Tactics
With tactics you decide before kick-off how your team plays. Via the tactic matrix you can set different settings for each point of the match – lead defensively, push offensively.
Alignment
Alignment controls how offensively or defensively your base formation plays (slider, left = defensive to right = offensive):
Defensive wall · Counter · Cautious · Normal · Controlled offensive · Offensive · All-out attack
Offensive shifts much of the defensive power into the attack – more pressure and goal threat, but more vulnerable to counters. Defensive does the opposite. In the middle your team plays balanced.
If your team plays "Counter", goalkeepers with the abilities Punts/Throws benefit extra (their build-up bonus counts ×1.5).
Effort
Effort sets the intensity. More effort raises line-up strength (from about −20% at the lowest to +10% at the highest), but costs disproportionately more freshness: at full effort it drains more than twice as fast. If freshness and stamina are very low, the bonus fizzles out.
Intensity
More intensity improves tackling and midfield strength and thus creates more chances – but it also raises the risk of bookings and injuries. Players with high fair play are booked less often.
Substitutions
You can make up to 5 substitutions per match. Choose the minute and the players coming off/on (only players in the line-up). Injury substitutions are made automatically.
Tactic matrix
For alignment, effort and intensity you mark in the matrix all the match points where the setting should apply – so you can manage a lead defensively or attack a deficit offensively.
There's no single "best" setup – adapt to opponent and scoreline. Constant full-throttle effort eats freshness and costs you points in the end.