Free Role?

I remember on 09 their was an option on the tactics page for "free role".

Is that still applicable on 11? I've been unable to find it and would like to.

Thanks for any help

i´m not quite sure but you could always try the roam from position tick box and see how things pan out for you

Basically now you have to tick 'roam from position' & set creative freedom to max to set a free role really now.

Oh ok thanks guys.

"Roaming" is exactly the same as FM09's "free role". The 09 name was misleading.

What are the prons and cons of roam from position?

What are the prons and cons of roam from position?

They're more likely to be in space to receive the ball, which will lead to "better" football. There will be less structural solidarity though, so you might occasionally be caught out defensively if too many players have it.

Pros: look for space to receive the ball, escape tight marking

Cons: other players might pass for the usual place that the player should be in but he isn't there because he's roaming, ineffective roaming if the player hasn't the right stats for it

Does the hidden "free role" positional rating still impact effectiveness of players using "roaming" or not? Did it ever?

Does the hidden "free role" positional rating still impact effectiveness of players using "roaming" or not? Did it ever?

Yes, the free role attribute does govern how effective a player is at roaming form his position. It will allow the player to find himself in more intelligent positions between the defensive lines or off the shoulder of his defender for wider 'free-role' players. From here the player can pick up the ball in dangerous offensive areas where he can run at and expose the opposition. For a wide free role think Ronaldo as an Inside Forward, waiting higher up the pitch for a punishing counter. For a central free role think of Ozil's central German role, where he can pick up the ball between the midfield and defensive lines of the opposition.

The major con of giving a free role to a player is the fact that they're likely to be a defensive liability. They're work rate is likely to be lower and they'll focus almost all of their attentions on being in an intelligent position to

receive the ball when your team wins it back. They are unlikely to help in winning it back themselves. Think of it like adding an offensive weapon at the expense of a tracking defender. However, when used intelligently it can lead to some beautiful counter attacking play. Also, if you surround a 'free role' player with hard working players around him, great example is the mercurial Messi and Barca, you can still put enough pressure on your opposition to make them cough the ball up in dangerous areas. I'd recommend playing a high defensive line with high pressure and fast defenders or a deep defensive line with little pressure for a 'free role' player to best serve his purpose. Basically you have to dominate the pitch completely (Barca), or drop deep and rely on the player as a counter attacking menace.

Thanks for all the response guys this has helped a lot. Hopefully others too