FM 2015 tactics guide: Setting instructions, mentality and shape
Your new tactic and the players within it should already cry out for a particular set of instructions. Use these instructions to enhance your formation, roles and strengths.
For instance if you have a tight nit formation with plenty of links and a team with good technique and ability, you may want to retain possession and work ball into the box. Equally, if you have gaps and a strong target upfront you may want to use direct passing.
Your formation will effect what defensive line you want to set, if you have lots of players in the attacking third and no support for your back four you may want to push higher up to close the gap, however slow defenders with this instruction could be disastrous. All of a sudden you have to make a compromise. What I am saying is its all logic and common sense, you need to sit down and iron out all the kinks in your system until you land on the perfect balance for your team.
Every setting will cause a ripple through your tactic, these need to be positive and moving in the same direction. I personally see team instructions in two halves, there are the must choose options, these define my style of play and usually consist of picking between two instructions, see them boxed below.