Pairs & Combinations Part 5: Goalkeepers (Yes Part 5!)

Onto part 5 of the Pairs and Combinations series (yeah, got a few more bits to add to the series, we aren't done yet!). In this section we talk about Goalkeepers.

Introduction

Goalkeepers are still an important part of your team's tactical setup. Their distribution and sweeping up are significantly linked to your overall team style of play, and the players in your team. A well set-up goalkeeper can significantly improve your team's performances.

Distribution

Your goalkeeper has several options for distribution. He can act as a creative presence, or tend towards playing it safe. The options are as follows:

• Defender Collect
  
• Quick Throw
  
• Long Kick

A defender collect option works well with building play from the back, and works particularly well when you have a good creative outlet, like a ball-playing defender, a deep lying playmaker, or a regista, who can help create chances from a deeper position and help maintain possession. A quick throwing option supports a more direct counter-attacking approach, appears to suit distribution to full backs/wing backs (who naturally tend to have the most space from the back) & helps speed play out from the back at a much quicker tempo. The long kicking approach significantly suits a more physical taller option further up the field. If you play a Target Man or a Wide Target Man, these are highly suitable options to distribute long towards - this works well if your team is being pressed at the back and you are struggling to play the ball out from the back. A Sweeper Keeper can provide more creative options from open play, and suits a counter-attacking game from the back in terms of his distribution.

Sweeping Up

A Sweeper Keeper will sweep up in front of, and wide of the penalty area. He can compensate for a high line & the offside trap being breached. A normal Goalkeeper will hold position far more, and as a result, tends to suit being sat behind a deeper defence, claiming crosses and distributing the ball safer. If you have a higher line it may be more appropriate to try and beat the opposing forwards to the ball instead of standing up and facing a shot, where the opponent has time to set himself. It may be less essential to play a Sweeper Keeper if you have a Sweeper/Libero, or if you have a Defender on a Covering duty.

Conclusion

Choose your Goalkeeper carefully; you have 2 simple decisions, how do you want your Goalkeeper to distribute (both from open play, and restarting play) and what kind of sweeping you require (which is linked the the line and offside trap you employ).

Oh, and there will be a part 6 you may be glad to know...

I always select 'defender collect' when it comes to distribution but it's not been working so far. Did they fix it in the update because I've resorted to long kick's just until they do, which kinda hinders the style of play I like (building from the back).

Hi, I cannot find these options anywhere - where are they?

Hi, I cannot find these options anywhere - where are they?

in the tactics menu, right hand side of the pitch -> there are team settings and player settings

on the next screen you can just click on the single positions and apply player specific settings

Wow llama3, you're on a roll! Really appreciate and enjoying all of the guides dude

Just wondering which part is still not covered. The sweeper/libero?! That will be part 6

team instructions combinations will be part 6 - when i can be arsed

Nice work. I never really give too much consideration to the keeper. Just stick him on GK-D and have done with it.

It is interesting to note that by FM2014's statistical levels, there are NO GOALKEEPERS in the game that are EXCELLENT at the GK/D role.

FM2014 determines an 'excellent' attribute as 16. No goalkeeper has 16 in all the relevant gk/d role stat.

That's understandable, it's rare you'll find anyone with 16 in all the stats for the majority of positions. It's easy to do for strikers though, some midfielders and central defenders obviously.

However, for Gk/D at the start of the game there's no GK that matches all the stats at ANY attribute level higher than 12-13. (Reina is one of the very few) and a key reason for this is most goalkeepers have a very low composure rating or if they're older an awful agility rating.

So for anyone relying on attributes to recruit a keeper based on their role, it is always useful to ensure the filter searches for 8-9 out of the 10 attributes at least to save frustration. It also means if you get regens, you'll want to immediately get them on specific role training and getting them improved.

team instructions combinations will be part 6 - when i can be arsed

No plan for a guide about the libero/sweeper?

I covered the libero if llama3 doesn't cover it. It can be found in my profile.

i do not use it ever, so will not cover the sweeper or libero.

llama3,

congratulations your Guide has just received FM Scene Award at True Football Manager blog.

Thank you

Bumped as I am recieving a lot of PM's for this.