Llama's creative Arsenal 4-2-3-1 (wide)

This is an update on my tactic from FM2011 - I have developed it over the past couple of years continuously, and have found a lovely balance so far. Enjoy.

If you have not read WWfan's 12-step guide, then stop reading this, and follow the link.

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/332585-How-to-Play-FM13-A-Twelve-Step-Guide

This is my FM13 update on my successful FM11 tactic. The team plays in a 4-2-3-1 system, and compensates for the gap behind the midfield with a Central Midfielder (Defend) as a simple passer and distributor, and a Deep Lying Playmaker (Support) who stays back generally, but helps spray the ball around when needed and provides a creative outlet from deeper. The Wide Forwards come into the space vacated by the Deep Lying Forward who comes deep to link play, as well as create space. The Advanced Playmaker can also get into the space created by the striker too. To compensate for the lack of width the Full Backs get forward and combine play down the flanks very well. Since I play with a high line, I have a Sweeper Keeper, as well as 2 basic central defenders, to help keep the ball at the back. The team plays excellent attacking football, with good possession results generally too. I use Short Passing to help possession game, and Zonal Marking to help retain our shape, both in defence and attack.

4-2-3-1

Starting Strategy - Counter/Control

Philosophy - Balanced

Passing - Shorter

Creativity - More Expressive

Closing Down - More Pressing

Tackling - Default

Marking - Zonal

Crossing - Default

Roaming - More Roaming

GK - Sweeper Keeper - Defend

DR - Full Back - Attack

DRC - Central Defender - Defend

DLC - Central Defender - Defend

DL - Full Back - Attack

MRC - Central Midfielder - Defend

MLC - Deep-Lying Playmaker - Support

AMR - Inside Forward - Attack

AMC - Advanced Playmaker - Attack

AML - Inside Forward - Attack

STC - Deep-Lying Forward - Support

This is my FM13 tactic - Currently top of the league with 50 points from 21 games. Scoring 46 and conceding 20. We achieve approximately 50-60% Possession in the vast majority of games.

THERE IS NO DOWNLOAD LINK - IT TAKES YOU 2 MINUTES TO ADD THIS INTO THE TACTICS CREATOR - DEFAULT SETTINGS ONLY - NO TWEAKS TO DEFENSIVE LINE ETC

I have also linked some recommended reading, as making your own tactic is very rewarding - as is learning to adapt it and reading the game, knowing when to make your substitutions and shouts correctly too.

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/278074-Trequartista-a-discussion

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/294832-The-Ball-Winning-Midfielder-Winning-Tackles-amp-Trophies

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/291550-The-Regista-regulating-a-steady-supply-of-Chances

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/311754-Full-Backs-and-Wing-Backs-the-most-important-men-on-the-pitch

As well as SFraser's threads, Cleon's threads & Wwfan's threads too. There are lots of outstanding threads here:

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/325677-Forum-Rules-FAQ-s-and-Important-Links-PLEASE-READ-BEFORE-POSTING

Nice results there llama.

I've tried to create a 4-2-3-1 this year, was wondering what sort of shouts you found yourself using throughout the course of the games? I've found that this formation and approach can be brilliant at times, but I seem to get overrun at various times during games, and wondered if you have any advice to counter this ?

Of course, I'm playing with a technically inferior team to Arsenal, but i'm not looking for perfection, just something that my team can grow into, and have fairly consistent performances.

Cheers

touchline shouts were few and far between. and i never used any opposition instructions, as i feel it can change your shape and expose your team. i feel if your team does its own job well the other team will automatically find it hard. if i wanted to keep the ball if i have little of it i often "play wider" and if necessary "play deeper" and "retain possession" to open up space so my team have more time on the ball and options open. i also found if teams play a defensive midfield type system like man city, to sit the line back, and exploit the flanks, so as to open them up more and not get caught on the counter.

Was there supposed to be a tactic attached to this thread?

It is a tactic based on roles already set up in the tactics creator (I assume with no other tweaks as none are mentioned). It is really simple to make and I am sure it can be improved further with a few tweaks here and there. Plays pretty well (10 game test with Dundee United) but I am going to have a look at a few things - such as defensive line which the TC sets very high - and you will need to set up yur own set pieces for the players you are using

Download Where tight.

llama could u put some screen shots only with the results ?? it be better for the thread

thx mate good work thought keep it up

This is a rarity; a good tactic created only by TC.

seems to work with little teams to i play with wigan ath and works well

and with big team works to i play with barcelona in my second year and i'm unbeatean until now

Well, I think TC is really good, it's just users who don't know how to use it because of lack of manuals, tutorials or anything in the last year or two. Taking that into account and the fact that TC evolved, we came out to the conclusion that we dont know fully how TC works.

Anyway, nice to see someone having a great tactic, keep up your work

Can you specify which tool did you find, Grekozor or somone's else?

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/231775-FM2011-Player-Position-Calculator?highlight=player+position+calculator this is robzilla's player position calculator which i used.

will post some screenshots imminently

http://img21.imageshack.us/i/squadstats.png/

http://img33.imageshack.us/i/premierleaguetable1011.png/

http://img842.imageshack.us/i/barcelona0arsenal1uclfi.png/

http://img607.imageshack.us/i/results1.png/

http://img809.imageshack.us/i/results2.png/

http://img703.imageshack.us/i/results3.png/

here are the screenshots

Was there supposed to be a tactic attached to this thread?

no, the point is it is tactics creator, you are given all the information there to make it yourself

I Play with Arsenal too. And I'm using Il devasto with great success, the only problem is that I can't make Fabregas to perform with that tactic. I'm now on my 3rd season. So I might be giving your tactic a chance. Which season are you?

that was a single full season completed. haven't had a chance to play for a few days cos of work.

What pitch size do you use?

What pitch size do you use?

largest possible, create yourself space to attack in. if you feel your defence is best, then by all means use a smaller/standard size to help your team out. work with what is strongest

I'm 5 games into my season with Arsenal, using this tactic, and I have already lost as many games the league as you did in your whole season. It seems to be bossing teams at home, but both Liverpool and Sunderland have done me with pace in behind the defence away. Did you play differently away from home?

I'm 5 games into my season with Arsenal, using this tactic, and I have already lost as many games the league as you did in your whole season. It seems to be bossing teams at home, but both Liverpool and Sunderland have done me with pace in behind the defence away. Did you play differently away from home?

no differently at all - pre-season i am careful to raise the match preparation workload to very high, and set to team blend until they are 100% fluid in the system. how fluid are they? i literally made no tweaks to individual instructions, no OI's at all, or alternate strategies. for first few games of season i at times used a deep-lying forward attack to retain more of the ball.

I've done exactly the same. It's all Fluid. No OI's or alternate strategies. Just doesn't seem to perform as well away.

i played at fiorentina, the first 15 matches, i sucked, after that i rocked for 4 seasons, give it alot of time i guess, inside forwards are key, and the treq is 2nd important

no differently at all - pre-season i am careful to raise the match preparation workload to very high, and set to team blend until they are 100% fluid in the system. how fluid are they? i literally made no tweaks to individual instructions, no OI's at all, or alternate strategies. for first few games of season i at times used a deep-lying forward attack to retain more of the ball.

Did you use any particular training regime's? Also, what did you do with Match Prep once everything was 100% fluid?

Did you use any particular training regime's? Also, what did you do with Match Prep once everything was 100% fluid?

i used training regimes that were weighted towards attacking and tactics mainly, with a mild emphasis on aerobic. the rest were fairly low. its used to shape players to my team's style of play.

once match prep was 100% i adjusted it game by game - when i had been on poor form i used defensive positioning to shore up the defence. against strong attacks i used defensive positioning, against tough defences i used attacking movement, and against set piece specialists (stoke, blackburn etc) i used defending set pieces, and against teams who are very defensive and hard to play through i used attacking set pieces

That makes sense. Cheers for the quick answer.

That makes sense. Cheers for the quick answer.

no worries mate, hope it works for you

Another question.....did you use shouts at all or was it the same settings every match for the entire match, just using subs to freshen things up?

Also, just out of interest, how did you get on if Song wasn't in the team? I can notice when he's not in there. Not sure if Denilson and Diaby are upto the job.

well the squad stats screenshot shows that denilson and diaby contributed a couple of assists, but got decent average ratings of over 7.0 which is good for players playing a large proportion of games as subs. i used very few shouts in game at all, just those already outlined in the opening post mate, but NO opposition instructions at all - i genuinely feel it is better that way, as your team is not pulled all over the place, and holds its own shape in defence. song is a great player, i miss him often too. i favour diaby over denilson in that role tbh. but its the same as having rosicky in for fabregas, he is good, just not quite as good.

I sold Diaby for 5,75 and Fabianski for 2,2 because I felt that is the area oh the team that needs strength for your tactic and generally this is a bad area. And for the exact reason mentioned above I bought Sissoko and Rodwell along with Frey. Now I have Almunia as backup keeper. I will also sell Denilson when he recovers and I am planning on selling Walcot the next seasson. Concerning the fact that song is injured for a couple of months I think I now can develop both players well.

P.S. Your tactic is really good, I started a new game just because of it, thank you

P.S. 2. If you want a good MCd who is already expirienced you can buy a guy from Bordoux (don't know his name without looking)

I sold Diaby for 5,75 and Fabianski for 2,2 because I felt that is the area oh the team that needs strength for your tactic and generally this is a bad area. And for the exact reason mentioned above I bought Sissoko and Rodwell along with Frey. Now I have Almunia as backup keeper. I will also sell Denilson when he recovers and I am planning on selling Walcot the next seasson. Concerning the fact that song is injured for a couple of months I think I now can develop both players well.

P.S. Your tactic is really good, I started a new game just because of it, thank you

P.S. 2. If you want a good MCd who is already expirienced you can buy a guy from Bordoux (don't know his name without looking)

cheers mate, glad its working well

any download link somewhere please?!

Good evening m8.

I want to ask one thing about the playmaker. Do you use any ? and if you do is Fabregas ticked as a playmaker ?

Your tactic is really great with my Arsenal team. Hpe it works well too in the new patch!!!!!

any download link somewhere please?!

as i have explained up the thread - i do not need to host a download link - all the information is in the opening post - no extra instructions, no OI, nothing changed or ticked.

Good evening m8.

I want to ask one thing about the playmaker. Do you use any ? and if you do is Fabregas ticked as a playmaker ?

i leave it unticked, as a trequartista is first choice playmaker automatically. (i.e. don't tick it to none, leave it unticked and it automatically chooses trequartista - i.e. fabregas)

hey dude, this tactic work fine in 11.3.0

I'll give it a try with my Arsenal side on 11.3 i really need something new at the min.

Hey Llama - I started a new game with West Ham on the 11.3 patch and so far so good in my first season. It took about 5 games to blend but my record so far is P20 W11 D3 L6 (most of the losses at the start) but i'm 5th in the league and out playing a lot of teams so good job and i will update again at the end of the season

What about CL? Do you change some of the roles and D-LINE or you only switch from COntrol to Counter/Defend?

Thanks

i never change roles. the strategy i change depending on the individual game and scenario. i always start on control in all games. but counter is my preferred defensive formation.

ello mate, what did you do with tempo, width etc?

I'll try these settings as well on 11.3. What a massive tactic it would be if you can win everything with a 100% TC tactic by adjusting game strategy when needed and all that with the original Arsenal squad! I've usually preferred 4-1-2-1-2 and 4-3-1-2 formations myself for Arsenal but this is much closer to how they play IRL. I wonder if having your keeper on Sweeper-Keeper/Support isn't too risky? What were your observations, llama3?

everything i have not specified is kept default evertonmarc

i find a sweeper-keeper support to be absolutely fine, it suits the fact that fabianski, almunia etc are good at 1-on-1's and meeting through balls - it plays to their strengths.

Use this tactic formula with my Inter Milan and works very well for first 4 games. FYI, all match preparation still accomplished and half season.

Really good job llama3.

just one question, why your account name is llama3

Use this tactic formula with my Inter Milan and works very well for first 4 games. FYI, all match preparation still accomplished and half season.

Really good job llama3.

just one question, why your account name is llama3

llama was used just as an alliterative alternative for my real name, and 3 is my lucky number

I started a new game with man utd using your tactic. And during one prematch time I forgot to switch starting tactic to control so it was left on COUNTER. I managed to win that one by 7-0. Next match delibarately strategy was on counter and I have won against chelsea 3-0

Also, won my first 4 matches in PL and 0 goals conceided (about 15 scored).

So, conclusion is counter works great.

does this tactic work for patch 11.3 ?

I feel counter works better too...however just got hammered at home by ManU for 5-2....defensively can be leaky...I conceded 3 goals to Fulham too when they have a fast striker and destroy the offside trap...otherwise been winning all the other games...beated away 4-0 vs Milan.

I am tottenham.

does this tactic work for patch 11.3 ?

yes it does

Good to see that counter is indeed working well too. i have the passing range on default to allow for quicker, more direct counter attacks as well as the build up play