tikitakamaster

well he can go check my post in this section then, I always post my tactics here with all screenshots, explanation and analysis

Hi guys, this time I emulated Pep's 4-1-4-1 formation with two IWB he used at Bayern Munich, to do so I used a retro database 2013-14 season Hi guys, welcome back to my channel and to another episode of my series dedicated to Pep Guardiola's tactics. Today we will delve into his four-one-four-one tactic he used at Bayern Munich. I recreated it in Football Manager 2024 and used a retro database of the season 2013-14, I added Lewandowski and Xabi Alonso to recreate the same formation he had at Bayern Munich. The first thing we need to point out is that he invented a new role, the inverted full-back that instead of staying wide as a normal full back or wide back, inverts and gets in the middle area, Lahm and Alaba, probably the best two wing-backs at that time moved closed to Xabi Alonso, creating a pivot trio , this helped Bayern Munich deep lying playmaker Xabi Alonso in defense and allowed the formation in attack to switch to a 2-3-5, while width was provided by the two wingers Ribery and Robben. In Pep's Barcelona, the full backs provided width and wingers cut inside, here it's the opposite. Pep Guardiola's Tactical Blueprint at Bayern Munich (2013-2016) Pep Guardiola managed Bayern Munich from 2013 to 2016, leading them to three Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He employed a variety of tactics, with a focus on possession-based play and high pressing. Formations and Flexibility: Guardiola used various formations, including 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and even a 3-5-2 in specific situations. He adapted his tactics based on the opponent and injuries within the squad. Inverted Fullbacks: A key feature was the use of inverted fullbacks, like Philipp Lahm and David Alaba, who tucked inside during build-up play. This created a numerical advantage in midfield and offered passing options for the center backs. Build-up Play: Guardiola aimed to build from the back, utilizing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's excellent footwork. The center backs would split wide to force the opposition press wide, freeing up central passing lanes. High Pressing and Defensive Strategy: Bayern employed an aggressive high press throughout the pitch, aiming to win the ball back quickly. They maintained a high defensive line with a sweeper keeper to minimize space for opponents. When defending deeper, they used a 4-1-4-1 formation, with wingers pushing high and the midfield shifting to create pressing traps. Attacking Tactics: Their attacking strategy centered around getting players wide and rotating the ball. They used overloads on the flanks to create space for crosses into the box for players like Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller. Impact and Legacy: Guardiola brought a unique tactical approach and attacking flair to Bayern Munich. While the team has continued success after his departure, their dominance hasn't quite matched the Guardiola era. Recreating Pep's Bayern Munich in Football Manager 2024 This tactic aims to capture the essence of Pep Guardiola's dominant Bayern Munich team from 2013-2016. Formation and Mentality: Formation: 4-1-4-1 flat Mentality: Positive - This allows for control, proactive attacking, and minimizes counter-attack vulnerability. Team Instructions: In Possession: Playing Style: Narrow width with focus play through the middle to overload centrally. Passing: Short and controlled tempo. Play from Defense: Distribute from the goalkeeper (Neuer) with center-backs (Dante and Boateng) dropping deep and wide to avoid pressure. Crossing: Mixed deliveries with "Work ball into the box" to encourage patience and possession. Dribbling: Less frequent dribbling and increased expression. In Transition: Counter-Press: High intensity pressing for 6 seconds followed by holding shape and patient build-up after regaining possession. Out of Possession: Defensive Line: High pressing line with a slightly higher defensive line to avoid long balls. Pressing: Frequent pressing with forwards instructed to pressure the opponent's goalkeeper and disrupt short distribution. Offside Trap: More frequent use of the offside trap. Tendency: Force play inside to exploit a numerical advantage in midfield. Player Roles: Goalkeeper: Neuer (Sweeper Keeper - Attack) Fullbacks: Lahm (Inverted Wing-Back - Support) and Alaba (Inverted Wing-Back - Attack) - Both tuck inside during possession to form a pivot with the Deep Lying Playmaker. Center-Backs: Both instructed to stay wider to support build-up play alongside Neuer. Deep Lying Playmaker: Xabi Alonso (Support) - Drops deep to create a numerical advantage against opposing forwards. Central Midfielders: Thiago Alcântara (Deep Lying Playmaker - Support) and Thomas Müller (Mezzala - Attack) - Push forward to create a four-man midfield line with the wingers. Wingers: Robben and Ribery (Winger - Attack) - Stay wide to provide width and cross from wider areas. Overall: This tactic prioritizes possession-based control with a focus on overloading central areas and patient build-up. The inverted fullbacks create a flexible midfield structure, and wingers offer width and crossing opportunities. This is all for this tactic, I hope it works for you too. For all stats and analysis and highlights please see my Youtube video here Pep Guardiola's Bayern 2013-14 1st season 4-1-4-1 .fmf

Hi guys, welcome to the 4th episode dedicated to Pep Guardiola's historical tactics. This time I emulate the tactic he used in season 2011-12 (his last season at Barcelona), a 3-4-3 diamond tactic that allowed that Barcelona to win 4 trophies, unfortunately not the Spanish Liga and UEFA Champions League, but Copa del Rey, Uefa Super Cup, Spain Supercup (Supercopa de Espana) and Fifa Club World Cup. In the video you will see how I created the tactic in the game, how it worked, my season with Barca stats, and some highlights. I hope the tactic works for you too, HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 To emulate this tactic, I started with a positive mentality that allows my team to dominate possession and have a proactive approach to the game, without conceeding too many chances to the opponents with long balls or counterattacks. The formation will be a 3-4-3 or better a 3-1-2-3-1, with three central defenders (later we will analyze their roles and duties), a diamond midfield with one defensive midfielder in front of the back three, two central midfielders and an attacking midfielder who plays behind the striker and often switches position with him, such as Fabregas and Messi did in that Barcelona. Along the central attacking midfielder, there are two wingers. In possession, our attacking width is fairly narrow, this combined with the instruction to focus play through the middle tells our player to create overloads and triangles in the middle to dominate possession there and control the midfield. This makes it very difficult for the opponent to mark or press our midfielders, and this overloading of spaces in the middle will leave wider spaces open for our wingers. Of course, our team must build the play patiently so play out of defense is also an important instruction, combined with much shorter passes and a lower tempo. In the final third, Barcelona continues to play the ball patiently and tries to work the ball into the box, this instruction combined with dribble less asks our team to maintain possession. Crosses are of course low, Barcelona did not have tall players that time, maybe Pique was the only one good at heading, so Guardiola asked them to play low balls and avoid crosses. In transition, as seen for other tactics used by Pep Guardiola during his period at Barcelona, when they lost the ball, they applied pressure (6 seconds rule) to the opponents to win the ball back as soon as possible. To replicate this in Football Manager 2024, we must select the instruction Counter-Press. After winning the ball back, Barcelona did not want to launch fast counter-attacks but preferred to rebuild the play patiently, so we must select Hold shape. About the goalkeeper instruction, we will ask him to slow pace down, take short kicks and pass to the center backs. In the out of possession phase, Guardiola wanted his players to press very high and to reduce the gap between the lines, his defense line was also very high. Besides, he asked his players to apply pressure on the opponent goalkeeper to force him to play long balls that would have been easily intercepted by Barcelona players and to force the opponent into the central areas where there were many Barcelona players who could win the ball back. To replicate this in the game we must select the following instructions: line of engagement: high press defensive line: much higher trigger press: much more often defensive line: step up more pressing trap: trap inside Plauyers roles and instructions GK: Victor Valdes: sweeper-keeper in attack: no instructions RCB:Javier Mascherano: ball-playing defender-defend: no instructions CB: Sergio Busquets: ball-playing defender-defend: dribble more. Busquets could often move forward with the ball creating a numerical superiority in front of the defense and helping to build the play from back. LCB: Eric Abidal: ball-playing defender-defend: dribble more, stay wider Despite playing in a much more cautious way in the previous seasons as a left full back to balance Dani Alves extremely offensive playing style on the other flank, during the season 2011-12, Abidal became a central defender and often tried to move forward and wider with or without the ball creating a passing option for his teammates, this because the half-back Keita was not very good with the ball and was not involved so much in building from the back. DM: Seydou Keita: half-back- defend: no instructions RCM: Xavi: deep-lying playmaker-support: no instructions LCM: Iniesta: advanced playmaker-support: no instructions AM: Fabregas: advanced playmaker-attack: get further forward, move into channels, roam from position. Cesc Fabregas could be both a goal threat and a help build up and often interchanged his position with Leo Messi who dropped deep down or moved wider to the right and Fabregas could exploit the space left by Messi. RAM: Pedro: inside forward-support: stay wider. Space overloads in the middle and a narrow midfield opened up space for the two wingers, who stayed wider. That’s why I instructed both inside forwards to stay wider. LAM: Alexis Sanchez: inside forward-support: stay wider. CF: Leo Messi: false nine-support: roam from position, move into channels. Messi could drop down or stay wider, his movements were unpredictable. N.B. - About Fabregas role: before choosing the Advanced Playmaker in Attack role, I tried him also as a Shadow Striker because I thought the Shadow Striker will move into the box and switch position with the False 9 but I noticed that actually he often stayed in the same position as the false 9 (that in my Barcelona save was either Lewandowski, or Joao Felix, the latter suiting much better in the role than the former), in other words he did not drop down when the false 9 was moving into the box, even if I tried to give him instructions. When I switched it to the Advanced Playmaker in attack, he interchanged position with the false 9 and never bothered him when he was moving to the box. - About Sergio Busquets playing as a central defender (ball playing defender-defend): someone may argue why I put Busquets in the back three in the analysis and added a HB role for Seydou Keita? Why did I not use only 2 center backs and put Busquets directly as a HB? Well, for two reasons: first, in the analysis made by the Youtube channel Football Made Simple which I used as main source for this tactic emulation, Keita is playing as a HB with Busquets as a central defender and I wanted to stick to this analysis which I believe being the most accurate of many I found online. Second, in a tactic with only 2 central defenders, Busquets as a hb would have too much space to cover and too much duties to do, since the other midfielders (Dlp-support, ap-support and ap-attack) would not help him and that would be too risky and would allow the opponent to overwhelm us and score too many goals. What to do if - If you are struggling to score (no matter if you are still 0-0 or you are losing): change the mentality from positive to attacking, switch the attacking players mentality from support to attack too (the two inside forwards and you can change the false 9 into a trequartista if you have a player who suits that role or to a DLF in attack if your striker suits this role better, anyway, you should change the false 9 role which is only a support role into an attacking role). Remove the instruction to dribble less in the possession phase and the instruction hold shape in the transition phase. In the possession phase, switch the tempo to slightly lower or even to standard and the pass directness to slightly narrower instead of narrow). Youtube video here Guardiola's Barça 2011-12 Last season 3-4-3 .fmf

thanks very much

Hi guys, welcome back to my channel. On March 17th, it was a great manager's birthday, Giovanni Trapattoni's 85th birthday. For this reason, I decided to emulate in the game two of his tactics, the first one is his Inter 1988-1989 tactic, that season was a incredible season in Serie A, Inter never lost against any opponent and scored a lot of goals and conceeding very few. I decided to emulate his 4-3-3 asymmetric in football manager 2024. In this video you can see how I created the tactic and the results I achieved with Inter in only 1 season, without making any transfers. I won the Treble and scored more than 100 goals conceeding only 25 in Serie A. I hope this tactic works for you too. Legendary Inter Milan of 1988-89 Led by key signings like Lothar Matthäus and Nicola Berti, the team dominated the league, winning the Scudetto (Italian championship) with five games to spare. They boasted the best defense and attack in Serie A, with Aldo Serena claiming the top scorer title. This achievement is even more impressive considering the high level of competition, featuring teams like Maradona's Napoli and Sacchi's Milan. Trapattoni's tactical genius and strong team spirit secured Inter's place as a "Football Legend." Football Manager Tactic brief analysis WHAT IF 1. If you struggle to score: switch the mentality to attacking, switch the left wing-back -support to attack or even to a complete wing-back in attack, the complefe forward-support to attack, and change the tempo to sligthly higher. PLAYERS POSITION AND INSTRUCTIONS 1. The right nonsense fb is a marking defender more than a support fb, he will remain in defense, closer to the other CD (that's why I selected sit narrower as a PI) and mark one of the strikers if the opponent team has 2 strikers (a striker duo was the most common formation in the 80s and 90s) while the stopper (that in the game is a central defender with stopper duty) mark the other striker. These were Bergomi (fb) and Ferri (stopper)'s roles and duties, while Mandorlini, the libero was not assigned a one-to-one marking task and was more free to support the play building. That's why for the libero role I also selected the dribble more instruction. With this selected, our libero will carry the ball forward, dribble more does not mean that our player will try to dribble the opponents and take so many risks like if he was Leo Messi, but that he will, according to the situation, carry the ball forward and try to help the midfield to buld the play. 2. The right winger on support is the best choice for Alessandro Bianchi's role in a 4-3-3 because he was the typical number 7, able to cover the whole right flank and to drop deeper in defense if needed. But his crosses were also very important in attack, especially for Aldo Serena's head-scoring skills. 3. Andy Brehme's role was much more than a left full-back, he was a real game changer when he pushed forward and pumped so many crossed into the box, besides, he was ambidestrous ( he trained a lot to cross with both feet) so the opponents never know what to expect from him. That's why I chose an advanced wing-back role for him instead of dropping him down alongside the other 3 defenders. 4. Ramon Diaz's role can be seen as a complete forward (support) or also as a deep-lying forward, I believe that the complete forward in support can replicate this role better because Diaz was not only a striker who linked the play dropping deeper but was also a great striker. who played well with Serena. You can see tactic analysis, in-game creation, stats and highlights on my youtube video here TRAPATTONI'S INTER 1988-89 4-3-3.fmf

PEP GUARDIOLA'S HISTORY TACTICS: BARCELONA 2010-2011 SEASON TIKITAKA Hi guys, welcome to my second emulation of Pep Guardiola's historical series. This time I emulated Barcelona's 2010-11 season tactic. In that season Barcelona sold Ibrahimovic to AC Milan and replaced him with a different type of striker, David Villa. Since the second half of season 2008-2009, Messi started playing more as a central striker with Samuel Eto'o who agreed to swap his position with the Argentinian genius and play wide on the right flank. Eto's versatility allowed Pep to create this new False 9 attacking solution which surprised most of their opponents. But, in season 2009-2010, Barcelona sold Eto'o to Inter Milan and paid Euro 49 millions to buy Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Unfortunately, Ibrahimovic was not willing to leave his central forward position to play wider on the right side and allow Messi to play central. Ibrahimovic struggled to do so and even if Guardiola tried to convince him, Ibrahimovic always refused. Besides, when Messi was playing wider on the right and Ibrahimovic in the centre, they struggled to play together because Ibrahimovic loved to drop deeper to link the play and Messi, who liked to cut inside and play in central areas often stepped on Ibra's toes. Finally, Pep Guardiola decided to put Ibra on the bench and Messi played as F9 as he liked. In summer 2010, Ibrahimovic moved to AC Milan and Barcelona replaced him with David Villa who was a very versatile player and ready to play wide on the left, while the Barcelona Youth team star Pedro got promoted to the First Squad by Pep and played wide on the right. This forward trio Pedro-Messi-Villa with Messi as False 9 scored a lot of goals and contributed to win the Treble ( Spanish Liga, Spanish Supercup and Uefa Champions League) and to finished 2nd in Copa del Rey. I decided to emulate this tactic in Football Manager and to test it with AC Milan, I won Serie A and Coppa Italia and lost the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain. Of course, as always, I did not buy neither sell any players so the squad is the same at the beginning and at the end of the season. Please see the tactic analysis, creation, stats and highlights here: Pep Guardiola's Tikitaka 2010-11.fmf

LEE CARSLEY’S ENGLAND U 21 TACTICS TACTICAL ANALYSIS England's senior team's performance at the 2022 World Cup, though falling short in the quarter-finals, showcased a burgeoning generation brimming with talent. Young stars like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham spearhead this group, promising a strong national team for years to come. This bodes well for the U21 squad, as this year's European Championship serves as a springboard to further develop this exceptional pool of young players. England's U21 team boasts a meager record in the European Championship, with only two titles (consecutively in 1982 and 1984) in the last 39 years. Rivals like Spain and Germany have consistently dominated the competition, leaving England's best showing as semi-final appearances. However, a potential shift in fortunes might be brewing. The Premier League's recent rise has bolstered the infrastructure and development of young English talents. This improved environment could translate into success for the U21 team. Following a disappointing performance at the previous Euro U21 tournament, Lee Carsley assumed the helm. The team, which included some returning players like Oliver Skipp, Curtis Jones, and Max Aarons, finished last in their group. Nevertheless, the past two years have witnessed a significant change. This tactical analysis delves into the strategies employed by Lee Carsley's U21 England squad. We'll dissect the intricacies of Carsley's approach and provide a detailed breakdown of their tactical system, offering a glimpse into their potential for the upcoming competition. England U21 boasts a deep and talented squad, with manager Lee Carsley favoring a 4-2-3-1 formation. While the system might adapt based on possession, this framework helps predict a probable starting lineup. Goalkeeper: The competition lies between James Trafford and Josh Griffiths, with Trafford having a slight edge. Defense: Left-back seems settled with Luke Thomas. Right-back presents a choice between Djed Spence and Max Aarons, with Aarons' experience likely securing the starting spot. Both Aarons and Spence offer flexibility, capable of playing on either side if needed. Youngster Rico Lewis might also see playing time. Center-backs: Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Levi Colwill are the most probable pairing, performing well at their clubs. Depth exists with Ben Johnson, Nathan Wood, Charlie Cresswell, and Luke Mbete. Midfield: While Conor Gallagher is unlikely due to senior team involvement, Oliver Skipp and Angel Gomes are expected to anchor the midfield behind Morgan Gibbs-White. Jacob Ramsey presents another strong option. Depth includes Tommy Doyle, Tyler Morton, James McAtee, and James Garner. Attack: Cameron Archer is the likely starting striker, but options are limited in this position. The remaining attacking options showcase versatility. Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are expected to flank Archer, with Emile Smith Rowe, Noni Madueke, and Cole Palmer also in contention. Anthony Gordon's inclusion remains uncertain. Overall, Carsley's squad possesses exceptional quality, depth, and adaptability. This, combined with a strategic age balance of young stars, experienced players, and a core group around 22 years old, positions England U21 as a strong contender. England U21 exhibits a consistent style under Carsley, allowing for seamless player rotation. Statistics reveal a possession-based approach, with high numbers for possession (98th percentile), passes per match (90th percentile), and accurate passes (92nd percentile). However, it's crucial to consider the context - these numbers might decrease against stronger opponents. Despite this, the team's attacking prowess is evident. They rank highly in goals per match (86th percentile) and passes in the final third (88th percentile), demonstrating their ability to create chances. Even shots per match and expected goals (xG) remain above average. Carsley utilizes possession as a tool for his Positional Play strategy. The team retains the ball in deeper areas, using it to organize and stretch the pitch before progressing the attack. Their strong backline and double-pivot midfield facilitate this possession-based approach. Their structure adheres to textbook Positional Play principles. Players maintain specific spatial relationships throughout the pitch, as shown in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Initially, fullbacks provide width in deeper positions, while the midfield duo occupies central areas. As the fullbacks push forward, the wingers move into the half-spaces. This rotation ensures only one player occupies the wide area at any given time. This strategy is effectively executed regardless of the specific players involved. Fullbacks like Rico Lewis can invert and move centrally, with wingers remaining wide. This flexibility and understanding of positional roles are key aspects of their attacking approach. Beyond formations, England U21's attacking structure revolves around respecting spatial relationships within Positional Play. Players constantly assess and adapt their positioning to exploit gaps in the opponent's defense. This approach involves fluid movement and rotations. A central midfielder might drop deep, triggering a chain reaction where the winger fills the vacated space. This continuous movement aims to find solutions while adhering to the core spatial principles. These principles aim to stretch the opposition, opening passing lanes and creating advantageous situations. Triangles form in wide areas, and diagonal passes flow in and out of half-spaces, disrupting the opponent's defensive organization. An example showcases this concept: Left-back Aarons positions himself slightly deeper with the ball. Winger Smith Rowe occupies the wide channel, while midfielder Gomes supports from the half-space. Further forward, Elliott provides a vertical option. Harvey Elliott's initial right-wing position transforms as he moves to the left, creating balance with Gibbs-White shifting to the right. This fluidity and awareness of spatial roles is a hallmark of their approach. While verticality is an option when space allows, the team also utilizes patient possession circulation to find openings. Naturally, the level of pressure and available space dictates their approach. Against weaker teams, longer possession spells occur, while stronger opponents demand swift adjustments. This adaptability extends to the final third. Their structure helps stretch defenses, and they actively seek to manipulate opponents numerically, tactically, and even psychologically. As an example, Doyle attacks the right side with options on either flank. He feeds the ball to the midfielder and makes a decoy run, aiming to drag the Croatian fullback and create space for Palmer out wide. These tactics consistently generate scoring opportunities. Carsley's team effectively utilizes Positional Play, progressing the ball through the thirds with methodical movement and a clear understanding of their roles. England U21 prioritizes dominating possession and utilizes an aggressive pressing strategy. This is evident in their low PPDA (measure of pressing intensity) and exceptional pressing efficiency ranking (98th percentile). Their success in recovering the ball in the final third (81st percentile) further emphasizes this approach. Defensively, they employ a 4-2-3-1 formation as a base. However, this structure transforms into an asymmetrical pressing shape. One winger joins the striker in pressing the opponent's central defenders, creating an aggressive high block. Depending on the opposition's setup, adjustments are made. The fullback or a central midfielder might cover the space vacated by the pressing winger. Centrally, the attacking midfielder marks the deepest midfielder, while one of the central midfielders marks the other. The remaining winger tucks inside to maintain compactness but can shift wide when necessary. Against stronger opponents, a more compact mid-block is used. The line of engagement shifts to the opponent's midfield, with the attacking midfielder and striker marking the deepest midfielder and central midfielder respectively. Wingers tuck in alongside these four players to limit space. While a zonal approach is evident, man-to-man marking also plays a role. In a low block, the formation transitions to a 4-4-1-1. The wingers drop alongside the central midfielders, forming a four-man midfield. They aim for a numerical advantage in the backline and man-mark opponents in the midfield. Transitions: England's approach to transitions aligns with Carsley's overall philosophy. Defensively, they aim for immediate recovery through counter-pressing. This tactic leverages their strong rest defense, built on the principles of Positional Play, allowing them to regain possession swiftly and maintain dominance. Here's an example: Against Croatia, upon losing the ball, the first line of the rest defense charges towards the opponent, limiting passing options. Other nearby players apply immediate pressure, aiming to overwhelm and reclaim the ball quickly. DEVASTATING Diamond Scores 3.6+ Goals Per Game 🤯 | FM23 Best Tactics Offensively, their approach is twofold: Counter-attacks: When space allows and the opposition is vulnerable, England utilizes individual talent and coordinated movements to launch dangerous counter-attacks. Regaining Control: If space is limited, they prioritize possession recovery. They rebuild their structure using Positional Play principles before initiating attacks. Squad Breakdown: Defenders: England boasts exceptional options at the back. Experienced players like Max Aarons, Djed Spence, and Luke Thomas offer versatility and quality. Youngster Rico Lewis adds depth and potential. Midfielders: The midfield is packed with experienced and talented players like Oliver Skipp, Angel Gomes, and Morgan Gibbs-White. Others like Jacob Ramsey and James Garner bring valuable experience from top leagues. Rising stars like Tyler Morton and Tommy Doyle showcase England's depth in midfield talent. Attackers: While the attack possesses versatility, the true number nine position remains a question mark. Cameron Archer is likely the starter, but players like Curtis Jones and Cole Palmer can operate fluidly within the structure. Wingers offer a dynamic threat, capable of playing wide or drifting into central channels. Key Player: Identifying a single standout player is challenging. However, Harvey Elliott deserves recognition for his consistent performances with Liverpool and his ability to impact the game decisively. Still, teammates like Curtis Jones also possess the potential to shine. HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 Football Manager 2024 Tactic - England U21 Inspired 4-2-3-1 Mentality: Positive Team Instructions (In Possession): Attacking Width: Fairly Wide Passing: Shorter Tempo: Slightly Lower Play Out of Defense: Yes Overlap: Right & Left (both wing-backs like to overlap) Crosses: Low Work Ball Into Box: (possession-based approach) Dribble Less: (prioritize possession) Transition Instructions: Counter-Press: More Often (aggressive pressing to regain possession) Counter: once England U21 gained the ball back, they launch fast counter-attacks Goalkeeper Instructions: Take short kicks Distribute to center backs (help to build from the back) Defensive Phase (Out of Possession): Pressing Line: High Pressing Line (aggressive pressing) Defensive Line: Higher Trigger Press: More Often (maintain pressure on the opponent) Prevent Short GK Distribution: Yes Step up more: apply offside trap Player Roles & Instructions: Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper (Support Duty) - Actively participates in build-up play. (James Trafford) Wing-backs: Wing-backs (Support Duty) - Push forward to support attacks: instructions: stay wider (provide width), close down more, tackle harder, mark tighter (Max Aarons and Luke Thomas) Central Defenders: Ball Playing Defenders (Defend Duty) - Initiate attacks from the back. Instructions: Close down more, tackle harder, mark tighter. (Harwood-Bellis and Colwill). Central Midfielders (Left ): Deep-Lying Playmaker (Support Duty) - Protects the backline and distributes the ball. Instructions: stay wider (to cover when the inside forward moves inside and the left wing-back pushes forward), close down more, mark tighter, tackle harder, (Angel Gomes) Central Midfielders (2): Box-to-Box Midfielder (Support Duty) - Provides both defensive and offensive contributions.Instructions: pass it shorter, get further forward, mark tighter, tackle harder, move into channels. (Oliver Skipp) Right Winger: Inside Forward (Attack Duty) - Cuts inside to create chances and link up with attackers. Instructions: Sit narrower, tackle harder, mark tighter. (Harvey Elliott). Left Winger: Inside Forward (Support Duty) - Similar role to right winger. Instructions: Sit narrower, tackle harder, mark tighter. (Curtis Jones). Attacking Midfielder: Attacking Midfielder (Attack Duty) - Supports the striker and creates play in the final third. Instructions: Move into channels, mark tighter, tackle harder. (Gibbs-White). Striker: Advanced Forward (Attack Duty) - Leads the line and looks to score goals. Instructions: mark tighter, tackle harder. (Cameron Archer). Explanation: This tactic emphasizes possession-based play with a high pressing approach to win the ball back quickly. Wing-backs are instructed to attack and overlap, providing width in the attacking phase. Central midfielders offer a balance between defense and attack. Inside forwards provide creativity and link up play in the final third. The attacking midfielder supports the striker and creates scoring opportunities. The advanced forward spearheads the attack and looks to finish chances. The two inside forwards, the attacking midfielder and the advanced forward are instructed to mark tighter and tackle harder to apply pressing to the opponent center backs. That's all for this tactic I hope it works for you too. For tactic analysis, in game creation, stats and highlights, please see this video in my channel LEE CARSLEY ENGLAND U21 4-2-3-1.fmf

Hello guys, last week I was quite busy and could not post any tactic (last tactic, Clough emulation I posted it 9 days ago), but March 8th was my Youtube channel Football Manager Tikitaka Master first year birthday. That's why I decided to pay homage to the man who inspired my channel name and all my in-game new tactics attempts. That means, when I tried to create a tactic from 0 without emulating any manager's tactic, I always tend to use possession based tactics rather than gegenpressing or defensive ones. I have been playing Football Manager since 2006 and before Guardiola, I tried to create Ancelotti's Milan insipired tactics. But after Guardiola was appointed as Barcelona 1st squad manager on May 8th 2008 and the word "tikitaka" started to become well known all over the world, every time I bought a new Football Manager and every time I started a new career I always tried tikitaka tactics. Anyway, to pay homage to Pep, I decided to create a series of emulations of his tactics, from Barcelona to Manchester City. I start with his 2008-2009 tactic when the forward trio was Messi on the right , Henry on the left and Eto'o as central forward. I created also a 2nd version with HB instead of DLP defend to replicate Yaya Tourè role, with the DLP we have a more possession based tactic with 3 play builders (DLP defend, DLP support and AP attack) in the midfield, with HB we have some more help in defense with the HB who will drop deeper between the two CBS and create a back three to achieve numerical superiority in case the opponent applies pressing on our CBs using 2 forwards. You can see the tactic analysis, how I emulated it in-game, in game stats and highlights in my youtube video here Pep Guardiola's 2008-2009 tikitaka with HB.fmf Pep Guardiola's 2008-2009 tikitaka .fmf

Thank you to correct me, I wanted to write Frank Clark I fixed it

no I only tested it with OG NICE (without making any player transfer) in one season. But I guess someone else here used it with other teams so you can ask them about their opinions. If you try it please let me know how it goes, thanks

I don't know if it's because SI just released the new football manager update, but someone who downloaded the file from other site told me my tactic fmf file can be downloaded but not uploaded into the game For this reason, you can try to download it from mediafire link https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xihwohoo2nbgo/BRIAN+CLOUGH'S+NOTTINGHAM+FOREST that worked for them sorry for the incovenience

Hi guys, this time I emulated Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest tactic. To emulate this tactic I used some sources that I link below if someone of you wants to know more about this great manager. Sources I used for my tactic analysis ● Brian Clough: The Biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_Utd ● The Damned Utd: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damned-Utd-David-Peace/dp/0571224334 ● Nottingham Forest: The Official History: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-History-Nottingham-Forest-Anniversary/dp/1849310874 Tactical Analysis of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest stands as one of the most iconic teams in football history. Between 1977 and 1980, the side rose from the Second Division to consecutive European Cup victories, an unprecedented feat. Playing System Clough deployed Nottingham Forest in a fluid and flexible 4-4-2. Fullbacks Viv Anderson and Frank Clark (Frank Gray in season 1979-1980) were both adept at pushing forward and supporting the attack, while central defenders Kenny Burns and Larry Loyd provided solidity. In midfield, Mc Govern acted as the playmaker, while Ian Bowyer served as a tenacious tackler. Wingers John Robertson and Trevor Francis were known for their pace and dribbling skills. Upfront, Woodcock offered physical presence, while Garry Birtles provided speed and movement. Attacking Play Nottingham Forest were a highly offensive outfit, adhering to a philosophy of free-flowing, possession-based football. Players interchanged positions seamlessly, creating scoring opportunities with intelligent movement. Defense Despite their attacking prowess, Forest remained defensively sound. The team was well-organized, difficult to break down, and adept at exploiting opportunities on the counter-attack. In this video you will see some of Nottingham Forest's highlights, how I created the tactic in Football Manager 2024 and finally, stats and highlights of my two seasons with Nottingham Forest and Juventus. I won Premier League and FA CUP with Nottingham Forest, scored more than 100 goals dominated XG and possession. With Juventus, I won Italian Cup and finished 2nd in Serie A behind AC Milan. By the way, in that Nottingham the right full-back Anderson was a very attacking player and the team attacked more on the right flank while on the left, Frank Clark was more defensive and Robertson was more a kind of inverted winger. Obviously, if in your team you have the most attacking players on the left side you can change the roles (e.g. put the CWB on the left and the WB on the right, you can manage it according to your squad features). If you liked my video please smash the like button and subscribe to my channel.It means a lot for me Thanks everyone! Video here: BRIAN CLOUGH'S 4-4-2 .fmf BRIAN CLOUGH'S 4-4-2 V. 24.3 UPDATED.fmf Since someone told me that after Sports Interactive released the 24.3 update, the tactic can't be uploaded in game, I started a new careeer with the 24.3 database and created the same tactic, then saved it and uploaded it to youtube and here too

i tried him as CM and Bwm too, but actually did not work very well. I do not know why, but in the game I feel that the BWM role works really well in front of the defense (as a deep defensive midfielder) while it struggles more as a Central Midfielder.

thank you very much! yea, adding take fewer risks instructs the players to retain more possession, so that is a great advice I will take into consideration in my next tactics. I mean, sometimes I post tactics that I created from 0 (not emulations of some managers) and I love possession-tikitaka style. I am waiting for your posts when you tried the wb on attack, thank you again

yes, version 1 is a 4-1-2-1-2 that means the one of the central midfielders (Tchouameni) drops deeper compared to the others, he plays closer to the defenders (and he links defense and midfield and covers spaces). In version 2, we have a 4-3-1-2 with that "3" being a midfielders trio who plays on the same line, one along the others, so also Tchouameni plays between Modric (or Kroos) and Valverde and contributes more to the attacking phase too. Version 2 is a closer (more faithful) reproduction of what Ancelotti is doing now at Real.

Hi guys, This time, I emulated Philippe Clement's 4-2-3-1, the tactic he is using at Ibrox Park this year with great results. Currently he is 1st with 70 points, 2 points ahead of Celtic, and this year Rangers could really win the title. I hope so, I am not one of their fan but I sympatize for them more than for Celtic, because one of my favourite Italian players, Gattuso, played for them when he was young before coming back to Italy and becoming one of Milan's best players in history. In this video you will see a tactical analyisis made by myself with the aid of google tactical board, the emulation in the game, stats and highlights. Ihope this tactic works for you too Philippe Clement's 4-2-3-1 Rangers 2023-2024.fmf PHILIPPE CLEMENT 4-2-3-1 UPDATED V. 24.3.fmf Since someone told me that after Sports Interactive released the 24.3 update, the tactic can't be uploaded in game, I started a new careeer with the 24.3 database and created the same tactic, then saved it and uploaded it to youtube and here too

I am happy that it works for you. I did not tested with other clubs than Real Madrid so I was not sure it can work with non-elite clubs, thank you for trying it. Please keep it up.

Carletto Ancelotti's Real Madrid 2023-2024: 4-3-1-2 tactic Carletto Ancelotti's Real Madrid 2023-2024: 4-3-1-2 tactic Hi guys, last time I posted a different version of Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid tactic, with a diamond shaped midfield and a defensive midfielder who should provide more cover to our defense, especially in the space between the central midfield and the defense. That was Casemiro's role and as we analyzed before, without the Brazilian defensive midfielder, in this season Real Madrid keeps conceeding the same goals from the same spaces. This time I tried to emulate Ancelotti's tactic in a more realistic way. First of all, even if Tchouameni or Camavinga can drop deeper to cover the defense creating a diamond shape midfield, Real Madrid's typical shape this year is a 4-3-1-2 with a central midfielders trio, usually Valverde, Tchouameni and Modric or Kroos but Ancelotti has a great number of solutions in his midfield, so he can often change. What he surely understood is that he can't easily drop Modric and Kroos from his starting XI because Camaving and Tchouameni are far from reaching the same level of the former Croatian balon d'or and the German champion. The player who made a great debut in Real Madrid is surely Bellingham, the English wonderkids is absolutely a gem and he will surely become (if he is not yet) one of the strongest players in the next 10-15 years. After Benzema left Real to go to Saudi Arabia, many thought that the blancos lost all their goal scoring power, but Bellingham, even if playing as an advanced midfielder, replaced Benzema's scoring 10 goals in the first 10 games and providing many assists to his teammmates, besides he can also drop a bit deeper to help the team build-up play. So let's examine how I recreated this tactic in Football Manager 2024. I created two tactics, one for home matches, one for away matches, with only one difference, the central midfielder duty is support in the first and defend in the second version. First of all, the basic shape is a 4-3-1-2, the back fours are Carvajal as a wing-back in support (no player instructions) and Mendy as a wing-back in attack (no player instructions). The two central defenders are Rudiger and Alaba as ball-playing defenders in defend with only one instruction to dribble more. This way they will carry the ball forward and contribute to build-up the play. In the midfielder trio, we find Valverde as right-midfielder with the role of a mezzala in support (tackle harder and shoot more often to take advantage of his great long range shooting ability), Tchouameni in the centre with the role of a central midfiender in support (or in defend in the second tactic) instructed to take fewer risks and tackle harder, to disrupt the opponents play and Modrid (or Kroos) as deep-lying playmaker in support, the real core of Real Madrid's midfield. The attacking midfielder is Jude Bellingham (replaced sometimes by Brahim Diaz), he is an attacking midfielder in attack and I instructed him to roam from position because I want him to find spaces and move into channels because I want him to move into the box, and of course tackle harder, he has to win the ball back as soon as possible. The two strikers, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo are two advanced forward in attack with the following instructions: tackle harder (they have to press the defendants and win the ball), roam from position ( they can find spaces to carry the ball or try to score) and stay wider (they can move also to the flank and act as inside forwards). As I said in the previous tactic analysis, I do not like to use a couple of players in the same position and with the same role, especially attacking players, such as I did here, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo both advanced forwards, but this is the more realistic way to emulate their play in this season. If you want you can change Rodrygo to a complete forward to make him link up the play more. For tactic explanation, stats and highlights, please check my video here If you liked my video please smash the like button and subscribe to my channel to keep updated with my newest contents Thanks eveyrone Ancelotti's Real Madrid 2023-2024 4-3-1-2 Home.fmf Ancelotti's Real Madrid 2023-2024 4-3-1-2 away 202.fmf

Hi guys this time I emulated Ancelotti's Real Madrid. To emulate Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, I created two different tactics, a 4-1-2-1-2 with a narrow-diamond midfielder and a 4-3-1-2 with a central midfielder’s trio. Team instructions are the same for both tactics, only players roles and personal instructions may slightly variate. In this analysis I will focus only on the first tactic. 1) Ancelotti’s Diamond Narrow Mentality: positive In possession instructions Attacking width: fairly narrow to be more compact Passing: shorter (that matches with the fairly narrow width) Tempo: higher Play out of defense Focus play through the middle to overload the central area Low crosses: we don’t have tall strikers in our Real Madrid squad, but very fast strikers like Vinicius Jr. and Rodrigo Work the ball into the box Be more expressive: this gives more freedom to our players, that’s what Ancelotti exactly wants, as I said in the analysis. In transition Counter-press: to instruct our players to win the ball as soon as possible applying pressing Counter: launch fast counter-attacks after winning the ball Distribute ball to center-backs and full-backs: this to help build the play from the back Take short kicks: instruction that matches with the ball distribution Out of possession High pressing line and higher defensive line: to maintain our team compact Pressing: more often Step up more: apply off-side trap Trap outside: force our opponents to play hugging the touchline Stop crosses: this is how I tried to solve Real Madrid’s problem that I mentioned in the analysis above. Player roles and instructions Defense: Lunin (Courtouis) : sweeper-keeper in support, no instructions Dani Carvajal: wing-back in support, no instructions Antonio Rudiger: ball-playing defender in defense: dribble more, to instruct him to carry the ball forward and help the build-up David Alaba: ball-playing defender in defense: stay wider: to cover Mendy when he pushes forward Ferland Mendy: wing-back in attack, no instructions Midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni: ball-winning midfielder (deep position) in defense: no instructions, Federico Valverde: mezzala in support: mark tighter, shoot more often: as said in the analysis, Valverde has a great shoot ability and often tries long range shots that hit the target Luka Modric (Toni Kroos): deep-lying playmaker in support: no instructions. Here, one could say that, since both Kroos and Modric try to drop down left to find spaces without being pressed by the opponent, a carrilero role could be better, because this role has “stay wider” as preset player instruction. But I believe Modric and Kroos role is more that of a playmaker who builds up the play rather than a carrilero. I did not instruct him to stay wider in either of my two tactics because I want him to focus only on passing the ball, he will decide where to go according to the situation. Sometimes it’s better not to give too many personal instructions to our players because good players like Modric already know what to do. Jude Bellingham: in both tactics, his role is an attacking midfielder in attack: roaming from position, because I want him to find spaces where he can create chances in and outside the box, move into channels because I want him to go inside the box and tackle harder because I want him to press the opponents and win the ball back. Vinicius Jr: advanced forward-attack: stay wider because he often runs to the left side and plays from an inside forward position, roam from position to give him freedom to find spaces and tackle harder to instruct him to press and win the ball. Same instructions for Rodrygo but he is a deep-lying forward in support, I want him to link the play more and drop down, so I instructed him to shoot less often and prefer passing. In this tactic I used two forwards with different roles, one more attacking (Vinicius Jr.) and the other more focused to link the play. In the second tactic, the 4-3-1-2 I used both Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo as advanced forwards in attack with the same personal instructions or Rodrygo as a complete forward. I don’t like to use double roles especially the two advanced forwards combination because in past editions of Football Manager it “broke” the game and in Football Manager 2024 sometimes it does so. But, if we want to stick to reality and faithfully emulate Ancelotti’s tactic, we can use the two advanced forwards. Results I used the first tactic in this season and I won the Spanish Liga with 95 points (30 won, 5 draw, 3 lost) and the best attack (101 goals) and playing beautiful football, dominating XG and possession. That’s all for this tactic. I hope it works for you too. ANCELOTTI DIAMOND 2023-24.fmf

BOB PAISLEY'S PASS AND MOVE TACTIC Hi guys, today I decided to emulate Bob Paisley's famous "pass and move" tactic. I tested this tactic with Liverpool in one season without bringing any new players into my team,even if Liverpool current squad does not suit well to a 4-4-2 shape. Despite of that, I achieved great results with this tactic, winning the English Premier League with 93 points, finishing 14 points above the 2nd club, Tottenham, winning 29 games, drawing 6 and losing only 3 games. I scored 102 goals (best attack with a xg of 2,68 per game) and conceeded 30, Salah is the top striker of English Premier League with 30 goals in 35 matches and including all the competitions, he scored 42 goals. Tactic analysis Tactically, he set up with a 4-4-2, which also could transition into a 4-4-1-1. Kenny Dalglish's intelligence allowed this to work effectively, With a 4-4-2, you can have a ball playing defender who naturally pushes more forward than a central defender paired with a more attacking central midfielder, a mezzala is the role I chose, but you maybe want to use a central midfielder or also a box to box midfielder there. There was always one of the two central midfielders who could break into the opponent's defence lines and pushing forward, acting as a support for the strikers (Mc Dermott was very effective at this). The mezzala role, I believe, is perfect for this. The other central midfielder, (the right one )is more defensive and good at ball distribution so I decided to use a deep-lying playmaker role, and he is paired with a central defender who only focus on defensive duty. This build-up allows more balance to our defense and midfield. The two full-backs stay wider and run wide with the ball, providing width to our team, under Paisley the full-backs were required to support attack too, with overlaps, but usually one full-back was more attacking than the other. I decided not to give our team the overlap instructions and prefer to allow more freedom to our players, who can decide to overlap according to the situation. A slightly narrow attacking width matches with slightly shorter passes because when building-up the play from the back, Liverpool liked to pass the ball through the middle. But this tactic was called "pass and move", and that means all players had to move back and forward a lot and for this reason, I chose a higher tempo here. Work the ball into the box was Liverpool's preferred style, the team tried to create chances through passing the ball rather than trying to cross it as fast as possible to the two forwards. Run into the defense is also another important instruction. In transition, they were a team who liked to press and put pressure on their opponents but even more so if they identified a star-player. For this reason, about the Opposition Instructions, I only mark and press the most dangerous players in the opponent team. For example, against Manchester City, in the opposition instructions tab, I selected Mark tigther and press always only for Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. As for the goalkeeper instructions. the goalkeeper of that great Liverpool team was Bruce Grobbelaar. He was very good at distribution, aiding the possession football and giving LFC the ability to play out from the back. And if one of the centre backs were being closed down, they could play it back to the keeper to kill the pressure, though, back then, the keepers could pick up the back pass. That's why I chose for our Alisson (who is perfect for this role) the sweeper-keeper in support role. In the defensive phase, our team defends with a mid-block and a higher defensive line and press more often. With two forwards, we can also instruct our team to press the opponent's goalie to force him to play long-balls, instead of building the play from the back. I instructed our team to step up to use the off-side trap and to trap outside to trap their opponents into wider areas. This is all for this tactic, I hope it works for you too BOB PAISLEY'S PASS AND MOVE LIVERPOOL.fmf

Matt Busby's Manchester 1967-68 tactic in Football Manager 2024 Sir Matt Busby was born on May 26, 1909, in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. His journey with the Red Devils began in 1945 when he was appointed as the manager of Manchester United. Nobody did know it, but this was the start of an extraordinary era, the Busby’s babes era, marked by triumphs, setbacks and an indomitable spirit. In the first 13 years of his career, Busby assembled a team of young players, with an average age of 22. The key players were the immensely talented midfielder Duncan Edwards, the striker Tommy Taylor, a real goal-scoring machine, the captain Roger Byrne, a skilled left-back and a great leader on the field and a young Bobby Charlton who, after surviving to the plane crash in Munich, became the most famous English player in history. This team achieved considerable successes, winning their first-ever First Division title in 1951-52, a FA Cup in 1947-48 and they continued to improve, finishing in the top half of the league every year. On February 6, 1958, the Red Devils team, along with supporters and journalists, was returning from a Champions League Cup match against Red Star in Belgrade and after stopping in Munich for refueling, the plane failed to take off and crashed into a fence and a house, the impact resulted in a fire and tragically, twenty-three people lost their lives in the crash including eight Manchester United players. Among the fatalities were notable players such as Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor. Matt Busby was seriously injured but eventually recovered. Rebuilding the spirit: Matt Busby’s Youthful Revolution After the devastating Munich plane crash, Matt Busby faced the daunting task of rebuilding Manchester United, and as he did in his pre-Munich experience, he decided to introduce young players and emphasize youth development, this was the start of the well-known “Busby Babes.” Bobby Charlton, a survivor of the tragedy, become the core of Manchester Utd rebuild under Busby, he became one of the greatest players in the club history, his goal-scoring ability and leadership on the field were pivotal in the team’s resurgence. George Best, a young and immensely talented winger, became an integral part of Busby’s rebuilt team, adding a touch of brilliance to the attacking lineup. During an interview, when asked what he said to his players to motivate them before every match, Busby replied: “It’s easy, I tell them to pass the ball to Best as soon as possible, that’s all”. Denis Law, recruited in 1962, brought experience and goal-scoring prowess to the team, his partnership with Charlton and Best formed a formidable attacking trio. Busby instilled an attacking philosophy that not only entertained fans but also brought success. The young players played with flair, determination, and a commitment to the attacking traditions of the club. In season 1962-63, Busby led the team to FA Cup success, which signified a return to glory, followed in season 1964-65 by a First Division title. Season 1967-68 Champions League winning and Tactical Analysis Sir Matt switched to a new 4-2-4 formation (often switching to a 4-3-3) in the season 1967-68, when United won the European Cup (now known as the Champions League). In this, most attacks took place in the form of quick, incisive moves through the wings and bombastic movement in the middle. However, the full-backs would often overlap to add that extra intense pressure to the fray. Charlton, the captain, had the free role of roaming around the final third, Best and John Aston created chances, while Law finished them. Crerand was the “fighter” who helped on the defensive end alongside Nobby Stiles. With this modified 4-3-3 formation (Charlton was the one who moving forward created a 4-2-4), United ousted Eusebio’s Benfica team in the 1968 final, with Bobby Charlton getting two goals. The Red Devils won it for those who succumbed in the tragedy and did it in the “United way” of exciting, attacking football. HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 As said in the analysis above, Charlton’s movement influenced the team’s formation, transitioning between a 4-2-4 and a 4-3-3 based on the phase of the game and the tactical needs at that moment. When Charlton pushed forward, the shape changed into a 4-2-4, when the team needed more stability in the midfield or when defending, Charlton might drop deeper into a more traditional central midfield role. In Football Manager, we will start from the defensive shape, the 4-3-3 and then we will adjust Charlton’s position to allow him to push forward transforming the shape into a 4-2-4 (or a 4-2-1-3 if we want to be more specific). Despite the emphasis on attacking, Busby understood the importance of a solid defense. Players like Bill Foulkes and Tony Dunne provided stability at the back, balancing the team’s approach. Nobby Stiles, in addition to his midfield role, played a crucial role in providing defensive cover. For this reason, I prefer to start with a positive mentality, to avoid conceding too many counter-attacks to the opponent. Team Instructions 1. In possession Attacking width: fairly wide. I did not choose wider or narrower because I want to stick to Busby’s emphasis on both width and central play. Shorter passing: it encourages quick combinations and fluid movements, which were characteristic of Busby’s attacking style. Besides, this instruction allows my players to build a cohesive attacking unit, with the emphasis on maintaining possession and unlocking defenses through intricate passing sequences. This aligns with Busby’s philosophy. Slightly Higher Tempo: this instruction encourages my players to move the ball quickly, facilitating swift transitions from defense to attack. It complements the short passing style, allowing my players to maintain a high tempo in their passing sequences. This helps to replicate the dynamic and fast-paced attacking play associated with Busby’s tactics. Mixed crosses: you can adjust this according to your players' features. If you have players who are good at heading, you can try to use floated crosses to capitalize on their heading ability. If you have fast forwards, you can use whipped crosses to capitalize their pace. Play out of defense: during Matt Busby’s period at Manchester United, there was an emphasis on building play from the back. Overlap left and right: as said above, the full-backs would often overlap to stretch the defense. Work the ball into the box: Busby's Manchester United, particularly during the 1967-68 season, preferred creating chances inside the box rather than relying heavily on shots from outside. The attacking trio of Best, Aston, and Law, along with supporting midfielders, were more inclined towards intricate build-up play, well-timed runs, and combination play in and around the penalty area. 2. In transition Counter-press: during Matt Busby’s era, there was an emphasis on winning the ball back as soon as possible when possession was lost. Busby’s teams were known for their high-energy pressing and quick transitions to regain control of the ball. Counter: After winning the ball back, Busby's Manchester United often opted for fast counterattacks from high positions. The team capitalized on the element of surprise, exploiting the disorganization of the opposing defense to launch swift attacks and create goal-scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper instructions: take short kicks and distribute to center-backs to initiate the build-up from the back. 3. Out of possession High pressing line: Busby preferred a relatively high pressing line when out of possession and a proactive defensive style. Higher defensive line: Busby’s defensive line was set high, this combined with the high pressing line helped to disrupt the opponent’s build-up play and win the ball back in advanced positions. Besides, the team was more compact in this way. Trigger press: more often. This aligns with the energetic and proactive defensive approach of Busby’s Manchester United. Step up more: Manchester Utd used the offside trap as part of their defensive strategy. Prevent short GK distribution Considering the proactive and aggressive defensive approach associated with Busby’s Red Devils, the instruction “get stuck in” could align with this historical tactic. On the other hand, if your team struggles with discipline, you can remove it. Other instructions such as trap outside (or inside) and stop crosses (or don’t stop them) are not directly aligned with Busby’s tactic. That’s why I did not select them. The compactness of Busby’s defensive approach based on a high pressing can naturally lead to opponents searching for spaces in wide areas hugging the touchline. Player instructions 1. Defense Goalkeeper: Alex Stepney: goalkeeper-defend: pass it shorter, take fewer risks. During that era, goalkeepers were not typically expected to participate extensively in the build-up play as they are in contemporary football. The concept of the “sweeper keeper” as we understand it today was not prevalent. Right-back: Shay Brennan: full-back-support: stay wider, mark tighter. Shay Brennan was a traditional right-back, so the full-back role reflects the traditional defensive responsibilities of a right back in that period, focusing on defensive duties with occasional forays forward. The support duty provides a balance between defensive responsibilities and occasional support in the attack and complements the overall team strategy. The stay wider instruction allows the full-back to provide width, in that period full-backs were often instructed to provide width and stretch the opposition defense, allowing the team to exploit space on the flanks and create opportunities for crosses. Left-back: Tony Dunne: full-back-support: stay wider, mark tighter. Both Brennan and Dunne were known for their defensive qualities and contributed to the team’s success with their performances. Right center-back: Bill Foulkes: central defender-defend mark tighter, close down less, take fewer risks. Left center-back: David Sadler central defender-defend mark tighter, close-down less, take fewer risks. The two central defenders were traditional defenders who focused on their defensive tasks, and played cautiously to avoid leaving space behind, that’s why you can choose the close-down less instruction, to avoid that your central defenders when trying to press the opponent get lured away from their position. 2. Midfield Defensive midfielder: Nobby Stiles: ball-winning midfielder: stay wider, mark tighter. Nobby Stiles helped the defense, providing cover for the central defenders from a deeper position and disrupting opposition attacks. We could choose a central midfielder role for him, and this would surely be a ball winning midfielder with defensive duty. I instructed him to stay wider because I want him to provide cover when the left full-back pushes forward. Another option could be to put him as an half-back in an asymmetric midfielder shape where he stays more on the left side compared to the other two central midfielders. Central midfielder: Bobby Charlton: Box-to-Box Midfielder: move into channels, shoot more often, get further forward, pass it shorter. Bobby Charlton was the key of Manchester Utd’s midfield, when he pushed forward, the Red Devils switched their shape from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-4 (or 4-2-1-3 with the “1” being Bobby Charlton). The Box to Box midfielder role in Football Manager is a role that has more preset instructions compared to the more editable central midfielder role, besides, the Box- to- Box midfielder comes only with the “support duty”, but by instructing our player to move into channels and get further forward we encourage him to play a more attacking football, finding spaces between the opposition defenders and pushing higher up the pitch during attacking phases contributing more actively to the team’s offensive efforts. If we choose a central midfielder with attacking duty, we may neglect Charlton's ability to contribute to both attacking and defensive phases. If you prefer to use a central midfielder role, then you choose a support duty, but I believe that this does not replicate Charlton’s playing style as well as the box-to-box midfielder role. Lastly, I instructed Charlton to shoot more often, to emphasize his goal-scoring prowess and attacking contributions. He was famous for his ability to score goals from midfield. Having that said, of course you should consider if your midfielders have good values in shooting, at least above 15 (if you play with a lower league team, at least your player should have a value of twelve-thirteen in shooting and long shots). Right central midfielder: Pat Crerand: deep-lying playmaker-support: pass it shorter. This role reflects Crerand’s ability to control the tempo of the game, distribute the ball efficiently and provide a link between defense and attack. 3. Attack Right-winger: George Best: inside forward-attack: roam from position, shoot more often. George Best was a genius, an incredibly dynamic and skillful winger and the inside forward role can be the right choice to replicate his movements. He loved to use his dribbling ability to take on defenders creating goal-scoring chances for himself or for his teammates. The roam from position instruction allows him to find space and create unpredictable movements. Finally, I instructed him to shoot more often. This instruction aligns with Best's historical playing style as an attacking force who was not only adept at creating chances but also scoring goals himself. Left winger: John Aston: Inside Forward- Attack: roam from position, shoot more often. John Aston, while not as prolific a goal-scorer as some of his attacking teammates like George Best and Denis Law, did contribute with goals during his career. His primary role as an Inside Forward, focused on creating opportunities for goals rather than being the main goal-scorer. Central Forward: Denis Law: Advanced Forward-Attack: roam from position, shoot more often, dribble more (optional, you can choose it according to your striker’s dribbling ability, e.g. high values in dribbling, above 15). These instructions aim to replicate Denis Law's historical playing style as a center-forward who was not only a goal-scorer but also had the ability to make intelligent runs, create chances, and contribute to the team's attacking dynamics. Results Won the Treble (English Premier League -Carabao Cup-UEFA Champions League), best attack in Premier League with 104 goals and best defense with 30 goals allowed. Rasmus Hojlund topscorer with 52 goals in the season 2023-2024 (38 goals in Premier League in 38 apps, 9 in UCL, 5 in Cups). youtube video here BUSBY'S BABES 1967-68 V.2 4-2-1-3.fmf

AC MILAN SEASON 1998-1999: ALBERTO ZACCHERONI WINS THE ITALIAN SERIE A Arriving at Milan after surprising everyone with his success at Udinese, Zaccheroni led the Rossoneri to their 16th Scudetto after an exciting comeback. After two disappointing seasons, finishing 11th and 10th, experts in the summer of 1998 believed that Silvio Berlusconi's Milan had closed its best years. The common belief was that it would take many years for the Rossoneri to compete for the title again. The conviction, before the 1998/99 Serie A season, was that other teams were favorites for the title, especially Sven-Goran Eriksson's Lazio, considered the number one contender after spending over 100 billion on the transfer market. Behind them were Inter, led by Gigi Simoni with Ronaldo and Roberto Baggio, and the defending champion Juventus under Marcello Lippi. Other strong contenders included Parma and Fiorentina. Surprisingly, in a season where Inter and Juventus underperformed, Alberto Zaccheroni's new Milan managed to keep pace with Fiorentina and Lazio, the main protagonists for three-quarters of the season. They then staged an incredible comeback in the last seven matches, securing the Tricolore and surprising Lazio. Exciting Summer Transfer Window The 1998/99 football season, following France's World Cup victory, began in Italy with a summer full of transfers for top clubs. Controversies around doping and drug abuse in football were raised by Roma's coach, Zdenek Zeman, targeting Lippi's Juventus. Notable changes were made to regulations, including the random draw for referees and straight red cards for tackles from behind. Lazio, with a budget of 48 billion lire, made significant signings, bringing in players like Christian Vieri, Marcelo Salas, Ivan De la Peña, Dejan Stankovic, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Sergio Conceiçao, and Fernando Couto. Parma, led by Callisto Tanzi, responded by acquiring Juan Sebastián Verón and Alain Boghossian. Inter, under Massimo Moratti, fulfilled the dream of signing Roberto Baggio and added Nicola Ventola, Dario Simic, Andrea Pirlo, and Sebastian Frey. In contrast, Juventus chose to intervene in January, signing Thierry Henry and Juan Esnaider. Milan, considered the least favored among the 'big seven,' underwent a transformation with the hiring of Alberto Zaccheroni, the architect of Udinese's miracle. Zaccheroni's First Season In Zaccheroni's debut season, he faced reluctance from key players to accept his preferred 3-4-3 formation. Practical difficulties arose in utilizing three center-forwards like Bierhoff, Weah, and Ganz in the attack. Eventually, the formation evolved into a hybrid 3-4-1-2, bringing success and highlighting the skills of players. In goal, Zaccheroni started with Lehmann, but later, after some struggles, turned to the veteran Sebastiano Rossi and eventually to the debutant Christian Abbiati, who became crucial. The defense, led by Billy Costacurta, included Luigi Sala and captain Paolo Maldini. Midfielders Demetrio Albertini and Massimo Ambrosini played in the middle, with Helveg on the right and Guglielminpietro on the left. The attacking trio featured Bierhoff and Weah, with support from either Leonardo or Boban. Ups and Downs in the First Half The 1998/99 season started with surprises and balance, with Fiorentina leading early. Milan had decent beginnings but suffered a setback against Fiorentina, where Batistuta's spectacular hat-trick secured victory for the Viola. Inter and Lazio also faced challenges, and Juventus took the lead after overcoming Parma. Milan faced mixed results, with notable wins against Roma and Lazio but also suffered defeats, notably against Fiorentina and Parma. The first half ended with Fiorentina at the top, followed closely by Parma and Lazio. Milan, with 30 points and in 4th place, had a dignified position, considering the previous disappointing seasons. The Great Comeback against Lazio and Fiorentina The turning point for Milan occurred in the last match of the first half. Zaccheroni realized that adapting the 3-4-3 formation to a more functional 3-4-1-2 would better suit the team's qualities. The Rossoneri started the second half strongly, winning crucial games against Bologna and Salernitana. In the 20th match, they halted Fiorentina's momentum, showing that they were serious contenders. While Juventus faced difficulties, Lippi resigned, and Ancelotti took charge. Lazio, with Vieri back in form, closed the gap, while Parma and Inter also improved. However, Fiorentina struggled with the departure of Edmundo and Batistuta's injury. The 22nd match saw a shift in leadership, with Roma holding Fiorentina to a draw, allowing Lazio to take the top spot with 45 points. Milan, with consistent performances, caught up with Fiorentina and Parma in the 2nd position. Despite Lazio's seemingly stronger position, Milan's steady pace kept them in the race. Lazio won four consecutive matches, but Milan matched them with impressive victories. The 28th matchday saw Milan defeat Parma 2-1, closing the gap to 3 points. The Thrilling Finale The tension increased as Lazio faced difficulties, losing 3-1 to Roma, while Milan secured a 4-0 victory against Empoli. The gap narrowed to 1 point. The 29th matchday saw Milan beating Fiorentina and overtaking them, joining Parma at the 2nd position. Lazio and Milan continued to win, setting the stage for a thrilling final day. Lazio faced Parma, while Milan played against the bottom-placed Empoli. Milan won 4-0, with Bierhoff scoring a hat-trick. Lazio, however, stumbled against Fiorentina, drawing 1-1. The unexpected turn of events meant that Milan, for the first time with 67 points, took the top spot, facing an away match against Perugia on the last day. Lazio, second with 66 points, played against Parma. Milan triumphed 2-1 against Perugia, securing the Scudetto. Lazio, winning 2-1 against Parma, couldn't overtake Milan. The final whistle confirmed Milan as the 16-time Italian champions. The surprise Scudetto marked the beginning of a new era for Milan. Despite tactical disagreements between Zaccheroni and Berlusconi, and subsequent underwhelming results, the achievement of the 16th Scudetto remained a significant milestone in the club's history. HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 As mentioned above, at the beginning of the season Zaccheroni tried to replicate the same 3-4-3 tactic that made him famous at Udinese but this did not work very well because he lacked the players to do so, especially, the two wingers who could replicate Amoroso and Poggi’s roles. Leonardo and Boban did not like to play wide, preferring to play in central areas and even an inverted winger role did not suit them, while Guglielmimpietro and Helveg were more defensive players, Helveg used to play as wing-back in Zaccheroni’s Udinese too, while the Argentinian midfielder could have played as winger too but Zaccheroni in the first half of the season preferred Ziege who was a left wing-back. In Udinese, Amoroso and Poggi despite being forwards, could play very well as wingers too, while in Milan, maybe only George Weah had the pace and acceleration to play as a right-winger and that’s how Zaccheroni made him play in the first half of the season. But in the second half, Zaccheroni finally decided to switch to a 3-4-1-2 and Boban and Leonardo could play in their natural role. To recreate this tactic, we can start from the same base of Zaccheroni’s 3-4-3 with the main change of Boban playing as an advanced midfielder and two central forwards (Bierhoff-Weah or Ganz). So let’s analyze how I recreated this tactic in Football Manager. The positive mentality forms the cornerstone for an assertive and forward-thinking playing style, reminiscent of Zaccheroni's Udinese, ensuring on-field dominance while mitigating vulnerabilities to counterattacks. In possession instructions The 'Fairly Wide' attacking width approach encourages fluid play, allowing your team to centralize while utilizing the width provided by wing-backs, effectively exploiting both central and wide areas. Playing Out from Defense: this instruction promotes a composed and controlled build-up from the defensive line, aligning seamlessly with Udinese's possession-oriented play. Precision in Passing and Dynamic Tempo: the instructions 'Slightly Shorter Passes' and 'Higher Tempo' facilitate swift ball circulation, catching opponents off guard and creating seamless attacking movements. Low crosses: if you have both forwards who are very good at heading, you can also choose floated crosses. Work the Ball into the Box to encourage your team to create scoring opportunities within the box rather than relying on long shots. This approach promotes a patient and strategic approach, emphasizing quality chances over quantity. In Transition Instructions Counter and Counterpress to actively defend and press opponents to swiftly regain possession, setting the stage for effective counter-attacks from advanced positions. Goalkeeper's Role: Direct your goalkeeper to Distribute to Center Backs and 'Take Short Kicks. This aligns with Zaccheroni's emphasis on building play from the back, ensuring controlled distribution and initiation of your team's offensive movements. Out of Possession Instructions High Pressing Line and Higher Defensive Line: this compact structure limits opponent space. Step Up More: this asks our players to use the offside trap. Trap Outside: to force opponents towards touchlines, limiting their passing options. Combine this with Step Up More to execute an effective offside trap and disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm. Prevent Short GK Distribution and Trigger Press Much More Often Strategically prevent short goalkeeper distributions with 'Prevent Short GK Distribution.' Combine this with 'Trigger Press Much More Often' to incessantly press opponents, disrupting their build-up and creating turnovers in advantageous areas. Stop Crosses: this prevents opponents from delivering dangerous crosses into the box, maintaining defensive solidity. Individual Player Roles and Instructions: Goalkeeper: Sebastiano Rossi-Christian Abbiati- Sweeper-Keeper in Support: no instructions. Central Defenders: Luigi Sala and Paolo Maldinii - Wide-Center Backs in Support Both central defenders are deployed as wide-center backs in support. They are instructed to dribble more to aid in build-up play and mark tighter to maintain defensive solidity. Central Defender: Alessandro Costacurta- Ball Playing Defender in Defend Costacurta plays as a ball-playing defender in a defending role. He covers the central areas and provides support in building up from the back. I instructed him to dribble more because I want him to carry the ball forward. Wing-Backs: Helveg and Guglielminpietro- Wing-Backs in Attack The wing-backs, Helveg on the right and Guly (Ziege) on the left, assume attacking roles. To exploit wide areas effectively, they are instructed to run wide with the ball, stay wider, and mark tighter. Central Midfielders: Demetrio Albertini and Massimo Ambrosini - Deep-Lying Playmaker and Box-to-Box Midfielder Albertini, the right central midfielder, plays as deep-lying playmaker with a focus on passing the ball and distributing it. I instructed him to mark tighter and to pass it shorter to help him to build the play. Ambrosini, on the left, operates as a box to box midfielder, emphasizing ball winning. He is instructed to get further forward and move into channels to exploit all the vertical spaces and to mark tighter. Advanced Midfier: Zvonimir Boban (Leonardo): advanced midfielder in attack: no instructions. Left Striker: Oliver Bierhoff - Advanced Forward in Attack Oliver Bierhoff serves as the advanced forward in an attacking role. His instructions include dribbling less to focus on link-up play, shooting more often as the primary goal-scorer, and defending with harder tackles and tighter marking. Right Striker: George Weah- Deep-Lying Forward: no instructions George Weah, compared to Bierhoff, drops down more to link the play. I know the advanced forward role maybe suits more to him, but to replicate what Zaccheroni wanted, I believe the deep-lying forward is the best chance. Besides, I don’t like to use double attacking roles in my tactics, like for example two advanced forwards or two false nine or two pressing forwards etc. because they could “break” the game match engine. Even if since Football Manager 2022 and 2023 this problem does not happen as often as in the previous editions, I still avoid this setting. Results With this tactic I won Serie A and Italian Super Cup (winning 5-3 against Inter), scoring a lot of goals (many matches ended with more than 5 goals scored even against strong opponents like AS Roma) and at the end of the season I scored 143 goals (best attack) and allowed only 25 goals (best defense) with a goal difference of 118 goals. Bierhoff is the top scorer of the season with 65 goals in this season (55 in Serie A). For tactic creation, season stats and highlights you can check this video too ZACCHERONI'S MILAN SERIE A WINNER 1998-99 3-4-1-2 .fmf

Zaccheroni's Udinese: The Tactical Masterpiece Where Udinese Emerged under Zaccheroni On April 13, 1997, Udinese faced Juventus at the Stadio delle Alpi in Turin for the twenty-seventh matchday of the Serie A season. Before the game, the Friulians held the eleventh position in the standings, and the away match against the league leaders seemed daunting. The reigning European champions, Juventus, were coming off a splendid performance in Amsterdam against Ajax in the Champions League semifinal, a kind of revenge for the previous year's final in Rome. For Udinese, the match started poorly. Just 3 minutes into the game, right-back Regis Genaux was sent off for protests, leaving his teammates with 10 men. The predictable move to overcome the numerical disadvantage would have been to switch from the initial 4-4-2 formation – Udinese's usual playing style – to a 4-4-1, replacing one of the strikers with one of the full-backs on the bench, Valerio Bertotto or Pier Luigi Nicoli. However, Zaccheroni, surprisingly, did not give up on Oliver Bierhoff or Marcio Amoroso. Instead, he sacrificed left-winger Tomas Locatelli, introducing the Ghanaian Mohammed Gargo, capable of playing both in midfield and defense. With Gargo on the field, Zaccheroni abandoned the 4-man defense, deploying the Ghanaian alongside Pierini and Calori in a back three and forming an unprecedented 3-4-2. What followed was inexplicable. Udinese, with 10 men, won 3-0, conquering Juventus' field after 35 years, aided by two missed penalties – even though the team was already trailing by 3 goals – by Vieri and Zidane. From that moment on, Zaccheroni was convinced to stick with the 3-4-3, and the team almost literally began to soar. The following Sunday, Udinese won against Parma, the team boasting Cannavaro, Thuram, Crespo, Chiesa, the young Buffon, and of course, Ancelotti, who would challenge Juventus for the title until the last moment. With an impressive record of 6 wins and 1 draw in the last 8 matches played with the new formation, Udinese secured fifth place and qualification for the UEFA Cup the following year. In its initial version of the 3-4-3, Udinese lined up with Gargo or Bia in defense, Pierini and Calori. The midfield comprised Giannichedda and Rossitto, with Helveg and Sergio as the wing-backs. In attack, Paolino Poggi partnered with Bierhoff and Amoroso. At that time, Zaccheroni, a 44-year-old coach with a modest playing career, had built his career starting from the lower leagues of Romagna. Zaccheroni, initially inspired by Sacchi's style, favored the 4-4-2 and zonal defense, although he eased up on the offside trap tactic used extensively in previous years. After guiding Riccione from the Interregional to C2 and Baracca Lugo all the way to Serie C1, Maurizio Zamparini hired him at Venezia, where Zaccheroni achieved promotion to Serie B. After a stint at Bologna, he secured a comfortable Serie B survival with Cosenza, which started with a 9-point deduction and was filled with young talents. His experience in Calabria earned him a call from Pozzo to coach Udinese, newly promoted to Serie A. In his first season, Zac reached an excellent tenth place, followed by the fifth-place finish in the season, adopting the 3-4-3 formation in the last 8 matches. At the time, the playing formation precisely defined a team's identity, much more than today, where positional fluidity is common among all teams. The most prevalent formations were the 4-4-2, often associated with more structured and balanced teams, and the 4-3-3, linked to a more daring and versatile style. In Italy, the 3-man defense was widespread in the 3-5-2 version, mainly successful under Nevio Scala at Parma. Meanwhile, in the rest of Europe, the Dutch-Catalan influence showcased splendid versions of the 3-4-3 with a diamond-shaped midfield and true wingers on the flanks. Ajax, under Van Gaal, for example, had reached the Champions League final twice with that formation in the previous years, winning against Milan and losing on penalties to Juventus, also winning the Intercontinental Cup. The success of the new playing formation in the final part of the 96/97 season convinced Coach Zaccheroni to stick with the 3-4-3 for the following season. The team strengthened with the acquisitions of Belgian international Johan Walem from Anderlecht, young winger Jonathan Bachini from Lecce, and Danish U21 international Martin Jorgensen from Aarhus. The first two joined the starting eleven: Walem partnered with Giannichedda in midfield, while Bachini claimed the left flank. In defense, the speedy Bertotto completed the backline with Calori and Pierini, positioned on the center-left. Helveg occupied the right flank, and the attacking trio of Poggi, Bierhoff, and Amoroso was retained, with Jorgensen and the talented Locatelli as the first substitutes. The previous season fifth place earns Udinese a spot in the UEFA Cup. After eliminating the Polish side Widzew Lodz in the first round, the draw pits Udinese against Ajax. Granted, it's not the dominant Ajax under Van Gaal from previous years, but a diminished version entrusted to the Danish manager Morten Olsen. The clash between the two teams proves to be tactically intriguing, highlighting the distinctions between the 3-4-3 with a diamond-shaped midfield played by the Dutch and extensively analyzed in the years to come, and Alberto Zaccheroni's 3-4-3. Ajax's style is a much more calculated form of football, where the team, through possession, attempts to progress up the field compactly, creating zones of numerical and positional superiority over their opponents. Crucial, in this sense, are the movements of the vertices of the two diamonds that the formation draws in defense and midfield. The lower vertex of the midfield, in this match represented by the Nigerian Sunday Oliseh – former Reggiana player and a future, albeit unsuccessful, acquisition by Ancelotti's Juventus – traditionally drops back to the defensive line during the build-up to create numerical superiority or interchange positions with Danny Blind, the deeper-lying vertex. Further up, the Finnish player Litmanen moves freely from the playmaker area to ensure a passing solution for his teammates. The responsibility of keeping the team short and compact lies in the passing strategy rather than the team's pace. In stark contrast is Zaccheroni’s three-four-three. The football designed by the Romagnolo coach is much more direct and vertical, and the coach himself has often explained its conceptual origins. The starting idea is to use three forwards and exploit the typical combinations of the 4-3-3, without, however, forcing the two wide attackers into defensive duties, effectively turning the 4-3-3 into a 4-5-1 when not in possession. Constructed in this manner, Zaccheroni's 3-4-3 also avoids the defensive distortions that the more commonly used 3-5-2 can take on, like that of Nevio Scala's Parma or the Germany team that won the 1996 European Championships or Borussia Dortmund, which had just secured the Champions League. These often end up almost inevitably transforming into a 5-3-2 defensively, lowering the team and forcing it to have too low a center of gravity. To overcome what he considers the two main flaws of formations with a back three, Alberto Zaccheroni thus designs his 3-4-3 with a flat midfield line. The game aims to involve the forwards more frequently and rapidly. The two wide forwards play with inverted feet and, unlike in the orthodox 4-3-3, do not start too wide but rather position themselves preferably in what is now called half-spaces. Amoroso on the left and Paolo Poggi on the right, with curling movements, can receive the ball directly from the vertical passes of the two wide defenders in the 3-man defense, Bertotto and Calori. After receiving the ball, the main option is to bring it towards the center of the field to observe the movements of the center-forward and the forward on the opposite side, both of whom can cut behind or in front of the defenders, attacking depth, or alternately come forward to receive the ball to feet. Even when the ball is with the wide players, Amoroso and Poggi prefer to receive inside, cutting towards the center, limiting their movements in width to areas far from the opponent's goal. Another particularly sought-after offensive solution is the long ball to Olivier Bierhoff, dominant in handling high balls in any area of the field, to flick on to his two strike partners making runs behind him or to play as a target for the movement underneath by one of the two wide forwards. Width is provided by the two wide players, Helveg and Bachini, attacking the space upon receiving the balls from the forwards, allowing them to run onto the cross The three forwards play a central role in Zaccheroni's strategy, both in the build-up and in finishing, a facet of the game evident in the fact that over 75% of the 62 league goals are scored by the attackers. Leading the charge is Oliver Bierhoff, the European champion with Germany, who clinches the top scorer title with an impressive 27 goals that season. It's safe to say it's not your typical Serie A striker season. To put it into perspective, Bierhoff outperforms the likes of Ronaldo, Baggio, Del Piero, Batistuta, Montella, and Inzaghi. The rapid combinations between the forwards, supported by the wide players' width, prove challenging for opposing defenses to contain. Bierhoff plays as a complete center-forward, Amoroso showcases his technique and agility cutting from left to right, while Paolo Poggi stands out for his spatial awareness and the quality of finishes with his left foot. Building from the back is streamlined and focused on seeking vertical passes to the forwards as quickly as possible. The two central midfielders never drop back to the defensive line to play the ball but rather hold their positions, preferably receiving the ball from the wide players or the lay-offs from the forwards. Their plays also revolve around advancing into the attacking third or, alternatively, seeking depth on the flanks by serving runs from the wingers. Out of possession, Zaccheroni's intention is genuinely to defend with a back three, avoiding as much as possible the wide players dropping back to the defensive line. Thanks to the dynamism of Walem and Giannichedda, who support the action, the team tends to stay compact, enabling good phases of immediate regaining after losing possession. Overall, the team tends to be active in the defensive phase, using pressing as a means of ball recovery. Giuliano Giannichedda excels in the effectiveness of pressing, while his teammate Walem is more dazzling, with his left foot, in distributing the ball. On the strong side, the two wide players always press high, not worrying about leaving space behind them, which is covered by the wide defenders going out up to the lateral line of the back three. The wide forwards thus remain higher and more centrally positioned, immediately available for a potential counterattack. The opposite wide player controls the weak side, ready to cover a possible run from an opponent behind the last of the three central defenders. The out-of-possession phase adheres to the principles of space control typical of the zonal system with coded exits, depending on how organized the team is based on the ball's position. Clearly, maintaining width control, with a defense frequently attempting to keep the back three, inevitably forces the wide midfielders to slide outward and interpret each individual action beyond the coding of game situations. Additionally, the back three, thanks to the double coverage, promotes good aggressiveness on opposing attackers in the central area. The desire to keep the team short by raising the defensive line, combined with aggressiveness in the regaining phase, sometimes exposes the team to counterattacks, which the back three manages by delaying and closing internally to protect the goal, redirecting the opponent's play outward. Results In essence, Udinese is a direct, intense team that loves to attack early and quickly, putting opposing defenses under pressure by always seeking decisive plays with combinations among the forwards and the movements of the wide players. To support the three forwards and relieve them as much as possible from defensive duties, despite preferring long play, the team always tries to stay compact, reducing the distances between the lines. Zaccheroni's innovative 3-4-3, successfully experimented within the latter part of the 96/97 season, gifts Udinese a dream season. Udinese secures third place after the twelfth matchday and remains at the top of the table for a considerable time. They defeat Inter at home, win twice in Rome against Lazio and Francesco Totti's and Abel Balbo's Roma. At the beginning of April, there's a slight slowdown, losing in two consecutive away matches to Bologna and against Inter, dropping to sixth place in the standings. However, four victories with 11 goals scored in the last 4 matches bring Udinese back to an historic third place, which, at the time, meant only qualification for the UEFA Cup's final phase. At the end of the season, Zaccheroni, accompanied by Bierhoff and Helveg, is chosen by AC Milan to replace Fabio Capello. In Milan, the Romagnolo coach dismantles the sanctity of Milan's decade-old back four, bringing his 3-4-3 to San Siro, which during the season will shift towards 3-4-1-2 to optimize Boban's talent. In Udine, Francesco Guidolin arrives, leading the Friulians to a solid sixth place and UEFA qualification after a playoff against Juventus. Marcio Amoroso wins the top scorer award with 22 goals, two more than those scored by Bierhoff at Milan. In the summer, Amoroso and Walem will move to Parma, Bachini to Juventus, Pierini to Fiorentina, and in January, Poggi will be bought by Roma. In short, after that season, Zaccheroni's Udinese no longer exists. What remains, however, is the memory of that 3-4-3, which in the late nineties constituted a quite unique experience in the football of the time. A style of play born from an original and audacious synthesis that many coaches adopted in the following years and is still frequently used today. Not to forget, it will take another 14 years to see another provincial team on the Serie A podium. It will once again be Udinese, this time led by Guidolin, reaching third place in 2011/12. After that, only Gasperini's Atalanta in the season 2018-2019 managed to insert itself among the elite in the top three of the league. HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 Recreating the brilliance of Alberto Zaccheroni's Udinese in the virtual realm of Football Manager requires a meticulous understanding of the key principles that fueled their success during the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. Here's a detailed breakdown to guide you in emulating this iconic three-four-three formation: Positive Mentality: Setting the Tone Begin your journey by instilling a 'Positive' mentality in your squad. This serves as the bedrock for an aggressive and proactive playing style, akin to Zaccheroni's Udinese, ensuring dominance on the field while minimizing counterattack vulnerabilities. In Possession: Crafting the Symphony Fairly Wide Attacking Width: Create a fluid attacking dynamic by employing a 'Fairly Wide' attacking width. This allows your team to centralize play while leveraging the width provided by the wing-backs, enabling exploitation of both central and wide areas. Build from the Back: Play Out of Defense: Mirror Zaccheroni's trademark style by implementing 'Play Out of Defense.' This essential instruction fosters a patient and controlled build-up from the defense, aligning with Udinese's composed possession play. Slightly Shorter Passes and Higher Tempo: Craft intricate passing sequences reminiscent of Udinese's quick, intelligent play. Opt for 'Slightly Shorter Passes' and a 'Higher Tempo' to facilitate rapid ball circulation, catching opponents off guard and creating fluid attacking movements. Low Crosses: Emphasize 'Low Crosses' to replicate Udinese's preference for grounded deliveries. Adjust to 'Floated Crosses' if blessed with three tall forwards known for their heading prowess, ensuring your tactics align with your squad's strengths. Work the Ball into the Box: This instruction encourages your team to create scoring opportunities within the box rather than relying on shots from outside. It promotes a patient and strategic approach, emphasizing quality chances over quantity. Transition: Seizing Opportunities Counter and Counterpress: Integrate 'Counter' and 'Counterpress' into your tactics. Zaccheroni's Udinese actively defended, pressing opponents to regain possession swiftly. This dual approach sets the stage for launching effective counter-attacks from advanced positions. Goalkeeper Instructions: Direct your goalkeeper to 'Distribute to Center Backs' and 'Take Short Kicks.' This aligns with Zaccheroni's emphasis on building play from the back, ensuring a controlled distribution and initiation of your team's offensive movements. Out of Possession: Defensive Mastery High Pressing Line and Higher Defensive Line: Dominate the defensive phase with a 'High Pressing Line' and a 'Higher Defensive Line.' This compact defensive structure limits opponent space, replicating Udinese's cohesive defensive unit. Trap Outside and Step Up More: Utilize 'Trap Outside' to force opponents toward touchlines, limiting their passing options. Combine this with 'Step Up More' to implement an effective offside trap and disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm. Prevent Short GK Distribution and Trigger Press Much More Often: Strategically prevent short goalkeeper distributions by employing 'Prevent Short GK Distribution.' Combine this with 'Trigger Press Much More Often' to incessantly press opponents, disrupting their build-up and creating turnovers in advantageous areas. Stop Crosses: Bolster your defensive resolve by instructing your team to 'Stop Crosses.' This prevents opponents from delivering dangerous crosses into the box, maintaining defensive solidity. Players instructions Goalkeeper: Luigi Turci - Sweeper-Keeper in Support Luigi Turci operates as a sweeper-keeper in support, and no specific additional instructions are given. Central Defenders: Valerio Bertotto and Alessandro Calori - Wide-Center Backs in Support Both central defenders, Valerio Bertotto and Alessandro Calori, are deployed as wide-center backs in support. They are instructed to dribble more to aid in the build-up play and mark tighter to maintain defensive solidity. Central Defender: Giovanni Bia - Ball Playing Defender in Defend Giovanni Bia plays as a ball-playing defender in a defending role. He is tasked with covering the central areas and providing support in building up from the back. To ensure positional discipline, he is instructed to close down less. Wing-Backs: Helveg and Bachini - Wing-Backs in Attack The wing-backs, Helveg on the right and Bachini on the left, assume attacking roles. To exploit the wide areas effectively, they are instructed to run wide with the ball, stay wider, and mark tighter. Central Midfielders: Giannichedda and Walem - Box-to-Box and Roaming Playmaker Giannichedda, positioned as the right central midfielder, plays the role of a box-to-box midfielder with a focus on ball-winning. Walem, on the left, operates as a roaming playmaker, emphasizing distribution. Walem is instructed to dribble more, mark tighter, and move into channels. Inverted Wingers: Amoroso and Poggi - Inverted Wingers in Attack Amoroso and Poggi, deployed as inverted wingers, cut inside to play in central areas. They are instructed to sit narrower, roam from position, pass it shorter, tackle harder, and mark tighter. Striker: Oliver Bierhoff - Advanced Forward in Attack Oliver Bierhoff serves as the advanced forward in an attacking role. His instructions include dribbling less to focus on link-up play, shooting more often as the primary goal-scorer, and defending with harder tackles and tighter marking. Results To bring the magic of Alberto Zaccheroni's Udinese back to life on Football Manager, the emulation journey began with the 1998-99 database in Football Manager 2023, applicable to Football Manager 2024 with a starting date set in July 2022. Despite the database reflecting a period where Zaccheroni, Helveg, and Bierhoff had moved to AC Milan, a bit of managerial maneuvering using the Football Manager Offline Editor was employed. This ensured the return of Helveg, Bierhoff, and other key players to Udinese, recreating the squad of the iconic 1997-98 season. The results of this tactical homage were nothing short of spectacular. The team clinched the double, securing both the Italian Serie A title and the Italian Cup. However, the dream run in the UEFA Champions League was halted in the Quarter Finals by a formidable Manchester United. In Serie A, the squad boasted the best attack, netting an impressive 135 goals. The defense, though not the absolute best, held its ground with the 6th best record, conceding 50 goals. Bierhoff emerged as the talisman, finding the net a staggering 77 times across all competitions, including being the top scorer in Serie A with 56 goals. Amoroso contributed with 39 goals, Poggi added 10 to the tally, and Helveg showcased his playmaking prowess with an impressive 30 assists. Statistical insights further illuminate the success of the tactic: an xG of 3.97 per game demonstrated offensive prowess, while a pass completion ratio of 88.31% highlighted the team's exceptional ball circulation. Defensively, the team maintained a tackles won ratio of 76.79%, showcasing their effectiveness in winning back possession. In the second save I used the current database (upgraded to February 1st 2024) and managed Juventus. I won SERIE A with 88 points (3 points more than AC Milan), 94 goals scored (best attack) and 27 goals allowed (2nd defense) and Dusan Vlahovic with 36 goals is the Serie A Topscorer. With a xg of 2.47 per game we always dominated our opponents playing beautiful football. In conclusion, this emulation of Zaccheroni's iconic 3-4-3 at Udinese proved to be not only a nostalgic trip down football history but also a winning formula in the virtual realm of Football Manager. The results speak volumes, underlining the potency and effectiveness of this classic tactical approach. ZACCHERONI'S STORY UDINESE 97-98 343.fmf

yes when Luis Diaz was injured for a while I had to move Nunez to the wing and Jota as a forward so my forward trio was Nunez-Jota-Salah

SEAN DYCHE’S EVERTON 2023-2024 TACTICS Everton recently received a substantial 10-point deduction for violating Premier League financial rules, pushing them to 19th place. Despite the historical challenges of surviving relegation after such a deduction, Everton achieved this feat in 1994-95 with four or fewer points after matchday 12. Sean Dyche, often criticized for his perceived negative football, has adopted a 4-4-1-1 formation this season, emphasizing defensive solidity and quick counter-attacks. Everton's defensive statistics are notable, conceding only 13.5 non-penalty expected goals, the fourth lowest in the league, and registering fewer shots on target against them than Manchester City and Arsenal. While struggling to convert expected goals into actual goals, Everton's reliance on set pieces, with 30% of goals coming from them, remains a consistent strength crucial for overcoming the point deficit and securing their Premier League status. HOW TO EMULATE THIS TACTIC IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024 Through the analysis of recent Everton matches, we can see that Dyche alternatively used a four-two-three-one and a four-four- one-one formations. That’s why I emulated both formations in my season with Everton. As always, I did not do any transfer both in the summer 2023 player transfer session (I blocked it in the pre-game settings) and in the winter 2024 (January 2024) session. That means, the squad is the same at the beginning of the game (July 2023) and at the end (June 2024). Let’s now analyze the two tactics I created. The team instructions are the same for both tactics and I nearly did not add any single player instruction. Compared to the four-four-one-one version, in the four-two-three-one version I just moved the two central midfielders down (in front of the defense) and the two wingers higher. Besides, Doucoure’s role is always an attacking midfielder, but you could even let him play as a central midfielder in attack in the middle, creating a four-three-two-one with a three midfielder line. First version: four-four-one-one Team instructions -Balanced mentality: I prefer to start with this mentality especially when I am not the stronger side, and then I can switch to a more defensive or more attacking mentality according to how the game goes. If you are sure your team is much stronger than the opponent you can even choose to start the game with a positive mentality. In possession -Attacking width: fairly narrow: this gives more room to our players to decide, - - Slightly more direct passing (just slightly, we don’t want our players to try too risky passes): remember that direct pass does not necessarily mean “long ball” but also vertical pass, through and quick pass. -Slightly higher tempo: this helps to launch fast counter-attacks. -Play for set pieces: in the Everton squad we have several players who are very good at heading and are very physical, so we can exploit that by searching to get set pieces. - Be more disciplined: this instruction ask our players to stick to the tactic plan, if you have a team with not many technical players, you would like to use this instruction. - Mixed crosses: actually it depends on what type of forward you have, you can choose whipped crosses if you have a tall and very physical player, With Calvert Lewin for example I use floated crosses more. - Hit early crosses: Dyche prefers to create chances through crosses in the box rather than shorter passing. In transition Counter: Everton wants to launch counter-attacks once won the ball back Goalkeeper Instructions: none, I let Pickford decide how to distribute the ball according to the situation Out of possession Mid-block: Dyche prefers not to press to high to avoid that if the opponent overcomes Everton’s first pressing line, there will be too much space between that line and the defense line, space that the opponent can exploit launching fast counter-attacks and playing long-balls Standard defensive line: for the same reason, Everton’s defensive line is not high. Trap outside: force the opponent to play the ball hugging the touchline, this gives the opponent less options to dribble or pass. Standard trigger press: Everton does not press intensively to avoid counter-attacks Stop crosses Get stuck in: if you see you are getting too many yellow and red cards please remove this instruction Player roles (I didn’t add any player personal instructions, but you can try to add some according to your players) Pickford; sweeper-keeper-support Patterson: full-back-support Tarkowski: central defender-defend Brainthwaite: central defender- defend Mykolenko: full-back-support Harrison: inverted winger-support Gueye: ball-winning midfielder-defend Onana: box to box midfielder-support Mc Neil: winger-support Doucouré: attacking midfielder-support Beto: complete forward- attack For Calvert-Lewin, maybe a target forward role would be the best, because he is very physical and good at heading. Second version: four-two-three-one Player roles changed Gueye: ball-winning midfielder-defend but this time he drops down in front of the defense. Onana: volante-support he also drops down in front of the defense. Third version: more defensive four-five-one I just dropped Doucoure (the attacking midfielder) into a central midfielder (with an attack duty). This is all for this tactic, I hope it works for you too. SEAN DYCHE'S EVERTON 4-5-1 DEFENSIVE SEASON 2023-2024.fmf SEAN DYCHE'S EVERTON 4-2-3-1 SEASON 2023-2024.fmf SEAN DYCHE'S EVERTON 4411 SEASON 2023-24.fmf