Custom tactics in FIFA 12 are important because you can adapt your team more to your playing style. It’s a finishing touch to make your playing style almost perfect.  In this custom tactics tips section we give you a detailed explanation about the FIFA 12 custom tactics possibilities so you can determine which setting suits your playing style best.  Be careful with drastic measures and don’t expect that there is a “ultimate-golden-perfect” custom tactic in FIFA 12 that will bring you from the bottom to the top of the leaderboard. 

1. BUILD-UP PLAY IN FIFA 12

Change settings in the build-up play in FIFA 12 influences your players when you have possession. This is not for your players behaviour in the 18 yards box of your opponent.

SPEED
The settings in build up speed is one of the most importants aspects of custom tactics in FIFA 12. Speed in build-up play means the movement of your players off the ball and the way you want to pass. Take notice that this doesn’t influence your speed of passing but only the way you maintain possession and how fast your players moving up the pitch.

Slow:
Set the slider to slow when you are a possession ‘freak’. Players will be selective in their forward run and trying to find good space for passing instead of making forward runs. Ideal when you’re winning and want to build up with less risk.

Fast:
Set the slider to fast when you are a counter team and prefer to get the ball to the front as quickly as possible. Your teammembers expect forward passes and do more forward runs.

TIP! Build-up speed is very important for your tactics. FIFA 12 requires patience and possession and good passing. Recommended is a balanced speed between 40 and 55. If you only play counter attack you can set the speed on fast (70-85).  In that case you can set-up your attack a lot faster but you will leave a lot of space if your opponent counters you again. Fast setting requires also a lot of stamina so be carefull with that and don’t use it the entire match.

PASSING
Passing in build-up means the length of passing you prefer and the way your teammember will look to find space.

Short:
Do you prefer a Barcelona style kind of passing game? In that case you don’t use long passes and long through balls but short and fast passing. Set the slider to ‘short’. Your players close to the ball search for spaces so you can set up nice one-two’s and 1 touch football.

Mixed:
You don’t have a  specific tactic. You like short passes but from time to time you’ll also use long passes. Set the slider to mixed and your teammembers will search for short AND long passing opportunities.

Long:
You play long passes, looking for chances with long through balls, or searching from your own half for your targetman (Ibrahimovic, Drogba, etc). Teammembers further away from the ball will attempt to find space instead of your teammembers closele to the ball.

TIP! If you don’t have a particular playing style, then use mixed passing settings (between 38 and 60) and try to tweak them. If you prefer the cool possession, fast and short passing set the slider around 40.

POSITIONING
Build-up setting (organised or free-form) for positioning in defence and midfield.

Organised:
Your teammember will stay in their own positions in build-up which gives structure and more solid defense.

Free-form:
Your players have more freedom to make runs out of position and swap from position with other players. This is more dangerous when you lose possession but less predictable and you can set-up more creative attacks.

TIP! Organised is more safe and less dangerous when you lose  possession. So use this when you are not sure. However, free-form is less predicitable. Do you have a creative and fast passing playing style? Then try free form, it’s worth it.

2. CHANCE CREATION IN FIFA 12

Influences your players behaviour at your opponents 18 yards box.

PASSING
Amount of risk you want to take to attempt an decisive pass in the attacking third and how often teammates will look to gamble on runs through/behind the defence when in the attacking third.

Safe:
You want to maintain possession and rarely use passes that may risk losing the ball.
Players will ensure that the ball possessor has safe options when positioning themselves, and will wait for a good but rarely opportunity to make a penetrating run.

Risky:
You are always looking for the decisive pass and take the risk to lose ball possession. Your teammember will look for every opportunity to make runs behind the defence.

CROSSING
How many teammates and the effort of your teammates to get in the box and waiting for the cross.

Little:
You rarely use crosses. Your teammembers try to run out of the crossing zone and look for open spaces so you can cut the ball back to a teammate for a shot or maintain possession.

Lots:
Crosses are very important. Your teammembers will make earlier runs into the box and wait for your cross.

SHOOTING

Little:
You are patient, and only shoot if the opportunity is extremely good. Most important thing for you is possession.

Lots:
You love shooting and are a pro in that! You’re using teams with people like the Lampards, Gerards, Ronaldo’s and Ibra’s! Your teammembers will make the extra effort to position themselves looking for shooting opportunities.

POSITIONING

Organised:
Players will stay organised in defence and midfield and stay in their positions in which gives structure but is more predictable when attacking.

Free-form:
Your players are using more freedom, make runs out of position and sometimes swap from position with other players around the 18 yards box.

 

3. DEFENSE IN FIFA 12

This sliders determine the approach of your team in FIFA 12 when don’t have ball possession.

PRESSURE

Deep:
Your team drops back and allows your opponent time in their own half. However, your midfield and defence will be compact and organized. Great for the new tactic defense in FIFA 12.

Medium:
Your team will start to make pressure on your half of the pitch.

High:
Your team will apply full pressure in your opponent’s half. Wide midfielders and fullbacks will push high on the ball side to make it difficult for the opposition to play out. This tactic can be effective but leaves lots of open space in midfield and defence. Dangerous against more experienced opponents.

AGRESSION

Contain:
The team tries to contain the ball possessor, with players rarely diving into tackles or trying to outnumber the ball carrier.

Press:
The nearest defender dives into tackles hard, and will slide whenever possible.

Double:
The team will look to tackle fiercely and in numbers, sending an extra player to the ball possessor as often as possible. Be aware that you can quickly wear out your team. If you start the game off with this tactic, your players will run out of steam at the beginning of the secont half. At this point they just won’t have the energy to press with the same level of aggressiveness. So use this with care. It’s also dangerous against more experienced players, that will use a Barcalona style of play and will use the extra space.

TEAM WIDTH

Narrow:
The team will defend compactly. Players will pinch in on the far side to cover teammates and allow for ball side pressure. When the ball is central, the team will pack the middle of the pitch and allow more room on the wings

Wide:
The team will not pinch as much. Players on the far side will mark opponent tightly, sacrificing cover in favour of making it difficult for the opposition to pull them out of shape.

DEFENDER LINE

Cover:
Most safe option. This makes through balls more difficult to play, but allows the opposition to pass more easy when attacking.

Offside Trap:
Your team plays with a flat backline, and looks for the opportunity to step up and catch the opposition offside. The opponent doesn’t have the freedom to use through ball without care, but it’s also a risky tactic. When the offside trap doesn’t work it usually results in 1-on-1 situations.

TIP: If you have a fast build up in FIFA 12, then use the offside trap.