It's in a horrendous state, but this is the most freedom we've had in an FM game in years. Personally excited to see the broken tactics which come out of this years instalment.
This tactic is a modified version of the 523 Drawing Machine designed to prioritize defensive solidity and high ball retention over scoring, ideally to be used when defending a lead or playing against lesser opposition
DM and Libero moved to 2 CM (Su), all PIs changed to take fewer risks, shoot less often, roam from position, cross and dribble less often to retain more of the ball rather than look to score
This tactic is a modified version of the 433 Clean Sheet P103 designed to prioritize defensive solidity and high ball retention over scoring, ideally to be used when defending a lead or playing against lesser opposition
DM on Support, CD instead of BPD, shorter passing, low tempo, fewer risks, dribble less, work ball into box, no counter, no hold shape
Itsyaboy420 said: the left is @Lololox LxS433 while the right is @rc25 523 Drawing Machine, it's kind of conflicting whether to trust the ag in this site or in the picture sent by them, because according to the picture of their tests, 523 Drawing Machine wins in achieving draws and not get scored on. I have tested it myself and the result is 523 Drawing Machine is a better defense tactic.
(PS for the 523 Drawing Machine pull the defensive line down in the instructions to lower line for it to work [of course you need at least defenders with decent composure and concentration] and if you don't want any counter attacks from your team just pull the offensive line to lower block as well)
@koreen 3412 defensive tactic is a counter, not so much of a defensive one. It works quite well, I've got a 5 goals in those counter attacks. but this does not stop goals (PS, get a guy that is good on header as a striker, works well with this one) Expand
What about the defensive line instruction? Keep that on step up more, leaving the only changes as Defensive Line to lower and LoE to Low Block?
pottty said: After trying the EF 424 IF HP V2 P101 AC tactic and winning absolutely everything with little Harrogate (because apparently, even the mighty fall to a team whose biggest signing was a second-hand lawnmower for the pitch), I thought, "Why not try something new?" So, I gave this other tactic a whirl. And wow, I think it’s even better!
Now, when I’m comfortably ahead after 70 minutes (which, let’s be honest, is most games because my team is basically the footballing version of a runaway train), I switch to the 523 Drawing Machine. This lets my players chill out, stop pressing like maniacs, and pretend they’re on a beach somewhere instead of running themselves into the ground. Because let’s face it, these high-pressure tactics are great until your entire squad ends up in the physio room with ice packs and sad faces.
But if I’m behind? Oh, it’s chaos mode. Defensive midfielders turn into Volantes on Attack, the Inverted Forwards go full Attack Duty, and the mentality gets cranked up to Very Attacking—because subtlety is for cowards. It’s basically the football equivalent of flipping the table and screaming, “LET’S GOOOOO!” And somehow, it works. Every. Single. Time. Expand
I'm trying to create a tactic with the goal of drawing as many games as possible and holding onto possession. It’s a very defensive setup aimed at "park the bus" style, with a focus on preventing goals and frustrating the opposition
What can I adjust to improve this tactic further? Looking for ideas on how to enhance the draw rate and possession while keeping things as solid as pssible at the back
Lapidus said: Do you know that you can watch re-play of any match in 3D after it was played?
Pick any match where you sure that different tactics were used in possession and out of possession and check it yourself. Expand
I did. That's what I said you can do as well, I am noticing a clear difference since one tactic is meant to press high up with all 10 players up front, the other to sit back 10 behind the ball with a low press engagement line. I notice a huge difference.
Edit: either way, the game is 100% bugged with match plans. They activate when they shouldn't regardless of what you believe
Lapidus said: Pal, I've checked the save you upload and I can't confirm that anything you're saying is true.
First of all, I checked the match plans and found they wasn't set to change the tactic.
Probably, you was just deceived because you tested using it two very similar shapes 4-2-4 and 4-4-2. As I said try something more obviously different, for example, 4-2-4 formation as you attacking tactic and 5-4-1 formation as your defensive formation. Expand
They are set to change tactic. My game emails say "Whites park the bus approach" meaning it does indeed play the park the bus formation and change to gegenpressing at different game states. Are you sure you're doing everything right? I've tried a 550 blended with other tactics like 10 up front and noticed a clear difference.
I’ve uncovered something massive. It seems like there’s a major glitch with match plans in FM24 that could be a game-changer for hybrid and dynamic tactics.
I set up a match plan to change the tactic only if we’re losing. But instead of waiting until we’re losing, the match plan is switching the tactic based on whether we have possession of the ball or not:
In possession: It switches to Gegenpressing (my attacking tactic). Out of possession: It switches to Parking the Bus (my defensive tactic).
When I use the match plan, my tactic are super dynamic, switching between styles automatically When I don’t use the match plan, my team just sticks to the static tactic, and the results are a disaster.
If this glitch is replicable (which I'm confident it is, based on my tests earlier), it could open up insane potential for creating hybrid, dynamic tactics that adapt mid-game, in ways FM24 doesn’t officially support. Imagine automatically switching between pressing and parking the bus depending on possession or creating tactics that dynamically adjust without constant micromanagement.
This glitch basically turns match plans into an unintentional tool for creating reactive, fluid tactics—something FM players have dreamed about. It could be massive for anyone looking to experiment with hybrid tactics. If you can get it to work reliably, it might allow for new tactical setups that dynamically adjust to the flow of a match without you needing to intervene.
I will be doing more experiments on this soon to confirm it. If this proves to be true, it'll be massive for the community.
Notable results with this method includes 10-0 against Palace, 5-0 against City, 5-0 against the Arsenal, several games won 7-0 etc all in the first season each
This tactic is crazier than EF 101 for me. Won 3 games 6-0, back to back against Leicester, Palace and Liverpool in the first season. Yes, liverpool 6-0 in the first season. Not playing as city either.
I need to try out this tactic, terrorist anti-football is something I've been looking for for ages now. Only 42 goals conceded in 400 games? That's 1.05 goals conceded per 10 games, awesome tactic for defending a lead.
Edit: nah, just tried using it with Arsenal we're conceding every game especially against teams like Burnley and Luton. Only a couple draws. Bit disappointing, expected more from this.
This tactic is based off EF 424 IF P105 AC Both DM support roles switched to DLP (Su) and DM (De) as well as putting Mark Tighter and Tackle Harder instructions on every position
BASED ON EF 424 IF P105 AC TACTIC TACKLE HARDER, MARK TIGHTER ROLES ON ALL POSITIONS - DM (DE), DM (SU) ROLES IN MIDFIELD
Instructions: Disciplined, stay narrower in possession, 5 defensive roles with 1 DM and 4 defensive midfielders (2 wide, 2 CM on defend)
DM and Libero moved to 2 CM (Su), all PIs changed to take fewer risks, shoot less often, roam from position, cross and dribble less often to retain more of the ball rather than look to score
DM on Support, CD instead of BPD, shorter passing, low tempo, fewer risks, dribble less, work ball into box, no counter, no hold shape
(PS for the 523 Drawing Machine pull the defensive line down in the instructions to lower line for it to work [of course you need at least defenders with decent composure and concentration] and if you don't want any counter attacks from your team just pull the offensive line to lower block as well)
@koreen 3412 defensive tactic is a counter, not so much of a defensive one. It works quite well, I've got a 5 goals in those counter attacks. but this does not stop goals
(PS, get a guy that is good on header as a striker, works well with this one)
What about the defensive line instruction? Keep that on step up more, leaving the only changes as Defensive Line to lower and LoE to Low Block?
Now, when I’m comfortably ahead after 70 minutes (which, let’s be honest, is most games because my team is basically the footballing version of a runaway train), I switch to the 523 Drawing Machine. This lets my players chill out, stop pressing like maniacs, and pretend they’re on a beach somewhere instead of running themselves into the ground. Because let’s face it, these high-pressure tactics are great until your entire squad ends up in the physio room with ice packs and sad faces.
But if I’m behind? Oh, it’s chaos mode. Defensive midfielders turn into Volantes on Attack, the Inverted Forwards go full Attack Duty, and the mentality gets cranked up to Very Attacking—because subtlety is for cowards. It’s basically the football equivalent of flipping the table and screaming, “LET’S GOOOOO!” And somehow, it works. Every. Single. Time.
AI?
What can I adjust to improve this tactic further? Looking for ideas on how to enhance the draw rate and possession while keeping things as solid as pssible at the back
Pick any match where you sure that different tactics were used in possession and out of possession and check it yourself.
I did. That's what I said you can do as well, I am noticing a clear difference since one tactic is meant to press high up with all 10 players up front, the other to sit back 10 behind the ball with a low press engagement line. I notice a huge difference.
Edit: either way, the game is 100% bugged with match plans. They activate when they shouldn't regardless of what you believe
First of all, I checked the match plans and found they wasn't set to change the tactic.
Probably, you was just deceived because you tested using it two very similar shapes 4-2-4 and 4-4-2. As I said try something more obviously different, for example, 4-2-4 formation as you attacking tactic and 5-4-1 formation as your defensive formation.
They are set to change tactic. My game emails say "Whites park the bus approach" meaning it does indeed play the park the bus formation and change to gegenpressing at different game states. Are you sure you're doing everything right? I've tried a 550 blended with other tactics like 10 up front and noticed a clear difference.
Above link is to the save file. Started preseason using this method: anyone can view the match history and watch the formations ingame.
Hi Alexandru. Screens as in match results or drawn visualisation of my theory?
I'm really looking into it.
Hey Lapidus, it's alright if I send you my save file and you can experiment with that?
I set up a match plan to change the tactic only if we’re losing. But instead of waiting until we’re losing, the match plan is switching the tactic based on whether we have possession of the ball or not:
In possession: It switches to Gegenpressing (my attacking tactic).
Out of possession: It switches to Parking the Bus (my defensive tactic).
When I use the match plan, my tactic are super dynamic, switching between styles automatically
When I don’t use the match plan, my team just sticks to the static tactic, and the results are a disaster.
If this glitch is replicable (which I'm confident it is, based on my tests earlier), it could open up insane potential for creating hybrid, dynamic tactics that adapt mid-game, in ways FM24 doesn’t officially support. Imagine automatically switching between pressing and parking the bus depending on possession or creating tactics that dynamically adjust without constant micromanagement.
This glitch basically turns match plans into an unintentional tool for creating reactive, fluid tactics—something FM players have dreamed about. It could be massive for anyone looking to experiment with hybrid tactics. If you can get it to work reliably, it might allow for new tactical setups that dynamically adjust to the flow of a match without you needing to intervene.
I will be doing more experiments on this soon to confirm it. If this proves to be true, it'll be massive for the community.
Notable results with this method includes 10-0 against Palace, 5-0 against City, 5-0 against the Arsenal, several games won 7-0 etc all in the first season each
Azure scores more often, but also concedes more often. Blue scores less often from corners, and concedes less overall.
Edit: nah, just tried using it with Arsenal we're conceding every game especially against teams like Burnley and Luton. Only a couple draws. Bit disappointing, expected more from this.
Both DM support roles switched to DLP (Su) and DM (De) as well as putting Mark Tighter and Tackle Harder instructions on every position
BASED ON EF 424 IF P105 AC TACTIC
TACKLE HARDER, MARK TIGHTER ROLES ON ALL POSITIONS - DM (DE), DM (SU) ROLES IN MIDFIELD