Hey guys, and welcome to another FM 2013 tactic review. Before the review 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 is on gaurav’s 4-2-3-1 tactic, an attacking, possession dominating orientated tactic.
Formation
The formation is a 4-2-3-1, with two MC’s, two wide AM’s and one AMC. This is a very attacking formation, but the two MC’s are set to hold their position more or less. One is a deep lying playmaker, assigned the duty of spraying balls off to the more attacking minded team mates, while the other is a central midfielder with defend duty, so he will try to win back possession. Your two wide AM’s are inside forwards, so they offer width with their starting positions but will cut inside leading to a fairly narrow tactic while attacking. The AMC as an attacking midfielder so he is a focal point while moving forward and your poacher is there for one reason and one reason only, to score goals.
Team Instructions
The shape of this FM13 tactic is very attacking, but so are the team instructions. You’ll use a fluid philosophy and try to control the game. With passing set to short there’s no direct route to goal, just making your way through each position. With such a high defensive line and so many players in forward positions it does help to press more.
Your focal point for attacks is the flanks, and namely the left as that inside forward is set to playmaker.
Average Positions
I think the average positions show up all the main issues you could encounter with this system and demonstrate why I’m not a huge fan of the 4-2-3-1. Passing is set to short and yet the MC’s who are meant to be the connection from defence to attack are so far away from the AM’s. Also due to the wide AM’s been set as inside forwards their average position is much more narrow, leading to the AMC getting suffocated by too many bodies, he just doesn’t have anywhere to run.
Also due to the AMC’s attacking duty his average position is too close to the poacher, both players try and find space in the same circles, making them easy to mark out of the match. None of this is an issue should you have the better players, in fact it could lead to some very attractive football, but as the weaker team you’ll get picked off easily and then caught out.
Defending
The screenshot above illustrates how the defensive phase of play works. The AMR and AML track back just before the halfway line to cover, but no further, while the AMC and striker will have almost nothing to do with the defensive phase. Your two MC’s will just match their counterparts, marking any other central midfielders and the back four holds a fairly solid line.
While the image above shows how well the attacking players can close down as soon as possession is lost, it also shows the main hole in this tactic. Just look at all the room and time an opponent could enjoy just in front of the two MC’s and on either side, due to their role and other player positions no one will really boss that area. And with such a high line (shown above) it leaves too much time for the opposition MC’s to pick a long ball in behind your back four, or just pass their way through the middle.
Attacking
This tactic does pile bodies forward in attack and lots tend to attack the same areas. So if you have superior players then it will create some excellent short passing Football, but if you are the weaker side your attacks will just get broken down easily and then leave you caught out. I think this is shown above. As my team attacked down the left, we had Bale deciding whether to cut inside or carry on down the wing, but due to the AMC and poacher, their were already too many opposition bodies waiting. Against a poorer opponent this is no problem as the superior player will always find a way through or play some intricate passes (which is what happened above) but against better opposition, they will get picked off.
However, the video below shows just what happens with this tactic when you are favorites. The high pressure and attacking dominance almost always pays off.
Results
Some good results in there but also one disaster….after re-reading my notes from the Chelsea match, I have to repeat one of them, ‘we were RAPED at the back!’ ;) Just as mentioned above, this tactic is great against the weaker opposition, but that defensive line mixed with those attacking roles just doesn’t work against superior opponents, Chelsea found it all too easy to pass through our midfield and pick us off with long balls in behind.
Statistics
Goals scored: 13 (2.17 per game)
Goals conceded: 5 (0.8 per game)
Shots on target for: 7.17 per game
Shots on target against: 2.83 per game
Clear cut chances for: 0.83 per game
Clear cut chances against: 0.33 per game
Half chances for: 3.17 per game
Half chances against: 1 per game
Ball possession average: 57.33%
No real surprises in those statistics, you’d expect high possession of 57.33% and also a reasonable amount of goals which stood around 2.17 per game. I think we should spend more time on the pro’s and con’s so lets move on…
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Pretty good results.
Excellent high pressure display against weaker opposition.
When AML sticks too the wing, it leaves lots of space to attack between the opposition DC and full back due to AMC and poacher been marked in the middle. (as shown below.)
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High def. line leads to been caught out in behind.
Inside forwards shoot from long range too often.
Too many players attacking the same areas during attacking phase, which leads to congestion.
Suggested Tweaks
I’d start by setting the AMR and AML’s long range shooting to ‘rarely’. The gap between the AM’s and the MC’s is too big and the AMC is too close to the ST. So I’d suggest changing the AMC’s duty to support in an attempt to set his average position a bit deeper, that way he can bridge the gap from those MC’s to the AM’s. I think this tactic needs to be split in two, you should use the control strategy against weaker opposition, but I also think you should use a counter strategy against the superior sides.
FM 2013 Tactic Download
Download the 4-2-3-1 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.
I hope you enjoyed this analysis, more importantly I hope this inspires you to continue my testing and I’m looking forward to your comments. If you want to submit your tactic for analysis please do so using the form below:
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Johnny Karp
9 марта, 2013 at 15:23
Looks like a good possession tactic, the best numbers in that area so far if I’m not mistaken.
Darren Smith
9 марта, 2013 at 15:59
Certainly is and with the right tweaks and team it would be very successful in terms of points per game ratio too.
Niels Theis Bendtsen
9 марта, 2013 at 17:58
I use a similar formation (different roles for the players) for some games for my Penr team. I must say that I have found it quite good against superior opponents in Wales but generally I have managed to pick very good wingers which I think is key.
When you review tactics do you always use the same team or how is it?
Darren Smith
9 марта, 2013 at 18:43
We always use the same team and training and fixtures etc…this is so we can compare all the different tactics.
Niels Theis Bendtsen
9 марта, 2013 at 19:12
I just might submit my tactic after all. It would be fun to if Tottenham can benefit from my Penr tactic. There is a huge jump in the quality of players to say the least.
Darren Smith
9 марта, 2013 at 19:55
Go for it, there is a cue to get through but we welcome any submissions.
Gaurav Chaddah
9 марта, 2013 at 19:40
Thanks for the fantastic analysis mate.
This tactic was created for Chelsea… So at the time really I didn’t make any defensive minded changes, I do have a counter version with the tempo slowed down and the line isn’t as high.
As for your suggested tweaks I will try them however after concluding 2 seasons with Chelsea alongside your evidence here… The 4-2-3-1 has many problems and it’s all about finding the right balance.
Darren Smith
9 марта, 2013 at 19:57
No problem mate…you’re right, creating tactics is all about finding that balance, its a tough mix to conduct but great when everything clicks.
Dan Scutt
11 марта, 2013 at 10:03
I play the same formation with Man United but my amc is used as an advanced playmaker support so he isn’t too close to the striker. I’ve also found problems with the Inside Forward role that they do shoot from long range quite a lot even if u have them set to rarely shoot from long range which is quite annoying at times.
Darren Smith
11 марта, 2013 at 11:54
That certainly is a little frustrating, maybe the shout ‘work ball into box’ would help also. But I ultimately think the problem is because the inside forwards run into a wall of players and shoot out of desperation more than anything else.
Dan Scutt
15 марта, 2013 at 11:20
Thanks for the tip I’ll try that
Bubba
24 марта, 2013 at 15:03
I’m thinking of downloading this tactic, I have right now a very strong Roma side in 2017 wich play 4-2-3-1. http://imgur.com/XAMh6UH <— this is my tactic now.The squad is made for 4-2-3-1, wich tactic should I download? =)
Darren Smith
24 марта, 2013 at 15:14
This tactic would suit, you’d need to play with the strategy depending on the opponent though, as mentioned in the suggested tweaks.
Bubba
24 марта, 2013 at 15:33
I do have a better squad than most of my opponents, only the likes of Man city have better. Any other toughts about my squad, should I strengthen somewhere?
Darren Smith
24 марта, 2013 at 15:51
I can’t possibly comment on that, you’re in 2017, I have no idea how your players will have developed.
Qminh
3 июля, 2013 at 09:57
I am managing Real right now and I play 4-2-3-1 with two IF (usually 1 will attack and the other has support duty). The advantage I find with inside forward is that they usually drag the opponent’s full back inside and our full back will has ocean of space before him to charge into. In my save Marcelo was the star of the team, put so much dangerous crosses. Rafael on the right also gets some good cross byline or from deep to the IF. Because the two CM will hold their positions so you could encourage your full backs to attack more.
I have a AP support in the middle so he will come deep to create some space for 2 IF, but I suggest you can try Ozil role in real life (he move from side to side to maintain width), set instruction for your AMC to «hug touchline». Or maybe «move into channel» so he will make a run to receive the through ball for the IF (the striker could also be a target for through ball but I haven’t seen many in FM2013, I tend to let them be the block).
I have some problems with the defensive responsibility of the two IF. In real life 4-2-3-1 will form 2 line of 4 when defending, but in my game usually the AP will have to fall back. However, it seems like players with PPM «come deep to get the ball» are more willing to defense. I have Ozil and Isco in two flanks and they are quite good. Sometimes I use Jese (home-grown) and Neymar if I want extra goal threat, but Neymar is not really good for me ( in IF position, he run with ball two much, and he lacks height and strength to finish crosses from two full backs in ST position). I also sell Ronaldo, my God he is not suitable.
The biggest problem comes when I face a 5 man defense. IF cuts inside and is picked by a CB, while my ST is isolated and my LB and RB are pinned back. I have tried to focus attacking down flanks and press heavily but my opponents still have more goals( 2 vs 2 at the back if they play 5-3-2, 4 vs 3 in the center if 5-4-1) . In the match with Juve (2-1 for them) they’ve got 1 from long ball and 1 when their midfielders break through mine to shot. We score 1 back from a cross but I still feel we could concede more
Darren Smith
3 июля, 2013 at 12:17
Thats the problem with using IF’s, there are very few weakness’ but a back three and wingers or wing backs can cause major problems, not only attacking but losing possession and then getting caught on the break.
Thiago
17 июля, 2013 at 01:54
Hi. Dont know if you still play with the same tactic but it’s obvious why there is no connection between your CM’s and front four, because they’re all have attack duties. Your AMC acts almost as a striker. If you have him with support duty or even Trequartista (no forward runs), it will make a big difference.