Football Manager Tactics Guide

[Zizou]

Key:
(opt) = optional

Football Manager Tactics Master Guide

Tactics Breakdown Step-By-Step

Mentality:

(Defines how offensive and defensive your players set out to play. Mentality can be situational in your instructions.)

Very Defensive
Defensive
Counter
Balanced
Positive
Attacking
Very Attacking

Tactical Style:

(Preset style selects all of the slider settings according to its’ specific instructions.)
Control Possession (Preset)
Gegenpress (Preset)
Tiki-Taka (Preset)
Vertical Tiki-Taka (Preset)
Wing Play (Preset)
Route One (Preset)
Fluid Counter-Attack (Preset)
Direct Counter-Attack (Preset)
Catenaccio (Preset)
Park the Bus (Preset)
Clean Slate

The specific instructions are broken down as follows.

Instructions – In Posession:

• Attacking Width:
Instructs team to stretch wide or narrow the attacking focus. Standard will rely on Mentality to instruct.
Very Narrow
Narrow
Standard
Wide
Extremely Wide

• (opt) Approach Play:
(opt) Pass Into Space
(opt) Overlap Left and/or Right
(opt) Underlap Left and/or Right
(opt) Focus Play Through The Middle
(opt) ocus Play Down The Left and/or Right
(opt) Play Out of Defense

• Passing Directness:
Much Shorter
Shorter
Standard
Slightly More Direct
Much More Direct

• Tempo:
Much Lower
Lower
Standard
Higher
Extremely High

• Time Wasting:
Never
Sometimes
Frequently

• (opt) Final Third:
(opt) Work Ball Into Box (not selectable w/ Much More Direct Passing)
(opt) Hit Early Crosses (not selectable w/ Work Ball Into Box)
(opt) Shoot On Sight (not selectable w/ Work Ball Into Box)

• Crossing:
Mixed Crosses
Floated Crosses
Whipped Crosses
Low Crosses

• (opt) Play For Set Pieces:
(opt) Yes

• (opt) Dribbling: (1 max)
(opt) Dribble Less
(opt) Run At Defense

• (opt) Creative Freedom: (1 max)
(opt) Be More Expressive
(opt) Be More Disciplined

Instructions – In Transition:

• (opt) When Possession Has Been Lost: (1 max)
(opt) Counter-Press
(opt) Regroup

• (opt) When Possession Has Been Won: (1 max)
(opt) Counter
(opt) Hold Shape

• (opt) Goalkeeper In Possession: (1 max)
(opt) Distribute Quickly
(opt) Slow Pace Down

• (opt) Goalkeeper Distribution To Area: (1 max)
(opt) Distribute to Centre-Backs
(opt) Distribute to Full/Wing-Backs
(opt) Distribute to Playmaker
(opt) Distribute to Flanks
(opt) Distribute to Target Forward
(opt) Distribute over Opposition Defense

• (opt) Goalkeeper Distribution To Position: (1 max)
(opt) Select Position to Distribute to

• (opt) Goalkeeper Distribution Type: (1 max)
(opt) Roll It Out
(opt) Throw It Long
(opt) Take Short Kicks
(opt) Take Long Kicks

Instructions – Out of Possession:

Defensive Shape:

• Line of Engagement:
Low Block
Mid Block
High Press

• Defensive Line:
Much Lower
Lower
Standard
Higher
Much Higher

• Trigger Press:
Instructs team to press with more or less frequency. Standard will rely on Mentality to instruct.
Much Less Often
Less Often
Standard
More Often
Much More Often

• (opt) Prevent Short GK Distribution:
(opt) Yes

• (opt) Tackling: (1 max)
(opt) Stay on Feet
(opt) Get Stuck In

• (opt) Defensive Line: (1 max)
(opt) Step Up More
(opt) Drop Off More

• (opt) Pressing Trap: (1 max)
(opt) Trap Inside
(opt) Trap Outside

• (opt) Cross Engagement: (1 max)
(opt) Stop Crosses
(opt) Invite Crosses

Player Positions & Player Roles:

• Goalkeeper:
Goalkeeper – DEFEND
Sweeper Keeper – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK

• Defender (Wide):
Full-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Wing-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Non-Nonsense Full-Back – DEFEND
Complete Wing-Back – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Inverted Wing-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Inverted Full-Back – DEFEND

• Defender (Center):
Central Defender – DEFEND, STOPPER, COVER
Libero – SUPPORT, ATTACK (Must operate solo or Center of 3 man backline)
Ball Playing Defender – DEFEND, STOPPER, COVER
No-Nonsense Centre-Back – DEFEND, STOPPER, COVER
Wide Center-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK (Must operate on either side in 3 man backline)

• Wing Back (Wide):
Wing-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Complete Wing-Back – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Inverted Wing-Back – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC

• Defensive Midfielder:
Defensive Midfielder – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Deep Lying Playmaker – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Ball Winning Midfielder – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Anchor – DEFEND
Half Back – DEFEND
Regista – SUPPORT
Roaming Playmaker – SUPPORT
Segundo Volante – SUPPORT, ATTACK (Must operate as part of 2 DM formation)

• Midfielder (Wide):
Wide Midfielder – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Winger – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Defensive Winger – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Wide Playmaker – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Inverted Winger – SUPPORT, ATTACK

• Midfielder (Center):
Central Midfielder – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK, AUTOMATIC
Deep Lying Playmaker – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Box to Box Midfielder – SUPPORT
Advanced Playmaker – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Ball Winning Midfielder – DEFEND, SUPPORT
Roaming Playmaker – SUPPORT
Mezzala – SUPPORT, ATTACK (Must operate as part of 2 CM formation)
Carrilero – SUPPORT (Must operate as part of 2 CM formation)

• Attacking Midfielder (Center):
Attacking Midfielder – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Advanced Playmaker – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Trequartista – ATTACK
Enganche – SUPPORT
Shadow Striker – ATTACK

• Attacking Midfielder (Wide):
Winger – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Advanced Playmaker – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Inside Forward – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Trequartista – ATTACK
Wide Target Forward – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Raumdeuter – ATTACK
Inverted Winger – SUPPORT, ATTACK

• Striker
Deep Lying Forward – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Advanced Forward – ATTACK
Target Forward – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Poacher – ATTACK
Complete Forward – SUPPORT, ATTACK
Pressing Forward – DEFEND, SUPPORT, ATTACK
Trequartista – ATTACK
False Nine – SUPPORT

(Individual custom position tactics to be broken down on a separate thread.)

• This topic was modified 2 months ago by Zizou.

[Zizou]

This has been updated to reflect the updated out of possession changes made in FM23.

[Zizou]

This has been updated to include the new Inverted Full Back player role in FM24.

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