FM 2013 Tactic Review: G Vinay’s 3-2-1-2-2

Hey guys, and welcome to another FM 2013 tactic review. This features an interesting shape, but before we delve into all that lets re-cap the testing process.

The testing procedure is quite simple: I will install the tactic and use it through pre-season plus six league matches with Spurs. Then I’ll watch each match closely, see what happens and come up with the best review I am capable of. I will also keep track of various statistics in order to be able to compare the essential numbers between this and other tactics that have been or will be analysed. It will be more or less like a benchmarking tool for FM 2013 tactics.

Today’s FM 2013 tactic review was made by Gopalaiah Vinay and evolves around a 3-2-1-2-2. Lets take a look at that now.

Formation

The formation is a 3-2-1-2-2. Two limited defenders do the grunt work while a ball playing defender links up with two DMC’s. The anchor man protects while the deep lying forward has licence to roam and pick out passes. A box to box midfielder is the sole MC, he tends to cover ground and arrive late at the edge of the area.

Into the attacking third, we have two inside forwards at AML and AMR. They cut inside and even drop back to accept the ball deep. Upfront a target man falls off the defensive line while a poacher waits for loose balls and through passes.

Team Instructions

This tactic plays the offside trap and uses the counter. We have a moderately high defensive line with fairly quick tempo and width. Fluid attacking Football is backed up by a lot of creative freedom and the freedom to roam from positions. The deep lying playmaker in DMC is assigned playmaker while the target man is the focal point.

Average Positions

The average positions shown above are interesting. Its clear to see that my 3 DC’s and two DMC’s keep a tight unit which is tough to break down. This makes it very hard for opposition AMC’s to operate as there is no pocket to play in between defence and midfield. The box to box midfielder has license to run, so he tends to become more of an AMC linking up with the strikers. Then the target man drops back to form a three man wall with the inside forwards while the poacher stands alone up top.

Defending

This tactic performs very well defensively. The DC’s hold a good line, while the two DMC’s sit just in front until they are forced into a tackle. The screenshot above shows how the AML and AMR can track back. What this does is create a diamond defensive setup.

If an attack builds down the left, then the AML drops just behind the MC, with the two DMC’s creating the rest of the diamond, its tough to run or pass through. If attacks occur down the right then everyone just shifts over and the AMR becomes the wide defensive unit. This is shown clearly in the screenshot above.

Attacking

While testing I noticed three main ways this tactic builds an attack. The deep lying playmaker has instructions to run with the ball sometimes, he tends to do so until met by opposition, when he passes to the inside forward or MC. Another option is the AMR and AML drop very deep while defending, so they are an easy pass and tend to run with the ball down the flanks and cut inside. The last build up was from the box to box midfielder receiving the short pass from a DMC. He then charges forward.

My target man dropped back often to pick up the ball while in the final third. Whereas the poacher sits and waits for an opportunity on goal. The DMC with role of anchor man very rarely moves from his post just in front of the DC’s though, he offers an extra insurance.

Results

The results above show all. This tactic is tough to break down, conceding 3 goals (two against Chelsea.) It can also create going forward, I was most impressed with Lennon who caused havoc on the right, cutting inside then weaving through the defence. So five wins against lesser opposition and comfortable at that. However, the Chelsea game was worrying, we created next to no chances and what was a tight defensive unit was ripped apart time and time again by quick attacks and talented Footballers.

Statistics

Goals scored: 14 (2.33 per game)

Goals conceded: 3 (0.5 per game)

Shots on target for: 8.83 per game

Shots on target against: 1.83 per game

Clear cut chances for: 1.5 per game

Clear cut chances against: 0.67 per game

Half chances for: 2.83 per game

Half chances against: 1.5 per game

Ball possession average: 54%

Compared to other tactics we’ve tested this 3-2-1-2-2 held average results, with average possession. Its in the defensive record that it excelled, 4th best in all and it was joint second for goals scored. Despite the goal stats, this tactic was poor in terms of chances created and conceded, a lot of other tactics performed better. You can compare these stats to other tactics in the FM13 Tactics Index table, this is used to compare the stats from all our reviews. Now lets analyse the main pro’s and con’s of Vinay’s 3-2-1-2-2.

+

Good results.

Three DC’s and two DMC’s create very strong defensive unit.

Always feel like favorite to win against lesser sides (sounds simple but not always the case with other more attacking tactics.)

—

Poor chances created.

Too many long shots breaking up good attacks.

If AMR and AML don’t get back to defend, the opposition can score. Happened with Chelsea as shown below, better players just showed us up as the AML stood and watched. DC’s were drawn out of position and the flanks became a real pain. (See below.)

Suggested Tweaks

The only real problem with this tactic is the space that can be exploited out wide should the AM’s not track back against stronger opposition. You saw in the average positions screenshot just how high everyone pushes up so my recommendation would be to switch the strategy to counter and defensive line to just below half, only against teams like Chelsea away from home.

I would also ask the MC and target man to take long shots rarely, this should keep attacks alive for longer.

FM 2013 Tactic Download

Download the 3-2-1-2-2 FM 2013 tactic by clicking on the image below:

After downloading the tactic follow these simple steps to install it in FM 2013:

1. Put the downloaded file into this folder: Documents>Sports Interactive>Football Manager 2013>tactics

2. Start your game and go to your team’s tactics screen.

3. Click on the little arrow located to the right of your starting tactic name, move your mouse cursor over “archived tactics” and select this tactic from the menu.

Well another great FM13 tactic tested and I make that 17 in total, but we’ll keep adding to the list as Johnny takes on the next review. Until then thanks for reading and please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

Please note We won’t be taking any more entries from you at this point because we already have plenty of tactics on the waiting list.