EL VOLCANO 3-4-1-2 | Tactical Eruption

[Babemocni1988]

As promised, today I’m opening a new thread.

This tactic is a tweak and evolution of the famous strikeless system called Kickback strikless, which dominated TFF's Hot Tub testing. During further experimentation,after I saw testing version from mr.Infamous, things started to get interesting.

A big credit goes to Mr Vujevic, who implemented the crazy but brilliant idea of keeping both strikers on Hold Up Ball. That single concept changed everything: it allowed the tactic to keep the chaos, overloads, and movement of a strikeless system, while reintroducing two real forwards who link play, pin defenders, and still score heavily.

The result is EL VOLCANO — a 3-4-1-2 hybrid that blends the best strikeless principles with a more traditional attacking structure. It’s perfect for managers who don’t enjoy playing without strikers, but still want a system that breaks the match engine.

This is a plug & play tactic,with certain adjustments against some formations, tested at the highest level, designed for aggressive football, dominance, and goals — without losing the feeling of playing with proper forwards.

More results, explanations, and details will follow in this thread.
This is only the beginning

I managed to win the Champions League with Torino, a club that the media predicted to finish 10th in Serie A, in our very first season participating in the competition.

To be completely honest — it was quite easy.

EL VOLCANO

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

Babe Setpieces

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

babe short routine

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

babe Corner Attack

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

---

 

[Babemocni1988]

Players Profile & Attributes – What You Need for EL VOLCANO​

To get the maximum out of EL VOLCANO, player profiles really matter.
This system can work with many squads, but it truly becomes engine-breaking when the right attributes are in place.

---

Goalkeeper​

Your GK must be reliable in high-pressure moments.

Key attributes:

• Reflexes
• Positioning
• One-on-Ones
• Agility

Shot-stopping is the priority. Distribution is a bonus, but not essential.

---

Centre Backs​

Even with a lower defensive line, pace is still important.

Key attributes:

• Height & Strength
• Strong Mental Attributes (Positioning, Anticipation, Concentration)
• Pace
• Basic Technical Ability (Passing, First Touch)

We build from the back, even though this is a counter-attacking-minded system.
Centre backs must stay calm under pressure and be comfortable playing short passes instead of collapsing against opposition pressing.

---

Central Midfielders – The Heart of the Tactic​

These two roles are absolutely crucial.

They must be able to:

• Dribble
• Score goals
• Win the ball
• Start deadly transitions

I strongly prefer physical midfielders with stamina and strength, combined with good technique.
They are the engine that turns defense into attack within seconds.

---

Wingbacks – KEY POSITION​

This system lives and dies with wingbacks.

Required attributes:

• Acceleration & Pace
• Passing
• Crossing
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

They provide width, overloads, and constant pressure.
Elite wingbacks will completely destroy opposition defensive shapes.

---

Shadow Striker (SS)​

I prefer a technical SS who is also a reliable goal threat.

Important attributes:

• Finishing
• Technique
• Work Rate
• Ability to win second balls

This player links midfield and attack, arriving late into dangerous areas.

---

Strikers​

Both strikers must be good all-round players.

• DLF – more technical, creative, and link-up focused
• Target Forward – more physical, dominant, strong in duels

Both strikers have Dribble More instructions, so they must be able to:

• Run with the ball
• Assist
• Score goals

They are not static forwards — movement and ball-carrying are essential.

---

Out of Possession – Important Detail​

One important, but not decisive, detail:

Both strikers are tasked with marking opposition fullbacks/wingbacks.
Out of possession, they often drift wide and effectively act as wingers.

If they are competent on the wings, this is a big bonus due to positional familiarity — but it is not mandatory.

---

Set Pieces – A Hidden Weapon​

Set pieces should not be ignored,I use

• Man-marking on defensive set pieces
• Short corner routines

These can often be game-changers, regularly creating clear-cut chances.

Tweaks & Adaptations​

Later in this thread, I will also explain how I use small but effective tweaks when I struggle to dominate matches — especially against 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems.


These adjustments help open up compact shapes, regain control, and turn difficult games back in our favor without changing the core identity of EL VOLCANO.

 

[Alexmassimo25]

Quick test with Barcelona,instant results,insane tactic,well done mate

 

[Alexmassimo25]

Players Profile & Attributes – What You Need for EL VOLCANO​

To get the maximum out of EL VOLCANO, player profiles really matter.
This system can work with many squads, but it truly becomes engine-breaking when the right attributes are in place.

---

Goalkeeper​

Your GK must be reliable in high-pressure moments.

Key attributes:

• Reflexes
• Positioning
• One-on-Ones
• Agility

Shot-stopping is the priority. Distribution is a bonus, but not essential.

---

Centre Backs​

Even with a lower defensive line, pace is still important.

Key attributes:

• Height & Strength
• Strong Mental Attributes (Positioning, Anticipation, Concentration)
• Pace
• Basic Technical Ability (Passing, First Touch)

We build from the back, even though this is a counter-attacking-minded system.
Centre backs must stay calm under pressure and be comfortable playing short passes instead of collapsing against opposition pressing.

---

Central Midfielders – The Heart of the Tactic​

These two roles are absolutely crucial.

They must be able to:

• Dribble
• Score goals
• Win the ball
• Start deadly transitions

I strongly prefer physical midfielders with stamina and strength, combined with good technique.
They are the engine that turns defense into attack within seconds.

---

Wingbacks – KEY POSITION​

This system lives and dies with wingbacks.

Required attributes:

• Acceleration & Pace
• Passing
• Crossing
• Work Rate
• Anticipation

They provide width, overloads, and constant pressure.
Elite wingbacks will completely destroy opposition defensive shapes.

---

Shadow Striker (SS)​

I prefer a technical SS who is also a reliable goal threat.

Important attributes:

• Finishing
• Technique
• Work Rate
• Ability to win second balls

This player links midfield and attack, arriving late into dangerous areas.

---

Strikers​

Both strikers must be good all-round players.

• DLF – more technical, creative, and link-up focused
• Target Forward – more physical, dominant, strong in duels

Both strikers have Dribble More instructions, so they must be able to:

• Run with the ball
• Assist
• Score goals

They are not static forwards — movement and ball-carrying are essential.

---

Out of Possession – Important Detail​

One important, but not decisive, detail:

Both strikers are tasked with marking opposition fullbacks/wingbacks.
Out of possession, they often drift wide and effectively act as wingers.

If they are competent on the wings, this is a big bonus due to positional familiarity — but it is not mandatory.

---

Set Pieces – A Hidden Weapon​

Set pieces should not be ignored,I use

• Man-marking on defensive set pieces
• Short corner routines

These can often be game-changers, regularly creating clear-cut chances.

Tweaks & Adaptations​

Later in this thread, I will also explain how I use small but effective tweaks when I struggle to dominate matches — especially against 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems.


These adjustments help open up compact shapes, regain control, and turn difficult games back in our favor without changing the core identity of EL VOLCANO.

I am planing to start new save,I didn't actually try to play,only CL final
I have question regarding OI.
Do you use it or you ask assistant manager to do it?

 

[Babemocni1988]

I am planing to start new save,I didn't actually try to play,only CL final
I have question regarding OI.
Do you use it or you ask assistant manager to do it?

I dont use it, and I recomand to use it only if you know what are you doing

 

[Bodatatu79]

As promised, today I’m opening a new thread.

This tactic is a tweak and evolution of the famous strikeless system called Kickback strikless, which dominated TFF's Hot Tub testing. During further experimentation,after I saw testing version from mr.Infamous, things started to get interesting.

A big credit goes to Mr Vujevic, who implemented the crazy but brilliant idea of keeping both strikers on Hold Up Ball. That single concept changed everything: it allowed the tactic to keep the chaos, overloads, and movement of a strikeless system, while reintroducing two real forwards who link play, pin defenders, and still score heavily.

The result is EL VOLCANO — a 3-4-1-2 hybrid that blends the best strikeless principles with a more traditional attacking structure. It’s perfect for managers who don’t enjoy playing without strikers, but still want a system that breaks the match engine.

This is a plug & play tactic,with certain adjustments against some formations, tested at the highest level, designed for aggressive football, dominance, and goals — without losing the feeling of playing with proper forwards.

More results, explanations, and details will follow in this thread.
This is only the beginning

I managed to win the Champions League with Torino, a club that the media predicted to finish 10th in Serie A, in our very first season participating in the competition.

To be completely honest — it was quite easy.

EL VOLCANO

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

Babe Setpieces

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

babe short routine

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

babe Corner Attack

MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere.

www.mediafire.com

---

About setpieces how to load that 3 downloads? Babe Setpieces is not for All? Why did you add Short Routines and Corner Attack too?

 

[Babemocni1988]

About setpieces how to load that 3 downloads? Babe Setpieces is not for All? Why did you add Short Routines and Corner Attack too?

I add because maybe someone doesn't want to use all of them,so I separate corner routines for those who wants to use only attacking corners

 

[Ariassio]

@Babemocni1988 Hi, what kind of training do you use? And what individual training do you use? Thanks

 

[Babemocni1988]

@Babemocni1988 Hi, what kind of training do you use? And what individual training do you use? Thanks

I delegate all general training to my assistant manager, while I personally handle individual training and position tutoring. This allows me to shape players exactly for the roles I need within the system. FInd good assistant manager with high Motivation and strong Team Management to keep performance levels consistent throughout the squad.

 

[Babemocni1988]

Highly recomanded player for strikers role,very low price (high wage)and high class striker
Watching his atributes I understand that he can play both DLF and TF
He is tall,he have amazing speed,both foots,good finisher,fantastic tehnique,very good threats
Plus ability to play on the wings out of possesion.
For the next season I am planing to make really strong Valencia team because in spain its much easier to build strong team because of high value of the players that you can sell and make profit .Even now in January I will try to make some quality singings because my current team is far from Cl winning team that I want to create for next season

mr.Kolo Muani

 

[Bolituo]

Excellente présentation ! Nous attendons les ajustements et les adaptations.

 

[Rasmus100]

This is a really good way to present a tactic. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more – and most importantly, to trying it out myself.


Which English team do you think would be a good choice to start with if you want to test this tactic in FM26?


And it’s great to see something other than a strikerless tactic! Keep up the great work – I love following what you do, and you’re always very good at explaining the entire process.

 

[Babemocni1988]

This is a really good way to present a tactic. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more – and most importantly, to trying it out myself.


Which English team do you think would be a good choice to start with if you want to test this tactic in FM26?


And it’s great to see something other than a strikerless tactic! Keep up the great work – I love following what you do, and you’re always very good at explaining the entire process.

Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate the support
I’m glad you like the way the tactic is presented and explained – that’s always my main goal,I will expand even more in next days.
Regarding a Premier League team to test this tactic: honestly, I’d recommend picking a club you personally like, not just one that looks perfect on paper. The Premier League is the easiest league in the world when it comes to rebuilding squads because of the finances involved.
If I was able to rebuild and dominate with Torino in Serie A, where there’s basically no money even after winning titles, then doing it in England is much more forgiving and flexible. You can shape the squad exactly how you want over 1–2 seasons without huge limitations.
My next club will actually be in the Premier League as well, once I finish winning everything with my current Spanish team.
The long-term goal of this save is ambitious: winning both the domestic league and the Champions League in 5 different countries, using mid-table teams only.
And yes I’m also happy to bring something different than the usual strikerless setups. Thanks again for following my work – comments like this really motivate me to keep pushing and sharing the full process.

 

[Babemocni1988]

January is getting closer, and the planning phase is already in full motion.

I’ve just completed my first signing, mainly as a precaution for a potential departure of Javi Guerra, who has made it clear he wants to leave. If that happens, it will take around €40M to even start the conversation — and the club is prepared for that scenario.

Before anything else, I moved early to secure a player I know extremely well: my former Torino midfielder, Michele Collocolo. A deal that, honestly, feels like pure Football Manager magic.
For just €15M on instalments, I managed to bring in a midfielder who possesses a set of attributes only a handful of elite players in the game can match.

This is not a random signing.
This is a player who scored hattrick in a Champions League final with Torino against Barcelona, writing himself into the club’s history — and into mine. I know exactly what he can give.

If you take a close look at his profile, it’s easy to see why I trust him so much:
finishing, long shots, passing, tackling, technique, work rate, aggression, composure, anticipation, acceleration, pace, stamina, strength, jumping reach — everything is at a high level. Add to that his 188 cm frame, and you get a midfielder who is decisive in both boxes and reliable in every phase of the game.

I could have gone for a bigger name, a flashy star signing.
But players with this combination of key attributes, mentality, and physical presence are incredibly rare. I already know I can rely on Collocolo — just like I did during my Torino save — and that familiarity is priceless.

There will be more movement.
Diakhaby (ACB) is likely to leave as well. He’s 30 now, and while still solid, he no longer fits my preference for pace and mobility at the back.Few teams alredy on the dorrs for him,as for few more players currently. The striker department will also be refreshed, but not recklessly.

I don’t want to disrupt what we’ve built.
The base of this team is strong, balanced, and stable — so in January I’m planning a maximum of 3–4 signings, nothing more. Evolution, not revolution.

On the pitch, things are going exactly how I want them.
We’re top of the league, 4 points ahead of Real Madrid, and a massive 12 points clear of Barcelona. The recent 3–0 away win against Barça might look comfortable on paper, but make no mistake — it was a very hard game. They played extremely well, and the scoreline doesn’t fully reflect the intensity of the match.

The foundation is set.
January will be about smart, surgical decisions — protecting the present while quietly preparing for the future.

 

[Bolituo]

very great presentation !
what are the tweaks and adaptations that you talk in the presentation please ?

 

[Babemocni1988]

very great presentation !
what are the tweaks and adaptations that you talk in the presentation please ?

The tweaks and adaptations I mentioned are very situational and not something I apply by default.
Because of that, I’m planning to take screenshots during real matches, especially in moments when I’m not fully happy with how the team is performing.

I believe this is the best way to explain it, because if I just write about these adjustments in theory, it won’t be easy for everyone to understand. Seeing the match situation + the tweak together will make everything much clearer.

So basically, I’m waiting for those rare moments when the tactic doesn’t dominate as expected and I’m forced to make a small adjustment.
That doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I’ll document it properly and explain why and when the tweak is needed.

 

[Bolituo]

do you make tweaks for keeping the score at the end of the match ?

 

[Babemocni1988]

do you make tweaks for keeping the score at the end of the match ?

To be honest I dont,only if I see that my team doesn't play well then I try to understand why,and tweak it during the game if needed

 

[EdgeRunner]

Hi babe, i'm using the volcano with Juventus.
Di Gregorio
Gatti Bremer Kelly
Kalulu Locatelli thuram cambiaso
Yldiz
David vlahovic
It Is good?
Other players are, perin, Rugani, Joao Mario, kostic, cabal, koopmeiners, mckennie, miretti, conceicao, zegrhova, adzic, milik, openda.

 

[Babemocni1988]

Kelly I dont like because of poor aggression,
Kalulu is poor at dribling
The rest is good
You should dominate with that team