The essentials in 5 minutes

Each team starts with 6 scheduled opportunities, up to 4 more for the stronger midfield, 1 for each attacking midfielder or winger the opponent fields and 1 if he fields a holding midfielder, plus each forward’s own chance, counter-attacks and a trailing captain’s rally.

Every opportunity has to be won step by step: the opening pass, the midfield duel (does the defender get there, then control against the challenge), the box duel, a shot that must find the target, and finally the keeper. Only about a quarter of opportunities end in a shot, so every duel counts.

A rating is a summary. Look at the skills behind it for the job you give the player.

Pick a formation your players fit. Each OM, LW and RW gives the opponent 1 extra opportunity, and fielding a DM gives 1 too: an attacking shape and a holding screen both cost volume. Every forward still gets his own chance each match.

An approach chosen without the players for it gives you nothing. Match it to your squad first, then to the opponent.

Unmanaged clubs play a house plan in about 70% of their matches, and their previous match reports show it. Pick the answer in Game plan and approaches, section Answers to each approach: a good answer pays most when a stronger side chose badly. For example, Regain and break punishes a high line, Keep possession beats a press, and the offside trap stops Run in behind.

Mentality moves your team-mates between the two ends of the pitch. Front foot and All-out add help in attack and take it from defence, and the side that pushes forward leaves space for counters and runs in behind. Cautious and Low block do the opposite: they protect the box and attack with fewer men. No mentality changes how often either team attacks.

Scenarios react during the match while you are away. Two good first ones: a substitution around minute 60 for a tired player, and a switch to a more attacking mentality if you are trailing late on. The report shows exactly when each one fired.

Training runs Monday to Friday. Each player develops the two skills you put in his slots, up to his potential. Train the skills his position needs; a skill outside his job grows, but does not raise his rating.

Start with the goals, for and against, then the duels your players keep losing. Show technical detail opens the calculation behind a shot or a duel, step by step. Now and then a dry remark follows a phase lost by a mile; you can switch it off with Match banter in the display menu.

You start with 8 weeks of wages in the bank. Wages are paid every week; sponsors and home gate receipts bring money in. Every movement is a line in the ledger. The market, the stadium and the academy can only spend what you actually have.