3-1-6 Shape in possession

[timbom]

Decent shape here with a 4-2-3-1 DM: 

 

PIs: 

AM - move into channels

VOL - move into channels 

both fullbacks - shoot less often 

[AndersAas]

On 19/12/2021 at 10:36, Ö-zil to the Arsenal! said:

My first step was to switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. The 4-2-3-1 was very stable, great possession and created a 3-2-5 attacking shape and was strong enough to get us back into Europe. The 4-3-3 gives us an extra attacking player on the field and potential to attack as a 3-1-6 which has already broken down a lot of sides.

Last season we drew 10, including the likes of Newcastle, Everton, Burnley, West Ham, Villa etc. This season, only 3 which were Newcastle and West Ham again and Brentford (now managed by Wilder) so it's still an issue but we're improving.

I'm happy with the tactics but need to give the players a bit more time to develop. I've put a lot of faith in Martinelli, Balogun and Nketiah and sometimes we have missed a proven goalscorer but I think it will be worth it in the long run.

I always targeted 3rd season for the title - Salah, Mane, Firminho, De Bruyne and Kante all turn the wrong side of 30 and Guardiola's contract at City finishes.

What do look at the most when judging the development of your players, tactic and team as a whole? Attributes, how they play out the tactic in the ME or both? Do you highlight or have focus on some attributes like anticipation, decisions and teamwork? Any other attributes?

[Ö-zil to the Arsenal!]

23 hours ago, AndersAas said:

What do look at the most when judging the development of your players, tactic and team as a whole? Attributes, how they play out the tactic in the ME or both? Do you highlight or have focus on some attributes like anticipation, decisions and teamwork? Any other attributes?

I'd say check the Caixa Academy thread for lots of detail, but in general I look at:

• Football intelligence
  • Decisions, Anticipation and Vision across the board, positioning for more defensive players, off the ball for more attacking players
• Technical ability
  • Technique, first touch, passing, weaker foot
• Personally
  • Professionalism, Determination, Work Rate
• Versatility
  • I usually train players in at least 3 positions to ensure we have lots of tactical options as the team develops
• Position-specific attributes

[AndersAas]

58 minutes ago, Ö-zil to the Arsenal! said:

I'd say check the Caixa Academy thread for lots of detail, but in general I look at:

• Football intelligence
  • Decisions, Anticipation and Vision across the board, positioning for more defensive players, off the ball for more attacking players
• Technical ability
  • Technique, first touch, passing, weaker foot
• Personally
  • Professionalism, Determination, Work Rate
• Versatility
  • I usually train players in at least 3 positions to ensure we have lots of tactical options as the team develops
• Position-specific attributes

Thanks. How do you approach the training in FM22 when you don’t have the tactical team training you emphasised a lot in FM18?

[halfspace3000]

5 hours ago, Ö-zil to the Arsenal! said:

I'd say check the Caixa Academy thread for lots of detail, but in general I look at:

• Football intelligence
  • Decisions, Anticipation and Vision across the board, positioning for more defensive players, off the ball for more attacking players
• Technical ability
  • Technique, first touch, passing, weaker foot
• Personally
  • Professionalism, Determination, Work Rate
• Versatility
  • I usually train players in at least 3 positions to ensure we have lots of tactical options as the team develops
• Position-specific attributes

hows your arsenal save going? @Ö-zil to the Arsenal!

[Lasson]

This is my Inter team in 2030 (journeyman save) trying to achieve the 3-1-6 shape in possession. I'm honestly pretty happy with it so far, though I'm still not 100% sure about my AMC/ST partnership or if the RGA and HB should switch sides. Also, I'm thinking about adding "Overlap" on both sides to get my WBs further forward in possession. The reason behind the "Slightly lower tempo" and "Slow pace down" is to get the overall intensity of the tactic down. I don't want my players out of gas around the 70th minute and unable to play the next game.

[Lasson]

This is taken from my latest game against Ascoli. You can clearly see the 3-1 in the back with the HB splitting the CBs and the RGA sitting in the middle. My only problem right here is my RW and RB almost standing on top of each other even with the RW told to "Sit narrower". 

[timbom]

On 16/01/2022 at 16:38, Lasson said:

This is taken from my latest game against Ascoli. You can clearly see the 3-1 in the back with the HB splitting the CBs and the RGA sitting in the middle. My only problem right here is my RW and RB almost standing on top of each other even with the RW told to "Sit narrower". 

Seems like the HB works better this year than it did last year which is great. I've got the same problem with the winger and the fullback being too close. I wonder whether moving the wingers to the right and left AM slots would solve this? Although that may affect things defensively and obviously the roles are different...

 

[CaptCanuck]

6 hours ago, timbom said:

Seems like the HB works better this year than it did last year which is great. I've got the same problem with the winger and the fullback being too close. I wonder whether moving the wingers to the right and left AM slots would solve this? Although that may affect things defensively and obviously the roles are different...

 

Wouldn't be an isolated 'fix' obviously, but have you tried IWB/W partnership? Whether I am putting the W at the midfield or attacking level, it has worked well for me.

This isn't specifically a 316 thing, just something one side of my tactic always has, but it has worked in my attempted 316 as well.

[Tibalg]

Le 16/01/2022 à 17:38, Lasson a dit :

This is taken from my latest game against Ascoli. You can clearly see the 3-1 in the back with the HB splitting the CBs and the RGA sitting in the middle. My only problem right here is my RW and RB almost standing on top of each other even with the RW told to "Sit narrower". 

Did you try to change your RW into an IF in support and your LW into an IW(a) ? Mentalities will be slightly different on the right, especially for the RW

[Lasson]

This is a pretty awesome shape. Below is the pass map from the game.

Edited January 25, 2022 by Lasson

[BrickCommo23]

13 hours ago, Lasson said:

This is a pretty awesome shape. Below is the pass map from the game.

That screenshot is about perfect! What's the system you've used?

[Alix11]

On 22.01.2021 at 02:01, Lordluap said:

İşte benim: F9 / AF kombinasyonu harika.

tactic link ?

[iwb]

created using iwbd.

 

[József Bozsik]

Trying to replicate this with dms on defensive duties told to stay wider

 

and then with cms on defensive duties again...

 

 

Edited April 15, 2022 by József Bozsik

[BadAss88]

Anyone succesfull with this? I was thinking the following..

DLF-S - AF-A
IF-A ------------------- W-A
BWM-D - DLP-S
WB-A - CD-D - CD-D - IWB-A
SK-D

[timbom]

On 21/08/2022 at 20:44, BadAss88 said:

Anyone succesfull with this? I was thinking the following..

DLF-S - AF-A
IF-A ------------------- W-A
BWM-D - DLP-S
WB-A - CD-D - CD-D - IWB-A
SK-D

Ive not tried this configuration myself but give it a go and let us know how you get on! The only thing that initially springs to mind for me is that is your BWM is dropping in to form the 3 then he and the 2 CBs player roles won't necessarily look for progressive passes so everything may funnel through the DLP. Maybe this is what you want but if oppo marks then then it may be difficult to play out.  

[Lordluap]

I've been utilising a 3-1-6 in attack a lot recently on FM22 and have it working brilliantly - with 2 different initial setups.  Not able to post at the moment but will do ASAP. 

[04texag]

On 21/08/2022 at 14:44, BadAss88 said:

Anyone succesfull with this? I was thinking the following..

DLF-S - AF-A
IF-A ------------------- W-A
BWM-D - DLP-S
WB-A - CD-D - CD-D - IWB-A
SK-D

I've been having a lot of fun with one of my most unique tactics I've built. It's a hybrid 4231/433, with two deep midfielders in the 4231 setup. It's not too different from some of the original posts in this thread.

By using a HB-d, we defend with a back three, and also build up well out of the back and recycle possession well.  I've put a Regista next to him, and a Treq in front in the AMC slot. Effectively, what I'm doing is establishing a strong team structure of players at the back and on the flanks, with a creative spine through the middle of the park.

You have the HB-d, Regista, and Trequartista almost all lining up in the center of the pitch from back to front. It's very pleasing. Additionally, all three of these players have high teamwork and roaming functionality. So, we effective can play to either flank, and all three players (but in different ways/movement patterns) will move toward that flank and assist with supporting play and overloading the flank. It's been sexy and fun. The movements result in a similar 316 type of play, although you have to watch the matches to see it because of the fluidity.

One thing I've found important to get these three central roles to really shine is to have some of your best players here, but they have to have high teamwork and work rate. This will ensure they do more positional swapping, supporting of both flanks, etc.

 

A 5-0 drumming of Liverpool at Home. I'm Arsenal (2027 btw) Here's a pass map, great triangles here, although the positioning isn't 100% accurate. 

6 is the HB, he typically is in line with the two defenders, but he does move forward of them to the half circle when the team gets into the final third, so that's why it shows further up. Here is the average position when in possession. Similarly, the Regista is quite often in the dead center of the pitch. The regista will even support play all the way to the left flank. 

The two wingers are told to stay wide, which helps stretch out the channels. They will both cut inside more when the ball is on their flank, but stay wider when possession is in the own half or opposite flank.

The yellow circle shows the area of mutual help, and the blue lines show the area of cooperation, the team's defining of the space of play, which is stretching the defense.

Overall, the tactic has been one of my favorites and sticks mostly to positional play principles. Performance wise, we've won the premier league 3 years in a row, but unfortunately just runner's up in the Champions League to Liverpool winning in 2026.

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by 04texag

[Christopher S]

5 hours ago, 04texag said:

I've been having a lot of fun with one of my most unique tactics I've built. It's a hybrid 4231/433, with two deep midfielders in the 4231 setup. It's not too different from some of the original posts in this thread.

By using a HB-d, we defend with a back three, and also build up well out of the back and recycle possession well.  I've put a Regista next to him, and a Treq in front in the AMC slot. Effectively, what I'm doing is establishing a strong team structure of players at the back and on the flanks, with a creative spine through the middle of the park.

You have the HB-d, Regista, and Trequartista almost all lining up in the center of the pitch from back to front. It's very pleasing. Additionally, all three of these players have high teamwork and roaming functionality. So, we effective can play to either flank, and all three players (but in different ways/movement patterns) will move toward that flank and assist with supporting play and overloading the flank. It's been sexy and fun. The movements result in a similar 316 type of play, although you have to watch the matches to see it because of the fluidity.

One thing I've found important to get these three central roles to really shine is to have some of your best players here, but they have to have high teamwork and work rate. This will ensure they do more positional swapping, supporting of both flanks, etc.

 

A 5-0 drumming of Liverpool at Home. I'm Arsenal (2027 btw) Here's a pass map, great triangles here, although the positioning isn't 100% accurate. 

6 is the HB, he typically is in line with the two defenders, but he does move forward of them to the half circle when the team gets into the final third, so that's why it shows further up. Here is the average position when in possession. Similarly, the Regista is quite often in the dead center of the pitch. The regista will even support play all the way to the left flank. 

The two wingers are told to stay wide, which helps stretch out the channels. They will both cut inside more when the ball is on their flank, but stay wider when possession is in the own half or opposite flank.

The yellow circle shows the area of mutual help, and the blue lines show the area of cooperation, the team's defining of the space of play, which is stretching the defense.

Overall, the tactic has been one of my favorites and sticks mostly to positional play principles. Performance wise, we've won the premier league 3 years in a row, but unfortunately just runner's up in the Champions League to Liverpool winning in 2026.

 

That looks real snacksy! I'm assuming it's littered with PI's, or?

[04texag]

5 minutes ago, Christopher S said:

That looks real snacksy! I'm assuming it's littered with PI's, or?

Not littered per se. The wingers both have stay wider. I either give them roam from position, or leave that off and tell team to play more expansive, but prefer the first.

The wingback on automatic is done to give hold position. Both wingbacks are set to wider. The BPD's are set to wider. 

Those are the only "necessary" PI's

[04texag]

I love seeing the passing connections from each of the three in my center spine (HB, Regista, Treq)

[Pilcs]

Just wanted to stop by and say thanks to the people who've replied to this thread. It's been interesting to see the different ways people have achieved this shape. I've just started incorporating it into my current save and definitely enjoying what I'm seeing.

I've gone with a Full-Back on Support instructed to Hold Position and Sit Narrower, along with a Deep-Lying Playmaker on Defend in the DM slot to form my 3-1. 

[skyline72]

On 25/08/2022 at 19:36, Lordluap said:

I've been utilising a 3-1-6 in attack a lot recently on FM22 and have it working brilliantly - with 2 different initial setups.  Not able to post at the moment but will do ASAP. 

Im having issues with my players crowding and passing around the box and cant score. They will launch a long ball counter and i concede. Lol. 

Wondering if its my players who arent intelligent enough to play this system.

Oh, and my LB or RB almost certainly get low ratings. 6.3 and below, i dont see them do anything stupid but their rating drop like nobody business.

Edited September 15, 2022 by skyline72
Add on

[HibeeRyan]

I've spent my lunch break reading this thread and decided I would like to recreate it in some way in my current save which I'm already using the 4-3-3 shape. Would this sort of idea work?. Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

PI's

FB-d sit narrower

IF - a stay wider

 

 

[Halbraum]

6 saat önce, HibeeRyan said:

Would this sort of idea work?. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Neither the IFat nor even Wsu hold the width in the final third unfortunately. They come into half-spaces. So the shape won't be like you thought most of the time. I know the app that you're using says the IFat can stretch the play by himself but it's only true for the real life, not for FM ME. I wish it wasn't like this, it's been so many editions that the SI didn't solve the problem.

[Lasson]

These are from two different matches.

[oblomov]

 

i started with a 3-1-6 build up but often switching the HB to a DLP which changes the shape to a 2-2-6

I press very high and often have some trouble at the end of the season with fatigue (the game i lost was the 36th match of the Serie A season, while resting my key players for the CL Semi Final return). I have managed an unbeaten season before with Udinese though. It's not always a perfect 3-1-6 but some enjoyable football has come out of my tinkering 

the double pivot in this particular game (which was a couple of seasons ago) are now the 2 BPD's in my back 4. Scalvini and a newgen i used to often play as a HB and Segundo Volante respectively. What's really nice about this gif is to focus on the AF who ultimately scores. He makes several attempts to run into space and abandons ship once he sees the ball isn't coming

Edited October 11, 2022 by oblomov

[04texag]

14 hours ago, oblomov said:

 

i started with a 3-1-6 build up but often switching the HB to a DLP which changes the shape to a 2-2-6

I press very high and often have some trouble at the end of the season with fatigue (the game i lost was the 36th match of the Serie A season, while resting my key players for the CL Semi Final return). I have managed an unbeaten season before with Udinese though. It's not always a perfect 3-1-6 but some enjoyable football has come out of my tinkering 

the double pivot in this particular game (which was a couple of seasons ago) are now the 2 BPD's in my back 4. Scalvini and a newgen i used to often play as a HB and Segundo Volante respectively. What's really nice about this gif is to focus on the AF who ultimately scores. He makes several attempts to run into space and abandons ship once he sees the ball isn't coming

Can you fix your image? Assuming that was your tactic screenshot? I'd love to see and congratulations on a great season. How did the CL turn out?

[oblomov]

51 minutes ago, 04texag said:

Can you fix your image? Assuming that was your tactic screenshot? I'd love to see and congratulations on a great season. How did the CL turn out?

it is a gif of a goal i scored 

 

the right CB has the instruction "stay wider" the IW's stay narrow to make space for the WB's. Sometimes i give the IW the instruction to roam, to have more players in the middle of the pitch at times. The #8 and TF are the main receivers of the ball in the middle part of the pitch (in the final third).

I won the CL two years in a row 

TF is crucial in this tactic

[oblomov]

number #14 is on support duty as i'm trying to play a bit more defensive this season 

[caioalberto11]

On 29/09/2022 at 22:28, Lasson said:

These are from two different matches.

Can you post this tactic here, please?

[Lasson]

22 hours ago, caioalberto11 said:

Can you post this tactic here, please?

Sorry. I think this is from the 22 version, and I don't have the save anymore. 

[bababooey]

On 18/12/2021 at 11:32, Ö-zil to the Arsenal! said:

 

DUDE.   This pass map is pornographic.    How the hell did you get the FB-S to stay in line like that?  I've tried the same thing, with (stay narrow + hold position), but my full back keeps going forward to combine....

 

[Lasson]

I would guess his player has some player traits that will make him stay back. 

[JT23]

Has anyone tried these principles on FM 24? With the new IFB working as a third CB there could be some interesting ideas.

[avenger22]

On 08/12/2023 at 12:03, JT23 said:

Has anyone tried these principles on FM 24? With the new IFB working as a third CB there could be some interesting ideas.

The easiest and one of the best ways to have a 3-1-6 with the ball is to play 3-5-2 DM-WB version, WB(A) and CM(a) or MEZZ(a) both of them and 2 AF(a) with a DM(s) and 3x BPD with dribble more, you will easily have a 3-1-6 at all times and is a very effective crossing tactic many goals from midfielders and 2 strikers and WB are very potent in this shape, or play 4-2-4 with an ifb and attacking WB(a) and you can have a 3-1-6 there too

Edited December 10, 2023 by avenger22

[timbom]

On 08/12/2023 at 11:03, JT23 said:

Has anyone tried these principles on FM 24? With the new IFB working as a third CB there could be some interesting ideas.

4231 DM with a HB and DLP support, and WB’s in the FB slots gets it pretty much bang on. I’ve not used the IFB much but I’d imagine it’s very doable. 

[Thengil]

On 08/12/2023 at 12:03, JT23 said:

Has anyone tried these principles on FM 24? With the new IFB working as a third CB there could be some interesting ideas.

Just tried it with a 4-3-3 DM Wide, with one IWB(A) and one IFB(D) to either side of the centerbacks. Mezzala on one MC, CM on the other. Wingers on the flanks, widest possible setting on the In Possession screen (trying to emulate Girona's tactics). Looks almost right, the only trouble is that the LB (IWB) doesn't seem to want to join the MCs in the line of 3 behind the striker - he stays abreast of the DM instead, creating a 3-2-2-3 instead of the 3-1-3-3 I want... 

[avenger22]

On 14/12/2023 at 12:41, Thengil said:

Just tried it with a 4-3-3 DM Wide, with one IWB(A) and one IFB(D) to either side of the centerbacks. Mezzala on one MC, CM on the other. Wingers on the flanks, widest possible setting on the In Possession screen (trying to emulate Girona's tactics). Looks almost right, the only trouble is that the LB (IWB) doesn't seem to want to join the MCs in the line of 3 behind the striker - he stays abreast of the DM instead, creating a 3-2-2-3 instead of the 3-1-3-3 I want... 

Yeah that is a limitation of IWB in FM especially this year he doesn't attack he is the same as an IWB(s) maybe 10 metres more forward, in reality he should join AM when in attack and support in DM or CM strata