FM 2011 — Newcastle tactics 4-4-2 and 4-5-1

Hey guys, I have been promising a post on my Newcastle tactics for a while now. Well today we’ll be looking at both my 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations. You can also download these tactics, but I am waiting before I write a detailed post on how I use them. After my next season I will have gathered all the information needed to tell you each Premier League clubs weakness’ and how I exploit them. Anyway, that is next time so lets take a look at my Newcastle formations and tactics.

4-5-1 formation — Newcastle

This is my favoured formation. The 4-5-1 works very well in England and is effective against many different tactics. A lot of people prefer using a DMC in this formation and I have tried it but found the flat 3 man midfield far more successful.

The team instructions tend to vary depending on the opponent, difficulty of match and home or away fixtures. I will explain how to use these against each Premier League side at a later date. My standard and most commonly used instructions are below. Using a standard strategy and balanced philosophy means we don’t commit too many forward, but attack when the moment arises. I use the target man supply as ‘run onto ball’ because my strikers are given a role of poacher. I like my forwards to have pace and good finishing. The playmaker role should go to the guy who creates magic in midfield.

The players roles and duties are very important to gain a balance within the formation. Plus I have signed players to suit this tactic. I would always recommend using an inside forward on one of the wings, I have found a lot more goals come from midfield this way and the striker gets more support.

• GK: role- goalkeeper, duty- defend
• DR: role- full back, duty- automatic
• DL: role- full back, duty- support
• DCR: role- central defender, duty-defend
• DCL: role- central defender, duty- defend
• MC: role- central midfielder, duty- defend
• MCR: role- central midfielder, duty- support
• MCL: role- advanced playmaker, duty- attack
• AMR: role- winger, duty- attack
• AML: role- inside forward, duty- attack
• STC: role- poacher, duty- attack

Download my 4-5-1 formation here. Save it into: my documents/sports interactive/football manager 2011/tactics. Then it should be available in your ‘archived tactics’ in game.

4-4-2 formation — Newcastle

This tactic is rarely used, only called upon if my assistant recommends a 4-4-2 or says the opponent plays well against a 4-5-1. I sometimes move the wingers into a more attacking midfield position but that sometimes leaves my full backs under too much pressure. The flat midfield seems to create a nice balance across the pitch, only down side been my wingers perform better as AMR/L rather than MR/L.

The team instructions are almost identical to my 4-5-1 and I change them depending on the opponent. Like I’ve already said, we will look into the team instructions for individual opponents at a later date, but the ones below are used most of the time.

Like my team instructions, the players roles are very similar to in my 4-5-1. I’ll list them for clarity though, just remember that you could use one forward as a target man and support duty. I prefer two poachers as Andy Carroll plays very little at the moment.

• GK: role- goalkeeper, duty- defend
• DR: role- full back, duty- defend
• DL: role- full back, duty- support
• DCR: role- central defender, duty- defend
• DCL: role- central defender, duty- defend
• MCR: role- central midfielder, duty- defend
• MCL: role-advanced playmaker, duty- attack
• MR: role- winger, duty- attack
• ML: role- winger, duty- attack
• STCR: role- poacher, duty- attack
• STCL: role- poacher, duty- attack

Download my 4-4-2 formation here. Save it into: my documents/sports interactive/football manager 2011/tactics. Then it should be available in your ‘archived tactics’ in game.

OK guys that is pretty much it for my Newcastle tactics. In a while I will have my Premier League team weakness’ ready and will share how I exploit them using these tactics. Until then please feel free to ask any questions and I look forward to your comments.