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Beale Ball... taking off the handbrake!


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Watching Rangers play so far this season, they have been mediocre at best. After Michael Beale stated that he would be 'taking the handbrake off' Rangers this season, it has yet to materialise.

So with the latest transfer update, I thought I'd give it a go. This is my interpretation of Beale Ball. How I think, Beale thinks, he is trying to play.

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I think the back 5 is fairly standard. Both centre halves are asked to play and step out, with the occasional long pass forward, BPD(d) for both suits. The fullback's provide most of the width for Beale's tactic, with the right distinctly more attacking than the left. So WB(s) and WB(a) respectively.

He has consistently spoken about having an 8 and a 6 in the middle. I think a box-to-box suits his 8 perfectly, although IRL this role hasn't contributed greatly to attacking play, and has been more subdued than the dynamic BBM role in FM. The 6 was probably the most questionable role in this interpretation. Again, IRL, Nico Raskin plays this role as a pivot/playmaker. In the initial interpretation, I had this role as DM(s), but I felt he wasn't involved enough. I debated over DLP(s) and RGA(s), as I wasn't sure if DLP(s) in front of 2 BPD would be overkill, and too condensed in that area. But settled on DLP(s), as RGA(s) is more aggressive and has too much freedom for my liking, with roam from position hard coded.

The 3 behind the striker could have been 3 AMC, as Beale seems to want a very central attacking unit, with the only width coming from the wingback's. But recently he has been utilising Matondo on the left, cutting in using his pace, so I've taken that into account. The IW(s) was preferred to the IF(s) as he still puts the odd cross in (as IRL) when a run isn't an option, and the IF(s) has cross less often hard coded.

A bog standard AM(s) was selected as we don't want any more width on that side with the marauding wing back using that space. The remaining role options are playmaker ones, which I don't want in this strata as it may slow down play in the final third. The other role chosen being the SS(a), again not wanting a playmaker role. Beale has been trying to fit 2 (sometimes 3!) strikers in his system, so this SS(a) gives us an extra striker without an out and out striker. 

I don't 100% know what Beale expects from his main striker, he seems to want a bit of everything from him, which would indicate a complete forward. But this is my interpretation, and I love the advanced forward, so AF(a) it is! The 3 players rotating the SS/AF positions have 30 goals between them at this stage already, so it seems to work for now.

TI are indicative of a high pressing, quick on the transition style; direct, higher tempo, playing higher up the pitch. Which in, albeit very limited spells, has been attempted IRL by Beale.

First round of league fixtures done, sitting top, plus a decent Champions League run so far. Conceding some sloppy goals early on, but as tactical familiarity increased, sloppy goals became fewer.  

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The highlight of the run beating Napoli at home 3-1 with a front line ravaged by injury

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Recreating Beale Ball has reignited the fun in FM for me. Keeping the hand brake off from here on in!

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17 hours ago, TheresOnlyTwoFilipSebos said:

This is my interpretation of Beale Ball. How I think, Beale thinks, he is trying to play.

Thankfully I stated this, after yesterday's shambles :seagull:

How Beale thinks he sets up, and how it actually materialises, are two completely different things! 

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20 minutes ago, jens_dewit said:

Great thread. Love how you managed to translate those principles into the game - to the point where you're outperforming the actual principles :D 

Thanks man, appreciate it.

Tactical recreations are my personal favourite to read in this forum. It's nice to see what you interpret on the pitch replicated in game. The difference being the recreations are usually from a successful tactic... unlike this one!

Don't think I've seen a tactical recreation on here one day, only for the recreated manager to be sacked the following day.

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  • 4 months later...

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