Recreating West Ham United 2021-22 tactic

Hi everyone and Merry Christmas. This is my christmas gift to the FM community
And this is also my first ever tactic I've made downloadable but I thought this might be too good to keep just to myself

Few reasons why I did this tactic:
- I'm a massive Hammers fan and that's why I wanted to see if it's possible to replicate their success in FM
- I think that quite a few FM players overlook this kind of tactics
- Football Manager match engine has a bit of an overpowered meta towards attacking/gegenpressing orientated tactics which is a shame

TEAM INSTRUCTIONS & PLAYER ROLES:

Direct counter-attacking tactic sitting in mid/low-block. Defending compactly forcing opposition wide. Just like West Ham have done under Moyes.

Simple goalkeeper as his most important duty is shot stopping. Basic CBs nothing extraordinary. Wing-backs providing width and crosses into the box. Rice as DM breaking down oppositions attacks and giving inch-perfect passes. Soucek in a box-to-box type of role but from deeper to give more defensive solidity. Benrahma and Bowen doing almost same things with each other but Bowen is a bit more adventurous and crosses more. Fornals sitting in the hole looking to receive balls and spread them to wings or over opposition defence. Antonio looking to hold up the ball, bring others in, create chances and score goals

Home: Exactly like above
Away: Turn mentality to Positive.
Playing against formation with 3 CBs and wing-backs: Always Cautious

Changing mentality in this way sounds weird but it makes the tactic work better.


SET-PIECES:

3 different corner routines
- Far Post
- Near Post (could be removed but adds a variability)
- Short

1 routine for all Free-Kicks except for Direct:
- Far Post

1 throw-in routine
- Long

In 28 competitive games we scored
- 14 goals from corners
- 5 from free-kicks
- 4 from throw-ins

Both Corners taken by left-footer so in-swinging from right and out-swinging from left
Free-Kicks from right side delivered by right-footer and from left side by left-footer

Using more time to tweak the free-kicks and throw-in could result in few more goals

ADDED PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS:

Goalkeeper: More Direct Passes, Tackle Harder

Central Defenders: Close Down Less
Wing-Backs: Cross More Often, Get Further Forward, Stay Wider, Tackle Harder

Defensive Midfielder: Take More Risks, Close Down Less, Tackle Harder
Segundo Volante: Pass It Shorter, Dribble Less, Tackle Harder

Inside Forward: Roam From Position, Sit Narrower, Close Down More
Advanced Playmaker: Get Further Forward, Roam From Position, Close Down More
Inverted Winger: Take More Risks, Shoot More Often, Roam From Position, Sit Narrower, Close Down More

Complete Forward: Tackle Harder


THREE EXCEPTIONS IN PLAYER ROLES & INSTRUCTIONS:




OPPOSITION INSTRUCTIONS:
None

TRAINING:
No Physical training during season
Match Review after EVERY match
Set-Piece Delivery once a week
Team Bonding once a week in pre-season
Otherwise leave to assistant


RESULTS:

NOTE: I played half of the season because I can't be bothered to deal with the January transfer window as I wanted to test this tactic without transfers

We are 2nd in the league and on route to 100 points.
Scored 45 goals and conceded 14 in 19 games

Home Record:
10-0-0
27 scored
3 conceded

Away Record:
6-2-1
18 scored
11 conceded


In Europe and in Carabao Cup I played as rotated side as I could. Two dodgy away games but needed to keep best players fresh.





PLAYER STATS:


Hope you liked this tactic! Feel free to suggest changes​