Creating Valverde 4-4-2

[DannyFM87]

Hi everyone.  I'm trying to create Ernesto Valverde's 4-4-2 on FM18, (I'm playing as Barca) and just wanted to gather all your opinions on it in here if I could.

So far I have pretty much set the shape and have a few TI's set - Control, Slightly higher defensive line, Shorter passing)

I'm struggling to find much useful info online either, so any links would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[DannyFM87]

Here's the shape, the only role I have changed as you can see is the STR to a false 9 (Messi)

[Park]

Tonight v Valencia was my first time seeing them this season, so the below is based purely on tonight's game. I assume tonight was quite different to how they've generally played - I've heard their formation called 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 this season. https://www.football-lineups.com/team/Barcelona/ might be of some use; it tends to be a reliable site in terms of formations.

Busquets HB, Rakitic right side, Paulinho CM-A, Iniesta left (you could have him as an Advanced Playmaker but I'm not sure they played through him quite enough). Messi could maybe be a Trequartista from the AMCR position instead of a False Nine. The centre backs were pretty aggressive in one-on-ones, maybe Stopper duty or Tighter Marking.

 

 

[goqs06]

@DannyFM87 @Park you might find these of great help:

https://twitter.com/11tegen11/status/919304825241681920?lang=en

http://www.thefalse9.com/2017/06/ernesto-valverde-barcelona-tactics.html

These websites have been of great help to me in my research. Other examples include http://spielverlagerung.com/ and http://outsideoftheboot.com/ .

For Valverde, his teams usually play direct and attacking football. They often have a high press.

@DannyFM87 I feel that your player roles are spot on except for a few. The left sided WM should be changed to a WP (S) - Iniesta role and right sided WM to a Winger (A) - Dembele. Both full-backs definitely pushed higher up to support the attacks. Look at the passmap in the 1st link. Alba pushes up higher up than Semedo, so I'd opine that Alba FB (A) and Semedo FB (S). Just add PI "Run wide with ball" to Suarez AF role. For messi, I can safely say he is a false 9. He cant be a trequartista as he'll roam to much and not contribute much to the defensive phase. Valverde wants his players to exercise high pressing mentality. Even attackers like suarez and messi are expected to track back andvhelp out with the defence. Try applying the principles of Valverde's philosophy and apply them in your PI, TI and tactics. For an example, look at my recent post The Louis van Gaal Way 2014-2016 under the "POTTP" section. Hope you'll be able to take a look at my post and better understand tactical principles and philosophies.

Oh yeah, and there was a Valverde Barcelona thread done in September, you might want to take a look: 

Valverde's Barcelona

 

[yonko]

Messi is definitely more a Trequartista than False9 and also it could be from the AMCR position more so than from the STCR position.

[llado01]

upfront FR Messi (Treq ) -FL suarez (CF A)

the midfield 4 is a diamond with one AMC on Support (paulinho) and one dlp (d) at dmc (busi), MCL iniesta maybe a AP (s) and  MCR rakitic mez o med (s) 

in defence Alba is more attaquin winback than semedo , and 2 standard cb

[DannyFM87]

Wow thanks for all the great input guys @Park @goqs06 @llado01 @yonko

I'll be putting all these ideas together later and probably be able to create three different variations of the tactic now.

Just having a read through the links at the moment.. Thanks again!