bosque

2 strikers and speed upfront is great advice for counters! You can't go wrong with DLF + AF combo

Consider having your BWM(s) on your right (Balde's side) because he will step up more and help your right wingback agains Balde, especially if the BWM has good workrate, teamwork and aggression. Besides, in my opinion, swapping your pivots will give you better use of the space. BWM and WB will be closer to the AM on attack. DLP on defend will better cover your attacking wingback and your supporting AM can use the pocket of space the DLP don't use because he holds position.

I like the idea of man-marking their box midfield but I think that Counter-Press and Press More Often are letting you down because those instructions are shape breakers and as Barcelona have better players they may be distrupting your man to man marking. I would try leaving your defensive transition blank (No Counter-Press nor Regroup) and to leave the pressing trigger on standard or even on less often. So they have to work hard to play around you instead of through you.

And what about team mentality? Do you change it or leave it on Balanced?

I think it just feels "right" to give lots of team instructions, because its what a manager do. But yeah, player (attributes and traits), roles and duties always first

I do love a tactic with few team instructions. All of them make perfect sense.

Great thread, following

Thanks! I noticed you can really see tempo in action when your team is not being pressed. Players take a few more moments before choosing what to do. But I wasn't sure when the tempo is not working.

When will the disadvantage happen? I mean, what are the signs of a slow tempo working badly?

Interesting point. What would be the difference between the cuts inside PPM and the cuts inside player instruction?

Great idea. I will do it when I have a little free time!

Sorry, I just saw this thread. I don't understand how to benchmark my PC. Should I compare my time holidaying the week with the others in order to see if my pc is low, mid or high end?

If you don't want to holiday 25 years, there is a "blank/empty database" you can download so you can start with random players by selecting the option of generate players for playable leagues.

Players section and for instance, explanation of each attribute is missing. It is there for the FM23 online manual but is missing in FM24. I fear that it won't be there for FM25 either and therefore we will lose that explanation forever (because there is only access to the manual to the last two editions).

In my opinion Arsenal plays 442 both in and out of possession. Odegaard is always on the right and Havertz on the left. The same with the doble pivot, I'm always watching Rice on the left and Partey on the right. And as formation in FM is the defensive shape of the team I would field them in a 442. 424 or an offset 4411/4231 with Odegaard in the AMCR position and Havertz in the STCL.

Will this be a long term project even after the FM25 launch?

Big empty space behind a high defensive line is an obvious empty space, but which could be other examples of empty space?

No, I don't play with an underdog team. I'm not that good haha. Depending on the back four players, sometimes a L(d) if the player is a good BPD, others an IWB(d) if the player can play inside without losing the ball with bad first touches. And others I use a Carrilero (because he doesn't rotate upwards) on the same side of a WB(s) and IF, emulating Liverpool's righ hand side. Regarding the Wingers question, I don't use to change too much based on opposition because when I do it almost always back fire But I think that If you keep your Wingbacks on defend duty, you are facilitating the Wingers job because they don't need to track back. You could leave one WB(d) to face their most dangerous Winger and be more positive with the other one, so you have 1+ body when in-possession and the opposition Winger has to track back. If he doesn't you have a free player.

I'm playing a similar 433 and I noticed this problems with the DM. This comes from experience haha 😅

I'm not Cloud nor Crusader but it is possible that your DM will be isolated down the middle during defensive transitions because both 8s will go to the AM strata and the WBs will stay wide. And he may have very long passing lines when in-possesion and passes may be easier to intercept. But check it during games. If that happens you may consider having someone with him during the in-possession phase. A Libero or an Inverted Wingback. BUT, if the DM is very good and complete, he will have plenty of space to work his magic.

Me too! I really like the writing and explanation. Very simple and engaging.

Thanks! I will try this. I'm using a DM(d) now and I felt I was wasting this player because (apart from having good defensive attributes) he is good at passing, off the ball and he even has decent dribbling. Your description sounds like what I'm looking for.

Sorry for the late quote, I just read the thread. I'm curious on the thinking behind the DM(s) with hold position and not just DM(d),

How do I select one of the 6 nationalities? I can't find them when creating the manager.

Oh man, this looks spectacular. I am itching to come back home and start this save. Where can I find more info about the lore of Conitum? Is there a wiki of something?