u/osmnextlevel

Edit: quick note since a few people brought this up. In empty leagues or leagues with bots, the transfer list only has your players and a few others on it, so of course you can sell high rated players easily. What I'm talking about is full leagues with good active managers, and wars. There the transfer list is packed and everyone is trying to sell their high rated players at the same time. That's where the 80-84 trick makes the difference.

Back with another one from the "mistakes everyone makes" series. Today it's squad building, because honestly this is where most new managers lose the game before a ball is even kicked.
The money trick nobody tells you: 80-84
I keep seeing people trying to sell their 90+ players. Big mistake. Selling anything above 80-84 is pure luck in this game. Most of the time it just sits there.
Here's what you do instead. Take players in the 80-84 range from the scout, then buy and sell, buy and sell, over and over. While your rivals are stuck trying to sell their big players, you're quietly building up cash. Then you use that money to buy 100+ players aged 15-18.
Then watch your rivals try to keep up with you :)
Don't look for shortcuts to make money. 80-84. Nobody will tell you this.
1. Your squad is way too big
I see screenshots every day with 10 strikers, 15 midfielders, 10 defenders and 5 keepers. Mostly old guys, mostly 100+. Why? What are you doing with all of them?
More players does not mean a better team. It means wasted money.
Play 4-3-3 and this is all you need:
5 forwards, 5 midfielders, 6 defenders, 2 keepers.
Anything more is waste.
2. You buy old instead of young
I'll keep repeating this until everyone gets it. A 100+ player aged 15-18 and a 100+ player aged 25-30 are NOT the same player. Fill your squad with young guys and keep it to the numbers above.
3. You're looking for "the best tactic"
Every day someone posts "what's the best tactic in OSM??"
There is no best tactic. No magic tactic. No unbeatable tactic.
You set your tactic, pressing, style and tempo based on the opponent you're facing. Analyse him properly before the match. That's the whole game. Once you figure out how to play 4-3-3 properly, OSM gets a lot more fun, trust me.
4. You're trying to learn in coins-on leagues
In coins-on leagues the guy with the most coins wins, simple as that. If you want to actually learn the game, do it in wars and in coins-off leagues. Build your squad the way I said when you start a new league and you'll see the difference.
That's it for today. I've been playing this game for 16 years and I'm just trying to pass on what I've learned to people who are starting out. I'm not asking for anything back.
Got questions? Drop them below, happy to help.
And remember, no tactic comes with a guarantee. You figure it out slowly, with experience 👊

Last post got way more answers than I expected, thanks everyone. One thing I noticed in the comments: a lot of you play with the offside trap on by default. I almost never do.
What I do
I mapped my own settings for every opponent formation, home/away and stronger/equal/weaker. That's 54 situations. The trap is on in only 2 of them: against 5-3-1-1 and 6-3-1.
Never against Shoot on Sight
4-2-3-1, 4-5-1 and 5-4-1 shoot from distance. They don't need to run in behind your line, so the trap gives you nothing. If it fails, their striker is one on one with your keeper.
Why it's risky in general
When it works it kills an attack. When it fails, it's a goal. Most matches aren't worth that gamble.
Quick rules I use
Opponent shoots on sight → trap off, always
4-back opponents → off
Only against very deep counter shapes, and only sometimes → on
Do you play with the trap on? Curious what your results look like.

This is how I play against 4231 - 451 shoot on sight !
**How 4-5-1 Shoot on Sight thinks**

It packs the middle with 5 midfielders and one striker, then shoots from distance as soon as it sees the goal. It doesn't need many chances. Every ball you lose in midfield is a shot against you.

**My settings against 4-5-1 4231 Shoot on Sight**

Venue	Strength	Formation	Pressure	Style	Tempo	Midfield
Home	Stronger	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	69	76	54	Help Defence
Home	Equal	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	68	71	51	Help Defence
Home	Weaker	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	60	60	52	Help Defence
Away	Stronger	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	70	74	59	Hold Position
Away	Equal	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	64	70	54	Hold Position
Away	Weaker	4-3-3 B (Wing Play)	60	60	51	Help Defence

In every case: Forwards Attack, Defence Stay Back, Offside trap Off, Zonal marking.

**Why these numbers**

- **Low tempo everywhere (51–59).** Against Shoot on Sight, losing the ball fast is the worst thing you can do. Slow it down, keep the ball, give him nothing to shoot from.
- **Pressure and style follow your strength.** When you're stronger, go up to 69–76 and choke his midfield. When you're weaker, stay at 60/60 and keep your shape.
- **Away and stronger or equal: midfield holds position.** His 5 midfielders are waiting for gaps. Don't give them any.
- **Even away and weaker, still 4-3-3.** If you sit back against Shoot on Sight, you just give him more time to shoot. Go for the goal.

**3 mistakes I see against 4-5-1**

1. High tempo. You lose the ball in midfield and he shoots on the counter.
2. Going defensive away. Parking the bus doesn't stop a team that shoots from distance.
3. Playing players out of position. Your 4-3-3 wings only work if your wingers are real wingers.

**Your turn**

Played against 4-5-1 or 4231 this week? Tell me venue, strength and score in the comments. Which formation should I cover next?

I've been playing OSM since 2009, and I want to share how I build squads for wars and tournaments. These are the 3 mistakes I see the most.

**1. Never play defensive at home**

At home we never play a defensive tactic. Away, you can try a defensive 5-2-3, but at home I recommend 4-3-3 with passing game or wing play.

**2. Buying old players (especially from the Scout)**

This is the biggest mistake. People send the Scout for 100+ players and fill their squad with old ones.

An example from my own transfers:
- A 26–30 year old, 102-rated player from the Scout costs around 40–45M. After a week of training and friendlies he tops out at about 105–106.
- An 18 year old, 102-rated player costs around 60M. You pay ~20M more, but after a week he's around 110, and he'll play for you for many more seasons.

Pay a bit more and buy young. It makes a huge difference.

**3. Not using the Scout at all**

Many people only buy from the transfer list. In my experience, Scout players sell much faster.

While everyone tries to flip 90–100 rated players, here's what I do:
- Use the Scout to buy young 80–84 rated players
- Keep trading them and build up your cash
- Use that money to buy 15–18 year old players for your real squad

**Bonus: "parking the bus" is not a guaranteed tactic**

Low pressure, low style, low tempo and sitting deep is not a safe tactic. If you build a good squad, 4-3-3 lets you dominate in any league, war or tournament.

**About me**

Our crew is currently 12th. We paused wars because a lot of our players quit, but I still play every day and I'm happy to help anyone who wants to get better.

Ask me anything in the comments: squads, tactics, transfers. I'll answer as many as I can.

Trust me and play 4-3-3 :)