gm-433-tso-19.3.4 / Pep, Klopp, Jose inspired
Tactic Download - View attachment 5128
3 styles into 1
I’ve found it quite tricky to get a 433 working crisply in this FM. A Barca possession styled Pep requires a top class a midfield. Heavy metal Gegenpressing can leave you too open at the back & fatigured, with both systems a very one dimensional in their approach.
So bring in the ideas of my favourite boss counter-attacking Jose Mourinho along with both Pep’s and Klopp’s of the above brings along this 433 of mine.
It’s designed for top sides looking to win things that brings these three approaches. So in order to implement them, you don’t really want dumb players in your ranks so decision making is an ideal trait.
Choice of Transition
This for me was the key determinant of being able to bring the above ideas into mind. By having a balance of either looking to build up play by holding position when winning the ball, but also having the option of the counter-attack open, this is where decision making is key.
The idea in general is when facing teams that park the bus, it may be more prudent to try and build up and pass through them. Likewise when you’re under the cosh, a quick break from deep is a fantastic option – just like Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid did so successfully beating the best ever Barca team produced to the La Liga title.
Additionally, although I always aim to win every game of football with no time-wasting, implementing a slower tempo with short passing will naturally help the team retain possession and take some of the sting out the game whenever need be. This will also help to conserve energy that can be used to press intensely and counter-attack at speed.
Intense High and Counter-Pressing
Counter-pressing utilised by both Klopp and Pepp, the balanced choice of building up or immediately counter-attacking brings both their styles into play.
By using both, possession will be sacrificed when the choice for a counterattack has been made.
But implementing both brings the benefits of hitting a sucker punch against a strong outfit also pressing high, whilst also playing patiently to break down teams that have no intention to attack, however still exploiting any opportunities where they have left themselves exposred.
Midfield Player Roles to promote Deep Counter-Attack
This choice was critical in trying to implement the deadly counter-attack of Jose’s Real. Here he had Xabi Alonso with the passing range and vision along with work-horse Kheidera roaming box-to-box.
So the roles at the base and centre of midfield consist of a DLP-D who will play more risky passes to promote counter-attacks from deep, along with a BBM-S who will also support counter-attacks that will occur higher up the pitch.
I believe with this combination in play there is also that added ability to grind out a result given both roles have a good defensive element to them.
The other central midfield role is the Iniesta Barca role of the AP-A to bring that creative threat from deep. He’ll pick up intelligent positions for the DLP-D to find him swiftly.
What You’ll Need
-A fast back-line and top class keeper-sweeper
-Good technical players with creativity and decision making
-Hard working players with Stamina
-Forwards with Pace to get the most out of the quick counter-attacks
Training / Opposition Instructions / Set Pieces
Training – “Attacking” on FM Touch
Set Pieces / No exploits – Are played short to promote possession retention. Default taker is the AP-A.
Full-backs take throw-ins.
Opposition Instructions – Now I’ve only just realised FM Touch can retain instructions. So on my previous tactics I had advised for the Assistant to take hold of them as I really didn’t want to keep changing the settings each and every game.
This instruction still stands, however the “positional” tab on the OIs appears to be maintained and suggests it over-rides any instructions the Assistant may make in addition.
This actually effects my other systems, because being possession based my choice of defensive width is “wide”. Given the two central midfielders are instructed to press in the DM strata, I want to force the play into this middle zone where the opponents midfield should be hounded by my two centre mids.
Therefore the OIs on the positional tab should be set as follows:
DR/WBR – Show onto left foot
DL/WBL – Show onto right foot
ML/AML - Show onto weaker foot
MR/AMR - Show onto weaker foot
This should bring the effect in forcing the play down the middle and right into the high-press from the BBM and APA.
Results - Barca
The squad is well suited to play this style so I picked them to play with.
We won the league with 101 points. Athletico pipped us to having the best defence in the league, although we only conceded 20 and scored over 100 goals.
Our one defeat was away to Real Betis, with our highlight being an away 4-1 win against Athletico in a game we grinded out the result and were clinical on our counters.
We also showed we could control a game well, beating rivals Espanyol at home 6-0 without them having a shot on our goal.
Winning both games of this nature is what I was hoping to see from the system. You can't play well every game, so it's good to see we can still win without bossing a game.
---
So the hope of bringing the ideas of these three managers will bring a great deal of flexibility to deal with a number of problems. The results look promising, good offensively and solid defensively and looks quite tough to beat. It's worked well for me and hopefully it will work for others too.
Tactic Download - View attachment 5128
3 styles into 1
I’ve found it quite tricky to get a 433 working crisply in this FM. A Barca possession styled Pep requires a top class a midfield. Heavy metal Gegenpressing can leave you too open at the back & fatigured, with both systems a very one dimensional in their approach.
So bring in the ideas of my favourite boss counter-attacking Jose Mourinho along with both Pep’s and Klopp’s of the above brings along this 433 of mine.
It’s designed for top sides looking to win things that brings these three approaches. So in order to implement them, you don’t really want dumb players in your ranks so decision making is an ideal trait.
Choice of Transition
This for me was the key determinant of being able to bring the above ideas into mind. By having a balance of either looking to build up play by holding position when winning the ball, but also having the option of the counter-attack open, this is where decision making is key.
The idea in general is when facing teams that park the bus, it may be more prudent to try and build up and pass through them. Likewise when you’re under the cosh, a quick break from deep is a fantastic option – just like Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid did so successfully beating the best ever Barca team produced to the La Liga title.
Additionally, although I always aim to win every game of football with no time-wasting, implementing a slower tempo with short passing will naturally help the team retain possession and take some of the sting out the game whenever need be. This will also help to conserve energy that can be used to press intensely and counter-attack at speed.
Intense High and Counter-Pressing
Counter-pressing utilised by both Klopp and Pepp, the balanced choice of building up or immediately counter-attacking brings both their styles into play.
By using both, possession will be sacrificed when the choice for a counterattack has been made.
But implementing both brings the benefits of hitting a sucker punch against a strong outfit also pressing high, whilst also playing patiently to break down teams that have no intention to attack, however still exploiting any opportunities where they have left themselves exposred.
Midfield Player Roles to promote Deep Counter-Attack
This choice was critical in trying to implement the deadly counter-attack of Jose’s Real. Here he had Xabi Alonso with the passing range and vision along with work-horse Kheidera roaming box-to-box.
So the roles at the base and centre of midfield consist of a DLP-D who will play more risky passes to promote counter-attacks from deep, along with a BBM-S who will also support counter-attacks that will occur higher up the pitch.
I believe with this combination in play there is also that added ability to grind out a result given both roles have a good defensive element to them.
The other central midfield role is the Iniesta Barca role of the AP-A to bring that creative threat from deep. He’ll pick up intelligent positions for the DLP-D to find him swiftly.
What You’ll Need
-A fast back-line and top class keeper-sweeper
-Good technical players with creativity and decision making
-Hard working players with Stamina
-Forwards with Pace to get the most out of the quick counter-attacks
Training / Opposition Instructions / Set Pieces
Training – “Attacking” on FM Touch
Set Pieces / No exploits – Are played short to promote possession retention. Default taker is the AP-A.
Full-backs take throw-ins.
Opposition Instructions – Now I’ve only just realised FM Touch can retain instructions. So on my previous tactics I had advised for the Assistant to take hold of them as I really didn’t want to keep changing the settings each and every game.
This instruction still stands, however the “positional” tab on the OIs appears to be maintained and suggests it over-rides any instructions the Assistant may make in addition.
This actually effects my other systems, because being possession based my choice of defensive width is “wide”. Given the two central midfielders are instructed to press in the DM strata, I want to force the play into this middle zone where the opponents midfield should be hounded by my two centre mids.
Therefore the OIs on the positional tab should be set as follows:
DR/WBR – Show onto left foot
DL/WBL – Show onto right foot
ML/AML - Show onto weaker foot
MR/AMR - Show onto weaker foot
This should bring the effect in forcing the play down the middle and right into the high-press from the BBM and APA.
Results - Barca
The squad is well suited to play this style so I picked them to play with.
We won the league with 101 points. Athletico pipped us to having the best defence in the league, although we only conceded 20 and scored over 100 goals.
Our one defeat was away to Real Betis, with our highlight being an away 4-1 win against Athletico in a game we grinded out the result and were clinical on our counters.
We also showed we could control a game well, beating rivals Espanyol at home 6-0 without them having a shot on our goal.
Winning both games of this nature is what I was hoping to see from the system. You can't play well every game, so it's good to see we can still win without bossing a game.
---
So the hope of bringing the ideas of these three managers will bring a great deal of flexibility to deal with a number of problems. The results look promising, good offensively and solid defensively and looks quite tough to beat. It's worked well for me and hopefully it will work for others too.
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