Welcome to FM17. Thought I would start a game on the beta with Wolves the team I support. And thought I would share my 4231. The philosophy is possession based as well as utilising Jurgen Klopp's Gengenpress. As history has shown, most coaches have utilized high-pressure defending as a means to an end: regaining possession. This follows the standard dogma that more possession logically leads to more opportunities and thus, more goals. Klopp, however, saw the beauty in eliminating the middleman and instead opted to use counter-pressing as an actual part of the attack.Klopp commonly opts for a narrow 4-2-3-1 with width provided by marauding fullbacks. When defending, a high back line effectively crowds the midfield, allows for players to hunt in packs, and makes passing through the center an unsavory proposition for opponents. This is all done in an effort to win back the ball as high up the pitch as possible.
Gegenpressing means to pressure the opposition immediately after losing possession. So your team have attacked and lost the ball. The opposition now have possession of the ball and instead of leaving the ball and dropping off to become organised and compact behind the ball, energetic pressure is immediately applied around the ball as an organised and co - cohesive unit. The first priority of Gegenpressing is to try and win the ball back as quickly as possible and then counter the counter attack. The second priority is to force the opposition to make a hurried inaccurate or panicked pass, which your team can gain possession from or intercept or win and then counter attack.
You with me? Good let's see how this gets implemented.
The Tactic
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The Gengenpress (Opposition Instructions)
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Specific player instructions are also set on the players themselves. Coupled with these oppo instructions will enable the Gengenpress. Do not leave this to the assistant. You need to set the oppo instructions yourself. (It's a tab on the tactic screen) When you go into match ignore the assistants advice as your instructions seen above will already be set. You only need to do this once when you join the club and then they will always be on no matter what tactic you are playing.
Training/Match Prep
I leave to assistant
If you need a goal change mentality to Control and use "demand more/push forward" as touchline shouts.
Progress
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As you can see I won the championship as well winning the EFL cup final with Wolves. Not only are we defensively sound with the least conceded, but as we dominate the possession we also score goals for fun. Not only that. We have the ball more than anyone else, we cross more than anyone else, we head more than anyone else, we dribble more than anyone else, with the gengenpress combined with all of this you can see that it gets results. As if you work harder than other teams, 9/10 you will get the outcome that you want. It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win, Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard. Hopefully that is what we are trying to achieve with this tactic.
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Results
Three matches from the cup run cup beating Liverpool and Chelsea with Wolves. But also demolishing Spurs in the final!
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PLAN B
Every good tactician needs a plan b. And in certain games if I feel i need an extra man in midfield or want to sure things up, I've set up this formation. Team Instructions are the same as the original, This is just about shape and holding on to leads while hitting them onto counter. However it's a fantastic alternative to the 4231 and if you feel your back is against the wall, or maybe away from home. This is a real alternative. If people want to play around and start games with it maybe on standard/control, I think it would work so let me know in the comments if you have any luck as it needs to be tested. It however seems to work very well on counter and is a good way to sure up games and hit teams on the break while protecting a lead.
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If you go down to 10 men I would suggest this shape and roles, Example after being 2 down at Man Utd and down to 10 this is what i went too and hit back with 2 goals and its worked multiple times before on this FM and other versions before.
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Download Links
4-2-3-1 PAV - Main Tactic
4-3-3 PAV - 433 Counter
. I there a chance that it will work if i use IF instead off the winger role?
!