills and lack of attacker's composure.