What are the individual instructions needed to achieve what they have been set to do. The constraint in doing pre-sets and this is one of the things I learned after creating something similar for FM06 is that you could have a variety of instructions and you essentially need to know what you want to achieve. I think within this thread we could get it done.

Lets start with DCs - the easiest of the group. We can discuss it here before someone goes off to create a [code] table. I'm really struggling for time nowadays.

Individual Instructions for Defenders

Assuming you are playing a back four formation and whether its attacking or not the instructions will hardly ever vary:

Defender in a Defensive/Attacking formation
Average standard team, with a normal defensive line. Team is characterized with trying to hold possession when possible, and intelligent build up play Defensive/Control/Attacking Tactics

* Standard Defender
Mentality: Defensive(5)
Creative Freedom: Low (5)
Passing: Short 6
TTB: None
FWR: None
Cross: None
Closing Down: Own Area (5)

Defenders who are expected to attack for counters, characteristic of good sides

* Attacking Defender
Mentality: Defensive
Creative Freedom: None
Passing: Direct (first notch)
TTB: Normal
FWR: None
Cross : None
Closing Down: Own Area (5)

Defenders in classic 3 man backline formations
* Sweepers
Mentality: Defensive (last notch)
Creative Freedom: None
Passing: Direct (first notch)
TTB: None
FWR: None
Cross : None
Closing Down: Last notch of own area or possibly own half.

* Stoppers
Mentality: Defensive (last notch)
Creative Freedom: None
Passing: Short - Mixed (last notch of short)
TTB: None
FWR: None
Cross : None
Closing Down: Slightly higher if you're using a sweeper behind them. Preferably in the own area region as well. Probably the last notch,since you want them to drop back and close down first.

Setting up a water-tight defense

Mentality is perhaps the most important slider, regardless of the kind of team you manage. The difference being on degree. Fullbacks and central defenders should never be too apart in terms of mentality. If you were to think in terms of priority, a fullback defends more than a winger but less than a DC, but in terms of interceptions he's easily one of the most important players to break up attacks.

When setting them up, have the DC on defensive and have the fullback either on last notch of defensive or first notch of normal. There is a slight difference between both, and in both cases the fullback will overlap if there is a good opportunity to do so. And it won't be risky.

Knowing that your fullbacks are going to be heading up the pitch the MOMENT your DCs have the ball is important, as this creates a space with their FWR. And this is one the reasons good sides can have short passing for DCs since the DCs act as a control of possession. In weaker sides the option should be last notch of defensive or even normal. Unless your team is better than the other team in terms of passing and running you should never attempt to play too short a passing game. A quick passing game needs good attributes, or at least those that are relatively higher than the other team.

The defensive plan doesn't stop there, its no use just clearing the ball or making challenges, you need to win the SECOND BALL. In this situation, wide dispersions of mentality cause mor gaps...if too many players in midfield start having attacking mentalities and FWR then they move forward making it hard for the DCs to pass..hence the long ttb or the long ball. This is the reason why I advocate playing on one mentality slider in midfield, or at least they should be on the same mentality scale.

Fullbacks need to distribute the ball well, having them on TTB helps ONLY if they have good decisions and passing. If they don't you're giving up possession, a good way to balance if you want to use TTB is to have them on short passing and to make sure there are ANCHORS or LINK players. These are the players that don't do FWR.

Marking in defense is a good idea, zonal needs a level of technical skill, whereas manmarking is really very basic. So here the choices for me are fairly straightforward. The problem with this game is that the skill levels are now magnified, poor players get caught out very easily against good players. And that is probably the reason why you see my pkms the way they are.