Clayts Spanner 5-2-3 | Best FM23 Tactics

As part of our mission to bring you the best FM23 tactic, we have put Clayts 5-2-3 Spanner system through our five-team test to see how it compares to other tactics in the community.

Here at FMS we will be testing and creating the best FM23 tactics throughout the year. Not only will we be creating, featuring and testing our own tactics — like this Electric 4-2-4, but will will also test the best from the FM Community.

Clayts had great success with tactics in FM22, including the 4-2-1-3 Overload system which was heavily copied in the PvP scene, and even won him the Champions League with Ajax in his crazy 33-hour challenge.

Two and a bit minutes of pure @FootballManager chaos.

Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/DlZQZRalsx

— Clayts (@claytsfm) September 14, 2021

The FM23 Tactic

Spanner is a 5-2-3 system which looks to utilise the wing-backs and front three to dominate the defence and outnumber teams up the pitch.

With the way FM23 has been working with defensive mistakes and long balls, it’s easy to see why it would be effective.

The Ball Playing Defenders will push into the midfield space and progress the ball, allowing the wide players to advance.

With the Deep Lying Forward dropping into space and the Pressing Forwards harrasing the back lines, chaos is almost guaranteed.

Clayts Spanner 5-2-3 Instructions

Playing the ball out of defence will get the three centre backs involved and there is a good chance you will see a lot of long balls with the tempo set to it’s highest level.

Yet, with the Work Ball into Box selected, the front three should be able to run the channels and then fire the ball into the danger zone.

Playing a high press, with the Trigger Press on Much More Often, the attackers will increase the pressure to the max. Get Stuck In makes it a very aggressive tactic and defenders will be tested with their composure.

Testing

With all of our FM23 Tactics Tests we will run the season through with five teams: Chelsea, Rennes, Borussia Monchengladbach, Roma and Villarreal. They are all predicted to finish fifth in their leagues, so the hope is, each tactic will push them towards the Champions League.

Scoring works as follows: Points, Goals Scored, and xG added together, with Goals Conceded and xG Against subtracted and an average scored given from all five teams.

Check out the FMS FM23 Tactics Index for how each tactic has scored.

Results: Clayts Spanner 5-2-3

Chelsea will be disappointed with a fifth place finish, yet, with a lack of forwards, the tactic isn’t quite right for their squad. Rennes and Villarreal finished in third place, with the French side making the semi-finals of the Europa League before they were knocked out by Real Betis.

Arnaud Kalimuendo and Amine Gouiri had a great time in Ligue 1, scoring 50 goals between them. They added 20 assists, showcasing the power of the front three. Martin Terrier, the third striker, added 17 goals and seven assists.

FMS Score

This tactic scores 116.6 on our testing system. Averaging 69 points per team and 75.8 goals, although it did massively overperform its xG of 65.2. It’s chaotic, it’s fun, and it you can amass the right forwards to make it work, you are going to have a lot of success.

There is no doubt this is one of the most devastating formations released for FM23. But will it be one of the Best FM23 tactics?

Download Clayts Spanner 5-2-3

We will be testing and checking out loads of the best Football Manager 2023 tactics in the coming weeks, if you like what you see, check out the FMS FM23 tactics index below

If you try this tactic, please let us know in the comments or on social media. What went well? Anything would you change? Which players do you think would be perfect for it?