OConnellFC

https://community.sigames.com/forums/topic/474720-basic-principles-of-defending-an-unofficial-guide-for-tactical-beginners/ Also this post is very good for defending principles.

Ignoring the Attacking tactic which is rarely used unless you are favorites or need a goal, the key difference is counter press vs regroup and the WB attack vs the FB attack. The WB will cross from the byline and hence get way further forward. The Fullback will can opt to cross from deep. Counter Press and Regroup make a huge difference in how you play. Counter press will force players to press when they lose the ball, while regroup will force players to get back. The lines in both tactics are super compact with a high line and low block. The home tactic asks players on the back line to step up to even further compact the lines, while the away tactic they drop off to defend deeper. The OIs are same as previously posted. Just press the opposition wingers outside ie RW on right foot and LW on left foot to force them to cross rather than cut inside (and further make this apparent by trapping outside). The combination of compact lines and narrow defense emulates Simeone's preference to make the most compact block possible. This allowed us to defend really well.

Note: this is still for FM23. I imagine this would work in FM24 too but can't guarantee it. The aim of this is to prove that non-high pressing tactics can win a league. It just takes patience. -- While I did not have an invincible season, I set a personal record for least conceded goals in a season - 10. This was an interesting season because we got knocked out of the UCL earlier than I would have hoped. Prior to that knockout, I was using standard passing and pass into space. After that loss, I went more direct and removed pass into space and made the lines even more compact. My team is stacked with newgens, but Real Madrid in my save are unbelievable, so this was a good achievement to win the league. Madrid have the 3x Ballon Dor winner at striker, and the best goalkeeper in the game. They beat us in the Copa del Rey final and won UCL this year, so even though I was disappointed we only won the league and the supercopa, I can't deny that this is as SImeone as it gets. Key changes from previous tactics: - Poacher to an Advanced Forward with dribble more and shoot more often. Even before this change, he was on track to break the scoring record in La Liga, so I'm not 100% sure it made a difference or not, but the team played better. - More Compact lines - higher defensive line with low block - More Direct Passing/Removing pass into space/Keeping run at defense - After losing in the UCL after my defender tried a short pass out the back and we conceded, I just said screw it. Get the ball forward. This seemed to stop us from conceding stupid goals. We never had high possession, but we were lethal on the counter. After I scored 2 goals, I would drop to the low block and shut the game out. Add time wasting, play for set pieces, and get out. - When we were absolute favorites (generally only used this in the Copa del Rey vs lower teams), I used an Attacking tactic with be more expressive and normal passing to control the game. Other notes: - During this season, I had the right WM as a WM Attack and the right fullback as a FB Su. The left full back was a fullback Attack instead of a wing back. But If you set the right WM to a WM Su and set him to cross from byline and dribble more, he acts like a winger without getting too wide. This then gives you the flexibility for fluidity to use a FB on attack on the same flank. I try to keep my fluidity Flexible. This will all come down to your personnel. I just had really good right midfielders that could play traditional wingers but also had the attributes of a traditional attacking midfielder with good work rate and ok tackling. You want your wing players to be more creative and attacking, while the central midfielders need to have the usual high work rate/tackling/positioning etc. - Whoever your poacher or advanced forward is... he needs to have good size. Taller, be able to head the ball, and attack well. My forward just won player of the year, so I put his player profile in the images. - My supporting forward was very much a Griezmann type player - dribbler, flair, passing, not the biggest of size - so I used a false 9. The match engine tends to prefer deep lying forwards, so you can use a DLF with dribble more, but I used a false 9 to be more accurate to the player type. - Same OIs as last time. Push the wingers out wide and press them. Mark the more central players tightly as the approach the final third. Have the false 9 (or deep lying forward/target forward) mark the opposition DM. Let your poacher or advanced forward do whatever they want. I don't tight mark the opposition strikers - I just play them on their weaker foot. - In the low block, I usually switch to cautious or defensive mentality as the game winds down. You'll note pressing is on standard, so we don't over press. Cheers. 442 '38.fmf 442 '38 A.fmf 442 '38 Attack.fmf

This is great to see. I haven't downloaded the beta yet. The new engine looks great, but I've read that this year's game seems fairly easy per other posts in the tactics section. If low block and high blocks are working, it must be an AI manager thing but I don't know. My aim was to move my Arenas save to FM24 once the bugs are ironed out somewhere in January or so.

I also made Arenas some new kits (2D and 3D) if anyone is interested in playing with them.

I'm having a lot of success with a new iteration, so I have provided updated tactics. We managed to avoid relegation by one point last year. This year, we're in top half after changing the tactic up and making some key signings. First image is for home matches - switch to Positive if we are clear favorites. Second image is away tactic. Third shows the default player roles. We're still well below LaLiga in terms of all attributes too. I put a picture to compare our mentals. You'll have to check the set pieces because I made specific tweaks for this squad. But for corners, we have a defender with 20 jumping reach which certainly helps. 442 MAIN '27.fmf 442 MAIN '27 A.fmf

In the training schedules, I would use Match Review after each match. I also switched set piece training to Att/Def Corners/Delivery week to week. Mentality would change in match as well. I used positive/balanced on the MAIN tactic vs teams we were favored to win or when at home.

Updated tactics and images of training schedules attached for our LaLiga2 campaign. Managed to get promoted to LaLiga despite having lowest odds. Changes to tactic were primarily having two forwards in support (one staying central like a target forward, the other instructed to move into channels) and having the wide players push forward. Use run at defense in conjunction with pass into space & play out the back. This essentially achieved shorter passing from the back, more dribbling, pass into space - primarily to the wide players, and then one two's from the supporting forwards. It felt Atletico-esque despite the instructions feeling like they would contradict. Used mid block primarily, but would use low block/regroup/standard press vs better teams or pacy forwards. If I played vs 3ATB, I would use fairly narrow instead of narrow width. From time to time, would switch the left forward to target forward, and instruct GK to distribute to TF if we couldn't get the ball out of the back. In this scenario, I'd remove play out the back, run at defense, and add distribute quickly and use highest tempo. Also, in Simeone fashion, set the league record for yellow cards. Our salary for LaLiga next season is $100k per week. Honestly not sure if we'll survive and shocked we were this good in LaLiga2. All transfers were free transfers and no loans. As you can see, focus heavily on mentals/work rate/athleticism. Watching Zealand, I learned to sign players that liked big matches and were consistent - I think this really helped for our campaign. Good luck! 442 MAIN '25.fmf 442 H Block '25.fmf 442 L Block '25.fmf

I still force them outside because we trap outside. They can cross all they want because I focus on having defenders with jumping reach & strength.

For half the season, I used standard passing and pass into space. With Play out of Defense on, it still plays relatively short, but creates more chances and plays generally more risky. As I mentioned, I will try a more fluid counter attack next season to try to have a bit more possession, but if you need to generate more changes, increase the passing directness to normal and tick on pass into space. It's quite fun.

I made it from RFEF II to La Liga SmartBank with the tactics attached. FM23 DMs work well, but for SmartBank, I'm going to try a flat 442. I had a PF AT moving into channels, but late season switched him to AF. Pass into space and AF just works better in the match engine I'm finding. AFs drop deep, but in possession, your team will look to try through balls to the AF. I'm going to switch off Pass Into Space and opt for shorter passing to use a more fluid counter attack. Will see how it goes, but pass into space did create more opportunities in attack. Often the pass would go wide to the WMs or FBs into space, so perhaps I will use pass into space in conjunction with the shorter passing. In terms of pressing, I'm still not sure if using More Often versus Standard is better. I used More Often and Counter Press this past season, then would switch to Regroup and the Low Block after scoring. It seemed to work well for the most part. Pressing is less important in this year's match engine, with preference of structure versus chaos, but I would still keep trigger press more often even with Regroup just to make sure the team was pressing in the low block when the opposition was in our half. My previous save used a De Zerbi tactic where i did not use Counter Press but used More Often and Counter and had success. If you look online, the meta seems to be shorter passing/higher tempo/pass into space, and I could see this tactic being better employing such a format. This past season in RFEF I, I had good Target forwards, so I used them and they were great. I had poachers too, but they had like 7-8 work rate, and will be sold this season for higher work rate/physical forwards. I'm only able to sign players on a free at this point, and our finances are horrid, so all my signings are free/loans, so keep that in mind. I could see long term moving to a system I used with Atletico last year as we get better players. I imagine LaLiga 2 will be pretty difficult until we stabilize the finances and team. Still, it seems that having physical forwards works better versus having pacy strikers. Midfielders must be workhorses. You can afford to have one of them be more playmaker/mezzala/inverted winger to play off the TF. I implemented a wide player on attack working off the TF SU. Defenders remain focused on mentals, strength, jumping reach, and good defending. FBs need a mix of defending and pace. FB Su this year seems good enough - I added get further forward and sit narrow as I wanted the FBs to be narrow in possession and the move out wide. Probably influenced by De Zerbi but if you put the fullbacks wide, you are at risk of losing possession. If you come up against two strikers, switch on of the fullbacks to hold position, sit narrow, and cross from deep. OIs attached. Focused on staying narrow and pressing wings primarily. We conceded the least goals in the league with this. I may tight mark the central midfield like I did last year. Still tinkering. Cheers and good luck. Arenas has been a challenge. Their finances are so tight. You have to pick and choose carefully. 442 MAIN.fmf 442 L Block.fmf 442 H Block.fmf

Ok I had a good long-term save in Italy with Ancona trying a lot of tactics but perhaps I’ll dig into a Simeone save for the remainder of ‘23. With Ancona, we made it to Serie A and won the Italian cup. Never won Serie A but I did manage Italy for a bit. I focused on only signing players from South Europe - mainly Italian, Croatian, and Slovenian players. We used a lot of tactics, with De Zerbi 4231 becoming our go to. Had to given De Zerbi’s rise and everyone using his tactics (even my beloved Liverpool finally switching to a double 6 with TAA). In Spain, I usually start with Arenas club given they were one of the founders. May start another long term save with them. I’ll focus on mentals rather than nationality. I imagine this engine will work well with the Simeone 442. Cult of FM did a good save on YouTube. If I do this save, I’ll stick with Arenas til the end. I’ll follow up with tactics, OIs as usual. Cheers. (I also scored a 2020-2021 Atletico home kit on eBay after they won the league!) I still follow Atletico to date (despite being an LFC fan - was impressed when they knocked us out of UCL a few years ago). Griezmann has been incredible this year and I will certainly look for a flair player like him.

Increase tempo and passing directness. Remove play out of defense. Then raise defensive line and press higher if they are playing out the back.

Confirming I have the same issue. When I search by region, game immediately crashes.

Just a personal preference. I'm not sure if it matters to be honest, as long as your staff are good coaches and have good personalities. During my FM22 save, I preferred to hire coaches with 442 as a preferred formation, and generally hired coaches with a fluid counter attack tactical style and more often pressing style.

That's good to hear. I started a save with Ancona in Italy and got to Serie A using a possession based 433. We rose too fast and are currently battling relegation. It has tempted me to try a Simeone tactic again, but I generally prefer to start a save and hire all my staff to suit the play style. The Cult of FM put up a good series on YouTube that I will link below. While I don't agree 100% with his roles/duties, it showed that you can play more defensive in FM23. Given I reached my goal to win the UCL in FM22, I'm not sure if I will do another Simeone save, but I will post to this thread if I do.

Key mentals would be aggression, bravery, concentration, determination, positioning, and work rate. Your more offensive players can lack aggression and positioning in exchange for anticipation, off the ball, and vision. For physicals, stamina is important. Physicals will depend on type of player. Ie you want pace on an inverted winger, strength and jumping reach for your center backs, etc.

This has been an interface issue in past versions of the game. Your player is pressing as indicated by the green bar being all the way full, but the description shows less often. If you lower trigger press to standard, you can then set your player to press more, but you'll note that the green bar only fills about 75%.

That's good to hear. I will also do another Simeone style save myself in FM23. The current beta is super buggy. The match engine is fantastic, but everything else is all over the place - I made a post here: I would hold off investing in a long-term save until the game is more polished. I typically wait until the January update. That being said, I did a more Mourinho style 4231 and had success. The mid block is really effective.

Forgot to add table

+1. Having a lot of injuries in training, far more than FM22. I do use Double Intensity if they are fully fit, but nothing else outside of the default rest settings. Is this SI putting more focus on natural fitness? I am managing a third division Portuguese side. Thanks

Another thing I would mention. Look how many support duties I employed. The whole system is based upon teamwork and support, hence why the team fluidity is fluid. Everyone is working for each other. That’s where the work rate and stamina comes into play. It’s vital for your wingbacks, midfielders, and forwards. Creative players will be limited by this system. Look at Felix in real life today. He’s asking to leave and Simeone isn’t even starting him. I had really good players I had to sell to replace with three star players because they fit the system better. And we won the UCL with mediocre forwards at best. Your midfielders, defenders, and goalkeeper need to be top class.

I don’t have saved schedules. In pre season, I used double endurance sessions. If your squad consists of newly transferred players, make sure to focus on cohesion and tactic familiarity. You want to go into the season with strong familiarity. I ran into issues when training my central midfielders as wide midfielders, but play them enough in that position and train them there and they’ll be efficient. Midseason, make sure you have all your units sorted out. Defensive unit trains to defend wide, then all players benefit from transition restrict and transition press. Make sure to train at least one physical session a week. You want to have the highest work rate, stamina in the league. Finally, and I can’t emphasize this enough, set your set piece takers. I train set piece delivery every week. This will ensure your set piece takers are efficient. Finally, before each match, train teamwork. You are playing disciplined, so you need everyone working for the team. I had a Brazilian player with more flair and less teamwork, so I made him an inverted winger instead of a wide midfielder to give him license to attack. Some of his goals were amazing but he was horrid at defending. Once we went up, I subbed him off for a hard working midfielder. I’m really looking forward to FM23 in hopes that defensive tactics work even better. But if you’re on a previous version, note that even though I’m using a balanced or positive mentality, the tactic itself was always geared towards defending. The higher mentality gives you a better counter attack. That’s it.

This depends on the strength of your squad and whether or not you are playing at home or away. It also depends on if you are facing a two-striker opposition and if those strikers have pace. But the primary thinking is if you are at Home and the stronger squad, press high. Also, if you are playing a team that prefers tiki-taka, press high as well. If you are Away and facing stronger opposition, use the mid block. I only use the low block to finish games out. Once I have scored two goals above the opposition, or it's minute 75 or so and we are winning, I will. use the low block and attempt to kill off the game. The low block tactic uses balanced tempo, uses regroup instead of counter-press, asks the GK to slow pace down, and puts time wasting all the way up. It also plays for set pieces. Another note - from time to time, I will switch to re-group and/or play for set pieces on the mid block tactic as well. Just depends how the game is feeling. I will also sometimes switch the mid-block to positive mentality. Again, it all depends on how the match is going. This really isn't just a plug and play tactic - you have to really manage the game, which is part of the fun of the challenge. I always check who the manager is of the opposition team and look at their preferred style to understand how they are going to play. In the UCL final, I actually took a big risk and pressed high using the high tactic. The reason was I knew they were playing tiki-taka (Nagelsmann was their manager). I told the defenders to show Haaland on his weaker foot, and that really worked as he missed some chances during the match. Once I scored, I went to a mid block and checked the play for set pieces option. This way, we could control the tempo of the game. Towards the end of the match, I went to the low block. You can see we only had 43% possession, so it was quite nerve-racking.... but we won and didn't concede any goals!