Manager Tactics Football

[Riitta Palazzo]

Howeverto most of us, formations provide a useful framework from which we start to build up an idea of how a certain team or manager plays. So, we've decided to take a look at football's most popular formations. Why would any manager prefer one over another? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each? Read on to find out, and then draw your own conclusions as to which works best.

In attack, wide wingers flanking a single centre-forward can be enough to pin four defenders back. This creates an overload elsewhere on the pitch and should, in theory, make it easier to progress up the pitch.

Weaknesses

The main weakness of a 4-3-3 is that the single centre-forward can be left isolated, and is naturally underloaded whether playing against two or three centre-backs. This means you need a player in this position who is willing to do lots of work that may bring little or no reward. They also need to be strong and good enough on the ball to hold off several defenders.

The 4-4-2 provides a strong base from which to launch counter-attacks, with a good balance of players both in front of and behind the ball. There are usually enough players behind or around the ball to regain possession in the first place, and then also enough of a presence ahead of play to initiate and sustain a counter-attack, both in central and wide areas.

Weaknesses

The 4-4-2 requires lots of hard work, runs and movement from the players, because the basic structure is not the most conducive to playing a passing game. Players in a rigid 4-4-2 structure can block teammates from passing to one another, particularly when playing forwards. For example, a central defender, central midfielder and centre-forward would all be on the same passing line. Without the required movements, this formation can become more predictable than others.

With two flat lines of four and no depth to midfield, spaces between the lines can be difficult to cover. One penetrative pass can therefore cut several players out of the game quickly. A central-midfield two will also often face a numerical overload, as plenty of opponents will set up with a midfield three.

Strengths

With the number 10 able to drop into midfield when the team in possession, a team playing in a 4-2-3-1 can create numerical overloads in central midfield when up against a midfield two. This helps in build-up play, chance creation, playing through the thirds and in any attempts to dominate possession. The number 10 can play a little higher than a central midfielder might in a 4-3-3. From that position, they can link the midfield and the attack. They are also able to find central spaces between the lines and away from pressure.

The support and security provided by a double pivot allows the full-backs to push forward more effectively. They will often do so at the same, which may not be the case from a 4-3-3 formation. The defensive midfielders in a double pivot also protect the spaces between the lines and ahead of the centre-backs. They are able to move across to cover the wide areas more quickly and more effectively than a single pivot would be able to. This means they can get across following a switch of play, or cover the spaces an advanced full-back leaves vacant.

The three central midfielders can be numerically overloaded against four central players, such as in a 4-4-2 diamond. If the number 10 does not drop in when out of possession, the double pivot can be overloaded by a midfield three.

Strengths

The main strength of a midfield diamond is that it allows a team to have four players in central midfield. That will almost always mean a numerical overload against any other formation in a crucial part of the pitch.

The formation also allows you to play with two centre-forwards, who can always occupy both centre-backs in a back four. If you are up against a back three and the opposition has a one-player advantage in that part of the pitch, they are very unlikely to match up numerically in central midfield.

The four-player midfield unit provides a staggered defensive shape that makes it easier to defend spaces between the lines, and gives numbers in central areas. The front two, meanwhile, can either block off central access, or press the outside shoulders of the opposition centre-backs. This cuts off the full-backs and forces play into central midfield, where there are lots of defenders.

Out of possession, the wide areas can also give the opposition a target to counter-attack into. Quick, accurate switches of play over the central midfield unit can leave the full-backs underloaded. This means the nearest central midfielder has to get across quickly. They may have to make lateral runs constantly when out of possession, leaving them fatigued when play is turned over and they are needed in attack.

Strengths

The midfield unit of five in a 3-5-2 formation provides both width to build around the opposition and numbers in central midfield to play through them, without the need for much in the way of movement or rotations. The three central midfielders can draw opponents into the middle of the pitch, before play is then spread wide to the wing-backs. They can then provide width on both sides at the same time.

Two centre-forwards can constantly occupy both opposing centre-backs in a back four. High wing-backs and one or two attacking midfielders can mean extra numbers in the final third, and a strong attacking threat.

Weaknesses

Once the defence converts into a line of five, the wide areas in midfield are inevitably conceded. This allows the opposition to progress further up the pitch on the flanks.

The wing-backs are required to be more versatile and well-rounded players than either full-back or wingers in back-four systems, as they are needed almost constantly at both ends of the pitch. They also need to be extremely fit to cover a vast amount of ground.

With the wing-backs often on their own out wide, it is difficult to create wide overloads in possession. It is also easier for opponents to isolate them in the defensive phase. If another player gets across to help the wing-back, that creates a gap elsewhere in the structure.

Strengths

If the two wide players in the front three play as wide number 10s, they can drop into midfield to create a box or diamond structure that creates overloads in central midfield. The presence of two number 10s adds another threat between the lines, which can occupy both players in a double pivot or drag a centre-back out if up against a single pivot.

Out of possession, the back line can quickly change from a three to a five via the wing-backs withdrawing, adding extra presence in the back line. A narrow front three can block central access even more effectively than a pair of centre-forwards. They can also initiate a high press effectively.

Weaknesses

Once the defence converts into a line of five, the wide spaces in midfield are inevitably conceded. This allows the opposition to progress further up the pitch in wide areas.

These allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.

Copyright 2004-2024 fmscout.com. You may not copy and distribute the work in full.

Football Manager, the Sports Interactive logo and generated in-game images are Sports Interactive. Disclaimer.

Manage Cookie Settings

Handcrafted in Symi, Hellas. Page created in 0.234 seconds.

This site is not endorsed by Sports Interactive or SEGA and is intended for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed on this site are the views of the individual contributors and not those of Sports Interactive or SEGA. The official Football Manager site can be found at footballmanager.com and the official forums can be found at community.sigames.com.

Sports Interactive, the Sports Interactive logo, in-game generated images and any other Football Manager related items are registered trademarks and/or copyright material owned by Sports Interactive, or their respective trademark and copyright holders.

SEGA and the SEGA logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Corporation. Football Manager, Sports Interactive and the Sports Interactive logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sports Interactive Limited. All rights reserved.

I know it's a question that comes up every year and the answer is usually the same, but I've just been browsing forums and seen someone claiming the AI does adapt specifically to your tactics and that it was confirmed my Miles on twitter. So here I am, looking for a nice clear answer direct from source. I searched the forum beforehand and couldn't find it, apologies if it's been asked and I've missed it.

Well, it's a bit yes and no. The AI is, as far as I'm aware, not defined enough to counter specific threats, but rather react based on how likely it is they will win or lose. So if the AI is heavy favoured to beat you they will be more attacking than if they are favoured to lose. So in general terms the AI will attack more (play more attacking or offensive) against sides they think they will beat, and more defensive against sides they think they will lose to.

This is what some users notice if they are overachieving at the start of a season with an poorer side (compared to the rest of the league). They will initially be attacked, but that will also give space. So if that happens for a while, the AI will slowly realise that the team that was initially considered poor, is not that poor and they will start to play more cautiously. It's around that point many feels their tactic is being "cracked" by the AI, simply because the place that was allowed initially are now restricted and tactics that does overly rely on that space will start to falter.

3a8082e126