ZaZ - Red 2.0

I tried to make Red 2.0 in a 4231 since people have asked a lot for that shape. Results are decent in my experiments.




Changes:
- IW-At into IF-At
- Vol from At to Su
- F9 + SS instead of double AF-At
- Positive mentality
- Improved set pieces

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This is the tactic I came up during Beta. It's a high intensity tactic with very attacking mentality, in which every player contributes offensively. Wingbacks and wingers are both inverted, meaning the one holding the ball cuts inside while the one without it opens wide, stretching the field. It follows the philosophy of short-long-wide, where every player will always have those three options of passing when in possession, being free to choose any option they consider best.

The test below was performed with Manchester City and Norwich (fired) on holiday mode. Assistant manager took all decisions, including team selection.




There are no oposition instructions or set piece takers, and foot of wingers is not relevant (inverted might be better, but difference is marginal). Set pieces are made so right BPD and VOL should have the best aerial game and right striker should be the fastest.

Main attributes are probably pace, acceleration, agility and dribbling (jumping reach instead for defenders). Stamina might also be important, but I would wait for FM-Arena tests before trusting it blindly.

No special training schedule is needed, but I would recommend to focus on increasing chance of winning during current season, including attacking movements, defensive position and teamwork for next match bonuses, quickness for most important attributes, match practice and team bonding for happiness and cohesion, and recovery to prevent injuries. I always set up position training to tactic role and individual training to quickness (or GK reactions). For pre-season, I recommend to focus on quickness for most important attributes and endurance to improve condition and avoid injuries during season, with one friendly per week. Use friendlies on reserve/youth team to keep secondary squad players fit.

I will add screenshots for player instructions, team instructions and set pieces later, if tactic is promising enough.

Leave a comment below if you liked the tactic and make sure to share your results. Enjoy!

I have used your tactic with my top class team since the beginning of this season. (red 0.5)
I played all the matches with instant result.
I got all the trophies. I had an incredible performance in the league. I played all my main players in league matches. I'm playing with a completely different 11 in the cup and in Europe.
I scored 214 goals in the league. can you believe this? 81 of these goals were scored by Haaland. (18 penalty kicks)
The team scored 58 goals from the corner. Thanks to the goals they scored from the corners, my DC's came to important places in the top scorer
I got a serious shock in one of my 2 defeats in the league. Arsenal beat me 6-2.

In addition to the roles of my players, I quickness train all of them as an extra. (Reflex training for goalkeepers) I am sharing the training scheme I used before and during the season.

I used your 0.4 and 0.5 with England until 2026 and only lost one game out of 60. Harry Kane at 32 has 146 goals in 127 appearances. Best tactic on beta thank you!

pixar said: I have used your tactic with my top class team since the beginning of this season. (red 0.5)
I played all the matches with instant result.
I got all the trophies. I had an incredible performance in the league. I played all my main players in league matches. I'm playing with a completely different 11 in the cup and in Europe.
I scored 214 goals in the league. can you believe this? 81 of these goals were scored by Haaland. (18 penalty kicks)
The team scored 58 goals from the corner. Thanks to the goals they scored from the corners, my stops came to important places in the top scorer
I got a serious shock in one of my 2 defeats in the league. Arsenal beat me 6-2.

In addition to the roles of my players, I quickness train all of them as an extra. (Reflex training for goalkeepers) I am sharing the training scheme I used before and during the season. Expand

Those are some impressive results, thanks for testing! 214 goals in 38 matches is just insane, an average of 5.6 per match!


Markinho said: I used your 0.4 and 0.5 with England until 2026 and only lost one game out of 60. Harry Kane at 32 has 146 goals in 127 appearances. Best tactic on beta thank you! Expand

Thanks for testing too! Nice to know it works well on national teams.

This is the same which was earlier 0.5 no?

arsenal737 said: This is the same which was earlier 0.5 no? Expand

It is, I made into 1.0 because Beta is now over.

What kind of feet should players have? All left players - left foot, all right players - right foot?

Individual training quickness is only for the AF's or for the whole squad?

Sane said: What kind of feet should players have? All left players - left foot, all right players - right foot? Expand

It's in the first post, right below the screenshots.


arsenal737 said: Individual training quickness is only for the AF's or for the whole squad? Expand

Whole squad, except keeper.

Do you feel any difference between beta and official release? I can't find any changelogs for 22.1 :-?

ta2199 said: Do you feel any difference between beta and official release? I can't find any changelogs for 22.1 :-? Expand

In my tests, Norwich gets 10-15 points less per season, and goal difference is 15-20 goals worse. For Manchester City, it lost 3-5 points per season and goal difference is around 5 goals worse, on average.

@ZaZ do you recommend your training from last year?

Gpassosbh said: @ZaZ do you recommend your training from last year? Expand

Yes, I do. However, as I always say, it might not be the best routine since I didn't make any tests for it.

@pixar 31 goals for DC Might as well swap DCR with a tall striker on attacking corners, to further boost his tally! Haaland should break 100 goals barrier this way

Target Person said: @pixar 31 goals for DC Might as well swap DCR with a tall striker on attacking corners, to further boost his tally! Haaland should break 100 goals barrier this way Expand

Yes, I thought of this, but I didn't want to disturb the order

I'm quite sure I found the reason for this tactic to perform badly for weak teams. Gonna make some tests to confirm, then I add a version for weaker teams.

ZaZ said: I'm quite sure I found the reason for this tactic to perform badly for weak teams. Gonna make some tests to confirm, then I add a version for weaker teams. Expand

this is great news

ZaZ said: I'm quite sure I found the reason for this tactic to perform badly for weak teams. Gonna make some tests to confirm, then I add a version for weaker teams. Expand

Great news. Cant wait to start my FM journey this year. Didnt play for 2 years.

Can u add screenshots for player instructions, team instructions and set pieces for weak team? Planning to start unemployed

ZaZ said: I'm quite sure I found the reason for this tactic to perform badly for weak teams. Gonna make some tests to confirm, then I add a version for weaker teams. Expand

hows the test going?

Using this as Wrexham. At mid-season I'm in first with 51 points (16 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses); 2 points above the second in the league. Did manage to defeat Sunderland in the FA cup.

stetoon said: hows the test going? Expand

Only gonna end tomorrow. Need at least 8 more runs or so, to know which version is the best. In short, weak teams are not enduring the tactic, so lowering tempo or pressing intensity makes them perform better. However, this makes it worse for stronger team. It happens because of the new stamina system.

MarcusA said: Using this as Wrexham. At mid-season I'm in first with 51 points (16 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses); 2 points above the second in the league. Did manage to defeat Sunderland in the FA cup. Expand

Nice, thank you for testing!

If I had to accomodate a technical No.10 AMC type with average speed (12/13 pace/acceleration) would you suggest playing him at IW or AF? Or just sell him to buy quicker players?

Thanks

Target Person said: If I had to accomodate a technical No.10 AMC type with average speed (12/13 pace/acceleration) would you suggest playing him at IW or AF? Or just sell him yo buy quicker players?

Thanks Expand

If you have other options, sell him. If you don't, put him in AF by the left side (right AF stays forward on defensive set pieces, so he is the main guy for counter attacks).

P.S.: Seems like we have lots of potential to improve our tactics. If this one looked pretty good, can't wait for the first 7's to appear!

Just added a version for underdog teams. In vacation mode with Norwich, it can consistently take them to Euro Cup (around 10 points per season more than normal Red and 20 goal difference better). @Mark, let me know if you can try this one in the lower leagues. =)

@ZaZ can u add screenshots for player instructions, team instructions and set pieces for underdog team? Just waiting for that to start my game on switch

NoSignal said: @ZaZ can u add screenshots for player instructions, team instructions and set pieces for underdog team? Just waiting for that to start my game on switch Expand

Ok, gonna do when I get home from delivering kids to school.

Nice thanks

ZaZ said: Just added a version for underdog teams. In vacation mode with Norwich, it can consistently take them to Euro Cup (around 10 points per season more than normal Red and 20 goal difference better). @Mark, let me know if you can try this one in the lower leagues. =) Expand

I have bumped it up the queue - running now. Should be available in an hour and a quarter depending where I am up to with my bread making.

underdog red1.0b result

Ucan said: underdog red1.0b result

Expand

Nice result! And it's not just against Manchester City, but Manchester City with Haaland.