Lordluap

Player Traits such as Gets into Opposition Box and Gets Forward at all Times and Runs With ball Through Centre would be beneficial.

Ok, so, base of 3-4-3 ****-WCB-BPD-WCB-**** WBS-CMS-DLPS-WBS IFA-****-****-APS ******-DLFS-****** Ask the IFA and APS to sit narrower. Possibly offset the DLFS to the slot on the side of the APS, to make space for the IFA to freely move in to - a bit like Mbappe at the World Cup. Set the Team Width to Narrow to exacerbate the narrowness of the APS moving centrally and the the IFA moving up into the box. Possibly fiddle with how Play Out of Defence TI works with regards the IFA's starting position?

Like this. As you're playing the 4312 with the focus wanting to the central 10, would you not consider using "Focus Play Through the Middle"? Also, regards to having 2 playmakers - Kvara and Calan, could you adjust to a secondary formation and play full Ancelotti Christmas Tree with an Enganche and Trequarista behind an Advanced Forward? Or, reverting back to your favoured 433, Use an Advanced Playmaker on the Right Wing and Trequarista on the Left, both sitting narrow - and set your width to very narrow - with the CWB and FB holding width? These options would prevent any opposition central DM cancelling out your 10 and have Calan in a less dynamic shuttling role and cutting inside... a-la Iniesta when he initially started wide for Barcelona? Having wide 10's sitting narrow would also allow them to potentially tie-up both opposition fullbacks and central defenders by floating between the wide and central advanced areas - dominating the half-spaces. In conjunction with and Advanced Forward pushing central defenders back, you should, in theory, create plenty of space for others to exploit. Just an idea. Loving your original post and the nostalgia of watching Gazetta Football Italia on Sunday mornings in the 90's.

Good timing...

I think Player Traits will play a large part here...

Not really seen Real and not in front of FM at the moment, but as a starter how about: Strikers: DLF/S --- CF/S ..............with Stay Wider PI on DLF/S. Midfield: IW/A --- CM/D --- CM/A --- IW/S ...........with Sit Narrower PI on both IW. Defence: WB/S --- CD/D --- CD/D --- WB/S Play Positive, Slightly Narrow, More Expressive and Work Ball Into Box...? Not sure on the rest but above would give a decent starting point IMO.

In my FM22 saves he regularly gets sacked by man City after finishing 3rd in first season, then ends up at Liverpool or even Leicester most of the time. Very unrealistic, but just another of the issues of FM AI...

Ha, not a guru. Played the game a lot and understand the roles, movements etc and how they interact. Lot's of thought and trial and error as well. Keeping to the De Zerbi thread... (with a bit of Pep included), try this: Starts as 4-3-3 but will form the 2-4-4 / 2-4-1-3 / 2-4-2-2 of Brighton. Train or look for DLF/S and DLP/D to have "Comes Deep to Get Ball" trait. Add "Stay Wider" PI to the IF/A's and "Sit Narrower" to the WB/S'. Ask anyone you can to "Cross Less". My possession and passes completed stats are leading the league.

I have worked on a base 4-3-3 that morphs to a 2-4-4... utilising a HB as a central DM and the a DLP/D and a CM/A, a pairs a WB/S and a pair of IF/A Giving excellent possession stats. Will screengrab later.

I was getting between 45% & 65%. Its not the most accurate in terms of real-life possession numbers perhaps. Centre Backs and Registas really need high attributes in Passing, Composure and Vision as well...

Try changing from Half Back to Anchorman. Or Offset the HB to the side where you want him to drop. I get the feeling the A will give you more of the movement you want. HB wont replicate the recent Stones-Rodri movements. HB is more price Busquets at Barca or Kroos at times at Bayern under Pep.

Somthing like this for Tottenham?

One Regista has Get Further Forward turned off. Both CD the same. Try to train the following traits: Dwells on Ball, Stops Play and Stays Back at All Times traits for both CD. Does not Move into channels, Plays One-Twos, Dicates Tempo. Tries to Play Way Out of Trouble, Stays Back At All Times and Comes Deep to Get Ball to one Regista. Does not Move into channels, Plays One-Twos, Dicates Tempo. Tries to Play Way Out of Trouble, Tries Killer Balls Often and Arrives Late in Opposition Area to other Regista. It's not infallible nor perfect, but I like it.

Here is the tactic i use. Heavy on PI's and Traits.

Turn off Play Out of Defence as a starter maybe? Does this make the players in the FB positions stay wider initially? If so, un-select it. Then perhaps have a play with the Overlap TI and Cut Inside PI - or vice-versa, Underlap TI and Run Wide PI...? Probably on FB/Su ?

Yes, will do ASAP, sorry, busy week and weekend.

Been lurking on this topic. I've been working on this for 2 in-game seasons now. I think I've cracked it. I'm at work so cant post screenshots but will l later. The key I've found to get the way the 2 x CB and 2 x DM pass IRL is to: Heavily - HEAVILY - increase Passing, Composure and Decisions attributes on the DM's, CB's and GK Add PPM's Dwells on Ball and Stops Play on CB's and GK I then use a pair of Regista in the DM slots with extra PPM's trained in: Plays 1-2's, Tries Killer Balls Often, Does NOT move into Channels. and then 1 of them has Comes Deep to Get Ball and the other has Arrives Late in Opponents Area As TI's I use: Positive, Play Through Middle, Play Out of Defence, Work Ball Into Box, Low Crossing, Counter Press, Counter, Slow Pace Down, Distribute to CB's, Distribute to Fullbacks, Short Kicks, Normal Defensive Line, Normal Line of Engagement, Trigger Press More. I find by using Distribute to Fullbacks as well as to CB's, the FB''s stay a little deeper and narrower than normal, allowing greater passing opportunities in Build Up. The above really does rely on improving the Passing, Composure and Decisions on the relevant players otherwise it will not work. I have lots of PI's and extra PPM's added as well - will add screenshots/details later. The attack consists of: IW/a, T/a and IF/a behind a PF's - with the T/a and PF/s offset to the left and right respectively. This is the closest I've got the the whole package working.

Do you have Play Out From Defence on? Or GK distribution to defenders?

I set myself as from French Guiana once . Was doing a long save with Atletico. Had a Defender and a Winger of absolute world class ability. Imagine all the great defenders and liberos of the past all rolled into one. He was a beast who also scored 20+ goals a season.

Take player out of DM slots and move to CM slots, have on defensive mentality. This will give your IWB a bit more space to tuck in to.

I use similar in a 433/3241 "Pep" stryle. WCB/D-CD/C-BPD-D-IWB-S Have the WCB/D set to man mark the winger on that side

Try a 442... with IWBs... Something like: IWB/S - CD/D - CD - IWB/S W/A - CM/A - AP/A - W/A DLF/S - AF/A Will give you a box formation in the Defence & Midfield 2-2-4-2 / 2-2-6 shape.

Why would they play with IWBs AND 2x DM? Doesn't that make the IWB role ineffective and they resort to being standard Wingbacks? That's the case in FM22 and prior at least...?

I've had massive success over the years using an F9 (stay wider instruction) and an AF with a SS centrally behind. The F9 creates and the SS and AF bang the goals in. I know you're using a Poacher so swap the AF with the P and see how that goes?

Shift the striker to STCR position, makes a bit more space for the IF to move in to.