My Arsenal Anguish

[Teejay Di Mateo]

Okay, so I'm in an online game with a mate, we're into our 4th season now. I've won absolutely nothing (lucky to still be in a job tbf,) and despite assembling a squad with a lot of quality, the players aren't performing and I'm putting in less than impressive displays weekly. I get the odd good performance here and there which keeps me in and around the top 4/5, but I'm not challenging for major honors nor am I playing the football I've set up to play.

I'm in love with the 4-2-3-1 formation, and I have signed players to fit into my tactic (or at least I thought I did,) but the lads are just not playing to their potential, conceding a lot, not scoring enough, a lot of possession but very little penetration and a not enough clinical displays in attack. No matter what I alter at the back, I keep conceding and my away form is horrendous. The likes of Bournemouth, Stoke, QPR, Norwich etc. Always give me a hard game or end up beating me by the odd goal. It's so frustrating!!! Can any experienced FM heads help me out a bit? Posting player roles you believe I should use or general advice would be so helpful! I'm in a bit of a rush and I can't provide screen shots, but my team and tactics are as follows;

My Arsenal Squad
GK: Szczesny, Zieler

RB: Aurier, De Sciglio
CB: Caulker, Sakho, Nastasic, K. Papadopoulos
LB: Moreno, Digne

CM: Ramsey, Rodwell, M'Vila, Aneke (temporary while I get a DM in)
CAM: Ozil, Wilshere
LW: Konoplyanka, G. Ramirez
RW: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott

ST: Benteke, Van Wolfswinkel, Leo.

My Arsenal Tactics

4-2-3-1

GK: GK defend (No instructions)
RB/LB: Full back support (no instructions)
CB's: Centre back's defend (no instructions)

CM: Central midfielder defend (mark tighter, tackle harder)
CM: Deep lying playmaker defend (more direct passes, mark tighter)
CAM: Advanced playmaker attack (roam from position)
LW: Inside forward support (dribble more)
RW: Winger attack (no instructions)

ST: Poacher attack (no instructions)

Team Instructions

Push higher up
Retain possession
Shorter passing
Drill crosses
Hassle opponents
Play out of defense
Higher tempo
Allow wide players to swap

I've been using this tactic for a couple of seasons and the lads are fully familiar, but I'm just not playing well enough. Please, could somebody let me know what system I should use or what player roles, or what team instructions or even which players to try and purchase! I believe I've built a team capable of free scoring whilst being tight at the back. I want to be a fluid, attacking force with this Arsenal.

ANY FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED, THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE.

 

[samboJ]

1. Change DLP D to DLP S. (Too big a gap between central two and front 4).
2. Swap poacher for a proper lone striker role [f9, treq, dlf, tm etc.] (poacher on its own is a terrible choice for a possession tactic - they play off the last man)
3. two playmakers? why? one will suffice
4. drill crosses to benteke is just ridiculous - he's class in the air - float them
5. team doesn't actually look that great tbh, 4th / 5th wouldn't be too bad for that side - moreno is a centre half and not a full back
6. you want to play fluid, attacking, but only one player on support and he's a winger. you defo need a support player in the middle of the pitch - you also arguably have too many 'specialist' roles for a fluid tactic (two playmakers, inside , poacher)
7. read http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/football-manager-2014-tactics/150566-12-steps-successful-career.html ... actually read the WHOLE THING (can't stress this enough)
8. tactical familiarity v important
9. a change in training to cater for your team's needs during dips / peaks in form can help (defensive positioning if conceding lots recently etc.)
10. give signings enough time to gel

 

[88bigphill88]

I don't agree with the thesis of fluidity x specialist roles, at least not in an absolute way. I've seen many tactics with lots of "specialist roles", multiple playmakers (advanced/advanced, deep/deep, deep/advanced) that worked pretty well - and those tactics are usually fluid and with 2 IFs.

The 4-2-3-1 I use derives from the AMC tactic Raikan had for FM 2013. Gk-FB(s)-CD(d)-CD(d)-FB(s);DlP(d/s),BWM(s/d), IF(a), AM(a)-IF(a)-CF(one of a/s). One tweak I did after a few seasons in my first game (and the longest and most succesful and what got me tired of the 4-2-3-1) is change the bwm for a b2b.

Control, Fluid

Push higher up
Retain possession
Shorter passing
Hassle opponents
Get Stuck In
Take the ball into the box
Play out of defense
Slower Tempo

Basically. Also, depending of the game you could change fullback role for wingback, play narrower or wider, explore the wings. In other words, adapt during the match.

When playing outside, against a better team or in a hard game protecting the lead I would use Normal-Balanced, press only behind the middle of the field, play narrower. Other thing I would do was put those two CMs as DM, as DM(d) DlP(s) (I never noticed a huge gap between lines), but that was extreme and mostly playing against ManCity with 3AMCs.

 

[Teejay Di Mateo]

I've made a few tweaks and my results have improved. My two CM roles are now B2B and DLP(d). I noticed the opposition was getting too much freedom between my attack and defense, allowing them to build attacks from the back and hit me on the counter. Now with the B2B midfielder, he presses higher and allows the opposition less time on the ball.

I've also sold Benteke and Bought in Benzema, Benteke was horrible. I've also sold Aneke and signed Sven Bender, he's not the best technically, but has a very good work rate and is an excellent tackler. My full backs are now Wing backs too, and I've seen an improvement in their performances also. Things are picking up now, hopefully I end the season well.

 

[MANUMAD]

I cant really stress how crucial a dlp (defend) is to have at the heart of almost any tactic. As you are finding out ...