Phil's Support-Defend-Support 4-3-2-1 Tactic. 3 seasons - 3 promotions! - Testers!!
Phil's Support-Defend-Support (4-3-2-1) Tactic
View attachment 126161
I've decided to put this tactic up to see if it works for teams other than my own. (ie premier league teams) It's not an "invisible" tactic. What I have experienced is that it's worked great for my low rep York City team! 3 promotions in 4 seasons (first season I used a different tactic) and I'm really curious how it will fare for big teams! So I need some of you to test it with your big gun teams and let me know how it goes!
View attachment 126155
View attachment 126159
View attachment 126158
The Tactic
My inspiration for this tactic was some-how-what the barca 4-3-3 tactic that practically everyone on this forum is trying to emulate. However mine is a little different. The other inspiration is Koflok's "goal galore" tactic which I've used in my first season in the BSP (this season is not included in this topic) after playing his tactic I realized that I didn't want to just use someone else's tactic and win everything win it- I wanted to create something myself.
This tactic is a little unusual as most people tend to use simple 4-4-2 formations in the Lower Leagues. My tactic is a "4-3-3" tactic but in reality it is a 4-3-2-1 tactic. My goal is to play an attacking game while maintaining possession (duh!) The difference with most tactics on here is that I use a block of 3 midfielders instead of a DM and 2 midfielders in front of him. Other than the 4 man block behind is not very different from other tactics. In my ideal tactic the CB's will be tall and strong with good mental attributes and the FB's need speed to work on the flanks and support attacks. The midfield will be the engine of this tactic. More about the midfielders later on. I have used direct passing in all seasons but simple passing might be a good next step to develop this tactic further. I don't use a lot of creativity in this tactic for two reasons. 1: There are not a lot of creative-gifted players in the lower leagues. 2: Creativity is a mighty tool that is to be used sparsely. (Right now only my Playmaker is allowed to be "more creative")
After the hard-working midfielders have played the ball up the pitch to the wingers they will make a move up front connect with the forward or the midfielders that quickly help in the attack. If there's no options available, the full back will use a simple pass to open up the play.
Triangles are the essence of football.
I believe that quick play in triangle forms are the essence of football and are the best way to get the ball into the opposition's box. My 3 block midfield makes for the most simple triangle in football, and this will ensure that possesion is kept. When the ball gets to the wingers the wingers will run up the pitch with the ball and the box to box midfielder will support him in this task, as well as the playmaker, supplying passing options for the winger if necessary. The deeplying-forward will link up play with the winger and make his way for goal. The wing-backs will always be a passing options for the wingers completing the backward triangle.
I've had a lot of fun developing this tactic and as you can see I've been promoted ever year that I've used this tactic and as I'm typing this update. I am on the verge of winning a promotion play-off place to the premier league(!) i could ramble on about this but let's keep it simple- take a look at the instructions, play with it and let me know what you think!
View attachment 126360
Advanced Team instructions
Defensive Line: Normal you can experiment with using a high line if you have fast defenders.
Width: Wide
Tempo: Quick
Time Wasting: Rarely
Focus Passing: Mixed
Counter Attack: Yes
Play Offside: No
My "best" feat as of yet were my two cup matches against Arsenal (While being in the League 1)
View attachment 126154
View attachment 126162
As you can see it's a 4-3-2-1 tactic, but with the team settings and individual settings it works out as a "4-5-1" formation.
View attachment 126148
Player Requirements/Roles
Goalkeeper – Sweeper Keeper. I currently have a keeper in goal with high eccentricity and it seems to work well.
Full-backs – Set to wing-backs. I genebrally look for Speed and passing. I've found that I don't get a lot of succesful crosses in my games, so my tactic won't be really focusing on getting crosses into the box.
'=View attachment 126358
They get a lot of passes per game and they need to be in top shape to cover the flanks
*Natural fitness a MUST for this position. They cover a lot of ground and if they don't have enough natural fitness + stamina they will only last 45 minutes or even less!
Centre-backs – Defend. Try and find them tall, strong, with good marking and heading attributes as he will also be up front in corners trying to head the ball home! One is set up as a zonal defender, one is a man-marker.
LCM – Box to Box. Make sure he has good dribbling attributes and long shots is always a plus. Stamina and natural fitness very important as he will be closing down over the whole pitch and supporting the attacks.
CM Ball Winning Midfielder - Very much the heart of the team. He will make simple passes rather than direct passes and he will need natural fitness marking tackling positioning and strength His tackling will be set to hard. Think of a Nigel de Jong / Mark van Bommel kind of player.
RCM – Deep Lying playmaker. Make sure to look for creativity and passing as he will serve as the primary playmaker. It is his goal to spray the balls around and make sure they end up forward.
(I have played around with this position a lot and I still can't manage to get this player to make the most passes of my team - this is a feat mostly achieved by my full backs - So if anyone of you willing to test my tactic and come up with a better role for this position, by all means feel free to do so! I've also tried playing an AMC instead of an MCR)
Left winger – Inside Forward. Make sure you look for pace, dribbling and finishing Passing and decisions also important but I've been working with minimal players here (BSP/L2/L1) He will cut inside and provide you with goals. (ever since i've minimalized the use of creativity this position has been killer!)
Right winger – Advanced Playmaker/Inside Forward
If you are going to use an Advanced playmaker make sure he has 15+ creativity, high passing/crossing etc.
Myself- I use the inside forward mainly because my squad lacks creativity for more than one playmaker. Limit his creativity and look for the same as the other inside forward.
STC - Deep-Lying forward. He will be trying to link up play but it's always a plus if he''s a striker that knows how to finish and stand alone: dribbling, positioning, Finishing, Off the ball and pace Natural fitness always a plus.
I strive to make it a tactic that doesn't focus on crossing, but rather on passing. As I think crossing is a part of football that relies too much on luck than skill. dominating the game cannot be done by using a lot of crosses.
Opposition instructions/team talk
Let your assistant manager handle the OI and set team talk to "you can win this!"
This tactic works both for away- and home games.
Let me know if you want to test this tactic for me or if you have any questions!
*UPDATE PATCH 11.2.1
Full-Backs roles changed to wing-backs with normal mentality
Made some zonal-man marking tweaks.
Made some creativy tweaks (only player with highest creativity is now set to the creativy - much. This means that the wingers are less creative and it has lead to more goals from my wingers. (yes!)
STC now set to deeplying forward to make sure the gap between midfield-forward is minimal.
Winger Roles changed to inside forwards
STC is now a deep-lying forward.
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=4308
- New tactic has been attached.
Phil's Support-Defend-Support (4-3-2-1) Tactic
View attachment 126161
I've decided to put this tactic up to see if it works for teams other than my own. (ie premier league teams) It's not an "invisible" tactic. What I have experienced is that it's worked great for my low rep York City team! 3 promotions in 4 seasons (first season I used a different tactic) and I'm really curious how it will fare for big teams! So I need some of you to test it with your big gun teams and let me know how it goes!
View attachment 126155
View attachment 126159
View attachment 126158
The Tactic
My inspiration for this tactic was some-how-what the barca 4-3-3 tactic that practically everyone on this forum is trying to emulate. However mine is a little different. The other inspiration is Koflok's "goal galore" tactic which I've used in my first season in the BSP (this season is not included in this topic) after playing his tactic I realized that I didn't want to just use someone else's tactic and win everything win it- I wanted to create something myself.
This tactic is a little unusual as most people tend to use simple 4-4-2 formations in the Lower Leagues. My tactic is a "4-3-3" tactic but in reality it is a 4-3-2-1 tactic. My goal is to play an attacking game while maintaining possession (duh!) The difference with most tactics on here is that I use a block of 3 midfielders instead of a DM and 2 midfielders in front of him. Other than the 4 man block behind is not very different from other tactics. In my ideal tactic the CB's will be tall and strong with good mental attributes and the FB's need speed to work on the flanks and support attacks. The midfield will be the engine of this tactic. More about the midfielders later on. I have used direct passing in all seasons but simple passing might be a good next step to develop this tactic further. I don't use a lot of creativity in this tactic for two reasons. 1: There are not a lot of creative-gifted players in the lower leagues. 2: Creativity is a mighty tool that is to be used sparsely. (Right now only my Playmaker is allowed to be "more creative")
After the hard-working midfielders have played the ball up the pitch to the wingers they will make a move up front connect with the forward or the midfielders that quickly help in the attack. If there's no options available, the full back will use a simple pass to open up the play.
Triangles are the essence of football.
I believe that quick play in triangle forms are the essence of football and are the best way to get the ball into the opposition's box. My 3 block midfield makes for the most simple triangle in football, and this will ensure that possesion is kept. When the ball gets to the wingers the wingers will run up the pitch with the ball and the box to box midfielder will support him in this task, as well as the playmaker, supplying passing options for the winger if necessary. The deeplying-forward will link up play with the winger and make his way for goal. The wing-backs will always be a passing options for the wingers completing the backward triangle.
I've had a lot of fun developing this tactic and as you can see I've been promoted ever year that I've used this tactic and as I'm typing this update. I am on the verge of winning a promotion play-off place to the premier league(!) i could ramble on about this but let's keep it simple- take a look at the instructions, play with it and let me know what you think!
View attachment 126360
Advanced Team instructions
Defensive Line: Normal you can experiment with using a high line if you have fast defenders.
Width: Wide
Tempo: Quick
Time Wasting: Rarely
Focus Passing: Mixed
Counter Attack: Yes
Play Offside: No
My "best" feat as of yet were my two cup matches against Arsenal (While being in the League 1)
View attachment 126154
View attachment 126162
As you can see it's a 4-3-2-1 tactic, but with the team settings and individual settings it works out as a "4-5-1" formation.
View attachment 126148
Player Requirements/Roles
Goalkeeper – Sweeper Keeper. I currently have a keeper in goal with high eccentricity and it seems to work well.
Full-backs – Set to wing-backs. I genebrally look for Speed and passing. I've found that I don't get a lot of succesful crosses in my games, so my tactic won't be really focusing on getting crosses into the box.
'=View attachment 126358
They get a lot of passes per game and they need to be in top shape to cover the flanks
*Natural fitness a MUST for this position. They cover a lot of ground and if they don't have enough natural fitness + stamina they will only last 45 minutes or even less!
Centre-backs – Defend. Try and find them tall, strong, with good marking and heading attributes as he will also be up front in corners trying to head the ball home! One is set up as a zonal defender, one is a man-marker.
LCM – Box to Box. Make sure he has good dribbling attributes and long shots is always a plus. Stamina and natural fitness very important as he will be closing down over the whole pitch and supporting the attacks.
CM Ball Winning Midfielder - Very much the heart of the team. He will make simple passes rather than direct passes and he will need natural fitness marking tackling positioning and strength His tackling will be set to hard. Think of a Nigel de Jong / Mark van Bommel kind of player.
RCM – Deep Lying playmaker. Make sure to look for creativity and passing as he will serve as the primary playmaker. It is his goal to spray the balls around and make sure they end up forward.
(I have played around with this position a lot and I still can't manage to get this player to make the most passes of my team - this is a feat mostly achieved by my full backs - So if anyone of you willing to test my tactic and come up with a better role for this position, by all means feel free to do so! I've also tried playing an AMC instead of an MCR)
Left winger – Inside Forward. Make sure you look for pace, dribbling and finishing Passing and decisions also important but I've been working with minimal players here (BSP/L2/L1) He will cut inside and provide you with goals. (ever since i've minimalized the use of creativity this position has been killer!)
Right winger – Advanced Playmaker/Inside Forward
If you are going to use an Advanced playmaker make sure he has 15+ creativity, high passing/crossing etc.
Myself- I use the inside forward mainly because my squad lacks creativity for more than one playmaker. Limit his creativity and look for the same as the other inside forward.
STC - Deep-Lying forward. He will be trying to link up play but it's always a plus if he''s a striker that knows how to finish and stand alone: dribbling, positioning, Finishing, Off the ball and pace Natural fitness always a plus.
I strive to make it a tactic that doesn't focus on crossing, but rather on passing. As I think crossing is a part of football that relies too much on luck than skill. dominating the game cannot be done by using a lot of crosses.
Opposition instructions/team talk
Let your assistant manager handle the OI and set team talk to "you can win this!"
This tactic works both for away- and home games.
Let me know if you want to test this tactic for me or if you have any questions!
*UPDATE PATCH 11.2.1
Full-Backs roles changed to wing-backs with normal mentality
Made some zonal-man marking tweaks.
Made some creativy tweaks (only player with highest creativity is now set to the creativy - much. This means that the wingers are less creative and it has lead to more goals from my wingers. (yes!)
STC now set to deeplying forward to make sure the gap between midfield-forward is minimal.
Winger Roles changed to inside forwards
STC is now a deep-lying forward.
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=4308
- New tactic has been attached.
Last edited:
Let me know how it goes