jc577

IF-A creates space by running diagonally at the opposition, potentially drawing the attention of a CM/CB, or the full back follows the run & leaves your full back in acres of space.

Very happy you've started this thread, I've been attempting to get a fluid counter-attack tactic up-and-running (sparingly) for a few months now. I initially had the idea a few versions ago when researching Borussia M'Gladbach under Favre, and more recently have admired how Bournemouth have (at times) played this season. I like this use of Positive mentality, I think anything less aggressive than balanced won't produce the kind of football you're looking for, but I agree with CARRERA that much shorter passing and play out of defence are overkill. Play out of defence especially seems a bit counter-intuitive as defenders tend to pass the ball shorter on higher mentalities anyway. In terms of roles and duties, I'm wondering why you've opted for a HB? Your FB's aren't overly aggressive, and I think that role is more suited to teams playing out from the back. Personally, I'd go for Anchor, DM or DLP. I'm currently using a 442 but think a 4411 might be better suited, as the AM will defend deep and hopefully lead the transition into attack, but yet to try it out. Do keep me updated

Really enjoyable thread! Whatever direction you go in, very eager for more.

True, but then I'm entirely reliant on the FBs, AM + Striker to create movement.

@Jean0987654321 Sorry just seen your post, I'm playing the 4-1-3-1-1 DM AM, so narrow. Think I'm due a restart tbh

To be fair, if you're using Joaquin and Guardado as your starting wide-midfielders, I can see why defending the flanks will be difficult. Also doesn't help that Garcia and Carvalho as awfully slow, and will be required to cover a lot of ground in this formation.

This 4-1-3-1-1 is kicking my ....

That's a shame, was really enjoying this thread, but you still did a great job replicating the tactic. Well done mate

This is the key, I’m trying to find ways to achieve this, but it’s proving difficult so far. Working with the 4-1-3-1-1 DM AM, but I’m still torn between using the abundance of players centrally to dominate possession, or play more defensively and shun the opposition out wide before counter-attacking. This issue with the latter is that we usually defend with 10 men behind the ball, so with only the striker being advanced, breaking out is quite difficult. In terms of spreading the team out horizontally, using a higher mentality could be the key, which could push the outer CM’s to defend almost as wide-midfielders. Naturally this formation leads to using at least one Mezzala, but I don’t think this is enough to provide the width we need (as the FB on that side would have to be conservative). Still plenty of work to be done.

I’d start again 😂

Count me in please Jambo! Glad it's Real Betis... did a save with them earlier on in the year but was utterly disastrous, now I've got a second chance

Personally, I think Rashidi is saying you may need to adjust some of your roles and duties, depending on what you want and who you want your main goalscorer to be. Currently, you're overloading the left-hand-side (DLP-S+IF-S) which in turn frees up the W-A for a cross on the other side. However, you may not consistently have players in the box to for these crosses, as both the IF-S + DLF-S will attack the box a bit later, plus crossing against defensive teams isn't the most effective route to goal. There are various TI tweaks available, but I'd start with focusing on who the main goalscorer is and how you want your goals to be scored.

So would you say that prioritsing central play over flank attacks in a 532 is counter-intuitative?

Clearly not Herne, but I'd say a BBM-S/CM-A pairing in a 433 is a bit too aggressive if attempting to play a possession-based game. Both roles are 'runners', which may leave the DLP at the only player able to recycle the ball and initiate attacks. Another thing to mention is that your left side looks very attacking - (WB-A, CM-A and IF-A), and they're not really creating space for one another, with the CM-A and IF-A, in particular, looking to use the left half-space/central area.

He’s a pain in the a** tbh, probably going to move him on. Usually play him as a Carrilero although he doesn’t really suit this role, but it’s what the system needs. Occasionally play him behind the strikers as an AP-A, but he’s too selfish and hammers those long-shots. Really and truly he needs to be played in a midfield three, may look to create another system as Gomez and Zapata are both out atm.