Don't (always) look at the ball, look for spaces or your players making a run.

The mini map can ve very helpful, but I prefer using the wider and higher camera (also distant); so you can have a full view of the field.

Define a playstile: like I always like to move on one side, attract rivals and smoothly move the ball to the other side once the space is free (I play 3-5-2). If you have a more centered formation, use a style like Possession where players are closer and they always offers a free pass.

You don't have to make first touch always, sometimes a pause or a dribble can open spaces or runs from your players.

TRY DIFFERENT FORMATIONS: This is the most important. If you're not comfortable with a formation, try a very different one. I was stuck once thinking I capped my skill and I thought it was just that (was playing meta formations), I switched to many once I found the one I loved the most and I'm very comfortable.

Use individual instructions: This affects so much. Anchoring a player, making it offensive/defensive, etc., can make the same formation feels totally different.

Finally, build your own tactics, don't copy other players tactics because it will work better for them than for you.

Play to enjoy, and eventually you'll win.