Left Over Tactics + Team Talk Strategy ::: Unusual Formations ::: by Artisan

Hello there fellow managers! After a really long hiatus due to a combination of my reduced interest in the game and other real life stuff, I have decided to post some tactics that were just lying around on my computer that brought me success in the past but never uploaded. A lot of the tactics were initially created to and emulate real life teams but completely evolved to something else.

I will be uploading the ones with relatively unusual shapes as there are many other conventional shaped and might I say very good tactics on the site already.

I guess watching all the world cup games just made me feel like re-immersing myself into the world of FM and uploading the tactics that helped me succeed in the past.

The format of this thread will be a little different from my usual style but it will still be easy to understand and navigate through, at least hopefully. So I will not be adding too much detail but you should still get the general gist of things.

I will also be trying to keep it short and sweet and try to get to the point as quick as possible so that you don't spend the whole day reading. So without further ado, lets get into it.


Also, here are links to my other threads,

Nosebleed Football [4-2-3-1] Jurgen Klopp's Gegenpressing :: by ARTISAN :: 14.3.1

The Magic Rectangle l 4-2-2-2 l Brazil's Samba Football :::by ARTISAN::: 14.3

Antonio Conte lll 3-5-2 and 3-3-4 lll ::::: by ARTISAN :::::: 14.2.2.

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I recently bought a new high end gaming PC and her name is Donna so I lost files from the games I played on my Mac but I did quick tests on the new PC in order to get some results to post.

PS. Only the most elite amongst you will understand the names of the tactics. (H) ;)

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This tactic was created in attempt to emulate a high possession tactic that would still pose a threat in the oppositon half. Most possession tactics seem to involve passing the ball from left to right without any penetration and with this tactic, I tried to eliminate this. Emphasis on tried, lol :P. But jokes apart though It seemed to work quite well. I was initially aiming to emulate Peps super Barcelona team.


This formation will average you about 60% possession and you will also get good chances to score goals. I made a second more defensive variation but did not really test it. Just noticed my team was soaking pressure near the end of games and I needed to make changes so I saved the changes


Match Preparation should be Attacking Movement

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I made this tactic very soon after the newest FM patch was released. A lot of real life managers started playing a 5 man hybrid defence (wingbacks) in order to flood the midfiield and prevent tika taka football from being so tiki taka. Conte, Rogers, and as we have seen recently, lots of teams in the world cup. It seems to be a very popular approach right now. I was trying to emulate Conte's InvinciblesI made this tactic to try and force my team to make lots of passes in the opposition area. With the three AMCs linking up with the False 9 and the Regista, your team will play some very good football in the aforementioned area. It is hard to see now but my initial idea and shape before this final product were based on Johan Cruyff's Total Football.

It was initially a 3-4-3 (Wide Diamond with 3 strikers). So the new tactic has two strikers pulled back to AMC and Wingers pulled back to Wingback positions



Technical abilities all round is a massive advantage. I really enjoyed the football my team plays with this setup and you do get some good possession (although was not the plan) and passing stats especially from your Regista. Also has a pretty stable defence


Match preparation can be kept on Attacking Movement

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These are the only tactics that I have got round to retesting so far but will upload a few more as time goes by
With regards to recommended player attributes, the game does a good job of informing you which stats are good for specific roles and you should try to follow those guidelines.

In order to use this feature, you go to the players profile and on the right of the screen you will fin the players position panel. In that panel you will see the players best roles and drop down options. Select the role you want him to play and the attributes for that role will be highlighted. Example below of preferred attributes for a Regista.


A lot of people have sent me quite a few messages about what i do for my team talks and these people are right to want to take this aspect of the game serious. Although it must be said that I have not done directed research on team talks, I have had a lot of experience and will be working off that for this section. So here you go. It might seem a bit much at the start but when you get used to it, you will not need to read this section anymore. It will become intuitive. TRUST ME !
I usually link this to my teams form and the pre-match analysis comments. Think about the analysis comments as a sort of summary from a TV show like soccer saturday or match of the day. It is definitely more accurate than the numerical odds you get a few days before the game and is usually different. It usually appears on the second screen on match day after the formations screen. Example below.

I listed the some base scenarios that should sort of cover most situations. Listed evry situation is really tedious and I might update it later if need be.

Clear Favourites + Good Form : Expect A Performance (Aggresive or Assertive) + Pick Up where Left off for top performers in previous game

Favourite + Decent Form : Expect A Performance (Assertive) or For the Fans (Calm, Assertive)

Expected to Draw/Narrow Win + Previous good Game : Usually don't say anything or Pick Up where Left off for top performers in previous game.

Expected to loose Heavily: Usually don't say anything or No pressure (calm)

Rival Game or Cup Final/Semi: Expect A Performance (Passionate) if in good form or For the Fans (Passionate) in all other situations

Clear Favourites + Good Form : Expect A Performance (Aggresive or Assertive) + Pick Up where Left off for top performers in previous game

Favourite + Decent Form : For the Fans (Calm, Assertive)

Expected to Draw/Narrow Win + Previous good Game : Usually don't say anything or Pick Up where Left off for top performers in previous game.

Expected to loose Heavily: No pressure (calm)

Rival Game or Cup Final/Semi: For the Fans (Passionate)

As you would have expected, I link this to the halftime score and also individual performances. But I also link it back to pre match analysis as well to determine the tone that I use. I put players into 3 categories based on there rating (Bad < 6.8), (Average 6.8), (Good > 6.8), (Great > 7.2). I will start with the general team talk the talk about individual after

Clear Favourites + Winning by over 2 goals or more: Happy with Football being Played (Assertive)
Clear Favourites + Winning by a goal: Things are going well but could be better (Assertive) or Complacency (Calm)
Clear Favourites + Drawing:
Clear Favourites + Loosing: Expect Better (Aggressive) or Show me something Else (Aggressive)


Favourite + Winning by over 2 goals or more: Say Nothing or Happy with Football being Played (Calm)
Favourite + Winning by a goal: Say Nothing
Favourite + Drawing: Expect Better (Assertive)
Favourite + Loosing: Expect Better (Assertive, Calm) or Show me something Else (Assertive, Calm)


Narrow Win + Winning by over 2 goals or more: Happy with Football being Played (Assertive)
Narrow Win + Winning by a goal: Could be better (Calm/Cautious)
Narrow Win + Drawing: Could be better (Assertive)
Narrow Win + Loosing: Expect Better (Calm)


Expected to loose Heavily + Winning by 2 goals or more : Happy with Football being Played (Passionate)
Expected to loose Heavily + Winning by a goal : Happy with Football being Played (Calm)
Expected to loose Heavily + Drawing: Happy with Football being Played (Calm)
Expected to loose Heavily + Loosing: Show me Something Else if loosing heavily (Assertive) + No Pressure if narrowly loosing (Calm)
(Bad < 6.8) : Not Happy With performance (Assertive if Loosing) (Calm if winning)
(Average 6.8): No Individual Talk
(Good > 6.8) Have faith/there is more to come (Calm)
(Great > 7.2): Happy with performance (Assertive)
Follows the same principle for the halftime team and individual team talks

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Well that's it for now. Like I said I will upload some more of these tactics with time.