Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a seasoned veteran, every team in Football Manager presents its own distinct challenge. Some might expect success on a limited budget, some might give you a huge transfer kitty to work with and some will want you to stay true to the club’s identity on your way to the top.

Strikers are the lynchpin of almost every system. They make or break a good tactic because it doesn’t matter how many goals you can keep out, if you can’t get your front man firing, it’s all over. No team ever won the league with 38 0-0 draws…

Number nines come in many different shapes and sizes in the modern game - no longer are they one-dimensional, known purely for their pace or aerial ability. 

In Football Manager 2020, strikers operate in eight roles, from Deep Lying Forwards to False Nines. Whichever flavour yours comes in, let’s take a look at how you can go about getting the best from him.

We should say, from the top, that the role deployed should suit your player’s individual attributes but since so many strikers can play in so many different roles, it’s key that you begin by getting your selection right.

This week's Wednesday Wisdom comes from Ihor Crusadertsar of DictateTheGame who looks into what makes a successful combination of player roles in key areas of the pitch.

@MerryGuido takes a look at transitions and, importantly, 'In Transition' instructions in FM20 so you can better manage the phase between defence and attack.

Football is a game of transitions, matches can be won or lost by switching quickly and successfully between attack and defence. Modern teams base their style of play on these transitional moments, making deadly counter-attacks a house specialty. This shift in style for many teams has been emulated by Football Manager; ensuring your tactical system is set up to give your team the best chance of taking advantage of mistakes in the transitional phases while similarly limiting your vulnerability is key to doing well in FM20. 

We're back with another edition of Wednesday Wisdom and this time we're focusing on the Mezzala role. We've brought in @JLAspey to explain how to best deploy the sophisticated midfield role.

Our resident Agony Aunt is here to help solve your tactical troubles and management miseries. He was hailed as El Mejor (simply ‘the best’) during his spell in charge of a Spanish Second Division side where he is still adored to this day… or so he claims.

Allow us to introduce a new, regular series to the Byline, one we're titling - Wednesday Wisdom. Every Wednesday we'll host tips and tricks written by the community, for the community. This time we spoke to @FMCatenaccio who is here to advise you on the steps you should be taking when holding onto a lead late into a crucial game.