ZaZ - Sapphire Alternative

Testing an alternative to https://fm-arena.com/thread/12678-zaz-sapphire/, which is based on the top tactics from the table. Mentality is changed to attacking, and the DMs are changed to defensive midfielders, with the instruction to hold position. The idea is to have two players anchored to give others freedom to roam and be more aggressive.

bro is back and he starts cooking

4-4-2 with two PFs and Attacking mentality?

Scored 71 goals?

Ok! That's something new!

smigler said: bro is back and he starts cooking Expand

I just copied what people are doing, and added a small change. Maybe I can try some tweak later, but will just be playing and having fun.

Good to see you back @ZaZ

I like this approach- in the same line neighbouring players having same role and position,  like PF. Making it a bit easier for maintaining and rotation.

This setup, featuring two PFs on support duty and two IFs on attack duty, seems effective. I've crafted a similar setup before, and it performed well. EF 424 IF P105 AC (Dzek Tweak 1)

Here are some insights from this year's FM with this specific arrangement:
- The PFs drop back into the AM positions to play a more active role in the build up of attacks, drawing the opposing team's center-backs out of position. This movement creates opportunities for other players, particularly the IFs, to exploit spaces behind the defense.
- The new "Positional Play" feature shows that if the wing players converge towards the centre with or without the ball and the central players shift to AM roles, the wing players become less effective due to the priority they give to central movements. This explains the discrepancy in scores with the previous VOL test and with this test.


Further analysis of this setup could yield interesting results.

dzek said: This setup, featuring two PFs on support duty and two IFs on attack duty, seems effective. I've crafted a similar setup before, and it performed well. EF 424 IF P105 AC (Dzek Tweak 1)

Here are some insights from this year's FM with this specific arrangement:
- The PFs drop back into the AM positions to play a more active role in the build up of attacks, drawing the opposing team's center-backs out of position. This movement creates opportunities for other players, particularly the IFs, to exploit spaces behind the defense.
- The new "Positional Play" feature shows that if the wing players converge towards the centre with or without the ball and the central players shift to AM roles, the wing players become less effective due to the priority they give to central movements. This explains the discrepancy in scores with the previous VOL test and with this test.


Further analysis of this setup could yield interesting results. Expand

Interesting, I wonder how 2 DLFs on support would fare. Good insight there pal

CBP87 said: Interesting, I wonder how 2 DLFs on support would fare. Good insight there pal Expand
I think someone already tried it with 2 DLFs but it didn't work out and I think the reason is that DLFs are more creative players than PFs. Also CFs are more aggressive than PFs and I don't think that role will work either.

I personally categorize the attacking roles within the game like this:

Creative strikers
- Deep Lying Forward
- Trequartista
- False Nine

Support strikers
- Pressing Forward
- Target Forward

Attacking strikers
- Complete Forward
- Advanced Forward
- Poacher

Alexandru said: I like this approach- in the same line neighbouring players having same role and position,  like PF. Making it a bit easier for maintaining and rotation. Expand

Yeah, I like symmetrical setups because I usually train DL <> DR and AML <> AMR, which allows me to have a bench of five players covering all positions. That means a squad of 20 players + goalkeepers is usually well balanced, with four player per position. Having the same role in both sides means they stay with maximum role familiarity, even though I don't know the impact of that in performance.

so for you playing left footed IF on right and opposite isnt necessary for this setup to work?

smigler said: so for you playing left footed IF on right and opposite isnt necessary for this setup to work? Expand

Yes. Preferred foot does not have a noticeable impact in performance, and the possibility to use better players would far outweigh any negative impact if it existed.

What kind of players are you looking for in this specific tactic?
Any filters you use for genie, or can you give a vague description of players best suited for this kind of tactic?

animatron said: What kind of players are you looking for in this specific tactic?
Any filters you use for genie, or can you give a vague description of players best suited for this kind of tactic? Expand

Speedy Gonzales, Sonic, Roadrunner... you know, fast players.

Are other than base instructions different only for DM (hold position)? As I am on PS5

Alexandru said: Are other than base instructions different only for DM (hold position)? As I am on PS5 Expand

You can check this tactic for instructions, then add hold position to DMs.

Something so satisfying about the tactic being perfectly positionally/role symmetrical. 71 goals as well... that's mega. Wonder what tweaks can be done to limit the goals conceded. This already looks like my go-to tactic, and I'm yet to even try it. Thanks so much for the effort and for sharing.

thedogspollocks said: Something so satisfying about the tactic being perfectly positionally/role symmetrical. 71 goals as well... that's mega. Wonder what tweaks can be done to limit the goals conceded. This already looks like my go-to tactic, and I'm yet to even try it. Thanks so much for the effort and for sharing. Expand

Thanks! I will test some tweaks here before sleeping. Will try to set wingbacks and dms to shoot less often, to minimize loss of possession, since they have low xG and shot accuracy. Hopefully it will make a difference.

ZaZ said: Thanks! I will test some tweaks here before sleeping. Will try to set wingbacks and dms to shoot less often, to minimize loss of possession, since they have low xG and shot accuracy. Hopefully it will make a difference. Expand

I'll make the abovementioned changes and report back with my Oxford save. I've got a mid-table team now, in terms of player quality, so it'll be interesting to see how they get on. Time to sign another PF! Rather excited to see it in action.

How would this tactic work as positive mentality?
Love your work ZaZ

Tullero said: How would this tactic work as positive mentality?
Love your work ZaZ Expand

Thanks! Positive is not performing well in this patch. It works well on balanced, though.