Updated- Now keeping possession over 60% in most games, Roles and PI's have been changed.
This tactic is the WM from the classic arsenal team of the 1930’s and was used up until the 60’s in England- The formation could be described as a 3-2-2-2-1 or a 3-2-5.
This is the second in a series of tactics that I’ll be making looking at renovating classic tactics from teams of the past. Previously I had made a renovation of the classic Catenaccio tactic of the 1960’s (which can be seen here for people who like defensive football as much as me: http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...2-grande-inter-1963-1967-unbeaten-tactic.html ) - a defensive tactic that was used with huge success by the two managers of the Milanese teams- Inter (with Herrera) and Milan (Rocco). I will later try to recreate- total football, zona mista and other classic tactical systems.
But first I’ve made a tactic that is possibly the oldest tactic that could be created in modern day football (before that teams always played with 2 at the back and 5 up front, this changed due to the change in the offside rule - which before 1925 had required three opposing players be between an opponent and the goal when the ball was played)
Here is some background that I’ve paraphrased from this website Formation Renovation: Arsenal 1930-1934 | The Other 87 about the WM and the legendary arsenal team of the 1930’s:
Here though, is basically what you need to know about the WM. It’s generally accepted that Herbert Chapman, formerly manager of Northampton, Leeds and Huddersfield and as of 1925 manager of Arsenal, and his captain Charlie Buchan converted what was a central midfield player — the center-half — of a 2-3-5 into a central defender in response a change made in the offside law, which before 1925 had required three opposing players be between an opponent and the goal when the ball was played. The change provided extra coverage at the back — previously two defenders was more viable because both, theoretically, could always play with the opposition in front of them, otherwise that person was offsides.
From this platform, Chapman spent five years assembling an Arsenal squad that fit his vision, a team that could play fast, counter-attacking soccer, getting the ball forward quickly to take advantage of the space left by the gobs of men teams were throwing forward at the time. Which they did quite well, scoring 127 goals in the league in 1930-31. (Nevermind that that was also the year that Aston Villa set the record for most top-flight goals in a season with 128).
As we discuss our selections for the team, think of the shape almost as an accordion: in defense, the three non-forward lines fall back, defending more or less with seven men at varying levels and with the wing halves – that’s Bob John and Charlie Jones – and defenders only applying heavy pressure close to the 18-yard box. Then when the ball was won, the players expanded, the forwards moving forward looking for the long pass, the middle stretching, until the wing-half line caught up with them and they were attacking with seven men once more. In that sense, they were among the first, certainly in England, to make use of the idea that would spark generations of Dutch teams — that the pitch should be made smaller when your opponents have the ball and larger when you do.
Roles explained:
Full backs- (Set to support)- The PI changes I’ve made are: set the two fullbacks mentality to a little defensive and offered them less creative freedom.
Centre back: Limited Defender
Defensive Mids: I have set up one defensive mid to defend and the other to support play- Meaning they are both their to protect the defence, but one recycles play with the back three and the other one gets forward and helps out the midfield.
One Trequista and One Advanced playmaker just behind the front three- this helps supply to the front three and create more space for all attacking players, the treq will also chip in with a few goals
Two inside Forwards- Instead of wingers which were used in the 30's, I have used inside forwards to cut inside and try to score or set up goals which is a much more modern concept
Complete forward (support)- With the complete forward set to support, he is supposed to set up goals as well as score them- I much prefer this to setting the role to poacher as it helps the overall team performance
I have screenshots of some teams I’ve holidayed with and the results, also the screenshots below show what the tactic looks like as well as the old arsenal team. I intend to start a career that I’ll stick with over a season with Dynamo Kyiev.
If you have any questions please ask, and if you want me to write up more information I will happily do it.
This tactic is the WM from the classic arsenal team of the 1930’s and was used up until the 60’s in England- The formation could be described as a 3-2-2-2-1.It could be best described as a very attacking tactic.
View attachment 204493View attachment 204494
This tactic is the WM from the classic arsenal team of the 1930’s and was used up until the 60’s in England- The formation could be described as a 3-2-2-2-1 or a 3-2-5.
This is the second in a series of tactics that I’ll be making looking at renovating classic tactics from teams of the past. Previously I had made a renovation of the classic Catenaccio tactic of the 1960’s (which can be seen here for people who like defensive football as much as me: http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...2-grande-inter-1963-1967-unbeaten-tactic.html ) - a defensive tactic that was used with huge success by the two managers of the Milanese teams- Inter (with Herrera) and Milan (Rocco). I will later try to recreate- total football, zona mista and other classic tactical systems.
But first I’ve made a tactic that is possibly the oldest tactic that could be created in modern day football (before that teams always played with 2 at the back and 5 up front, this changed due to the change in the offside rule - which before 1925 had required three opposing players be between an opponent and the goal when the ball was played)
Here is some background that I’ve paraphrased from this website Formation Renovation: Arsenal 1930-1934 | The Other 87 about the WM and the legendary arsenal team of the 1930’s:
Here though, is basically what you need to know about the WM. It’s generally accepted that Herbert Chapman, formerly manager of Northampton, Leeds and Huddersfield and as of 1925 manager of Arsenal, and his captain Charlie Buchan converted what was a central midfield player — the center-half — of a 2-3-5 into a central defender in response a change made in the offside law, which before 1925 had required three opposing players be between an opponent and the goal when the ball was played. The change provided extra coverage at the back — previously two defenders was more viable because both, theoretically, could always play with the opposition in front of them, otherwise that person was offsides.
From this platform, Chapman spent five years assembling an Arsenal squad that fit his vision, a team that could play fast, counter-attacking soccer, getting the ball forward quickly to take advantage of the space left by the gobs of men teams were throwing forward at the time. Which they did quite well, scoring 127 goals in the league in 1930-31. (Nevermind that that was also the year that Aston Villa set the record for most top-flight goals in a season with 128).
As we discuss our selections for the team, think of the shape almost as an accordion: in defense, the three non-forward lines fall back, defending more or less with seven men at varying levels and with the wing halves – that’s Bob John and Charlie Jones – and defenders only applying heavy pressure close to the 18-yard box. Then when the ball was won, the players expanded, the forwards moving forward looking for the long pass, the middle stretching, until the wing-half line caught up with them and they were attacking with seven men once more. In that sense, they were among the first, certainly in England, to make use of the idea that would spark generations of Dutch teams — that the pitch should be made smaller when your opponents have the ball and larger when you do.
Roles explained:
Full backs- (Set to support)- The PI changes I’ve made are: set the two fullbacks mentality to a little defensive and offered them less creative freedom.
Centre back: Limited Defender
Defensive Mids: I have set up one defensive mid to defend and the other to support play- Meaning they are both their to protect the defence, but one recycles play with the back three and the other one gets forward and helps out the midfield.
One Trequista and One Advanced playmaker just behind the front three- this helps supply to the front three and create more space for all attacking players, the treq will also chip in with a few goals
Two inside Forwards- Instead of wingers which were used in the 30's, I have used inside forwards to cut inside and try to score or set up goals which is a much more modern concept
Complete forward (support)- With the complete forward set to support, he is supposed to set up goals as well as score them- I much prefer this to setting the role to poacher as it helps the overall team performance
I have screenshots of some teams I’ve holidayed with and the results, also the screenshots below show what the tactic looks like as well as the old arsenal team. I intend to start a career that I’ll stick with over a season with Dynamo Kyiev.
If you have any questions please ask, and if you want me to write up more information I will happily do it.
This tactic is the WM from the classic arsenal team of the 1930’s and was used up until the 60’s in England- The formation could be described as a 3-2-2-2-1.It could be best described as a very attacking tactic.
View attachment 204493View attachment 204494
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and the OP is detailed to!