[recreate 41212 narrow diamond]

I played nearly a full season and tested different variations. I didn't achieve satisfactory results with the planned 41212 narrow diamond formation and the flow of the game wasn't what I wanted either. The playmaker in AMC was usually too far foward and often covered, so he wasn't integrated into the passing game as I wanted. Defensively, there were too many gaps in central midfield or on the wings, depending on movements of the two central midfielders.
Therefore I pulled back the playmaker into central midfield and set him on attack. With this "simple" change, it's much better both defensively + offensively and there are good passing situations and player movements.

Current formation and roles: GKd - WBs CDd CDd WBa - DMd - BBMs APa CARs - AFa DLFs

Mentality: balanced

In Possession: shorter passing, higher tempo, focus play through the middle

In Transition: counter, distribute quickly, distribute to center-backs

Out of Possession: mid block, higher defensive line, drop off more, trap inside

[recreate 41212 narrow diamond]

I would like to recreate my favorite real life tactic and need feedback from the pros.

I'll first post a tactical analysis and then my initial thoughts.

• They were by no means a possession team during the season.
• Their great strength was their high tempo.
• One forward lurked on the edge of the offside area for passes into the deep.
• After winning the ball, they played two or three short passes in the center and then immediately looked to pass deep.
• The midfield was their centerpiece.
• Mainly relied on flat passes, which both strikers were able to exploit.
• Fast vertical play gave them an advantage against almost every opponent.
• They were simply able to pass the ball more accurately and faster than any other team.

Formation clearly 41212 narrow diamond: Back four with two lone wide players - Holding DM with two runners/workers in CM and an AMC playmaker - two scoring/attacking strikers

To me it sounds like a direct (counter-)attack tactic with more direct passing and slightly higher tempo in possession. In addition, focus play through the middle and possibly pass into space - but perhaps this only as a PI for some players depending on their behaviour. I plan to start with a balanced mentality and see how it goes. Goalkeeper distribution to the central defenders to play from the back into the center or if necessary, to the outside.

Does anyone have any ideas or comments?

Next, I'd like to take care of player roles and defensive behavior.

 

[The Art of Possession Football]

Am 4.2.2021 um 18:26 schrieb poobington:

Has anyone got any idea how to implement a style like this again? I feel like with the change in Team instructions, especially with in transition options and lines of engagement off the ball, the parameters have changed and I am not sure how to follow the principles set out.

Start with 'control possession' tactical template and adjust it to your team/players.

Am 14.7.2021 um 22:36 schrieb Luizinho:

@Cleon Do you have the original post documented with pictures? Unfortunately the pictures aren't showing up anymore.

Instructions are all written on first page, roles have been: GKd - FBs CDd CDd FBa - DMs - BBMs RPMs - IFs/a APs - F9s

[[Germany] (Official) League Specific Issues]

Am 6.6.2021 um 12:06 schrieb sglennon:

This is the one I'm using: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2317830932. Just noticed that there are a few other people reporting this issue in the comments. Doesn't look like there's a fix, unfortunately.

Save created on 1499632, running 1540115 on M1 MacBook Air.

It's 2027 in my game, so it's strange that it's only happening now.

This is the best file for Germany and above mentioned bug has been fixed with a version published on March 28th, unfortunately a new save game is necessary.

[[Germany] (Official) League Specific Issues]

Am 16.5.2021 um 12:30 schrieb sglennon:

I'm playing with an add-on for the German lower leagues. ...

It would be good to know which file and version you use for this save. It's a known and fixed bug in one German lower league file due to no teams in one of the lower leagues.

[fast direct 4-4-2 narrow diamond]

I try to replicate my favorite tactic in FM21 but would like to know if it's okay or if you've suggestions to make it better. Formation should be 4-4-2 narrow diamond or a narrow 4-1-3-2.

I know that following details aren't sufficient to make up a complete tactic, especially the instructions for the defense have not yet been discussed, but I would like to start with these specifications first and then adjust the tactics further.

Playstyle (most important):

Fast and direct football. Long balls were rather the exception, instead they combined with flat one-contacts quickly from back to front. A prototype for the quick changeover when capturing a ball in their own half: Over two stations, they bring the ball in less than ten seconds to the opponent's penalty area.

This style seems to be contradictory for FM, sounds like to use shorter and vertical passes at the same time. Would shorter passes and a higher tempo be the best settings to reproduce such a style of play? Mentality is important as well, I would probably first test standard or positive.

Role specifications:

A defensive midfielder with good positional play and anticipation not relying on his tacklings  in front of a back four. Next to him played two strong box-to-box players, players who ran from penalty area to penalty area and supported their colleagues. A classic ten was responsible for the creative elements , especially for a very fast striker attacking opposing defensive lines.

My planned roles, depending on available players and how they act with actual match engine: DM should be Anchor Man, DLPd, Half Back or DMd,  CM should be a combination of DLPs, CMs, CARs and MEZs (one more attacking + one more defensive minded role), classic ten should be CMa, Ta, AMs/AMa or APs/APa and fast striker AFa, PFa or Pa.

 

 

[Football Manager 2021 Official Feedback Thread]

Read the patch notes carefully:

Containing a number of tweaks, improvements and fixes as listed in our changelist below, the update is save game compatible allowing you to continue your pre-existing saves. 

*In some instances, changes to competitions, rules and registrations will require starting a new game to come into effect.

[Borussia Dortmund II]

vor 12 Stunden schrieb JordanMillward_1:

Dortmund II aren't in the 3. Liga, they're in the Regionaliga, which isn't in the game unless you use a custom database (if anyone has made one for the lower German leagues yet).

Best German lower league file: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2317830932

[problem central playmaker in 4132 narrow]

I have now completed a full season with a slightly different tactic (lower tempo, normal LOE and FBs instead of WBs) and am very satisfied with the results and statistics.

I'm playing the fourth season in Championship with Salford with media prediction 23 out of 24. We ended the season in 15th place and even worked our way up to 9th place on match day 34.

Here are the goals / assists distribution of my team:

AFa:  25 goals / 0 assists (most goals in the league and rating 7.12)

DLFs: 11 goals / 9 assists (rating 7.00)

APa: 2 goals / 10 assists (rating 7.04)

 

[problem central playmaker in 4132 narrow]

I didn't notice any major changes in the first few games with an AP(A). What I noticed, however, was that the FB(A) went forward very quickly and were therefore often looked for as an option. As a result, the playmaker was apparently often overplayed. Have now changed both FB(A) to WB(S) and in the first games I like the game structure and the ball distribution of my team much better.

[problem central playmaker in 4132 narrow]

Am 12.5.2020 um 15:02 schrieb Rashidi:

Roaming for a playmaker in a 4132? I personally think the best role is that of a CM(A), or a AP(A) in that slot. Alternatively you could use a DLP or an aggressive regista. I find those are the best options for a 4132. The reason being that your flanks are going to be very aggressive pushing up. Either way you want the CM in the central position to be very aggressive as well since you can't afford for the other CMs to do the attacking.

With the CM(A) position being either an AP(A) or a CM(A) you could see more assists.

Roaming was an attempt to involve the playmaker more in the game by looking for free spaces. I will now test a AP(A), luckily I have a suitable young player with PPM tries killer passes in my squad.

[Will anyone be buying FM21?]

vor 19 Stunden schrieb Brother Ben:

Call me a fanboy or whatever the term is with the youngsters these days  but i'll be buying it again next year like I do every year. I've played it flat out during lockdown and have really enjoyed it.  Are there issues?  Sure, but overall it's the greatest football management game there has ever been.  One thing to note is that it's the only game I play, I wonder if people who are "gamers" are more likely to find fault?

The other thing I have noticed is that people who don't frequent internet forums are far less likely to moan about the match engine.  You can see a complaint on here and then you start to notice it more

I'm gutted you aren't enjoying it, I want people to enjoy it as much as myself

Just some thoughts

  It's exactly like that!

[problem central playmaker in 4132 narrow]

Thank you all for your input. The playmaker is involved in gameplay, has good passing stats and makes a lot of passes to other players (i.e. FB) which can play the final pass.

The tactic is supposed to be a replica of one of my favorite teams and the playmaker was much more involved there. Here are the goals / assists distribution of the real team:

Forward 1:  28 goals / 8 assists (my idea AFa)

Forward 2: 13 goals / 11 assists (my idea DLFs)

Playmaker: 10 goals / 8 assists

The full backs had only one assist each, there was another player with 11 assists but he played in CM (my idea offensive minded CARs).

Is it possible to set up a tactic in a similar way?

[problem central playmaker in 4132 narrow]

How can I get more out of my central playmaker in a narrow 4132 system? Results are very good over the last 2 seasons but my central playmaker, who should be the brain and heart of my teams struggles with assists and with goals.

Initial idea was a narrow 41212 but the narrow 4132 seems to be the better formation and the playmaker was nearly the same in AMC or MC position.

Roles as follows: SKd - FBa CDd CDc FBa - HBd - CARs (shoot less) APs (roaming) CARs (shoot less) - DLFs AFs (or PFs PFa)

Positive mentality with following team instructions: play out of defence, pass into space, counter-press, counter, distribute to CB, defend wider, higher DL, higher LOE

The team plays exactly how I want, nice build up in 352 style with nice passes into space to have some variability in gameplay. Most goals are coming from the fowards but most assists are coming from the full backs.

So what could/should I change? My playmakers are not the best players of the team, so buy a better player? Train him a PPM like tries killer balls? Change the playmaker role or roles of other players? Change team instruction/s?

 

[4-1-3-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 Discussion]

I play with a narrow 4-1-3-2 system because defending, especially on the flanks, seems easier as narrow 4-1-2-1-2. Traditional striker duo of DLFs and AFa although the game says the best role for both is PFa.

[Getting 4-3-3 Wide to work]

I play a similar tactic with balanced mentality. Players and roles as follows:

          PFa

IWs                    Wa

    CMs   BBMs

          DMd

FBa BPDd CDd FBs

          SKd

You could try to put you DLPd in DM strata and adjust the CM players a little bit more conservative for a better structure.

More urgent pressing could be too much for your team, try a split block with advanced five players press more instead.

[4-4-2 with big + little man]

Couldn't find a good tactic for my team in the 1st half of the season but found a new target man for my team and amended my tactic as follows:

          Pa TMs

IWs CMd CMs Wa

FBa CDd CDd FBs

          SKd

Mentality: Counter / TI: higher tempo, counter, distribute to FB, throw it long, lower LOE, tighter marking / LM and RM switch positions

[How to get more from my left winger]

vor 47 Minuten schrieb permanentquandary:

Switch the DLP with the Mezzala.

It would be helpful if you could justify your suggestion.

[How to get more from my left winger]

I play a similar tactic and my left wing makes a lot of assists and got high ratings. Players and roles as follows:

          AFa

IFs                    Wa

   MEZsu   DLPsu

          DMd

FBa CDd CDd FBs

          SKd

Balanced mentality with following TI: WBIB / counter, distribute to FB, throw it long / lower LOE, tighter marking

[4-4-2 with big + little man]

Thank you for your suggestions, I started pre-season with the given route one tactic and amended defensive behaviour TI because these seemed to be too passive. Results and impressions were okay but a few days before the first season game my board decided to sell my target man. 

I don't have a good backup in my team, so either have to find a replacement or change my tactic which is very annoying at the moment.

[4-4-2 with big + little man]

Both are right-footed.

[4-4-2 with big + little man]

I got luckily and unexpected promoted from league 2 to league 1 through play-offs. First win after penalties and 2nd win with one goal in extra time. Now we are the absolute underdog and have to fight against relegation.

I plan to use a 4-4-2 with a big man and a little man upfront. I am currently planning to play either a variant of direct counter-attack tactic or route one tactic with following roles:

     Pa     TMs

IWa DLPd BBMs Ws

WBs CDd CDd FBa

          Gd

Any suggestions on roles/combinations for such an underdog tactic?

 

[Football Manager 2020 Feedback Thread]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Juego de Posicion:

Given how diabolical long balls over the top are, SI should also be posting example setups of how to workaround this to help people overcome the problem they are forcing people to put up with due to a substandard match engine.

I use Standard mentality with counter pressing, tight marking and lower pressing line + lower defensive line to overcome this problem. 4 men backline as follows: WBau CDd CDc WBs

[where are the German Lower League?]

Here it is: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1919234889

 

[Aalen Club at 3rd German division]

Aalen finished 20 of 20 teams last season, so you selected a really weak team and my advise would be to use an underdog tactic (i.e. counter) and start from there.