Manager Preferred Formations Updates

A thread on making managers preferred formations more accurately represent the way they play in real life.
 

Celtic - Brendan Rodgers

4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide to 4-3-3 DM Wide

Currently on Brendan Rodgers has his preferred formation as a 4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide in FM24. This is still a valid option as one of his preferred formations further down the pecking order but in basically every Celtic game since he’s returned Celtic have started with a 4-3-3 DM Wide. Unfortunately Rodgers using a 4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide in game means that arguably Celtics 2 most valuable assets in the real world in Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley barely get any game time and are limited to sub appearances leading to eventual loans out typically a year into a save. A small change away from Rodgers’ Leicester formations would be welcome to more accurately represent how Celtic lineup in real life.

Rangers - Phillipe Clement

4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide

The same essentially goes for Phillipe Clement at Rangers. He currently has his preferred formation set to a 4-4-2 in FM24 however he has played a 4-3-2-1 DM AM Wide every game since he was appointed Rangers manager. Not only would this change more accurately represent the real life Rangers but it would also suit the squad more. The only player who wouldn’t benefit from this change is likely to be John Lundstram who would need to be tweaked to be more proficient at playing deeper in midfield.

Dunfermline - James McPake

This one is a tricky one to call. Currently James McPake’s preferred formation in FM24 is a 4-3-3 DM wide which is a formation Dunfermline are capable of playing and largely did at points last season. They have also switched to a 4-3-3 in games this season. However a step back up to the Championship and a long injury list means that Dunfermline have typically started with a 5 back this season. Most commonly this has been a 5-2-3 DM Wide but with the right personnel fit and available (particularly Matty Todd) the 5-2-3 looks more like a 5-2-2-1 DM AM. I would personally say purely based on how the season has played out in real life the 5-2-3 DM Wide would be the better candidate for an updated preferred formation. This change is perhaps not as needed as an update to Rodgers as Clement but it’s just a small suggestion to more accurately represent how Dunfermline have set up this season.

St Mirren - Stephen Robinson

4-3-3 DM Wide to 5-2-3 DM Wide

Last season Stephen Robinson typically set up in a 5-3-2 however for most of this season so far St Mirren have lined up in a 5-2-3 DM Wide. That being said with the recent injury to Ryan Strain St Mirren have reverted back to a 5-3-2. I personally can’t remember the last time Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren lined up with anything other than a 5 back in the league so a change to either of those formations would be a welcome update more in line with how St Mirren set up in the real world.