Home › Guide › Match plan

Match plan in the football manager – guide

This guide explains the “Match plan” screen in Gaffer's Desk, the free football manager in your browser. The match is simulated in the daily calculation - here you decide in advance what should happen during it.

Picture of the “Match plan” screen in Gaffer's Desk

Terms

If
The condition: always, we are behind, we are ahead, the score is level, or we are a man down.
from minute
The earliest minute the instruction may fire (1-120, extra time included).
goals apart
Only for "behind"/"ahead": the minimum gap required.
Change tactics
Sets the five tactical sliders to the preset of the chosen play style.
Make a substitution
Swaps a player on the pitch for one from the squad who is not in the line-up.

Good to know

  • Each instruction fires at most once per match - "we are behind" does not trigger again every minute.
  • A maximum of 3 substitutions per match.
  • Substitutions only happen while play is stopped: whoever is on the ball or being passed to stays on until the situation is over.
  • A player sent off is not replaced - you play on a man down.
  • Substitutes lose fitness only in proportion to their time on the pitch.
  • How well your setup fits the opponent is decided at kick-off - switching mid-match no longer changes that.

Try it yourself: found your club for free in your browser.

Play for free