To mark the end of the FIFA franchise and the beginning of FC, EA has introduced several new changes to the first game in the new series, FC 24.
In general, career mode feels like an afterthought because of how repetitive many features in game mode are from year to year. Although there is still a lot to improve in FC 24, but we have to admit that there are few changes that make a big difference this time.
One such change is the introduction of tactical ideas, a feature that allows you to customize the way your team plays based on predetermined tactics that replicate the most popular play styles we see in real life.
This guide breaks down the new feature by listing all the tactical ideas in FC 24, breaking them down by level of effectiveness, and giving tips on how to improve their effectiveness on your team.
What Are Strategic Ideas?
Tactical Visions in FC 24 are custom tactics based on real-life playing styles of football clubs around the world.
These tactics range from manager-related tactics such as Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing to more commonly used tactics such as attacking systems.
There are seven tactical concepts in FC 24 Career Mode, including:
- General
- Tick Tock
- Wing Play
- Gegenpressing
- Bus Park
- Counter Attack
- Kick and Rush
If you choose any of these tactical ideas, your team’s tactics will be automatically adjusted to match the required team and player orders that fit that idea.
This removes the need to modify custom tricks, although you can still go that route if you want to do some deep customization yourself. We’ve got tactical guides for Pep’s, Arteta’s, and Klopp’s playing styles to learn from if you’re going down that path.
The Best Tactical Visions
The common sense behind strategy ideas is a lot to think about, especially for people who often struggle with replicating a certain style of play on their own with custom strategies.
However, due to the way the game works and the AI behavior patterns in it, some tactical ideas tend to work better than others.
The best strategy ideas in FC 24 career mode are:
Gegenpressing
Description: Your strategy is based on high stress. Your team tries to get the ball back into the opponent’s third area whenever possible, using turnovers to create scoring opportunities before the opposition settles down properly..
This strategic idea is very successful mainly because of the media. Pressing is very powerful in this game and when used correctly, it makes it very difficult for your opponent to get out of his speech which is a small part of getting into yours.
Two caveats are that this tactic is draining and can leave your defense exposed if you fail to win the ball with the media because your players are constantly being taken out of the area.
Wing Play
Description: Your team uses the full width of the pitch when in possession, getting the ball out to attacking players near the touchlines quickly and using overlapping full backs to add to the dangers from those areas.
This tactical idea works because of how much better crossing is in FC 24 compared to FIFA 23 where crossing was a very minor way to score.
Since the tactical focus is on wing play, your players will often find themselves in a position to make or receive a cross, and you can expect to score regularly from those opportunities if used correctly.
The caveat is that this tactic is less effective when you play opponents who crowd the box with defensive players and deep defensive lines.
Counter Attack
Description: Low risk and low block are the keys to your team’s playstyle. The players defend the penalty area and, once a goal is conceded, move the ball forward quickly with attackers ready to run into space behind the opposition’s defensive line.
This tactical idea is most effective when using a team that plays in a tournament where the opponents are the best. It allows you to be strong defensively while presenting fewer opportunities of your own to attack.
The caveat is that you often have to rely on slippage from your opponent to score goals. It’s an effective style of play that can lead to many dead rubber games.
These are the descriptions of four other tactical ideas in the game:
General
Description: Your team takes a balanced approach to the game, focusing on maintaining a formation that will help you stay strong defensively while still providing a threat going forward.
Tiki-Taka
Description: He seems to use a possession-based style of play. Comfortable on the ball all over the field, your players use short passes and spins while waiting for opportunities to play from attackers who have encountered channels or gaps between opposing defenders.
Park the Bus
Description: Your team bases its game on strong, uncompromising defense. He is always disciplined and organized without possession, often using a very low block, pressing the opponent before winning the ball and trying to go forward.
Kick and Rush
Description: A style of play built on strength and athleticism enables your players to often pass through the middle of the pitch, moving the ball forward quickly to your powerful strikers who can exploit the space behind the defense and fight for second balls and breakdowns.
Developing Strategic Vision
There are several ways to make tactical ideas work better for your team in FC 24 career mode – training and testing.
Training
Coach Management is a big part of expanding your tactical vision in career mode. If you choose a strategic vision, you will need to sign coaches who will help you achieve that vision.
Signing the right coach will improve the speed of adaptation of that strategy to your team, and will increase the speed of development of your players in areas that suit that strategy.
For example, if you choose a defensive tactical idea like “Park the Bus”, you will have more success using that tactic with a coach with 5-star DEF skills compared to a 5-star offensive skill because the former will improve the key player’s stats that contribute to the defense.
Testing
Additionally, scouting plays a role in the success of your strategy because you will have better success signing players who already fit the system, than signing anyone and trying to coach them into it.
A practical example is a manager who uses the Tiki-Taka theory of tactics. If you are looking for a central midfielder, it would make sense to sign with good passing statistics and playmaking techniques.
If you don’t know enough about the playstyles in this game, we have guides on how the playstyles work and how to choose the best playstyles for each area.
While we’re on the topic of scouting, one of the first things you want to do when you take a team into career mode is sign a few young, high-skilled players. Check out our guide to the best new players in the game for some recommendations!