jc577

This happened to me too, particularly when the opposition used a 3atb formation... often my wingers would form a box with the CM's (and sometimes even be deeper than them!) It left the flanks open for the wingbacks time and time again, very frustrating. I can only assume it was a bug, but unfortunately I never found a work around.

I agree with this... I also think the out of possession instructions are far too aggressive, both in FM terms and how Everton play IRL. Roles and duties look okay for the most part, but don't forget the impact that mentality & player traits can have on your tactic. For example, looking at your left side, Digne could easily be a WB-S, even on a positive mentality. Midfield seems a bit passive to me.. essentially a double pivot with Allan & Gomes holding, and Doucoure only making late runs into the area. I reckon you need to use that AMC area a bit more as currently James is the only per

I’d say your roles and duties are pretty much nailed on, the only change I’d make would be Thiago to a DLP-d. I think he’s definitely the only pure playmaker in Flick’s system, and you could replicate him dropping in to make a three by asking the GK to distribute to playmaker.

Personally speaking, a HB drops to make a back three during build up but advances up the pitch as any other DM role would when the ball is deep in the opposition's final third. A simple FB-d with sit narrower always does the job

Both of these look exciting tempted to try #3 as it’s the complete opposite of what’s popular this year, cough *gegenpress* cough 😂

@herne79 Cheeky bump

It's just dawned on me that this is pretty close to a Man City replication

Nail on the head. An AF is great when given space to run into, both in behind the defence and into the channels, but with two strikers either side his movement will be pretty limited. As your system seems to be working I wouldn't suggest you change anything, but if you want more from your AF then i'd consider playing him as one of the outer strikers and maybe not press so aggressively.

I've found it extremely difficult to break teams down using a possession-based style... there's literally zero space/movement for quick combinations and even when there is some space, players prefer to pass wide then split the opposition with a through ball. Of course it's possible but in some ways i feel as if you have to have Rashidi level knowledge to execute a possession style effectively.

Couldn't agree more. Very good point you make here. Although Ibra has 10 for team-work and 7 for work-rate, so he won't do much pressing either way I do have him as as Treq in a 4231 though, where we might be able to get away with it due to the attacking trident behind him. The CM-A is also one of my favourites roles, both in FM and IRL... I think a lot of people just associate the role with scoring goals (which it does of course) but it can be so much more than that, player dependent of course. Paqueta will be doing his best Messi impression i'm sure, but it doesn't hurt to

@sporadicsmiles Great thread as always, certainly got me thinking! Recently i've found it pretty challenging to replicate possession-based football in the current ME, but this thread has inspired me to give it another try (well that, and the abundance of time everyone now has ) One thing this thread highlights for me though, is that the way mentalities work in FM really needs an overhaul. The ability of lesser teams to play on a counter mentality (which sets CBs to more direct passing by default) yet still keep the ball at the back despite an intense press is ludicrous. It's not even as

Indeed I’ve seen this too. In fact, my Brentford team were scoring so much from set pieces (default ones, no special set-up) that the board added ‘make the most of set-pieces’ or words to that affect, as part of the philosophy Sums up FM20 tbh

Does anyone have any solid defensive set-piece routines? Because no matter how I set them up, the AI always find a way to score from them. It’s killing me to be honest, preferred conceding from long balls over the top 😂

@Experienced Defender If you were to use a MEZ in a 532, would you play him behind the support or attack duty striker, generally speaking?

If you look at the screenshot, the wide players are too narrow for my liking. In all honesty they shouldn’t be out on the flanks, but they should be maybe 5 yards wider than their current position, and definitely higher than the CM’s. If we stop focusing on the wide players for a second, what could be causing that behaviour from the CM’s? We can both agree (finally) that their positioning is definitely an issue here