olegmelnikov

Yes, I noticed that Mezzala is often to close to IWs. When I set up roles and duties I believed it could be great pair, but CMa is much better for my team. I'm sure that the problem is with my style of play (I want to play more direct, fast, progressive football) or with my Mezzala player. So, all we can say, that every team is unique and it's really interesting thing that in one case it can work and in other it fails. Yes, in my case learning takes near 50% of the time I play FM.

@danbanbury What you can say about your attacking movement? What do you think about playing MezAt and IWs? Several weeks ago I tried this combination, but failed. You can see the screenshot: IWs, MezAt, WBs are in the same position =)

Sorry, I tried my best to express my thoughts properly, but my English is still on double intensity training =) So, I asked about "stay wider" PI to a WB on support - my idea was that it can help to lure opposition defender and open space for Mezzala or Box to box player. I fully agree that this thread is much more about learning how to create tactic than just ready made solution. Waiting for your first results =)

Great thread, mates! Thank you! Does it make sense to give PI Stay wider to fullbacks? Just a small question, What do you think of Anchor man for DM position in this setup? Of course, if player's attributes fully fit for playing as Anchor man. I hope you will share the analysis with us =) Do you have a plan how to analyze it? Are you going to compare your old setup with new one?

@Experienced Defender, just wanted to say thank you again. I played a half of a season using your recommendations. What I can say... No, I don't =) The results are pretty well. In matches with big clubs your tactics looks awesome. In matches with mid table and underdogs - you can hear voices of your players to play attacking, progressive football But it was a good experience for me how to adapt counter attacking football and I opened new role for me - WM. thanks for that =)

Yes, it's rather risky, but my idea was to use it in matches with underdogs, when it is hard to strike a goal. Now I need to think, what can I do in matches, where my opponent is playing defensive football and my counter attacks are rather useless. His passing is 10 and loss in the middle of the pitch can be dangerous.

Thank you! That's interesting and rather logical: overall train is lower and focusing on individual can give much more impact on the focus. I think it's our turn to research it =)

In this case, for example: I want to improve crossing of my left Wing back. Am I right that the most effective training is to put him on training the position - defender left and add additional focus on crossing, than train him as wing back support with additional focus on crossing? Or it's the same in terms of crossing training?

Yes, I thought about it. May be it can make the structure more compact. Already done it =) And I decided to add one more option of your 442. I think I can try to exploit Bailey power on the right wing. Set up Bailey as a Wsu and try to play Wan-Bissaka as IWBsu (though he can be rather bad in this role). But his tackling can help in the middle...

It's really good idea to have one more approach...but to be honest I'm afraid of the wide 442 diamond because of it's gap in the middle. But =) I tried to create it. But, to be honest, I don't understand how it could work with counter attacking style of football with 3 players (2 strikers and 1 under them) above the pitch. I tried to use wingers Left IWs - Rashford/Martial and right Bailey/Jones/Chong And to strengthen the middle of a pitch by IWB. and still positive mentality, shorter passing, Higher tempo, counter, quickly distribution to FB and CB and decided to try much lower LOE. But to be honest, I'm not sure about this... maybe I need to think about it more time...

Yes, when I watched matches I saw that attacking movement is pretty similar. =) My plan was to play with Haaland as poacher or AF with Martial/Rashford as DPFs (tell him to close down more). I thought that was good idea in terms of pressure on opposition (+lower LOE) - like one more player in midfield. But after your help and advice I realize that if I want to play counter attacks i need to strikers with space to attack. The most frustrating thing is that my idea was to create space for my strikers, that's why I decided to play with lower LOE, but I forgot to think about basic, very logical idea that I need 2 players in Att duty... I think my best option is Grealish. And for the future buy Ward-Prowse - I suppose he can be great in this position. Lingard is on a loan in Villareal Now, after looking at my situation I should think, may be it's better to start new game or try to find save after the end of my first season (winning EPL was cool). Thank you for your help, now I believe that I progressed well in terms of counter-attack football =)

Am I right that this system is unbalanced because on the left flank we have MEZsu (Mostly attacking role), FBat and IWsu, who will exploit the same territory as the MEZsu?

My idea was to play for TOP club and play counter attacking football. It was interesting how sometimes ugly, sometimes boring football can be played by Man Utd players. First half of the season I used Attacking mentality in most of the matches. I had 20 matches without loosing and only one draw. Problems started in February and I set mentality to positive and made some personal instructions and as the result - champion of EPL, Carabao cub winner, Semi Final loss to Liverpool in FA Cup, Semi final loss by penalties to København in Euro Cup. Now I will try to play really counter attack =)

James attributes: vision , decisions and pass are rather low. And to be honest, excluding emotions + I believe that in real match James should act as on screenshots =) And you are totally right that "players play roles differently from each other". Thank you for your feedback.

So, I'm back with my questions. I think it can be more effective for my education and I hope easier for you to answer if I tell you how this setup works from my point of view. And of course I hope it can help other managers =) I will try to be short and simple =) My first part of question is about roles and duties. You put 2 strikers on attack duties because it's counter attack: you isolate forwards, giving them space to counter attack and force midfielders/defense to supply them with direct/long passes. TMat will bring PFat into play. Midfielders will supply TM with long balls and he will supply PFat and left IWs with passes to score a goal. PFat will put pressure on CB and also always ready to score. In my version of counter attack I had AdA and DLFs - it is not for counter attack. Other teammates will play on DLF with short passes and this is not counter attack. So, generally, if I want to play counter attack football with 2 strikers - it should always be attack duty. And no matter if it is Man Utd or Brighton? Now I have only Haaland who can play as TM and October, so I can't buy new TM. Is it possible to change this role when Haaland needs a rest or in case of injury? Or let Maguire to become a legend striker? =) You set IWsu to exploit Martial stats: he will cut inside into the attacking third trying to play the ball through the middle. So, role IWsu is more about Martial, in other hand it could be Wsu. CMde - just defense power in this set up. Also a cover for IWsu. So that's why he is located in the left, near IWsu. APsu - exploits Fernandes stats. Providing teammates with passes. WMsu - to be honest I have never used this role...So, he will operate more defensive than winger, more through balls. And will be more defensive in midfield. According my team selection: my right midfielders are Bailey, Daniel James and Chong. I think it should be better to use Grealish for the WMsu role, am I right? WBsu - provides angled through balls and better for goalkeeper to distribute than Full back. CDde/BPDde - solid defense and BPDde can provide thorough balls from deep. Here I have several questions: is it wrong to play with two BPDde in my case? It can be more dangerous for my team? more long passes? In my tactics I played BPDde and BPDco: am I right that to play BPDco in 442 is dangerous because my weak point is near my penalty area? Team instructions: I've got one question about shorter passing. Why? And what will happen if I play more direct passing? Is it fail to play more direct? or you think shorter passing is more common for fast transition? If you still reading it - thanks again for your thoughts and time. I think your setup looks great, but I don't want just use it, first of all I want to understand logic =)