IL MARTELLO 3-5-2 | A TRIBUTE TO ANTONIO CONTE | FM27
Built on discipline. Driven by passion. Obsessed to win.
THE PREMIER LEAGUE TEST — CRYSTAL PALACE
As promised, before releasing IL MARTELLO, I wanted to put the tactic through another serious test, this time in what I consider the toughest league in the world — the English Premier League.
For this challenge, I chose Crystal Palace.
Why Palace?
Because they have many of the characteristics this system requires: tall, strong and mobile forwards with good finishing ability, a solid midfield, excellent wing-backs, a reliable defence and a very good goalkeeper.
No transfers. No signings. No squad rebuild. Just the original Crystal Palace squad.
THE INSPIRATION — CONTE'S INTER MILAN
IL MARTELLO is my tribute to Antonio Conte and his magnificent Inter Milan side that won Serie A in 2020/21.
I wanted to recreate the identity of that team — the defensive discipline, controlled possession, intelligent midfield movement, devastating wing-backs and the incredible partnership between Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro MartÃnez.
The roles have been inspired by that unforgettable team:
- Romelu Lukaku — Complete Forward: Powerful, mobile and dangerous in front of goal. At Crystal Palace, Evann Guessand takes on this role.
- Lautaro MartÃnez — Deep-Lying Forward: Linking the attack, combining with his strike partner and exploiting dangerous spaces.
- Christian Eriksen — Midfield Playmaker: Creativity and intelligent passing from the left side of midfield.
- Nicolò Barella — Channel Midfielder: Energy, aggressive forward runs and dangerous combinations from the right.
- Marcelo Brozović — Deep-Lying Playmaker: The brain of the midfield, controlling possession and dictating the rhythm.
- Achraf Hakimi and Ivan Perišić — Attacking Wing-Backs: Providing width, attacking movement and dangerous deliveries into the box.
Behind them, a disciplined back three provides the defensive foundation.
The objective was not to reproduce every movement perfectly, but to bring the principles and identity of Conte's Inter into Football Manager 27.
CRYSTAL PALACE — PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
1ST PLACE AFTER 10 MATCHES
- 9 wins
- 0 draws
- 1 defeat
- 27 points from 30
- +15 goal difference
These results honestly exceeded my expectations.
Crystal Palace, with their original squad, sitting above Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and the rest after ten matches!
And what impressed me most was not simply winning, but the way we played.
Controlled possession, intelligent passing, dangerous attacking transitions, excellent wing-back combinations and a strong defensive structure.
The board feedback speaks for itself: high-quality passing, entertaining football, plenty of goals and an excellent defensive record.
EVANN GUESSAND — OUR LUKAKU!
One of the most satisfying parts of this test was watching Evann Guessand perform in the role inspired by Romelu Lukaku.
8 Premier League goals in 10 appearances!
7.44 average rating
His physical presence, mobility and attacking qualities make him an excellent fit for this system.
Watching him perform so well was especially satisfying because the attacking structure was designed around the principles of Conte's famous Lukaku–Lautaro partnership.
THE LUKAKU STORY — CONTE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED!
I remember very well how determined Antonio Conte was to bring Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan.Even Lukaku wasnt playing good at that moment.
He wanted him at practically any cost. He pushed hard for the transfer, insisting to the board that Lukaku was the striker he needed to build his project.
And Conte had his reasons.
He knew exactly what Lukaku could bring to his system. His physical strength, explosive pace, ability to hold up the ball and devastating runs behind defenders made him the perfect striker for Conte's 3-5-2.
The results were extraordinary.
Under Conte, Lukaku became one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Together with Lautaro MartÃnez, he formed an absolutely devastating partnership that helped bring the Scudetto back to Inter.
Conte believed in Lukaku. Lukaku delivered.
WHY THE TEST ENDED AFTER 10 MATCHES
Once again, I decided to finish the test earlier than originally planned.
And there is a very important reason for that.
There is little value in continuing to judge a tactical system when you start losing the key players who make that system function.
We must remember that Crystal Palace are not Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea.
Those clubs generally have the financial resources and squad depth to replace important players with footballers of similar quality.
Crystal Palace do not have that luxury in every position if you dont rebuild it and sign backups
When injuries, suspensions or fatigue start affecting key players, the quality of the replacements becomes extremely important.
This system depends on certain player characteristics. It is not enough to put just anybody into a position and expect exactly the same performance.
The wing-backs are a perfect example.
They are among the most demanding positions in this tactic. They constantly contribute to both attack and defence, making forward runs, providing width, delivering crosses and recovering their defensive positions.
Very often, around the 70th minute, they need to be substituted.
And that is where squad depth becomes crucial.
If the replacement cannot provide the necessary physical intensity, movement and attacking contribution, the effectiveness of the entire system can suffer.
The same applies to our two strikers.
Sometimes a striker simply isn't having a good match. Sometimes he becomes tired, struggles against certain defenders or fails to make the expected impact.
In those situations, making a substitution can completely change the game.
But the player coming on must have the appropriate attributes to perform the required role.
This is something I consider extremely important when building a team during a long-term career.
Your substitutes do not need to be as good as your starting eleven, but they must be good enough to maintain the tactical identity of the team.
They need the right attributes, the right physical qualities and the ability to carry out their responsibilities.
Otherwise, even an excellent tactical system can lose much of its effectiveness.
That is why I believe these ten matches were enough to demonstrate what IL MARTELLO can achieve with Crystal Palace's strongest available players.
Continuing with a significantly weakened squad would increasingly become a test of Crystal Palace's squad depth rather than a fair evaluation of the tactic itself.
Of course, squad management is part of a full career. But for this particular test, my priority was to evaluate the tactical system and its potential.
THE FINAL VERDICT
I have spent many hours trying to recreate this particular style of football on FM 27
Not simply another formation that wins matches.
A system with an identity.
A system where every player has a purpose, where the midfield operates as a unit, where the wing-backs become genuine attacking weapons and where the two strikers complement each other.
After testing IL MARTELLO in Serie A and now seeing Crystal Palace win nine of their first ten Premier League matches, I am more convinced than ever that this system can deliver something special.
But I also want to emphasise one final point:
The tactic is important. The players who execute it are just as important.
Build your squad intelligently. Pay attention to the required attributes. Make sure you have suitable replacements, particularly for your wing-backs and strikers.
That is how you turn a successful tactic into a successful long-term career.
9 WINS. 10 MATCHES. TOP OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE. NO TRANSFERS. CRYSTAL PALACE.
And most importantly, football inspired by the magnificent Antonio Conte's Inter Milan.
IL MARTELLO IS ALMOST READY FOR RELEASE! 
I've decided to upload and release IL MARTELLO as soon as the FM27 Tactic Thread officially opens.
I want everyone to have the opportunity to download it, test it and experience the football inspired by Antonio Conte's magnificent Inter Milan tactic
