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Fair enough, you definitely watch more Arsenal games than I do:) so I won't disagree with you. I was just trying to create a nice penetrative tactic.

Nah, maybe risky passes PI for creative players(Odegaard, Partey and Xhaka)

Then, a BBM with Get Forward and Risky Passes or a MEZS with Risky Passes. But I am not a fan of using two very wide roles in the midfield.

@mikcheckI can convert a tenacious midfielder to a DLFS. So why not;)

I don't have fm23 but somewhere on the forum they say that cms are positioned in front of central defenders so positioning them in the DM strata makes sense in that they properly defend the middle of the park. I think the problem lies in the selection of roles and TIs with regard to your request.

@mikcheckNo, I wouldn't change anything because I trust in my plan-My DLF automatically marks that area zonally and make interceptions there from time to time. This will definitely increase in number if I can find a better player with better anticipation, bravery, concentration, work rate, aggression, determination, tackling, positioning and acceleration.

I don't think you need that fast tempo for counterattacks they automatically happen when your players feel it's the right time to strike. I'd check the transitions to attack whether my advanced striker gets immediate support from all parts of the area and think about dropping CMs to DM strata to benefit from a penetrative Volante role and protect the golden zone(14) better.

This thread really intrigued my interest so I watched a video on YouTube and this is my take on it. Attack: -They play out of defence -Partey is the distributor to 5 attackers. - They make use of 2 inverted full-backs supporting attackers - Gabriel Jesus is the spearhead ready to drop deep when space is created in front of defenders. - Wing play is fluid, something we cannot recreate completely. Xhaka and Martinelli swap positions at times when needed just as Odegaard and Saka do on the right flank. Defence: - They defend in 4-4-2. - They counter-press easily due to postional play - Narrow, aggressive defending while moving as a unit to ball side. So I would start with a 4-3-3: SKS FBS CDD BPD IWBS DMS MEZA RPM IWA IWS CFA PIs and/or Traits: FBS: Sit Narrower, Get Forward DMS: Hold Position RPM: Move into Channels IWS and IWA: Stay Wider Mentality: Balanced In Possession: Work Ball Into Box Play out of Defence Play Narrower In transition: Counterpress, Distribute to CBS, Take Short Kicks Out of Possession: Higher DL, Higher LOE, Tighter Marking, Use Offside Trap, Stay On Feet, Defend Narrower From the tactical perspective this tactic has the needed width(Martinelli and Saka) as well as vertical height provided by Gabriel Jesus. RPM MEZA will provide the creativity and runs into the box at different times. DMS will be the defensive pivot orchestrating attacks from the back without being a ball magnet. IWBS and FBS are the outlets at the back for the attackers. What do you think about this set-up? I tried to optimize it in accordance with the match engine.

I personally totally ignore it but my training schedules are designed to max the rest of them and team cohesion out in the early months of the season which helps my team play more fluidly and do what I want from them better. So the results start to come earlier naturally especially if I have a good tactic:)

@mikcheckNo, I don't agree with you. Again:) My team moves up and down together. I am rarely caught on a counterattack. They give me what I need in my system: constant support(passing options everywhere) and unpredictable runs into the penalty area or being a danger from distance if they withdraw deep into defence. Don't hang up upon attributes so much. I have a great crosser and set-piece taker aka my left back who plays as an inside forward on the right flank naturally:) Instead, look at the roles you desperately need in your system.

@icedgate You're totally wrong. Now I manage a team in Ukranian Second Division. I only have two good defenders, two good midfielders and a striker who can score some goals. Now that I know what I have at my disposal, I decided to go with a bog standard 442 and it really works well. Let me show you the tactic first: SKS FBS CDD CDD FBA WMA RPM BBM WMS AFA DLFS My team is above average at best so I adopted a normal approach. Mentality: Balanced In-possession instructions: None In-transition instructions: Distribute to CBs and Take Short Kicks Out-of-possession instructions: Higher DL, More Urgent, Tighter Marking, Use Offside Trap, Get Stuck In PIs: FBA-Stay Wider WMS- Sit Narrower, Run Wide WMA- Stay Wider, Run Wide My game plan is to play out of defence as much as possible although they can prefer direct balls to the strikers or the right midfielder at times. When the opposition has the ball, I try to win the ball in the middle of the park like Yorkshire terrriers. Then, the team either use the left flank for a cross to the far post, or a through ball for the strikers to run onto or a cross/cutback from the right midfielder or even an odd ball over the top by the right fullback. As @Cleon said, every tactic needs support, movement, penetration, width, mobility, and creativity and my plan provides all of them. Support- All players have close passing options when they are on the ball. RPM is pretty crucial here. Movement- The WMA keep the channels open for AFA by running wide The WMS opens up some space for FBA DLF drops deep to support the midfield and creates decisions crises between defenders AFA provides the much needed height for the creative players behind him. FBS is always an outlet for WMA or unmarked at times for a deep cross or a cutback. Penetration- AFA attacks the space behind the space, FBA and WMA attacks the wings while our BBM, DLF and RPM are runners from the deep and you can't mark the players that move. Width- It comes from the FBA and WMA. They stretch the opposition horizontally by staying wider. Creativity- FBA-WMS- RPM or BBM -->third-man run combination DLF/WMS-RPM-AFA--> third man run combination FBA/WMA- a cross/cutback WMS-RPM- through balls, diagonal balls WMA-AFA 1vs1 duel Mobility- The midfielders roam the area in front of the opposition defence at will to provide the crucial support to the players around them. Pretty simple, right?

There are only a couple of things to consider for me: Your in-possession instructions may be too many thus blunting your attacks a bit. When the inverted winger cuts inside he lacks proper support on the wing. A role that attacking that space could be what you need or an inverted wing back that could support the middle in absence of a supporting DM. He can also attack the wing when the team needs some width on that flank. Counter-press is a really risky instruction if your players aren't cut out for it- that is, they need a good amount of concentration, acceleration, teamwork, bravery, anticipation. I'd only use it against teams inferior to me and when it fits my attacking strategy.