Hi all, I've been playing this save on and off for a while now, and imported it in to FM24 from 23 to continue it going. I started out as Aston Villa as I liked the look of their base squad (FM23 original DB), but 4 seasons in, I've completely replaced it with my own team (I guess in true FM style...? ).
I'm not the best at creating tactics or understanding players capabilities so I thought I'd talk this one through with you all to see if I'm doing things right. I try to take a lot of advice from the various 4-2-3-1 threads that get posted, but seem to end up getting muddled and constantly changing things to no end. I hope through this process, I can gain some confidence in understanding how to set up my team and to get it to play how I want.
This team feels like it has a lot of potential but when I play, it is very inconsistent and just finished 10th in the league. I want to see if I can build a system that will start to make the most out of this team and push on to secure regular European football or higher.
The Formation
I'm a fan of the 4-2-3-1 formation, so it works in my favour seeing lots of comments about it being the "meta". Hopefully I can use that to my advantage. In terms of how I like to play, I like to have an Out-and-out number 9, a number 10 who both scores and assists, a wide player who will keep the width and the other wide player tucking in to combine with the AM and ST. I like to have at least one full back bombing on and overlapping, holding the width on the opposite side to the "winger". The two DMs then should be a ball-winner/holder (traditional 6) and someone who controls the play from deep.
I want my team to control possession, but doesn't have to be Pep-like numbers, and ideally able to counter with speed when the opportunity arises. We should be looking to stretch the opposition to create chances (I think the two width holders should help with this).
The Squad
The squad has evolved considerably over time. Five of the young players I bought in during my first season are now key members of the squad, six more squad members came in season two and then seven came in season three. Season four was then a year of buying some "wonderkids" as I felt the squad was in a good place. Now for this season I'm moving on a few players who didn't make it, and needing to fill a few holes in the squad. The left wing position has been especially tricky to fill.
Goalkeeper
In goal we have three keepers: Dennis Seimen, Niklas Hedl, and Emiliano Martinez (one of the few OGs left standing).
Seimen
Hedl
Martinez
Seimen is my first choice here and seems to fit the sweeper keeper role nicely, with only his acceleration being a slight concern. Hedl's vision and anticipation could be an issue, while Martinez lacks acceleration and vision. I think they can both come in and do an effective job if they need to cover.
Role: Sweeper Keeper (Su)
Left Back
My two left backs are Tyrick Mitchell and Destiny Udogie. I don't think either are top tier but both look (to me) to be solid options. Udogie maybe lacks the mental stats but has great physicals, while Mitchell seems more rounded.
Mitchell
Udogie
Think the option here is Mitchell due to the more well rounded stats. I'm torn between Wing-Back (Su) or (At). I really want the left back to get up there and create that width, which I think would be (At) but as both have gets forward whenever possible, we might get the same result from (Su) but with a bit more defensive control.
Center Backs
This area is lacking a bit of depth at the moment but I have two solid options to build around: Antonio Silva and Benoit Badiashile.
Silva
Badiashile
Both look like decent ball playing defenders, though should I be concerned that they both lack aggression? Depending on how the team shakes out, one or both could be set to simple central defenders. Silva looks like he would still try to play as a BPD because of his traits. I'm thinking Silva as BPD (De) and Badiashile as CD (De).
Two who can stand in are Ezri Konsa (another survivor) and Nordi Mukiele.
Konsa
Mukiele
Konsa tends to be the backup RCB while Mukiele plays more at RB. Konsa should be able to fill in as the BPD (De) for rotation. I'm looking for a second LCB to rotate with Badiashile.
Right Back
As well Mukiele above, at right back I also have Max Aarons.
Max is certainly more of a wing back than Mukiele. I'm certainly torn here whether to go for a more solid Full-Back (Su) behind what will likely be a winger, or allow Aarons more freedom as a Wing-Back (Su). I'm leaning to FB (Su) as his crossing isn't great, and he plays short simple passes anyway. The gets forward trait should still make him move up the pitch so will need to consider that for the DMs to cover. FB will also make it easier for Mukiele to rotate in.
Back Five
Hopefully this five will give us a great base to build on. In terms of PIs, I may consider asking Badishile to defend wider and Aarons narrower to create a 3atb if Mitchell is bombing forward, though Aarons may run up as well so not sure this will be effective.
The number 6
Now I think I have two good options for this role; Joao Gomes and Manuel Ugarte. Both are very capable of playing either as a BWM or a regular DM.
Gomes
Ugarte
As they both have good passing stats, I think I'll start with them as Defensive Midfielder (Su). This way they can still be involved in the build up and pass the ball forward.
The deep creator
With this role, I'm not necessarily looking for someone who can generate a ton of assists. I see this role more as the one who keeps the play ticking and controls the tempo. At the moment I have two players in this position; Danilo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Danilo
Dewsbury-Hall
I'm going to start with Danilo as a DLP (Su) on the left.
Danilo and Gomes will be my starting pair. Ugarte can come in for Gomes, Kiernan for Danilo. While this provides a solid base, I do wonder if: a) should one be more defensive, and/or b) should one be looking to break forward more? I think we've got a good balance at the moment and with the LB bombing on, and possibly the RB, we don't want to over commit.
Right Wing
My two options on the right are Michael Olise and Roony Bardghji. These two players, while fitting the concept of right sided forward who cuts in on to their left foot, are actually different profiles. Olise is more classic winger with pace and crossing, while Bardghji is a bit more modern inside forward looking to score.
Olise
Bardghji
Thinking back to my original plan, I wanted the RW to hold the width so Olise probably fits that bill better. Bardghji provides a good option though if I need to change things up. I'll go for Winger (Su) for now.
Attacking Midfield
This is the player I want to nit our attack together. I have two players I think can play this role; Andreas Schjelderup and Jacob Ramsey (still in for Home-grown reasons).
Schjelderup
Ramsey
Schjelderup is my starter. He's labelled as a winger cutting in from the left, but he looks to be an effective Attacking mid. Ramsey isn't as strong but can be brought in for rotation. I may look for an upgrade.
Striker
Upfront I have three options; Joao Pedro, Julian Alvarez and Elye Wahi.
Pedro
Alvarez
Wahi
Alvarez and Pedro are a bit more well-rounded, while Wahi looks to be purely a striker. This gives me some options and all three look to be suited to Advanced Forward (At), which suits my want for an out and out number 9. It looks like I could use any of these three upfront, and probably Alvarez and Pedro could play left wing, which I'm missing at the moment.
I also have a young Endrick and Vitor Roque coming through but they're not ready to take over for these guys yet.
Left Wing
Currently this is a hole in my squad as I don't have a dedicated player for this position. However, considering my depth at ST, I think Joao Pedro can fill in here. I'm a bit torn on what role this should be. He's good enough that he could be a goal threat as an Inverted Winger (At), but that might be too attacking with the WB (At). Inside Forward could be an option, but might remove him from any build up and I worry if he'd clash with the AF and AM. I think we'll go IW (Su) for now.
Full Team:
Team Instructions
As I want to on the front foot, I think we need to be on Positive. In possession Seimen, Silva and Badiashile are all capable to Play out of defence. To control possession we will pass shorter, but I'll keep width and tempo default for now. None of my strikers are especially tall so I think we need to aim to put in low crosses.
In transition, I think I'll just mark counter and distribute quickly. I want to break fast in transition, though this might ruin our ability to control the game if we're rushing to turn the opposition over. I don't think we are fully capable to counter press. I'll leave distribution type and area/player blank so Seimen can make the decision on who to pass to.
Out of possession we'll have a higher defensive line as our centre backs are quick enough. I also think we can press high as we have a top heavy formation, we can use our forwards to defend high. I'm going to start with trigger press More often.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read through all this. I hope that what I've tried to create makes sense and sounds like a viable system, with suitable players. Please do let me know if you have any observations or recommendations.
I'm just starting the summer transfer window now so plenty of time to get a few players in, bed in the tactics (or tweak them if needed). I'd love to get this team up competing in the Europa League spots, maybe with a sniff of top 4.