I mentioned in episode 10 that the league is the second most difficult competition to win behind the SMFA World Cup. I stand corrected however, as I was not thinking about today’s topic: The SMFA Cup.
We’ve been discussing this cup competition since Season 1 but one thing that has never been discussed is an explanation on how we can implement a strategic approach in order to win this cup. This strategy is even more important if you are not a Gold Manager since only G.M’s have access to picking their own starting XI. Today is for those regular managers who have been struggling to add the SMFA Cup (or Shield) to their cabinet of trophies.
STRATEGY #1: Set up your tactical approach before each SMFA match
Although you won’t have access to who will play, SMW still gives us the opportunity to choose our playing style which could give your Assitant Manager (The one who will be picking the starting XI and formation) the insight into how you’ll want to play.
STRATEGY #2: Rest important players that you want to play
Most of the starting X1’s within a SMFA Cup or Shield match tend to be played by players who weren’t used in the previous league match. So, if there is a player whom you normally start in the league but want to ensure that he is also starting in the SMFA competition, then all you’ll have to do is not start him for the league match prior to your SMFA game. This will ensure that he is more considered for the SMFA match due to him being rested.
STRATEGY #3: Identify who your A.M has chosen as your spine and ensure that they play every match
What this season is really aiming to teach everyone is the importance of the spine of your team. The lads who actively play every match are the ones who set the tone for the rest of the XI by ensuring that the tempo, mindset and attitude is set and stays the same. One of the easiest mistakes to make within SMW is to believe that changing your entire team for specific matches won’t have that much of an impact on the final result. This is extremely harmful to your capabilities of winning this prestigious cup. Therefore, once you’ve located the main 3 or 4 players that have been picked by your A.M, it’s up to you to ensure that they continually play for the remainder of the competition via implementing some of the strategies above.
STRATEGY #4: Ensure that you are aware of the top performers
Even if you’re not fully responsible for the starting X1, you should still be taking a keen eye on who has been the best performers within the competition from your team wether it be from the goals tally, the assits numbers, or the overall rating performances. These are key indicators into who you can trust to keep putting up potential match winning performances.
As always, I hope these strategies will be helpful for your journey as you continue on your pursuit to become the greatest manager within your gameworld! Cheers soccermanageite, until we meet again 😎
The Soccermanager Experience 