Help With Counter-Attacking Tactic

[stanpetrov]

I'm working on a new tactic for my Bradford City side who I've just got promoted to League 1. Generally I like my teams to play narrow attacking possesion football, but seen as I've just been promoted I've decided to try my hand at a defensive/counter-attacking tactic to try to cope with being a newly promoted side and I was hoping i could get some tips/suggestions on how to improve my tactic.

I've gone with this formation as it suits the players I have at the moment:

View attachment 117725

These are the team instructions I'm using:

View attachment 117726

Players Roles:

GK / Goalkeeper / Defend
CBs / Central Defender / Defend
FBs / Full Back / Automatic
DMCL / Defensive Midfielder / Defend
DMCR / Anchorman / Defend
MC / Box to Box / Support
AML&R / Inside Forward / Attack
ST / Advanced Forward / Attack

I've gone for a Rigid set-up with minimum roaming from position, low levels of Creative Freedom and restricted Long Shots on most of my team to suit the standard of players I have at my disposal. I think the D-Line may be a little too high at the moment but I'm still experimenting with that, and my Full-Backs seem to be struggling a little at the moment. I've also made Standard and Control versions of the formation for games I feel I have a better chance in, but kept most of the individual player settings the same across all three formations.

I've attached the formation if anyone wants to take a closer look at it.

These are the results I've had so far:

View attachment 117727

I haven't tried using any OI yet, and the only Sideline Instructions I've used were against Spurs (when I went 4-1 down I used Play Wider & Look for Overlap and managed to pull two goals back).

Any suggestions/criticisms would be appreciated.

 

[Montanaro]

For starters, check your player instructions and set one of the DMs or the CM to high direct passing, or set them all to it. Right now, by default your DMs are short passers, not something you want with a counter formation.

Another thing is that your D line is too high.

Counter football IMO, consists of absorbing or drawing in the other team into your 3rd of the pitch, then kickin a long ball to a striker who only has to beat a couple CBs. Also I think it's important to give your attacking players high creative freedom, you want them to be creative in order to beat the CBs and keeper. Another thing is that you play with wingers but play a narrow width and only pass through the middle, this really restricts your counter attacking options.

In your case, you want your striker and two wingers to spread the field (forcing the Cbs to spread out) and the added creative freedom and fast tempo should shread the defenders. If you add a deep absorbing defensive line to your tactic, it will encourage the opposition to push his fullbacks forward, giving you a numerical advantage on the counter attack.

 

[stanpetrov]

my DMs are both set to Direct (16) passing, and my CM set to Mixed (13, one notch below Direct), i should have mentioned that in the OP. the D-Line was something i was concerned about and i've now adjusted that to a deeper setting.

the thinking behind the narrow width and passing, and using Inside Forwards rather than Wingers was so that off the ball my Wingers (who are set to quite high closing down) will help defend down the wings, but when i'm on the attack they'll move further in the pitch to give more options and more support to the Striker as i was concerned about him being a little isolated without another Striker/AMC. but after reading your post i'll definitely give that a go.

thanks for the response it's greatly appreciated.

 

[Montanaro]

Well any AMR/AML will naturally be inadequate in defense, and if you set his mentality to be more defensive then you lose some of your counter attacking punch.

You've already got two DMs and a deep CM, you'll just have to accept that the wings will be a bit more exposed.