Gegenpress – How to use it in FM21
Tactics 19.04.21 - Rock's End FM
The term ‘Gegenpress’ first entered the public consciousness after Borussia Dortmund burst back onto the European stage with successive Bundesliga titles and a continental cup final appearance. Their playing style was intense and entertaining, later defined as ‘heavy metal’ football. It captured the imagination of fans and pundits alike. It was an obvious candidate for inclusion when tactical presets were added as part of Football Manager 2019’s tactics overhaul. But what does ‘Gegenpress’ exactly mean, and how can we translate this into FM? Rock’s End FM provides a detailed guide.
Building tactics around your best players in FM21
Tactics 14.04.21 - Ihor Crusadertsar
After choosing your new club in FM21, one of the first things you should do is identify the key players in your squad. When crafting a winning tactic, the number one rule is playing to your strengths. Invariably, your best players are going contribute to these strengths.
If you have one particularly impressive, clinical striker, it would be logical to build your tactic around this player. That involves arranging other players in supporting roles so that they can provide him service and act as decoys, opening up space for him to run into.
Alternatively, you might have an exceptional playmaker. In that case, you’d want him as the pivot around which all of your runners and attackers move. As such, the whole tactic needs to be created with your playmaking Enganche at its heart. Such considerations will invariably influence both the choice of the shape you employ and the other player roles in the starting XI.
Ihor Crusadertsar from Dictate the Game explains how to build a successful tactic around your key players.
How to Create Simple, Winning Tactics in FM21
Tactics 23.12.20 - Ihor Crusadertsar
This guide from Ihor Crusadertsar is all about using generic player roles to achieve ‘simple’ but effective football.
By ‘simple’ I don’t mean football that’s very direct or devoid of beautiful play. Rather it’s a style that requires the least tactical input from the virtual manager.
Perfecting Underdog Tactics in FM21
Formations 16.12.20 - FMSamo
So, you’ve decided to manage an underdog... a club which has to fight tooth and claw for every point and where draws often feel like wins. That might not appeal to everyone, but for some of us there’s no better feeling than giving the league’s big hitters a run for their money.
Choosing an underdog isn’t too difficult, but how are you going to defy expectations and set them up for success? FMSamo walks us through the things we should take into consideration when setting up an underdog.
Create corner routines that suit your squad | Wednesday Wisdom
Tactics 29.07.20 - Charlie Tango
It’s all going so well. Your team seemed comfortable, even with a narrow lead. Now the opposition have equalised with a speculative effort that went in off your central defender’s backside. You’re chasing the game as the clock ticks over into added time and suddenly you win a corner. You need this to go in, you need just one goal to win the game because the referee has already checked his watch twice. As your central midfielder trots over to take it, you realise that your palms are sweaty and the ends of your nails are, well, not there anymore.
But then a serene calmness comes over you. You’re good at corners, you’ve scored plenty from them this season because you put the time in and worked on them. You set up your approach and then drilled the lads in training session, after training session, after training session to the point they could replicate them on the team bus. The ball floats over and there’s your target man at the back stick, unmarked, with enough time to down an espresso and a biscuit before heading the ball home.
Does that sound familiar? Probably not. Definitely not the espresso and the biscuit part.
AFC Fylde researcher and FM content creator @CharlieTangoFM is here to help you achieve that sense of calmness, with a beginner's guide to corners.
Understanding and Utilising Attacking Movement | Wednesday Wisdom
Attacking 08.07.20 - FM Grasshopper
Why does football continually surprise us, when it’s essentially a game of 11 vs 11 on similar sized pitches played over 90 minutes each week? The answer is often related to how players and teams use ‘space’ differently; either in an attacking sense (creating it) or a defensive one (suppressing it). It’s why particular types of football are identified over time as ‘cultural styles’ or ’identities’.
It’s why I’ve come to The Byline to talk about space in an attacking sense. Firstly, looking at why it’s important and then explaining how you can create and utilise space to your advantage. You’ll learn more about your team in FM20 if you watch how your players move without the ball, as opposed to with it.
Words, advice and incredible insight from @FM_Grasshopper.
Utilising Pressing Forwards and Defensive Wingers | Wednesday Wisdom
Player Roles 27.05.20 - Ihor Crusadertsar
This week's Wednesday Wisdom is brought to you by Ihor Crusadertsar of Dictate the Game who focuses on two underrated and under-utilised roles.
At first glance both Pressing Forwards and Defensive Wingers might appear to be roles you would make use of in the dying moments of a game. Maybe you’d use them when you’re trying to preserve a fragile lead in a tight game, or competing as the underdog in a big match? Whatever the case, it would be very unusual to consider either role as the basis of your standard tactic or formation. However, appearances can be misleading. A different sport gave me the idea of mixing things up.
Eight Pick up and Play Challenges in FM20
Tactics 22.03.20 - FM Admin
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.
Get the most from your strikers | Wednesday Wisdom
Tactics 26.02.20 - FM Admin
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.
Building a Tactic: Passive vs Aggressive | Wednesday Wisdom
Formations 22.01.20 - Grass n Gear
Regular Wednesday Wisdom contributor, FM Grasshopper is back and this time he's joined by his Grass n Gear podcast co-host, Dan Gear. Today, they're running an experiment to see if aggressive and passive tactical styles can be applied to the same squad, while giving you guys an idea of what's required to get the best out of both options.
How to Create Successful Role Partnerships | Wednesday Wisdom
Tactics 18.12.19 - Ihor Crusadertsar
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.
The importance of 'In Transition' instructions | Wednesday Wisdom
Tactics 27.11.19 - Guido Merry
@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.
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