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

dicat69 said:
Hi, congrats on the quality of all of the explanation and on the tactic, who works really well. Just one question, which one in ur opinion is the best working set pieces? Thank in advance.
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Thanks mate.
Regarding set pieces I would recommend to use near post if you have tall guy and good set pieces taker,otherwise use short corner routines.
I am still working on it.
I am sure that set pieces could have bigger impact as it was on previous version of the game.
It takes time and require lot of testing.
I dont like to test tactics on holiday like others,I rather play and tweak, and it takes time 😀
 
Babemocni1988 said:
Offcorse,very good choice
Just dont play Konsa and Tielemans :LOL:
The rest of the team is fantastic
Mcginn and Onana nice combo,good wingback too
You should dominate
Click to expand...
Thanks for advices, i didnt play them but I also wasn't able to get rid of them.
Now after some time they are trying to disrupt dressings room for not playing and I started struggling.
I am on the Top of the league for now but I feel I need better backups,i signed only right back.
 
Babemocni1988 said:
Kelly I dont like because of poor aggression,
Kalulu is poor at dribling
The rest is good
You should dominate with that team 😉
Click to expand...
Where i can play Kalulu? Centre back or Wingback?
and Cabal? is better on the wings or central defender?
And wingers like conceicao and zegrhova?
 
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Alexmassimo25 said:
Thanks for advices, i didnt play them but I also wasn't able to get rid of them.
Now after some time they are trying to disrupt dressings room for not playing and I started struggling.
I am on the Top of the league for now but I feel I need better backups,i signed only right back.
Click to expand...
Team management is the most important part of success.
If you’re playing 4 competitions, like Aston Villa in the first season, you must have a squad of around 23 players who can step in at any moment and still make an impact.
The smartest approach is to use your strongest XI in the Premier League, while rotating and using backups in the other competitions to keep players fresh and sharp.
On top of that, when buying players, you must be very careful with promised playing time. If roles aren’t respected, you’ll quickly face unhappy players, dressing-room issues, and a drop in morale, which can hurt performances no matter how good the tactic is.
 
Babemocni1988 said:
Team management is the most important part of success.
If you’re playing 4 competitions, like Aston Villa in the first season, you must have a squad of around 23 players who can step in at any moment and still make an impact.
The smartest approach is to use your strongest XI in the Premier League, while rotating and using backups in the other competitions to keep players fresh and sharp.
On top of that, when buying players, you must be very careful with promised playing time. If roles aren’t respected, you’ll quickly face unhappy players, dressing-room issues, and a drop in morale, which can hurt performances no matter how good the tactic is.
Click to expand...
Yes I understand it now.I really like this tactic its really exciting to use it,i lost only one game against Liverpool away,I made mistake not selling some players and now i have problems.
My strikers both got injured and now I struggle with my bench
 

Valencia – Season 2: A New Era Built for Silverware​


Season 2 marks a huge transformation at Valencia. The rebuild is complete, the signings are done, and this squad is now designed to compete seriously on three fronts.


Only five players from last season’s first XI remain. Everyone else is new—and the difference is clear. This team is insanely fast, physically strong, and much deeper than before. Pace, acceleration, and strength are everywhere on the pitch, and for the first time, the backups are almost as good as the starters. Rotation will no longer weaken us.

Team A

Football Manager 26 12_01_2026 13_53_27.webp


Team B

Football Manager 26 12_01_2026 14_08_46.webp

Midfield: Young and World Class​


The heart of the team is the midfield. My two central midfielders are young, world-class players who already dominate games. Energy, quality, and consistency—exactly what you need to control matches across multiple competitions.


Wingbacks: Pace, Youth, and Depth​


The wingback positions are stacked with speed and youth:


  • Mambwa (19)
  • Banjaqui (20)

Both bring explosive pace and intensity, perfectly suited to the system. Even better, I have two wingbacks on the bench almost at the same level, which allows constant rotation without losing quality.


Attack: Power, Pace, and Clinical Finishing​


Up front, I made one decision I’m especially happy with: Raúl García stayed. I didn’t want to sell him—and last season proved why. He was an insane finisher, exactly what this team needs.


He’s now paired with Italian international Moise Kean—a striker with pace, technique, and finishing. Together, they give us different profiles but the same end product: goals.


On top of that, I managed to sign Georges Mikautadze on a free transfer. An incredible Georgian DLF, he adds intelligence, link-up play, and real competition. The fight for first-team places in attack will be extremely interesting.


The Challenge Ahead​


This squad is now built to fight for trophies on three fronts. Depth is no longer an excuse—it’s a strength. The key challenge for me as a manager will be teamwork, morale, and managing playing time across three competitions.


The objective is clear:


  • Compete everywhere
  • Rotate smartly
  • Keep everyone involved
  • And make the Champions League the number one priority

Season 2 is not about rebuilding anymore.
It’s about winning.
 
Babemocni1988 said:

🔥 Half-Time Reaction: How EL VOLCANO Turned a 0–1 Struggle into a 3–1 Destruction vs 4-2-3-1​

At half time I was 1–0 down and clearly not comfortable.
Espanol was using a classic 4-2-3-1 with:

  • attacking fullbacks
  • inverted wingers
  • a central AM finding space
The goal I conceded was the biggest warning sign:
their fullback scored, arriving late into the box.

That instantly told me one thing:




What Was Going Wrong in the First Half​

  • I was using Invite Crosses
  • My team was too passive against their AM
  • Their wingers pinned my wingbacks
  • Their fullbacks were free to attack space
In short:
I was allowing width against a system built on width.

That had to stop immediately.


Half-Time Tweaks That Changed the Game​

Turned OFF “Invite Crosses”​

This was the first and most important change.

Against a 4-2-3-1:

  • Inviting crosses means inviting:
    • FB overloads
    • cutbacks
    • late arrivals
Once this was removed:

  • their FBs stopped attacking freely
  • their threat immediately dropped

Focus Play Through the Middle​

This was the key attacking adjustment.

Why?

  • 4-2-3-1 is strongest out wide
  • weakest zone is between the double pivot and CBs
With EL VOLCANO’s:

  • DLF + TM
  • narrow shape
  • direct vertical play
I deliberately attacked the central channel.

Result:

  • DMs got dragged out
  • CBs stepped forward
  • space opened instantly
Both goals came from central chaos, not wide play.


Trigger Press → More Often (Not Extreme)​

I increased pressing, but controlled it.

  • More Often, not Much More Often
  • Target was:
    • their double pivot
    • their AM
This:

  • rushed their buildup
  • denied time on the ball
  • stopped clean switches to the wings
Very important:
I did not high-press CBs or GK.
I pressed the brain, not the limbs.

The Result​

After these tweaks:

View attachment 701825

  • 2 goals in 10 minutes
  • complete momentum shift
  • opponent never recovered
  • final score: 3–1
No formation change.
No role overhaul.
Just understanding the matchup.


Key Lesson vs 4-2-3-1​


This match was a perfect example of how small, correct adjustments can completely flip a game.

For me, this is what Football Manager is about:

  • reading the match
  • understanding shapes
  • reacting with logic, not panic
EL VOLCANO didn’t change.
The way I aimed it did. 🔥
I will probably use this tweak against every 4231 Double DM.I am so happy when I find out that logical tweak actually somethimes work very well in the game 🔥
Stay tuned!
Click to expand...
In your tweak against 4231 Double DM when you refer that the target of your pressing is the double pivot and the AM you are referring to the opposition instructions (tick "press always")?
 
Hey, I'm playing on console and I can't install the tactics through it, could someone share the player and team instructions? Thanks in advance.
 
esculas3 said:
In your tweak against 4231 Double DM when you refer that the target of your pressing is the double pivot and the AM you are referring to the opposition instructions (tick "press always")?
Click to expand...
I was referring on team instructions that I implemented,like playing through the middle ecc.
NO OI,i dont use them,only occasionally against 433 DM tight marking 2 CM's
 

🔥 IL VOLCANO – PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS (FM26 CONSOLE)​

Goalkeeper (GK)​

  • Take More Risks

​

Back Three​

BCB (Left & Right)

  • Make Fewer Runs
  • Take More Risks
  • Tackle Harder
ACB (Central)

  • Make Fewer Runs
  • Take More Risks
  • Tackle Harder

​

Wing-Backs (Left & Right)​

  • Stay Wider
  • Make More Runs
  • Shoot Less Often
  • Cross From Byline
  • Tackle Harder

​

Attacking Midfielder (AM)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Tackle Harder

​

Central Holding Midfielder (CHM)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Shoot Less Often
  • Tackle Harder

​

Shadow Striker (SS)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Make More Runs
  • Tackle Harder

​

Target Forward (TF)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Dribble More
  • Hold Up Ball
  • Shoot More Often
  • Tackle Harder
  • Trigger Press More Often
  • Mark Position: DR

Deep-Lying Forward (DLF)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Dribble More
  • Hold Up Ball
  • Shoot More Often
  • Trigger Press More Often
  • Tackle Harder
  • Mark Position: DL

​

⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT NOTE​

When the opposition plays with wing-backs in formations like:

  • 3-4-3
  • 3-5-2
  • 3-4-2-1
➡️ Your strikers MUST mark the opposition wing-backs (left & right).
This is crucial to stop overloads, crosses, and easy progression down the flanks.

IMPORTANT – USE MATCH TWEAKS​


It is very important to use the tweaks vs 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.
I Recomand to start every match with original tactic and change if needed.


➡️ The only changes are in OUR Team Instructions
➡️ Player Instructions stay exactly the same


I already explained and posted those team instruction tweaks on the previous pages 😉
Make sure you apply them when facing these systems, otherwise you won’t get the maximum from IL Volcano.
 
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Season Two Begins: Valencia, Ready to Fly​

Coming into my second season with Valencia, I can honestly say everything feels right. Pre-season was completed without any problems, the squad settled quickly, fitness levels were excellent, and from the first day you could feel the excitement around the club. I was incredibly curious—and excited—to see how all the new players would adapt to my system.

The answer came immediately. And it was insane.

Football Manager 26 12_01_2026 18_35_39.webp


In our very first competitive match of the season, we absolutely destroyed Deportivo 1–7 away from home. This is a team that last season managed to take points at home against both Real Madrid and Barcelona, so this was not an easy place to go. Yet from the first minute we were dominant, aggressive, fast, and ruthless.

Raúl García once again proved why I don’t need a “better” target man than him. He never stops scoring, always fights for every ball, and this night he delivered a brace, winning Man of the Match. His movement, physical presence, and finishing are perfect for this system, and he continues to reward my trust every single game.

Our pacey wingbacks were simply unstoppable, destroying their flanks again and again with runs, overlaps, and quality delivery. In the middle, my two dynamic midfielders completely dominated the centre of the pitch, winning duels, controlling tempo, and breaking lines with ease. Deportivo simply couldn’t live with our intensity.

What made me even happier was the impact from the bench. The substitutes who came on played with confidence, scoring goals and creating chances for fun. That depth is something I value massively, especially with a long season ahead and multiple competitions to fight on.

I am genuinely excited about this season. I’m enjoying my time at Valencia far more than I ever did at Torino, where I simply wasn’t able to sign such incredible young talents. Here, everything feels aligned—the recruitment, the system, the squad profile, and the ambition.

This is only the beginning, but if this opening match is any indication, Valencia are ready to compete on every front. And I can’t wait to see how far this team can go. 🔥🦇
 
Babemocni1988 said:

🔥 IL VOLCANO – PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS (FM26 CONSOLE)​

Goalkeeper (GK)​

  • Take More Risks

​

Back Three​

BCB (Left & Right)

  • Make Fewer Runs
  • Take More Risks
  • Tackle Harder
ACB (Central)

  • Make Fewer Runs
  • Take More Risks
  • Tackle Harder

​

Wing-Backs (Left & Right)​

  • Stay Wider
  • Make More Runs
  • Shoot Less Often
  • Cross From Byline
  • Tackle Harder

​

Attacking Midfielder (AM)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Tackle Harder

​

Central Holding Midfielder (CHM)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Shoot Less Often
  • Tackle Harder

​

Shadow Striker (SS)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Make More Runs
  • Tackle Harder

​

Target Forward (TF)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Dribble More
  • Hold Up Ball
  • Shoot More Often
  • Tackle Harder
  • Trigger Press More Often
  • Mark Position: DR

Deep-Lying Forward (DLF)​

  • Move Into Channels
  • Dribble More
  • Hold Up Ball
  • Shoot More Often
  • Trigger Press More Often
  • Tackle Harder
  • Mark Position: DL

​

⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT NOTE​

When the opposition plays with wing-backs in formations like:

  • 3-4-3
  • 3-5-2
  • 3-4-2-1
➡️ Your strikers MUST mark the opposition wing-backs (left & right).
This is crucial to stop overloads, crosses, and easy progression down the flanks.

IMPORTANT – USE MATCH TWEAKS​


It is very important to use the tweaks vs 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.


➡️ The only changes are in OUR Team Instructions
➡️ Player Instructions stay exactly the same


I already explained and posted those team instruction tweaks on the previous pages 😉
Make sure you apply them when facing these systems, otherwise you won’t get the maximum from IL Volcano.
Click to expand...
If the opposition plays with inverted wingbacks, do not mark them with our strikers.
This prevents our strikers from being dragged out of position and keeps the central pressing shape intact.
 
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