iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

I did some more experimenting and this tactic came out, so I thought I'd give it a go with Newcastle. It's great fun. And good. Albert averaging 8 at sideways sweeper. Shearer doing what he does. No signings.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

When you get an injury and think "who?". Even though you're in season 2 😂

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

So i think i've found the tweak i've been looking for, on a tactic that was already doing well. Been experimenting on it today So let's try it with the Wimbledon save I just started, with John Hartson (who is suspended the first 3 games)

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

I genuinely wonder how important shooting is as an attribute. So to test I made Man U have the worst combined set of shooters in pro football. A mini-thread 👇

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

It's our first game in the second season, after being promoted last year. We get Milan away in the cup. To everyone's surprise we go 2-0 up. I start recording to see which elaborate way the CPU will screw us...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

As this tactic continues to punch above above its weight I have noticed one thing. How vital it is for the left DC (always no.3 for me) is your best defender. AND captain. We have lost 5 of the 6 games my brilliantly named Italian, James Wilson, has missed.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

I can't help but start up a new save all the time, I love figuring it all out at the start... but have you SEEN the Ancona players???

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

I don't suspect many of you have been in the BeNe 2 playoffs? Well, I haven't before. And now I know why. We came a thrilling 2nd in the league. Board delighted... then...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

So this tactic has made Wimbledon go P10 W8 L1 D1 in season 1. But as I like to do, immediately sense check it on another save.... Hello.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

This tactic has done great with Doncaster and AZ so i thought i'd take it to Wimbledon - who I gave John Hartson too. The CPU dealt us stinking fixtures, showing it doesn't fancy us much. But how would you assess this start? Good or bad? PS check out Reeves

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

OK, if you just want a really good, solid tactic go for this. No arrows on keepers or anything.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Here is an example of when a keeper, Baarden, cannot handle the arrow! I wonder if it's an age thing. 30+ or late 20s and top level seem to do better

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

I've gone back to testing to try and create something that overloads the CPU.. and I think i've got it. Martyn creating an extra man in midfield. Quite brilliant first campaign with Leeds to finish 2nd... but you should see season 2...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

Igor Tudor, probably now my favourite DC to own. Wow. He's a must-buy. Averaging 7.96 ! Ps, i've got a helluva save shaping up here... More on that shortly

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Don't worry everyone, the striker coming back thing is over. But i'm gonna take the principles and apply them more practically... Meanwhile a new save idea has started... Any guezzez what it can be....?

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Then I tried it with AZ and it's one of the worst tactics I've ever seen. Ah this bloody game

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

It worked with Pompey, but does it work for Inter? Yes. in a word. Often tactics don't translate. We actually lost the first league game, Ronaldo leaving the field with a knock, and were lucky to beat Parma but after that the machine started purring.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I'm just fascinated by ideas that bend the CPU... I decided to this with Pompey, who are not good enough to be promoted... SC going all the way to sweeper. It's significantly overperforming. Aloisi, like Stoger at Ipswich, benefitting enormously. Just interesting isn't it?

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Second season in the PL... what a start!!!

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Sometimes United struggle to / completely fuck up replacing Schmeichel. This time though... Yeah I think they've covered it.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Ipswich are back in the PL, and we have been BUSY. Bringing in no less than 10 players (yes that's how thin the squad was). Notably the returning prodigal son, Dyer, the straight up starlet Joe Cole and one of my favourite strikers Branko Strupar.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Start of season 3. Two major injuries at centre back to Hyypia and Tudor and we've fallen apart. Club record loss to newly promoted Sevilla. I think that's the Reverse Libero experiment over, sadly. I got fired immediately after this game. Seems harsh after two 3rd place finishes

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Start of season 3. Two major injuries at centre back to Hyypia and Tudor and we've fallen apart. Club record loss to newly promoted Sevilla. I think that's the Reverse Libero experiment over, sadly.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

This is working like a dream now. The Reverse Libero I'm calling it. Great spread of goals, only one loss, and that was because of a calamitous reserve keeper (who's never playing again)... but next we have Real Madrid...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Guess which two games the untested back-up keeper had to play?😂

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Following up on zero signings I needed a theme for S2 Barnsley. And I think I have it. A 90s trend indeed. Italians over the age of 30 😂 Goodness let's see how this works out, and how these fine fellows adapt to South Yorkshire life...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

This team just knocked out the Dutch and are in the World Cup final!

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

The Barnsley no signings, no changing of tactic challenge! We finish a mighty 16th.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Last year we played, er, 'high risk' football. We did well, but those 10 losses could've been 15. So this season I want a DM to help reduce goals conceded. But i also want to keep the attacking threat... A hybrid role for Farrelly is trained on all summer.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Shopping for a new centre mid Strength, determined, heading ✅ Recommended bu Euro scout ✅ Available ✅ Interested ✅ Should be a good'un.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Everton goal fests! Super simple. Triple back arrows in defence to try to balance the very forward leaning tactic. Just 9 games in, so let's see. Never seen Big Dunc be so devastating before, 13 in 10 for him.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

What a Rome derby to defeat the enemy at, er, their place! We're making legend already

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Thrilling game in the Zemen derby. Just as he'd like it.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Sat in 12th the board constantly reminding me they were less than satisfied, our first season up. The addition of Danny Murphy 6 games ago with his accurate set pieces triggered a 5 game winning streak. Lucio & Hyypia, added in the summer, causing chaos from his corners.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

As usual, stupid amount of first team injuries in the latter half of the season. Hartson, Forlan, Berkovic, Gerrard, Sinclair, Carrick all out. Meaning Lee Boylan makes his debut for the club! He's got the cheat code attributes.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

What happens when a D3 English striker gets a game against the best team on the game?? Okay, the D3 striker might just have 3 world class Brazilians behind him...

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

My hours spent trialling different tactics yesterday has paid off this morning. Looks like we've got one that can keep clean sheets - the sweeper behind a back three helps here - and score when needed.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Salif Diao waits for nearly 3 full seasons to get on the pitch and get's sent off after 4 minutes.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

The best result in our history. It's taken us a long time to get into the CL but we're not content with making up group stage numbers.. After some tactical fiddling we're just playing our two best strikers. New Shearer regen at 9, N'diefi at 7 joining him.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Going back to an old save, Queens Park. We just cannot break into the top clubs. 3rd whatever we try. And now to boot we have a striker problem - they're not striking the ball in the net

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

S3. Scholes' Oldham. The stuff dreams are made of. I can't think of a better start i've ever had as a promoted team to the PL. Madness. How? 2 of the best keepers in the game. The most in-form striker in Europe. An actual sweeper playing sweeper. And Scholes.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

I do like a tactic that is unaffected by a red card. Like this Oldham/England one. You just lose the sweeper and replace the position that got sent off. Here didn't even have to make a sub (which i try to avoid), as Southpark just slots in DMC.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Season 2 with Paul Scholes at his beloved Oldham. We start the season with the tweaked tactic that won the WC for England and it really works for us too! Rarely, if ever get promoted with the best defensive record so that's cool. Scholes, Olisadebe, Garnett and Rush the main men for us.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

I tried a some variations of the Oldham tactic with England to see what we'll use next year, and this one, wow it really suits the England squad. Strength through the middle. Check this out. That Matty Rush role for Gazza.. 👇

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Now I must've tried this 15+ times now. If you bring a player on for penalty shoot outs they miss. No question. Ian Wright here.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

What if... Paul Scholes had come through at his beloved Oldham instead? Bit of fun

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

I think this actual formation of players is super strong. Just experimenting with how to create a tiny bit of width in the DML position. Here, the left DC is doing it, covered by the sweeper.

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Nikolai @nikolai9798.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Good god. Have I finally cracked the game???

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