[Creating Chances with a Possession Tactic]

Hello people. I've built quite a neat tactic for my Fenerbahce team, and I'm averaging very very high possession numbers. We won the league unbeaten. As you can see in the images below, we have completed almost 5000 passes more than 2nd place, and average 69% in possession. As teams can't get the ball off of us, we conceded only 11 times in the league, with 24 clean sheets! We have been extremely impressive defensively and have amazing possession numbers. However, we have struggled to create chances, with only 61 chances created in 34 games, a figure that ranks 13th in the league, and hence have scored just 49 league goals, quite low for a league winning team. My top scorers in the league are my striker Vedat Muriqi and my AMC(L) Max Kruse, both with 9 goals although Kruse is also my penalty taker. I'm sharing screenshots of everything below, any suggestions on how I could largely keep this formation shape and improve on my chance creation? 

Player Instructions: 
ST - Close Down More, Mark Tighter, Tackle Harder
AMC(L) - Close Down More, Mark Tighter, Tackle Harder, More Risky Passes, Move into Channels, Get Further Forward
AMC(R) - Close Down More, Mark Tighter, Tackle Harder, More Risky Passes, Move into Channels
AMR & AML - Close Down More, Mark Tighter, Tackle Harder, More Risky Passes, Cross Aim Target Man
HB - More Direct Passes, Take More Risks

The Tactic:

 

The League Table:


The stats:

Really like how we keep the ball and we play some really silky stuff at times, just seem to lack that cutting edge to pick teams apart and ruthlessly destroy teams like a Man City would do, despite maintaining a high level of possession and passing numbers. Would love some help on this! Thanks!

[[FM20] We all live in a Yellow Submarine...]

Summer 2020

Transfers:
Not a great deal to do here. We have a shoestring budget and usually in my saves I try not to sign too many players in the first window, rather focusing on getting a good scouting network up across as many countries as I possibly can. That said, I tried to look for a couple of youngsters to maybe get into my reserve team so I can develop them to be potential first-teamers/loan and sell them for a profit later. A simple filtered player search found me an 18 year old Belgian left-back with half-decent attributes for his age. 40k, sign and forget.

Did not want to sell a lot of players either, as I was fairly happy with my first team squad. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I did look for a loan move for young Romanian right-back Andrei Ratiu and off he went to Mirandes in LaLiga2 for some vital first team experience.

As you can see, we were very underwhelming on the transfer front but I'm not too disappointed about it. There are certain gaps in the squad that need filling but with no European football for the first season we should be fine with the players we have unless a severe injury crisis occurs. With all of that out of the way, it was time to set the team up to my liking and to its strengths.

Tactics:

The moment I looked at the playing squad, the first word that came to my mind was 'Diamond'. With a large number of central players and a lack of wide options, a 4-4-2 diamond was a pretty automatic choice for me. It is a risky tactic to play against better opposition, and I didn't want to be too gung-ho with it so as to leave my full-backs exposed at all times, and so I went for a simple DM(D) duty in front of my centre-backs, this guy will stay back at all times and just pass the ball forwards to the more creative options in the team. A recent video from Jose Mourinho who explained how in modern football teams defend with four but build with three also influenced my tactical setup. 

 

Looking at these two principles, this is what I came up with.


A Mezzala duo in the middle grants us a little extra width for a formation that is understandably very narrow, due to their natural tendency to stay a little wider in the half-spaces than the usual central midfielder. This also gives our fullbacks an option to pass to if they run into trouble out wide. I really want to press the opposition centre-backs into mistakes as a lot of goals come from failed transitions, hence counter-pressing and having two very aggressive pressing forwards was a no-brainer. Alberto Moreno has natural athleticism, and hence he his pushed further forward as a complete wing-back on the left, while the right-back is given more of a supporting role to help the team build with three as mentioned by Jose Mourinho in the video above. Mario Gaspar is the perfect player to play this role. The DM(D) acts as a fulcrum if the two ball-playing defenders wish to step out of the defensive line with the ball to pick out a pass. The mezzala on the right is given a slightly more attacking role than on the left to compensate for the lack of offensive onus down that side. With the mezzalas staying wider, it leaves plenty of space for my AMC to receive the ball in the centre-circle, and put on the burners as he runs with it straight towards the opposition centre-backs, who are occupying my two strikers, creating a very nice overload for us. An attacking mentality helps us quicken our build-up play, as we really want to hurt teams in transitions, it would have been brilliant to have two strikers gifted with great pace and dribbling ability, but it is what it is.

Pre-Season

Not the greatest of pre-seasons by any means necessary, with our players finding it tough to get to grips with a new style of play, in a country like Spain that is very winger-heavy. It does look that they started to come into their own towards the latter stages of pre-season, and started to gel better and came to terms with what is expected of them. They are a good bunch of players and I am confident that they will adapt properly to my system and produce good results. They better, as the season begins sooner rather than later.

[[FM20] We all live in a Yellow Submarine...]

Villarreal CF
El Submarino Amarillo

I first started watching football in 2007/08. Mainly attracted to the Premier League, I didn't bother following La Liga in great detail, however I remember glancing at the league table and seeing Villarreal finish 2nd. I had a liking of sorts for them since then, and would often look out for their results. Based on that season alone and players such as the genius Juan Roman Riquelme, Nihat Kahveci, Cani and Marcos Senna among others, I always considered Villarreal to be one of the giants of Spanish football. But then looking at this screen in FM really surprised me. 

A solitary trophy in their entire history! And that too of the 4th tier of Spanish football. It was weird how a club I initially thought of to be one of the biggest in the country does not have anything to show for it. I guess I have a knack to be drawn to clubs that play pretty stuff but haven't won enough trophies, just look at my user name to see who I support! Nonetheless, I knew that I had to start a Villarreal save, and to try and get them to the very top of Spanish football. It will be hard with the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but both clubs haven't been as invincible in recent years as they have been for the earlier years of the 2010s, so they can definitely be toppled.

Here are some run of the mill club details:

Name: Villarreal Club de Futbol, S.A.D
Founded: 1923
Nickname: El Submarino Amarillo
Stadium: Estadio de la Ceramica (Formerly known as El Madrigal)
Rivals: Valencia, Levante, Hercules

We come into the club on the back of a disappointing season that saw the team finish 14th in the 2018/19 La Liga season, and the board expects us to atleast qualify for the Europa League, which from the quality of the playing squad is a fair target. The media however expects us to finish 8th, not too bold a prediction given our below par previous season. But the club is now under new management, and the only way is upwards. Here is a first look at the playing squad at our disposal.
 

Certainly a talented bunch, a really nice blend of youngsters, players in their prime and veterans of the game who have seen and done it all. Early glances at the structure of the squad tell me that a 4-4-2 narrow diamond might be the best way to set the team up, given a dearth of options of natural wide players, and a plethora of central midfielders to choose from. A few names from this list do stand out however, and we will certainly be relying on them to propel us to Europa League qualification this season and even bigger things beyond.

Goalkeepers: 

1. Sergio Asenjo (30) - Spain
13. Andres Fernandez (32) - Spain
25. Mariano Barbosa (35) - Argentina

Sergio Asenjo is the undisputed first choice here, having been a big part of the club since signing from Atletico Madrid in 2013, and amassing over 150 league games for the club. At 30, he is just about hitting his peak years as a goalkeeper, and will prove to be a reliable presence for us between the sticks. Both Andres Fernandez and Mariano Barbosa are able backups to call upon when needed. Happy with my options here.

Full-backs:

2. Mario Gaspar (28) - Spain - D/WB (R)
20. Ruben Peña (28) - Spain - D/WB/M/AM (R)
18. Alberto Moreno (26) - Spain - D/WB(L)
16. Xavi Quintilla (22) - Spain - D(L,C)
15. Andrei Ratiu (21) - Romania - D/WB(R)

  

A Spanish quartet of full-backs, we have plenty of cover for both positions, with no immediate concerns to look at. On the right is a modern day Villarreal icon Mario Gaspar, who has been at the club since the age of 16, and has played for a total of 276 league matches for the club. The club's vice-captain and an ever reliable stalwart, Mario will definitely be the automatic pick to hold down the right flank for the Yellow Submarine. Ruben Peña, a new signing from Eibar will provide more of an offensive option, and will be able to step in when needed without any problem. On the contrary to someone that epitomises Villarreal CF, the left-back position will be played by a newcomer to the club, Alberto Moreno. Signing for the club after his Liverpool contract expired, Alberto brings in a winning mentality, having won the Europa League with Sevilla and the Champions League with Liverpool, and I'm hoping this can prove infectious to the rest of the squad, as Alberto will be by main driving force down the left flank. His deputy, former La Masia graduate Xavi Quintilla, who will be a more defensive option than the industrious Moreno, and can also slot in as a natural centre-back. Two defensive and two offensive options on other side, full-backs are sorted. Andrei Ratiu is also another option as an upcoming youngster, although I think I will look for a loan move to further the Romanian's development.

Centre-Backs:

3. Raul Albiol (33) - Spain - D(C)
4. Pau Torres (22) - Spain - D(C)
6. Ramiro Funes Mori (28) - Argentina - D(C)
22. Soufiane Chakla (26) - Morocco - D(C)

Our first choice defensive pairing consists of one of the brightest young centre-backs in Spanish football in Pau Torres, alongside a seasoned veteran who has won it all, La Liga, European Championship and World Cup Winner Raul Albiol. Now at 33, Albiol joins on a free transfer after a six year spell at Napoli, and will add some much-needed experience to the backline, and prove to be as good a mentor as young Pau Torres could ask for. Big things are expected of Torres, and he could be our defensive lynchpin for years, but we need to tie him down on a new contract as his current deal expires at the end of the season. Ramiro Funes Mori is the cover option for the pair, and an impressive one at that, as his 26 caps for Argentina prove. Undoubtedly talented, inconsistency and injury have somewhat stagnated his career, but he will still be a very useful option for us. New signing Soufiane Chakla unforunately does not seem like he has what it takes to trouble our existing players for a starting berth, and he is merely an emergency option. There are a few concerns in this position due to Chakla's ability (lack thereof), and Albiol's age and this area will need looking at in the near future.

Defensive Midfield:

19. Andre-Franck Zambo-Anguissa (23) - Cameroon - DM, M(C) - On loan from Fulham
Bruno Soriano (35) - Spain - DM, M(C)
10. Vicente Iborra (31) - Spain - DM, M(C)




Another position where we are well-stocked, I expect Andre-Franck Zambo-Anguissa to be chosen as the man tasked with the responsibility of holding down the fort in defensive midfield. The man on loan from Fulham following their relegation from the Premier League has a bright future in football, and we have an option of making his loan deal permanent for a fee of 21.5 million pounds. His wages of 67k per week could prove to be a stumbling block however, with the club not in the financial position currently to sustain both the transfer fee and the wages should we want to have the Cameroonian around for longer. Club captain Bruno Soriano faces a long injury lay-off and may not feature this season, one that could even be his last in football, and as a proper one-club man he deserves so much better, his injury is just very unfortunate. Vicente Iborra also comes to the club on a free transfer, and brings along with him a wealth of experience, and will be another sturdy option to choose from.

Central Midfield:

8. Santi Cazorla (34) - Spain - M(C,L)/AM(R,L,C)
14. Manu Trigueros (27) - Spain - M(C)
21. Moi Gomez (24) - Spain - M(C), AM(C,L)
15. Manu Morlanes (20) - Spain - DM, M(C)

Santi Cazorla's story is nothing short of inspirational. After a horrific injury cast doubts over his ability to ever walk again, let alone play, Cazorla made a return to his boyhood club last season and made 35 appearances. He will no doubt be our playmaker extraordinaire, and will be a tough act to follow when his playing days eventually come to an end. Trigueros is an ever-reliable option, a typical Spanish midfielder with great touch and a keen eye for a pass, he will partner Cazorla in midfield to keep the ball moving and fashion out chances for our attacking players. Moi Gomez is also another great creative option to have, and at 24 he will be hungry and will push Cazorla and Trigueros for a starting berth in the middle of the park. Healthy competition is always welcome. Young Manu Morlanes is on the cusp of the first team, and can even slot in at defensive midfield, learning from experienced campaigners like Cazorla and Iborra will no doubt do him a world of good. An amazing fact here is that all four of our midfield options are youth academy graduates, signed, sealed and delivered in Villarreal.

Attacking Midfield:
11. Samuel Chukwueze (20) - Nigeria - M(R), AM(R,L)
24. Javi Ontiveros (21) - Spain, M/AM(R,L)

Young Nigerian Samu Chukwueze considers Arjen Robben as his footballing idol, and it isn't hard to spot similarities, even at the tender age of 20. An electric left-footed dribbler, Samu is most comfortable when cutting in from the right, however I have different plans for him. I plan to retrain him into an AM(C) who can gather the ball in the centre-circle in transition, and drive through the middle to wreak havoc and put fear into my opposition as he runs at them with menace. Both him and Javi Ontiveros are young enough to be molded into more central players rather than the more natural wingers that they presently are, as I need them to be at the tip of a narrow diamond formation I want to employ, given the lack of depth out wide, and a negligible transfer budget to sign reinforcements. I don't expect them to pull off 8/10s on a regular basis straight away, but this is definitely a long-term project for both of them and I am confident that they will grow into very good AMs.

Strikers:

17. Paco Alcacer (25) - Spain - ST
7. Gerard Moreno (27) - Spain - ST
9. Carlos Bacca (32) - Colombia - ST
Rafa Mujica (20) - Spain - ST - On Loan from Leeds United



Paco Alcacer arrives following a prolific spell in the Bundesliga at Dortmund which saw him achieve one of the highest minutes-to-goals ratio in the league's history. The arrival of Erling Haaland at the club paved the ex-Barcelona frontman's way out of the club, and I am very happy to have the services of such a fantastic finisher just when he is ready to enter his peak years. Gerard Moreno will be a just as good partner to Alcacer, and I hope they can form a formidable duo and score the goals the team needs. Carlos Bacca is yet another been there done that option, having been a clinical striker in Spain, Italy and Belgium in the past. At 32 he might not last at the club forever, but at least for this season, I cannot ask for better cover. Rafa Mujica is our fourth choice, and the loanee from Leeds will get his chance in cup games in a bid to try and convince me to keep him beyond the season.

Squad Summary:
I would say we have a very good squad with a brilliant Spanish core. Over half of our playing squad is club-homegrown, which is a testament to the club's focus on youth development over the years. There is plenty to build upon, given the fact that some of our senior players aren't getting any younger, but their experience will be vital to nurture the younger players to take the club further and pick up the mantlepiece once their time at the club is done. We don't have much of a budget, but I am not concerned as we do not need vast investments. A lot of my focus for the first few years will be on smart scouting, maybe on signing youngsters to loan out and sell in the future or to pick up some very good players from less-reputed leagues around Europe, something that is part of the club's philosophy as well. This will be the case at least until we become somewhat of a Champions League regular, and get ourselves a sustainable revenue stream to spend on established players. I expect the core of the team to more or less be the same, but at least for the first few seasons I will need to wheel and deal a bit, channeling my inner 'Arry Redknapp.

Transfers (Don't expect much) and a Tactical Summary in the next post. Hope you guys enjoy the ride with me, all aboard the Yellow Submarine!