28 replies to this topic

[Alex Murray]

This is the tactic I created for my Santo Andre team, it's basically my interpretation of Barcelona's successful system, hence Santelona (I called it that as I quite liked the name of Darren's tactic last year, The Manchelona).
GK: sweeper keeper, defend. He mops up any through balls with taking too many risks.
DR/DL: full back, support. He gets forward quite a lot providing crosses but also ensuring the flacks aren't left exposed.
DC: ball playing defender, defend. He likes to receive the ball and plays it out from the back.
MCR: deep lying playmaker, support. Nothing special, gets a lot of the ball tries to prize open the defence.
MC: ball-winning midfielder, defend. He dominates the midfield, charging around, being aggressive, winning the ball back and simply passing to the creative players.
MCL: advanced playmaker, support. He receives the ball higher up the pitch and looks to play the killer ball.
AMR/L: inside forward, attack. He starts on the wing providing width but when the full back gets forward he cuts inside to provide a central threat.
AMC: trequartista, attack. He floats around the final third, both creating and scoring.
The tactic is set out to be attacking, fluid, creative, short passing at a relatively slow tempo, more pressing and NO long shots. Who likes seeing screamers being rifled into the net? Not me. It's quite an enjoyable tactic to play with and has given me consistently good results so far. The tactic is attached to the post give it a try, tweak it if you see fit and please provide any feedback on effectiveness, improvements or anything else.


Cheers,

Alex

[JonCrosby]

Could you get up a screenshot of your performances with that tactic? + what it looks like?

Thanks

Jon

[Smudge]

Would also like to see that one as sounds interesting

[JonCrosby]

Indeed, I just can't put it in my mind on 4-6-0

No strikers just don't seem like it would work!

[Jake Lenahan]

Indeed, I just can't put it in my mind on 4-6-0

No strikers just don't seem like it would work!

This^

[Alex Murray]

If you think about it though, do Barcelona play with strikers?  Not really (Villa left wing, Pedro right wing and Messi off the front or just Messi and Fabregas playing off the front).  Their players rotate, they don't have a designated front man as such.  I want my players to contribute more to the game than just being strikers.

As for performances with the tactic, I'm using it in my story http://footballmanag...php?topic=876.0, progress will be updated shortly.  Jon, did you want a screenshot of the pitch showing where the players are positioned or just a screenshot of the tactic screen?

[JonCrosby]

Either would be good or both!

[Alex Murray]

I'm working on it, time's a bit short but I should be able to add the pictures tomorrow.

[JonCrosby]

Any chance of those pictures mate?

[Alex Murray]

Ok so this is how the tactic looks in the tactic screen,

During games the team takes this shape,
[img width=600 height=337]http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n614/Aldorious13/Santelona.jpg[/img]
on this screenshot I have highlighted three key areas, the back four, the central midfield four who control the match in a diamond shape and the channels that the wingers operate in: playing both out wide and centrally.  When the wingers come inside as forwards the full backs push on allowing us to keep our width.  During play the two centre backs and the middle central midfielder keep their position thus allowing the rest of the team to flow freely.  I am finding this tactic very successful as I'm using it with my team who are the worst in the Brazilian first division (I'll update my story soon with the big news...).

Apologies for the delay in uploading these photos.  Enjoy.

[Jake Lenahan]

Magic, thanks for sharing.

Looks like a more defensive version of a 4-3-3 on paper.. But judging by that 7-0 win it might just be more successful!

Can't wait to see how it performs over the season!

[vaibhavc]

Even without strikers you managed to score 7!

[JonCrosby]

I shall be trying this out when I move countries, I don't think this would suit an English team such as Woking! But will be for my next team!

[Alex Murray]

Magic, thanks for sharing.

Looks like a more defensive version of a 4-3-3 on paper.. But judging by that 7-0 win it might just be more successful!

Can't wait to see how it performs over the season!

Thanks mate, it is quite similar to a 4-3-3 but I like to think it's a bit more unconventional.  I've always loved the tactical side of the game.  I have now finished the season so you won't have to wait long.

Even without strikers you managed to score 7!

Yeah, we also beat an Argentinian top division side 6-0 in a friendly.  It was designed to be an attacking tactic despite having no strikers.

I shall be trying this out when I move countries, I don't think this would suit an English team such as Woking! But will be for my next team!

It's completely unheard of for an English team to play patient possession football.  I can't wait to see how you get on with it, although I do feel a bit of pressure considering how well you've done with Woking using you current tactic (did you create it yourself?).

[JonCrosby]

Yeah I haven't change my tactic for 9 seasons, It works like magic for myself and yeah I made it my self!

[TomT]

Looks like Spain are using this tactic tonight, must have discovered it here!

[JonCrosby]

I was thinking the same thing! It does suit their style of play though!

[darthbane999]

Looks like Del Bosque is both an FM and Footballmanagerstories fan!

[Alex Murray]

Haha, yes, I noticed that too.  He did ask my permission, a while back, to use it though.  In a few years time when the 4-6-0 is the new 4-4-2 people will be saying "do you remember in Euro 2012 when Vincent del Bosque invented the 4-6-0?" but we know where it really came from...

[Alex Murray]

This is the updated version of the tactic that I'm using in my Godmanchester Rovers youth academy challenge.



I've altered the player roles slightly, shifting the deep lying playmaker to the middle of the three central midfielders and changed his mentality to defend, this is because he needs to be the orchestrator of the team and therefore needs to be in the middle to maintain balance.  The right of the three central midfielders is now a central midfielder, support.  I didn't want a ball-winning midfielder as I feel they only perform one function in the team, every player in my team must contribute to all phases of play, thus overpowering the opposition.

The defensive line has been pushed right and we are now paying an extremely aggressive offside trap, as a result we have pressing set to very high as you don't want to allow the opposition time on the ball to play through balls in behind your defence.  It also enables your team to win the ball high up the pitch putting you straight on the attack and saving your players' vital energy.  The passing has also been made a lot shorter as this helps retain possession more effectively.


I wouldn't recommend changing to this tactic mid-way through a season as it took my players a whole year to adjust to it (although that maybe because the players are terrible).  I've attached the tactic for anyone who wants to give it a try.  Let me know if you find any ways to improve it, having a striker is off limits though, I don't believe in strikers.