Arrigo Sacchi's 4-4-2: High Pressure, Attacking Tactic for Top Teams and Underdogs

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How do you play at away games with this tactic? I just simply can't find a way to be successful away from home with it..

In home games, as a team which got newly promoted, i almost win against the top teams in the league playing on a equal level to them. But away I get raped by simply everyone in the league, I just don't get it. Playing at home or away shouldn't be such a big influence in my opinion..
 
Acid said:
Any idea why this tactic doesn't work with network games?
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It does work with network games, used it on a couple including Cardiff coming 2nd first season and winning it 2nd and 3rd season.
 
Want to start one in holland any idea who would be a good challange i kinda want to go ajax to see if i can do well in champions league what you think?
 
seanhrfc said:
It does work with network games, used it on a couple including Cardiff coming 2nd first season and winning it 2nd and 3rd season.
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Any tips? Anything I might be doing wrong? I'm wasting a lot of points against weak teams, nothing is happening during the game and it ends up to be a draw... Thx.
 
Great tactic so far in a game with ajax and holland u19s will get ss asap
 
26 unbeaten run in all competitions great tactic lol thank you very much :D
 
remade this for fm14 beta. seems too work too, so the general idea for the tactic is awesome!
 
seanhrfc said:
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Introduction

First of all a quick introduction to myself. I am a long time FM player since CM 01/02 and its pretty safe to say I'm an FM addict. I've uploaded one or two tactics before for FM13 but since the last few patches I haven't created something that I feel is worthy of publishing for others to use - until now! I like to base my tactics on philosophies that have worked in the real world; I am a professional football coach and the tactical elements of the game are what enthuse me in real life. So this tactic is based on the philosophy behind Arrigo Sacchi's 4-4-2 approach. Sacchi played with high intensity and a high defensive line. This enabled him to squeeze the play in the middle of park, and ensured that the distance between his defensive and forward lines was never more than 25 metres. Essentially, this constituted naturally occurring pressing—perhaps one of the first in football with such velocity. Sacchi reasoned that by squeezing the pitch, in order for his opponent to get through his side, they'd need to break down three lines of players in quick succession. Not many managed it. Attacking-wise, there was no one strict way to break down the opposition. Chances were created through build-up/passing play through the middle, crosses from wide and counter-attacks. Sacchi was a proponent of multi-purpose players. Not fond of the specialist, he looked for all of his players to be capable of every job on the field, which is why his interchanging 4-4-2 worked so well.The midfielders were well-rounded and functional in every area, his forwards chased and his defenders pushed up. Teamwork was what his side were predicated on, and it was teamwork that allowed them to become one of the greatest sides in footballing history.

For more information on Arrigo Sacchi and the basis of this tactic, this is a good read: Arrigo Sacchi's Method - The Football Coach


The Tactic

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As you can see the tactic resembles a 4-4-2, however with a slight change of two DMs as opposed to MCs. This enabled the tactic to be a lot more solid defensively, bringing the lines of the players a lot closer. The Sweeper Keeper does his job sweeping up behind the back line, two FBs on support allowing them the licence to get forward, but not at the expense of their defensive duties. The two DCs act as ball playing defenders, able to pick out those quick counter passes once the ball is won. The DMs act as box-to-box players, supporting the attack and defence. The wingers provide the outlets for the attack, pushing forward once the ball is won, but also have defensive duties in winning the ball back. A complete striker supports the advanced forward, although both are equally important in both assisting and scoring goals. With the emphasis on fluid play and well-rounded, high pressing players a general basis of teamwork, work rate and determination are needed for this tactic to work. Lazy and/or selfish players will ruin the cogs in the machine. There is no target man or playmaker as individual creativity and decisions is important in this tactic.
Player Attributes
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All Players
As mentioned, there is a base of attributes that are important for a tactic such as this to work successfully and I look for all my players to have at least decent ratings. These attributes are: Composure, Decisions, Determination, Teamwork, Work Rate, Stamina.

Goalkeepers
Primary: Handling, One on Ones, Reflexes, Communication, Positioning, Jumping.
Supporting: Command of Area, Anticipation, Rushing Out, Strength, Aerial Ability, First Touch.

Full Backs
Primary: Acceleration, Pace, Tackling, Positioning, Anticipation, Concentration, Crossing
Supporting: Dribbling, Strength, Marking, Bravery, Off The Ball, First Touch

Ball Playing Defenders
Primary: Heading, Marking, Tackling, Anticipation, Bravery, Concentration, Positioning, Jumping, Strength
Supporting: Passing, Creativity, Acceleration, Pace, First Touch

Defensive Midfielders
Primary: Passing, Tackling, First Touch, Anticipation, Positioning, Creativity
Supporting: All other attributes! (They are real box-to-box type players so the more well rounded they are the better)

Wingers
Primary: Crossing, Dribbling, First Touch, Passing, Technique, Creativity, Off the Ball, Acceleration, Pace
Supporting: Finishing, Tackling, Anticipation, Positioning, Agility, Balance, Flair

Complete Forward
Primary: Finishing, First Touch, Passing, Technique, Creativity, Off The Ball, Anticipation, Strength
Supporting: Dribbling, Heading, Jumping, Pace, Acceleration, Flair.

Advanced Forward
Primary: Finishing, Dribbling, First Touch, Technique, Anticipation, Off the Ball, Pace, Acceleration.
Supporting: Heading, Jumping, Flair, Passing, Creativity, Agility, Balance.

Player Filters (Thanks to contribution from ZicoAC)
File-Upload.net - Arrigo-Sacchi-Filters.7z

Player Recommendations
Below is a small list of players that I recommend for each role. These players are aimed at mid/lower table Premier Division sides - but this can be flexible as some will be good for greater clubs and some will go to lower reputation sides to. ALL players can be acquired for under 10 million and don't start on ridiculous wages, but the prices are estimating asking prices (will differ from game to game). Star rating is my own personal opinion of how recommendable they are based on their value for money, how well they fit into the tactic and their performance.

Goalkeepers
Transfers: Fraser Forster (3.5-5.5m, Celtic, 4 Stars), Jose Jesus Corona (3-4m, Cruz Azul, 3.5 Stars), ***** Caballero (5-7m, Malaga, 3.5 Stars), Rafael (7-10m, Santos, 4 Stars), Julio Cesar (500k-1.5m, Benfica, 3 Stars), Vincent Enyeama (1-1.5m, Lille (out on loan), 3.5 Stars), Maxym Koval (5-6m, Dynamo Kiev, 4.5 Stars), Yann Sommer (2.5-3.5m, Basel, 4 Stars).
Frees: Olexandr Rybka (3.5 Stars).

Full Backs
Right: Gino Peruzzi (4-5m, Velez, 4.5 Stars), Frantisek Rajtoral (2.5-3.5m, Viktoria Plzen, 3.5 Stars), Nei (4-5m, Vasco, 3.5 Stars), Sebastian Corchia (7-9m, Sochaux, 5 Stars).
Left: Alex Sandro (7-9m, Porto, 4 Stars), Fausto Pinto (500k-1m, Toluca, 3 Stars), Renat Yanbaev (3m, Lokomotiv, 3.5 Stars), Djamel Mesbah (2.5-3.5m, Parma, 3.5 Stars).
Frees: Miguel (3 Stars), Albin Ebondo (3 Stars), Asier Del Horno (3.5 Stars), Walter Lopez (3 Stars).

Ball Playing Defenders
Transfers: Gabriel Paletta (4-5m, Parma, 4 Stars), Jores Okore (1.5m, Nordjaelland, 4.5 Stars), Andersen Martins (5-6m, Al-Jaish, 4 Stars), Borja Gomez (1-2m, Granada, 4 Stars), Jonathan Mensah (5-6m, Evian, 4 Stars), Jorge GuaGua (1-1.5m, Deportivo Quito, 3 Stars), Siyabonga Sangwani (1-1.5m, Orlando Pirates, 3.5 Stars), Juan Forlin (6-7m, Espanyol, 4.5 Stars), Rafael Toloi (3-4m, Sao Paulo, 4 Stars), Alexander Dragovic (2-3m, Basel, 3.5 Stars).
Frees: Thiago Heleno (3.5 Stars), Jurica Buljat (3 Stars), Fabinho (3 Stars), Walter Vilchez (3 Stars).

Defensive Midfielders
Transfers: Simao (500k-1m, Shandong, 4.5 Stars), Victor Wanyama (7.5-9m, Celtic, 5 Stars), Francisco Cerro (4.5-6m, Velez, 4 Stars), Dudu Cearense (1.5-2.5m, Goias, 3.5 Stars), Guido Pizarro (3.5-5m, Lanus, 4 Stars), Geoffrey Kondogbia (2.5-4m, Sevilla, 4 Stars).
Frees: Owen Hargreaves (3.5 Stars).

Wingers
Transfers: Pablo Barrientos (9-10m, Catania, 4 Stars), Marco Davide Faraoni (3-4m, Udinese, 4 Stars), Georgi Milanov (2-3m, Litex, 3.5 Stars), Emiliano Armentaros (5-6m, Osasuna, 3.5 Stars), Yassin Mikari (5-6m, Sochaux, 3.5 Stars) Ilsinho (Loan, Shakhtar, 3.5 Stars).
Frees: Dragan Blatnjak (3 Stars), Oscar Serrano (3.5 Stars), Igor Gabilondo (3 Stars).

Complete Forward
Transfers: Leonard Kweuke (4-5m, Sparta Prague, 4.5 Stars), Dieumerci Mbokani (7-8m, Anderlecht, 4 Stars), Giovanni Moreno (2-3m, Shenhua, 3.5 Stars).
Frees: Amr Zaki (3 Stars).

Advanced Forward
Transfers: Facundo Ferreyra (5-6m, Velez, 4 Stars), Carlos Fierro (2-4m, Chivas, 4 Stars), Abel Hernandez (6-7.5m, Palermo, 4 Stars), Viktor Fischer (7-9m, Ajax, 4.5 Stars), Hervin Ongenda (1m, PSG, 4 Stars).
Frees: Ewerthon (3 Stars), Ioannis Amanatidis (3 Stars), Franklin Salas (3 Stars).

Best 11: Rafael, Corchia, Alex Sandro, Okore, Forlin, Wanyama, Simao, Barrientos, Armenteros, Kweuke, Fischer (77.5m)

Bargain 11: Rybka, Rajtoral, Del Horno, Okore, Gomez, Simao, Hargreaves, Ilsinho (Loan), Serrano, Kweuke, Ewerthon (11.5m)

General Player Tips
The above attributes are what I would look for in my players. If I was managing a mid-table standard Premier League side I would look for the Primary Attributes to average out at 15 and Supporting Attributes at 12/13. In terms of the base attributes, I would not sign a player who is weak in 2 or more of those areas (less than 10) and ideally will all be 14+. Certain players will not fit the system. An Ibrahimovic or Balotelli will struggle, think more along the lines of a Rooney or Tevez. Hard working players, determined to succeed and put the team before their own ego. A big tip that I give is to use your personnel in your squad wisely by picking the right players in the right games. For example, I have 4 strong wingers for my San Marino (club) team. 2 of which are much more attacking / creativity orientated and two that can put more of a shift in defensively. Against the big teams i.e. Juventus I will often favour the more defensive wingers, whereas go with the attacking wingers against the bottom teams. Also during the games, if I am chasing a win I will bring on the attack-minded winger or looking to hold onto a lead bring on the defensive winger. Same goes for the defensive midfielders. Versatile players are a great asset to have in a squad using this tactic. For example players who can play at full back and the wing, centre back and defensive mid, forward and wing.


During Pre-season the focus should be completely match-based and tactics only, until the tactic is fully fluid. Once this is achieved, the above is how I set out my training. Arrigo Sacchi was well known for his 'Shadow Play' training methods, which is essentially defensive positioning training.


Opposition Instructions
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Ideally you'd have an assistant manager that you can trust to set this up for you (16+ tactical knowledge + good defensive coach). However if you don't feel they're up to it, here's a few tips:
Close down always - slow players in midfield or attack and players with poor composure/concentration/decisions in defence or midfield.
Tight Mark - midfielders or attackers with poor pace.
Hard Tackling - any players with Bravery under 10.
Show onto weaker foot - any player who has reasonable or less for their weaker foot ability.


No Shouts Used
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I have never used any shouts on any of my tactics, although feel free to use them if you want to. Bear in mind that some shouts will have no effect as I have altered the sliders.


As you can see I have had a tremendous amount of success using the tactic. I'm currently taking up the Great San Marino Challenge and its going well for club and country so far! Straight promotions to Serie A followed by a 3rd place in first season (started using this tactic part way through first serie A season and pushed from 8th to 3rd). 2nd season in Serie A (4th in total) I managed to win the league using this tactic with a team that was not strong at all! (See best 11 for the team that won it for me). Also made the Italian Cup final and Semi-finals of the Europa League. This season its going strong again, with just one loss in the league, 2 points behind Juve with a game in hand and comfortable through to the knockout stages of the champions league. National Team wise under this tactic the results have been great! Only narrow loses against big nations and several competitive wins, including a 2-1 win over Greece. This is with pretty much the same squad as the one we recently saw on TV thrashed by England 8-0 as my re-gens have been poor thus far (Giacomo Hirsch is the best to come through the ranks by far). I decided to start a tester with Granada and as you can see it working wonders for them there, sitting top of the league with just one loss at the Nou Camp with the average squad they start with plus the signings in the screen shot.

San Marino Progress with the tactic:
2014/15 - Serie A 3rd Place (plugged in tactic when in 7th Place, 8W, 3D 1L)
2015/16 - Serie A Champions, Italian Cup Finalists & Europa League Semi-finalists
2016/17 - Quadruple Winners (Serie A, Champions League, Super Cup, Italian Cup)
2017/18* - Treble Winners already (Super Cup, European Super Cup, Club World Championship. 14W 0D 0L 46F 3A in Serie A

*Currently in January 2018


I hope that you enjoy using my tactic, please feel free to post screen shots of your successes, give feedback and also ask for any advice you may need. If this can be developed further I will do so. Many thanks.

Users Progress

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Juventus - Quadruple in first season (inc. Champions league) and a 36-1-1 record in Serie A (Hernes79)


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Besiktas - sitting top of the league (Keles78)

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Swansea 2nd Season - Premier League & Europa League Cup Double (Redtide)

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Wigan 1st Season - 2nd Place and League Cup Winners (Danhimself)

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Liverpool - Treble Winners First Season (Jukilo)

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Reading - Took over March 2013 and sailed from 20th to 11th. Second season = 3rd place, FA Cup Winners & League Cup Winners (Ze Carlos)

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Malmo - League Winners & Great results in Europe! (Mikael Lundin)

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hey sean... have u tried to remake tactic for FM14 beta? this is best tactic for FM 13,it gives me a lot of success with lower teams...
 
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