A re-working of the popular asymmetric 4222 formation aiming to minimise the likelihood of the front four stepping on each others' toes (AM is encouraged to go into the left channel to cross, and CS is encouraged to drop wider away from the AF).
An asymmetric 4231 with an aggressive pressing system focused on forcing turnovers out of possession and with both underlapping and overlapping options in possession.
NOTE: I usually adjust my AM man marking instructions to be on either the central DM or the left DM depending on the opposition formation.
Lopsided 4231 formation, aiming at creating assist potential from both attacking half-spaces with an overlap on the left while maintaining a solid counter-pressing shape.
This is a re-working of the popular 424 deformation II.
I wanted to change some of my players' behaviours to get them to behave like I would like them to on a real pitch.
1) A lot of the success of the original tactic can be attributed to the IF in my opinion. So, I wanted to emphasise that aspect by having him tuck in even more centrally when the opposition midfielder leaves the left half-space to press our DLP. So, I changed the attacking focus to 'Through the middle' with an 'Overlap' option on the left, so as to have him as that free-man option while maximising that overload on the left wing. The 'Through the middle' instruction also makes better use of the SS in the build-up phase as he does pop in in nice right half-space positions every now and then.
2) I love a back-pressing forward (oh the gorgeousness of a Firmino back-press in Klopp's inverted triangle front-press). It can be a bit too easy at times for the opposition to find their midfielders between the lines in the initial tactic due to the space between the advanced forwards and the DMs. So, I switched the central striker role to a 'Pressing Forward' and have him 'man-mark the opposition DM'. I would much rather have their Cb have the ball than their DM in build-up. Plus, the pressing forward role now allows my striker to go press the CB while maintaining the DM in his cover shadow.
3) Finally, I did not like too much how stretched my back four was against wide attacking formations. I wanted them to maintain a narrower compact shape, Simeone-style. I initially tried the trap them outside option, but I don't think that instruction works as it should in the match engine. Instead, I found that the 'Invite crosses' option worked much better as my full-backs stay in the half-spaces to minimise through-balls, instead of getting dragged outwide.
Overall, I am quite happy with the system now. That said, I still think the behaviours of the DMs can be optimised. They can be a bit too deep for counter-pressing and pressing purposes, and they can also step on each others' toes in build-up.
NOTE: I usually adjust my AM man marking instructions to be on either the central DM or the left DM depending on the opposition formation.
I wanted to change some of my players' behaviours to get them to behave like I would like them to on a real pitch.
1) A lot of the success of the original tactic can be attributed to the IF in my opinion. So, I wanted to emphasise that aspect by having him tuck in even more centrally when the opposition midfielder leaves the left half-space to press our DLP. So, I changed the attacking focus to 'Through the middle' with an 'Overlap' option on the left, so as to have him as that free-man option while maximising that overload on the left wing. The 'Through the middle' instruction also makes better use of the SS in the build-up phase as he does pop in in nice right half-space positions every now and then.
2) I love a back-pressing forward (oh the gorgeousness of a Firmino back-press in Klopp's inverted triangle front-press). It can be a bit too easy at times for the opposition to find their midfielders between the lines in the initial tactic due to the space between the advanced forwards and the DMs. So, I switched the central striker role to a 'Pressing Forward' and have him 'man-mark the opposition DM'. I would much rather have their Cb have the ball than their DM in build-up. Plus, the pressing forward role now allows my striker to go press the CB while maintaining the DM in his cover shadow.
3) Finally, I did not like too much how stretched my back four was against wide attacking formations. I wanted them to maintain a narrower compact shape, Simeone-style. I initially tried the trap them outside option, but I don't think that instruction works as it should in the match engine. Instead, I found that the 'Invite crosses' option worked much better as my full-backs stay in the half-spaces to minimise through-balls, instead of getting dragged outwide.
Overall, I am quite happy with the system now. That said, I still think the behaviours of the DMs can be optimised. They can be a bit too deep for counter-pressing and pressing purposes, and they can also step on each others' toes in build-up.