Pairs & Combinations FM

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE
PAIRS &
COMBINATIONS:
THE
COMPLETE GUIDE
Llama3
Updated for FM15
Contents
Introduction
Goalkeepers
Central Defenders
Central Midfielders
Width
10
13
Strike Partnerships
17 Team Instructions
Building My Team
27
During The Match
32
Final Thoughts
34
1
21
Formations
New Roles
Playing Styles
35
37
39
Introduction
This is now the 4th version of Pairs & Combinations, updated for
FM15. I hope you all continue to find it helpful, and that it gives
you the ideas and imagination that really makes FM the great
game series that it is. I have accounted for all the new roles in
the most recent version and, as ever, have a few more new
features to help you, with a look to tactical playing styles.
Hope you enjoy the guide.
Llama3
GOALKEEPERS
Goalkeepers are an integral part of your team's tactical setup.
Their distribution and sweeping up are significantly linked to
your overall team style of play, and the players in your team. A
well set-up goalkeeper can significantly enhance your team's
performances, turning a single point into three with a critical
save or interception.
Distribution
Your goalkeeper has several options for distribution. He can act
as a creative presence, or tend towards playing it safe. The
options are as follows:
Roll It Out
Throw It Long
Short Kick
Long Kick
A short distribution option works well with building play from
the back, and works particularly well when you have a good
creative outlet, like a Ball Playing Defender, a Deep Lying
Playmaker, or a Regista, who can help create chances from a
deeper position and help maintain possession.
You also need to consider which players are in space to receive
the ball. Your Full Backs are frequently the most likely players to
have time on the ball, although their angles of passing are
limited by playing out wide.
A quick throwing option supports a more direct counterattacking approach, appears to suit distribution to full
backs/wing backs (who naturally tend to have the most space
from the back) & helps speed play out from the back at a much
quicker tempo. You could also ask your goalkeeper to distribute
to the flanks at the same time to enhance this style of play.
The long kicking approach significantly suits a more physical
taller option further up the field. If you play a Target Man or a
Wide Target Man, these are highly suitable options to distribute
long to - this also works well if your team is being pressed at
the back and you are struggling to play the ball out from the
back. This can alleviate pressure and get your team further up
the field in a more comfortable area of the pitch.
Your goalkeeper can also help control the tempo of the game,
and can hold on to the ball for long periods when you are trying
to slow the game or hold on to a lead. He can distribute it
quickly instead if you are trying to keep up the pressure on the
game, or are desperately in search of a goal.
A Sweeper Keeper can provide more creative options from open
play, and suits a counter-attacking game from the back in
terms of his distribution.
Sweeping Up
A Sweeper Keeper will sweep up in front of, and wide of the
penalty area. He can compensate for a high line & the offside
trap being breached. A normal Goalkeeper will hold position far
more, and as a result, tends to suit being sat behind a deeper
defence, claiming crosses and distributing the ball safer.
If you have a higher line it may be more appropriate to try and

beat the opposing forwards to the ball instead of standing up
and facing a shot, where the opponent has time to set himself.
It may be less essential to play a Sweeper Keeper if you have a
Sweeper/Libero, or if you have a Defender on a Covering duty.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
This guide is going to look in your central defensive set-ups,
and how to achieve a cohesive backline. I will discuss your
common central defensive pairing, and then the less common
central trio.
Central Pair
You have 3 central defensive roles and 3 central defensive
duties to choose from. The roles are as follows:
Central Defender
Limited Defender
Ball Playing Defender
The duties are as follows:
Defend
Stopper
Cover
The roles are fairly similar in most respects, and defensive

distribution is the most significant difference in the roles. The
Limited Defender tends to simply clear the ball as far away
from goal as he can - ensures you do not get caught in
possession at the back, but it does turn over possession to your
opponents quicker and can leave you under sustained pressure.
A good idea if your team does not possess the skill to keep hold
of the ball in the backline.
The Central Defender will distribute the ball to nearby
teammates, helping you keep possession in the backline, and to
calmly distribute the ball to the midfield. There is the risk of
getting caught in possession at the backline, however it can
alleviate pressure on your backline by keeping the ball, and
building attacks and distributing the ball to players in the
midfield capable of influencing the game in the middle and final
thirds.
The Ball Playing Defender will look to influence counterattacking opportunities by playing through-balls in to players
wide of, or in front of himself. He can also help the team
maintain possession with his superior passing skills and licence,
although he must me fairly creative and a good passer,
otherwise you can turn over possession if your player tries
overly ambitious passes he is not capable of.
Central Defender & Central Defender
Central Defender & Limited Defender
Limited Defender & Limited Defender
Ball Playing Defender & Central Defender
You can pair Limited Defenders as they do not affect the
balance or overall passing structure as they simply play direct,
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same with a pair of Central Defenders who simply play a short

passing game.
The Ball Playing Defender however plays through balls, and due
to the increased creativity should generally only be paired with
just a simple Central Defender - this is because the Central
Defender can help maintain possession at the back, passing to
his more creative partner instead of hoofing the ball clear like a
Limited Defender and his "safety-first" approach. Having 2
BPDs can see your defenders playing with too much creativity,
and attempting too many risky passes.
The duties provide the variation in defensive approach, and
these can significantly change the way your defence balances.
The Defend duty is the standard approach, aiming to defend
merely as guided by team instructions on marking and
pressing, holding the defensive line and winning the ball when
appropriate.
The Stopper duty aims to step up early to engage the
opposition and quickly win the ball back. This can expose your
team and open up space for your opposition, stepping ahead of
your defensive line.
The Cover duty will drop off to try and catch any players
breaching the defensive line. This can leave your opponents
more time and space just in front of your defence unopposed,
but it can also prevent your opponents from breaking through
without a player to cover and track their runs, reducing their
chances of getting a clean shot away in behind.
Defend & Defend
Stopper & Cover
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Stopper & Defend

Defend & Cover
You can play most combinations of duties in the backline,
however most importantly you cannot play a pair of Stoppers
or a pair of Covering Defenders. The Stoppers will expose too
much space in behind, and the Covers will gift too much room
in front of the defence, and fail to challenge for the ball often
enough. Both pairings can badly expose your Offside Trap too,
by either allowing room behind the Full Back or behind the
centre backs, played onside by the full backs.
The Defend-Defend pairing tend to stay in line better and are
significantly better for shape retention, and playing an Offside
Trap. The Stopper-Cover pairing tends to exaggerate the best
qualities of each individual, with an aggressive defender to
attack the ball early, reducing room for the opposition forwards,
and the covering defender can make up for the aggressiveness
of the Stopper with his excellent positioning and pace. The
Stopper can make up for the Covering Defender's deeper
positioning and sometimes lack of aggression by closing down
the space in front of the defence. This pairing can cause
problems maintaining the Offside Trap with the Defenders in
line, allowing gaps for your opponents to exploit.
Central Trio
When playing 3 at the back, you have to consider the
implications of the wide players, and their positioning. If your
full backs/wing backs are fairly attackminded then your wide
central defenders will have to be able to cover the space left
out wide. Having a back 3 can take a player away from the
flanks or the central zone in the pitch, and if this back 3 can
help with this attacking deficit it is useful.
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A Ball Playing Defender can help out with the deficit in

creativity and Central Defenders can help retain possession.
This is worth considering, but the suitability of your players for
their roles is important. The real art with 3 at the back comes
with the distribution of roles:
Defend-Defend-Defend
Stopper-Cover-Stopper
Cover-Stopper-Cover
The general theories are that you can either keep your entire
defence in line, preserving your offside trap and shape by
keeping all on the "Defend" duty. You can have Stoppers out
wide, closing down opposition wide players to prevent crosses
coming in, leaving 2 defenders in the centre to challenge the
opponents, with the Covering defender capable of tracking the
runs of players in behind the Stoppers. You can also invert this
by having a Stopper to close down space in the centre, forcing
the ball to be played wide, and Cover the balls into the
channels for the opposition wide players to chase in behind.
Sweepers
Your other tactical option with a back 3 is the use of a Sweeper.
Due to the positioning of the role, it is suited only for use
behind a central pair, creating a de facto back 3. The Sweeper
has a Defend duty only, and basically acts like a Covering
defender, just with slightly more conservative defending. The
Libero is a creative option, who gets forward from his initial
deep positioning, and gets into midfield to start dictating the
game. This is suitable for a defender with good intelligence and
technique, who can help add to the numbers in midfield.
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Half Back
The Half Back is an inversion of how the Sweeper plays. The
Half Back sits in front of the defence whilst in possession, being
a passing outlet to keep recycling the ball. When the team loses
possession, he drops between the centre back pairing, and
splits the centre backs wider, creating a back 3. The Half Back
is also only suited in front of a centre back pair because a third
defender would cause problems with his defensive behaviour,
getting in the way of his natural tendency to drop deep.
Remember...
Your defensive roles affect your defensive distribution, and
duties affect your defensive approach. Defend duties stay in
line better, with Stopper and Cover duties useful in tandem
closing down and tracking space and runs, but at the expense
of your offside trap. Make sure you consider the space you
vacate on the flanks if you play 3 at the back, and consider
your approach to possession and your player's individual
capabilities when assessing your roles and duties selection.
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CENTRAL
MIDFIELDERS
The most key area of the entire pitch is in Central Midfield. This
is the area that governs success in both defensive & offensive
terms on the pitch, and requires most attention. It is also the
area though, with most flexibility in terms of roles and duties,
leaving it quite adaptable to circumstances. The Central
Midfield includes Defensive & Attacking strata too, as all parts
are required to link up adequately & effectively for the team to
work as a unit.
Central Midfield can be set up in several different shapes, with

different numbers of central midfielders depending on the
formation you select. I will now go through how each system
works:
Pair of Central Midfielders

When you play with just a solitary pair in central midfield, they
must be able to protect your defence as a priority. They can sit
in either the DM or MC strata to achieve this. They must also be
able to support attacks and help maintain possession, on top of
their defensive work. They can get overrun because there are
just 2 of them, but as long as their defensive shape is good,
your team should be well protected.
A pairing traditionally has a sitter and a runner, as they are

required to cover a vast area of the pitch, but remain compact
at the same time. The Sitter can also be a creative, passing
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influence as well, should he possess the ability. The Sitter is

typically a Defend duty, and the Runner typically a Support
duty. Consider specific behaviours in your pairing too, a Deep
Lying Playmaker is capable of sitting, but he is not capable of
providing Box to Box running. A Ball Winning Midfielder, a
defensive role in nature, does not provide disciplined
positioning, so makes a poor sitter.
Midfield Trio
The more central midfielders you have, the more functions you
can expect them to perform. Considering you lose a forward or
wide player to have the extra midfielder, you have to offset
these losses in midfield where you have the extra players. So,
whereas in a pair you have a sitter & runner, in a trio you
have the ability to play a sitter, runner and attacker of
course these labels are quite artificial, and you can have your
trio performing in several different functions. The best way of
setting up this midfield is to play; a single defend, support &
attack duty each in your trio.
You also need to consider the shape and function of your

midfield trio too. The deepest pair in a 4-2-3-1 formation are
required to be primarily compact & defensive, so for example,
playing an Advanced Playmaker, or Central Midfielder (Attack)
is a woeful idea that will seriously expose your defence.
Similarly, in a 4-3-3 DM Wide, your 2 x MCs are going to need
to get forward and support the attack, so playing a Deep Lying
Playmaker and Central Midfielder (Support) is not going to
provide this depth of attack. Realise what the function is of
each part of the system you are trying to play.
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Finally, the shape of your midfield trio is important. If they are

in a triangular shape, they offer more passing options, than
strung in a line. So remember to have players sitting in
different areas to provide passing options and outlets.
Your choice of roles & duties need to be shaped by the style of

play you use. If you wish to play a compact and organised
defence, then a Ball Winning Midfielder is the antithesis of this
style, frequently leaving his defensive position to close down
opponents. Similarly if you wish to play a direct, counter
attacking game, then playing an Advanced Playmaker is not
going to help get rapid transitions from back to front and will
slow play and bring it through the middle.
Midfield Quadrants
Playing with 4 Central Midfielders is a great battering ram
through the midfield, using great numbers to power through a
defence. Obviously these numbers need to offer a great bulk of
creativity and forward movement, as well as being a hard
working defensive force, offering some alleviation for the lack
of wide players in most of these systems. However, it is a great
advantage to be able to flood the most important area of the
pitch with players offering defensive stability but an offensive
advantage and numbers.
The most obvious ways of setting this up are; to use a Diamond

midfield (DMMC-MC-AMC, or, DM-MR-ML-AMC), or, a Box
Midfield (DM-DM-MC-MC, DMDM-AMC-AMC, or, MC-MC-AMCAMC) which covers less strata, but can allow for better use of
specific partnerships.
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A simple way of allocating the roles and duties here is to

remember, you need a more defensive pair and a more
offensive pair of players. You also need to ensure you have a
reasonable amount of forward runs too. A Central Midfielder
(Attack) is the most likely deep player to provide purposeful
forward running, although in his absence a Box to Box
Midfielder (Support) is a useful alternative.
In a Diamond Midfield, the AMC is a high risk of being marked

out of the game, so ensure he has good lateral, or vertical
movement to prevent this from happening. A Trequartista pulls
into wide spaces, and a Shadow Striker tends to push forward
aggressively. You can also consider the Attacking Midfielder
does both functions depending on the situation.
A further function of 4-man central midfield systems is that it

allows for great degrees of speciality in midfield. For example, a
Regista or Deep Lying Playmaker can benefit from the
additional defensive help of teammates, whereas the Ball
Winning Midfielder can often feel free to press in search of the
ball, knowing that there are other players in sensible positions
to cover should he be exposed.
WIDTH
Your wide men consist of Full Backs/Wing Backs & Wide
Midfielders/Wingers. Most teams will have 2 sets of wide
players, some will contain only 1 set of wide players. Your wide
players have a very varied set of roles & encompassing all
types of duties. There is a lot of potential for variation in your
team in this area of the pitch. The formation you use will
significantly impact on the choice of roles & duties in the wide
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areas. A solitary wide player has more responsibilities and has

to be able to contribute to all areas of play, whereas a pair of
wide players can share the specialisation for a more balanced
set up.
Sacrificing wide players is a way of having more midfielders to
win the possession battle, however wide men used well can
contribute to a possession game, a creative game, or be used
for their goal scoring exploits, or even their work rate and
defensive abilities - this applies to all positions down the flank.
A full back who gets into superb advanced positions is a great
asset to have, as is a winger who tracks back and makes
tackles too.
Lone Wide Men

Many systems in football utilise just a single natural source of
width on each flank. Italy is a nation which in footballing terms,
tends to distrust, or at least, not use Wingers. It also likes to
use three at the back systems a lot more too, which means
that the easiest place to find the extra man to use in the
system, is often on the flanks.
When a player is tasked with providing the entirety of your
offensive, defensive and supporting play down your flanks, he
needs to be able to:
get forward & provide width
track back and hold a good defensive position
keep up with play, being a constant outlet on the flank to retain
possession
provide a source of penetration in wide areas
16
All things considered, that is a hefty workload to consider. The

other major concern, is where to place your lone wide man. The
formation you select is your teams Defensive shape, so, you
need to consider how far back you want your lone wide men to
sit. If they sit further back they provide a more secure
defensive shape, but, if they sit further forward, they could
perhaps press quicker in wide areas, or provide a quicker
counter attacking threat. The higher up the pitch you play your
lone wide man, the more inclined he must be to track back
instead. The following combinations provide the width,
penetration, defensive stability and work rate most effectively:
Full Back (Attack)
Wing Back (Support/Attack)
Complete Wing Back (Attack)
Wide Midfielder (Support)
Defensive Winger (Support)
The reason why the Wide Midfielder & Defensive Winger are on
support duties only, is because they have to provide width in
front of them, but the inclination to track back into the space
behind them to. An Attack duty will not be inclined to track
enough, a Defend duty will not provide the width necessary in
lone wide man systems. You will also notice the omission of the
Wide Playmaker in this list; this is because he does not provide
width. By his nature, he comes inside, which will just congest a
team crying out for a wide outlet.
Dual Wide Men

When you play with Dual Wide Men, this allows an abundance
of options available to you. Firstly, consider how your team
should be creating the bulk of chances, and, therefore how you
want your players to behave. Some of the wide players can
17
move into central areas, helping your midfield to dominate,

while the other wide player on the flank provides the width.
Some pairs both operate in wide areas, sometimes with an
overlap, others with one player providing an outlet, or
alternative crossing location. Typically with dual wide men, you
always have players in the DR/L positions, as the tangible
benefits of playing in the WB positions are wiped out by playing
other wide players just in front of them.
The first example of combinations are where you have a wide
player moving centrally to help midfield dominance are:
Full Back (Attack)
Wing Back (Support/Attack)
With:
Wide Playmaker (Support/Attack)
Advanced Playmaker (Support/Attack)
Inside Forward (Support/Attack)
Raumdeuter (Attack)
Or you could use:
Inverted Wing Back (Support) & Winger/Wide Midfielder (Attack)
Your other alternatives are to use a pair of wide players, who
remain wide and rely on using overlapping to create space
down the flank:
Full Back (Attack)
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Wing Back (Attack)

With:
Winger (Support)
Defensive Winger (Support)
Wide Target Man (Support)
This will cause the naturally deeper player (the DR for
example), to overlap the nominally more offensive player (the
MR/AMR for example), which creates space and passing options
to link up with.
A more typical wide pairing, based solely on helping your team
provide width, with offensive players responsible for more
penetration, and defensive players to provide the out-ball and
solidity could be used, such as:
Full Back (Support)
Wing Back (Support) (only with a Wide Midfielder ahead of him)
With:
Winger (Attack)
Wide Midfielder (Attack)
Your wide play will in this instance, be based more on your
direct wide player getting into the final third to deliver crosses
into the centre, while the FB behind links up to provide him with
a passing option.
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Remember...
Plan first how many wide players you are using before you
decide on their roles. If you are playing a lone wide man you
cannot afford to have them doing a defence-only job, they must
offer an outlet. Consider that they must also have a good
defensive position to begin with, or be able to track back and
defend instead. Dual wide men must work in combination,
ensure they do not get in each other's way, yet are still capable
of providing overlaps and overloads.
STRIKE PARTNERSHIPS
The term "strike partnerships" does not simply include only the
forward(s) in the ST strata, it also includes the Wingers and
Attacking Midfielders who have a particularly close link to the
Centre-Forward(s). All Strikers have a partnership of some
description, even lone forwards require supply and linkups of
some description to function.
Football has moved from specialist to Universalist theories of
roles over time, with the roles demanding more of each player,
to be able to fulfil additional requirements. The attempt to find
space in modern tactics has also necessitated the need for
more unconventional partnerships too. In this guide I will look
at various types of pairing, from lone forwards with AM strata
support to a simple a pair of forwards.
The Big-Man - Little-Man Partnership

Many partnerships over the years have been built on getting
the best out of the physical prowess of players. A large player
can provide an effective target, holding the ball up or playing
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passes to a quicker team mate, or playing him in behind

instead. The larger player generally plays deeper, flicking on
the ball, winning aerial challenges, although it is possible for
the larger player to stay higher up, flicking the ball back into
space or to a teammate, coming in at pace. The smaller player
can look to break in behind or into pockets of space, often
created by the larger forward beating a defender to the ball.
These partnerships generally rely on good wide delivery &
crossing from wingers and full backs, and generally suit fairly
direct tactics. They are generally Target Man & Poacher
combinations. Although an Advanced Forward can provide a
more rounded version of the Poacher, and the Bigger forward
can still be effective in a more creative role if he possesses the
skills, e.g. Deep Lying Forward or Complete Forward. This
can still work with attacking midfielders to support too. A
powerful lone forward such as Target
Man or Complete Forward can be supplied by an Inside
Forward or Raumdeuter to allow the quick goal scorer to
attack the box from deeper areas, and make better use of his
pace.
Creator - Scorer
Probably the most common type of partnership in football. This
can simply be a case of 1 forward sitting slightly deeper than
the other, providing his more advanced partner with passes and
through-balls to score, or occupying defenders to allow his
partner to gain more time and space. The creator can exist as a
forward, or as a midfielder instead, positioned to assist the
striker effectively.
This type of system can rely on a number of attributes, not just
necessarily physical, but technical ability and mental ability
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become more prevalent in cases of creative partnerships. It is a

type of football that is fairly versatile, but has a slight tendency
to suit more creative/possession based systems as opposed to
direct, attrition football - however its versatility can see it
widely applied to many different systems.
The most balanced roles for this type of partnership are Deep
Lying Forward & Advanced Forward, however a Complete
Forward can be an exceptional creator or goal scorer (or both),
generally shaped by his duty. A Poacher is obviously a good
goal scorer, but is less likely to feed his supporting partner any
chances in return.
A Trequartista is a superb creator, and needs someone
capable of attacking the space & chances he creates. He can
function from ST or AMC positions, but an Advanced
Playmaker or Enganche can also be a superb deeper creative
force to supply an Advanced Forward ahead of him.
The Advanced Forward is a role that offers build-up play, as
well as goal scoring ability; the Complete Forward (Attack) &
Deep-Lying Forward are good examples of this too. The
difference between the 3 roles are; the Advanced Forward
stays high, tracking across the line into channels, looking to
create space, and, return the pass if necessary. The Complete
Forward tends to have more varied movement instead, and,
the Deep Lying Forward, will stay more central, dropping
deeper and holding the ball up more than an Advanced
Forward.
The Inside Forward can be an excellent creator on a support
duty with angled balls from out wide into a breaking forward
instead, whereas on an Attack duty, he can attack space left by
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a more creative forward in a more advanced position ahead of

him, and be a prolific goal scorer.
This also applies very specifically for a Raumdeuter who will
look to provide a goal scoring threat from wider positions,
getting into channels, and linking up with a potentially creative
presence.
False Nine - False Ten

The false nine & false ten system are based on the central
striker dropping deep, attempting to draw a defender with him,
or simply allowing space for him or a teammate to attack and
unsettle the defence. The false ten aspect is the advanced
midfielder pushing from deep into the vacated space to emerge
as a significant or main goal scoring threat. The main & obvious
way of achieving this is to select a False Nine & Shadow
Striker partnership, which will link up well in the final third,
and tends to significantly suit a possession & intricate
movement based system.
There are other roles which can mimic this effect, sometimes by
pulling wide instead, or simply drifting for space. The
Trequartista in attack will naturally drift around, creating
space that players can attack, and again this can cause the
central defenders the conundrum to follow him, or allow him
space. The Trequartista can drift wide too, whereas the False
Nine tends towards moving deeper.
The Deep-Lying Forward & Complete Forward (Support)
will also act similarly, but are more capable of holding the ball
up, and occupying more space higher up the pitch as opposed
to constantly looking to move deep. They also have more
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defensive discipline than a Trequartista which can be an

important aspect for many managers.
In terms of alternative "false ten" players - the Inside Forward
or Raumdeuter on the flanks can attack the space vacated by
a forward dropping deep/drifting wide, and cause the dilemma
for full back's to choose to follow the player, opening up space
wide, or to leave him to the central defenders, where he may
gain space before he is even tracked. Attacking Midfielders
can push into the box to support attacking moves, but are less
suited to a prolific goal scoring role than the others outlined.
Remember
Remember to split your duties to create good movement. Base
your attacking chances around multiple routes of attack to
prevent uni-focal tactics being rendered useless by the
opposition. Your attacking partnerships and link-ups extend to
the AM strata, as well general creative & running support from
deeper midfield positions too. Have a partnership to suit your
team's abilities and style of play, and make sure you have plan
B options too.
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TEAM INSTRUCTIONS
Philosophy
The argument of Philosophy has raged since wwfan's 12steps guide on FM13, and it has been fairly ground-breaking,
if not common sense. It helps us see the Philosophy in a new
light, it is not simply a creativity argument, and it is the debate
of specialism v universalism, something that readers of
Jonathan Wilson's Inverting the Pyramid will be familiar with. It
is an article I am covering elsewhere in the next few weeks too.
In essence a very rigid team is full of specialists, with each
player's job being rather specific, whereas a very fluid team is a
universal approach with all players subscribing to the team
game and instructions. Overall creative freedom is higher in a
more fluid system, because there are less specialists to be
singularly responsible for creativity. In short, if you want
individual player's doing individual jobs (goal scoring, ballwinning, playmaking) then you need a more rigid approach, or
if you want a team ethic to pressing, playmaking, etc., then go
for a more fluid approach.
Possession
Your team possession instructions are very variable. If you want
a possession orientated system, then shorter passing helps to
create the overall style, whereas retain possession acts more
like the old shout, looking to considerably reduce passing range
to simply being an exercise in ball-control, this can leave you
blunt in attack, but it can also allow some of your more creative
players more time on the ball to work an opening. You can add
to this by asking your team to play out of defence, ensuring
that your team does not lose the ball lumping it up field, trying
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to keep it amongst the defence until openings into midfield

become available. If you use possession as a defensive tool,
then this is quite important. However if your possession-based
team is trying to counter-attack, or simply play in a defensive
manner, trying to clear their lines, then this can be very
counter-productive.
The direct passing option works in reverse to shorter passing,
it aims to move the ball from defence to attack in a swift
manner, with go route one a very direct option, to get the ball
into the forward lines in an even more swift and urgent fashion
for rapid transition. You can elect to ask your team to pump
ball into box for Pulis-esque long-ball football to aim for the
big blokes up front, in the centre, or if you wish to play a quick
transition down the flanks, often in a counter-attacking style,
then you can ask your team to clear ball to flanks, to try and
pick out swift dribblers to carry the ball forward at pace. It is
also a potentially useful way of getting your team to clear their
lines late in the game to hold onto a result.
You can modify the use of possession further, by indicating if
you want to play more through balls in behind a defence, with
the pass into space option, which works well against a high
line. If your opponents sit rather deep you can try and unsettled
them by asking your team to run at defence, in the hope of
drawing some space or wriggling through a compact line. You
can also ask your team to either wait for a perfect opening to
score, or to try their luck whenever possible; work ball into
box asks your team to not waste possession with pot-shots, but
shoot on sight asks your team to make the most of any
opportunity, useful if you are struggling to create any chances,
often through a compact defence, or wish to test a weakness in
the opposition goalkeeper.
26
Your team's use of crosses is important in possession-terms too.

Traditionally quick forwards can be aimed for if you whip
crosses, this is simply to get something at the end of it, and
aims for a nippy forward to get ahead of the defender at the
near post to nudge the ball in. This delivery is often better from
the byline, or at least no further from the byline than the edge
of the penalty area, as the ball is meant to be quick. You can
make the most of a tall forward if you float crosses, which
gives the larger player time to set himself and attack the ball at
its highest point, potentially beating a shorter defender, often
this is delivered from deeper so it can hang in the air, and also
because it does not require much pace on the ball. The new
option of low crosses is very useful, allowing you to try and
get a pacy ball across the area to try and get a low ball across
the area to ensure your short striker can have a fair attempt at
winning the ball. You can also hit early crosses, which means
floating crosses from much deeper positions, this can support a
direct style of play, and it can help get the ball to your forwards
from wide if your wide-men are struggling to get past their
opponent, allowing them space and time to find their
teammate.
Penetration
Penetration refers to how you break through an opposing
backline. Certain formations; with central playmakers, runners
from deep and forwards on the shoulder of the defence suit
playing through the middle. If you have a numerical
advantage in the middle, it makes sense to exploit it, as it does
if your chief playmaker is in a central position too. You may
have a solid, but unspectacular central midfield, or a numerical
disadvantage of a 2-man midfield pairing, so the majority of
creativity will come from your wide-men and their passing,
crossing and/or dribbling abilities, in which case exploit the
flanks is a more pertinent point, especially if you are playing a
27
wide playmaker as your only midfield playmaker to ensure he

gets on the ball. You can exploit left flank, or exploit right
flank if you wish to take advantage of a weak opponent, a
formation weakness, such as lone wide-men, or to mask your
own weakness down a certain flank. Exploiting a single, or both
flanks can be very effective in a counter-attacking system for
rapid transition. If you face a compact defence you can look
for overlap to try and create numerical overloads in wide
positions, which can help create space for teammates and get
more balls into the centre from wide positions. It relies on good
energy and delivery from wide, but can be very effective at
breaking down a stubborn defence, although it can blunt the
directness of your wide-men who tend to hold the ball up and
wait for support and combination play instead, this can be a big
problem if you like your wide-men coming into central attacking
positions in the final phase of a build-up.
Shape
Your team's shape is partly inherent within your formation; i.e.
central midfield dominance, high pitch coverage, a low block, a
wide midfield strata - all caused by what formation you use.
Your shape affects both the way you attack and the way you
defend. If you play wider you can often look to stretch the
pitch and use more of its width, but it can also cause your
defence to sit wider whilst in possession too and can create
holes that can be exploited when you lose the ball. Sometimes
playing wider gives good pitch coverage if you want to press
heavily all over the pitch. If you play narrower you can
compact play into central areas, this can make it easier for your
opponents to defend narrow against you in return, but creates
less holes between your defenders. A high or low narrow block
can both be effective defensive tools, depending on your
opponents and approach.
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Your defensive line looks at how high your team sits up the
pitch, ranging from a push higher up & much higher
defensive line to compact play into the central third of the
pitch, leaving little room for your opponents, and in the case of
slow forwards, forcing them to rely on pace they do not have, to
drop deeper & much deeper defensive line to sit closer to
goal, leaving little room in behind for quick forwards, but taller
forwards may profit from this. This leaves more room in the
midfield area too, but can be used to draw opponents closer to
you, opening up room to counter-attack into.
You can ask your players to roam from position, which can
cause overloads or get your players drifting into areas of the
pitch with space to cause problems and receive the ball. The
downside is that your players can get caught out of position
defensively. Conversely, you can ask your players to stick to
position, but that can make them easier to be marked out of
the game, although it provides a more solid defensive
structure. You can allow wide players to swap positions,
which has the added link-up with setting individual player
instructions and roles, allowing your to swap your left and rightfooted wingers to get them to go round the outside of your
opponents instead of trying to come inside them. This works
well if you maybe want to exploit space round the outside of a
packed defence before your opponents can react, and vice
versa.
Defending
Defending links very closely with shape, if you have a high
block, then using an offside trap can help negate the
problems of being caught in behind by fast players, although it
can be hard to make the trap work if you use a StopperCover
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split, or a Sweeper in behind. The high block also works very

closely when you close down opponents, to reduce their time
and space, in an already compacted area. If you wish to
specifically prevent individual players from getting any space,
then tight marking or specific man marking can enhance
this. If you prefer a low block & remaining compact, then the
offside trap is far less effective, as there is less chance being
caught in behind, and can allow players space closer to your
goal. A particularly shape-focused team can choose to reduce
closing down, by standing off the opposition, and simply being
hard to play through instead, although this can leave your team
long periods without having the ball and under pressure, it
preserves more energy.
Your tackling strategies link closely with pressing and shape too
- if you want to press high then get stuck in is more
appropriate as it again, reduces time and space for your
opponents, but it can concede a lot of free kicks, and quick,
agile players can ride the challenge and find themselves in
space. If you wish to stay on feet, then this is more
appropriate in a low block where you try and keep shape. If you
do not press in a high block, then the opponents have time to
simply play a quick forward in behind.
General
Your tempo is linked heavily with passing style - a team that
plays in a direct manner will look to transition the ball swiftly
from back to front, and that requires a high tempo, to increase
the urgency. A short-passing style is much more considered,
and works best with a low tempo, waiting for the opportunity,
rather than forcing it. Occasionally mixing tempo can help your
short-passing into quick combinations to earn some space, and
sometimes you can play a direct game, involving simply taking
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a few moments longer to spot the run from deep if a teammate.

However, the general rule is short passing & low tempo, direct
passing & high tempo. Your team's creative freedom, to adhere
to instructions more, or make their own decisions as they see fit
is allowed too. You can allow your team to be more
expressive, if you trust their creativity and decision making
more, or be more disciplined if you prefer them to play
simply as instructed. This ties in with philosophy (above).
You can ask your team to take a breather, to rest with the
ball, useful in physically demanding games (depending on
conditions, intensity etc.), and in a more defensive strategy to
waste time, a typical tactic late in the game, when holding a
result. You can also ask your team to take more risks when
overloading in search of a goal, allowing highly enhanced
decision making and attacking intent. Conversely you can ask
your team to play even safer to take less risks and simply
keep the ball out of your own net - i.e. avoid double-Cruyff turns
on the edge of your own penalty area with 3 attackers close by
& boot it clear instead
Now here is how to put it all together...
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Building a Team
In this article we look at how to go about building a team. In my
previous version, many people only bothered to copy the
tactics I had used, and then complain that results werent going
their way. So this time I will go through how to build any team,
so you can apply the concepts although I will reference my
Arsenal side from time to time as a reference point.
Formation, Philosophy & Style

The first things to decide is the general idea of how you want to
play. You need to consider what your team is capable of, and,
what is expected of you. You also should consider any club
philosophies you are expected to adhere to in this as well. It
also pays to have a Plan B as well, so your team can play in a
few different manners, which still take advantage of your team
and individual strengths.
You also then need to look at your team as a whole, and the
notable individuals within your team. You can decide if specific
individual players are worth building your team around, or, if
you wish to have a more consistent team approach. You also
need to check what depth options you have in your team, and,
therefore if you have the ability to play in a manner that you
wish through a 50 game season.
So for my Arsenal side, the things that are notable for me are:
Philosophies Attacking Football & Possession Football
High level players for the division & expectations
Excellent offensive players good technically & good pace
Lack of defensive intelligence, strength & aggression
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Lack of defensive depth & numbers

Best players Mesut Ozil & Alexis Sanchez
Excellent offensive depth, particularly in central midfield &
attack
Olivier Giroud & Mathieu Flamini play in a manner that appears
very different to the template of the current squad offers
options
So what I have learned from this is:
My team is expected to, and suits, playing a positive possession
style
We should expect to have to break down weaker teams
frequently, but can try and impose our own style of play on the
games
We are also capable of utilising our pacy, direct players (e.g.
Alexis,
Chamberlain, Walcott) to play on the Counter when we
need to as well
We have only 2 natural centre backs (Koscielny & Mertesacker),
and we only have 1 other potential option (Chambers);
therefore a back 3 is completely out of the question
We have the option to play more direct with Olivier Giroud as a
physical option, as a Target Man potentially
Mathieu Flamini could offer an alternative in midfield as a Ball
Winning Midfielder
Lukas Podolski appears to be an excellent Raumdeuter
Mesut Ozil appears to be clearly suited to being a Playmaker,
and, his best position is as an AMC
By this stage we then look to see what formations will suit the
style(s) of play we have decided upon using. A 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-11 appear to be good offensive options, offering excellent
midfield passing options, and using an AMC which suits my best
player Ozil. I could also use a 4-1-4-1 which could allow me to
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play superbly on the break using 2 pacy wingers, providing

excellent numbers in depth. My other option is a 4-4-2, because
if we need to play a little more direct, it gives Olivier Giroud a
strike partner to combine with, and can still utilise our excellent
wingers.
Team Instructions
It is important to then ensure that we pick team instructions to
suit the style of play we are going to use. I tend to pick a key 4
5 instructions that clearly define my teams style, then any
other instructions or based on certain situations or conditions.
So for a possession orientated style of play, I wish my team to:
Pass Shorter
Play Out of Defence Work Ball into Box
Roam from Position
More Expressive
I can then ask my team to play a high or low block, and press
more or less depending on the situation. As well as ask my
team to pass into space, or run at defence, depending on if the
opposition are looking weak to either through balls, or,
dribbling.
Building the Roles & Duties

Once the team instructions and formation are decided, then it is
time to allocate the roles and duties to the team. Specific
formations have specific demands on players that limit/guide
the selections you should make. So for example, the holding
pair in a 4-2-3-1 should be primarily defensive & compact
players, which keep their shape well. A further example, in a 34-3, the wide players are expected to track back for defensive
cover, as well as provide offensive width, so you should not
34
consider selecting them as a wide playmaker, as they simply

will not provide any of the width, that they alone can provide.
If you have certain roles or duties in mind for specific players,
then you can allocate these first, but this should not be 5 or 6
roles or duties that you see in this manner simply a key 1 to 3,
maximum. You also need to decide how many defend, support
& attack duties you want to build your team with. A very
balanced rule of thumb is 3 defend duties (includes stopper &
cover duties), 4 support duties & 3 attack duties. This provides
players behind play for cover, players with play for support, and
ahead of play for penetration. You could adjust this slightly, but
no team with 1 attack duty will provide any real penetration,
similarly, no team with just the centre backs on defensive
duties is likely to provide any defensive stability.
Finally I begin to allocate roles and duties to the team. I work on
the basis that I build the defence first, and then the midfield,
then the attack. This means I have a solid defensive shape, and
can build good relationships & variety into the attack. Other key
parts of role & duty allocation include; getting depth and width
to attack (so options wide, in front of play and behind play),
ensuring those selected fit the teams style, and, making sure
you offer some variety to the team.
Specifically ensure that at least 1 of your deepest wide players
(so normally a Full Back, but potentially a Wing Back or Wide
Midfielder) are on attack duty, and, the central midfielder
closest to this wide man has a defend duty, to encourage him
to track and cover the gap left by the Full Back getting forward.
Finally on Player Instructions if you have to add more than 2
or 3 instructions for any player the chances are he is in the
wrong role, as it significantly changes the balance of the role.
With this in mind, I start with this;
35
Szczesny
GK(D)
Debuchy
Mertesacker
Koscielny Gibbs
FB(S)
CD(D) BPD(D) WB(A) Alexis
Ramsey Arteta Cazorla
W(A)
BBM(S)
CM(D)
WP(S)
Ozil
T(A)
Giroud
DLF(S)
So, first of all, my Goalkeeper is dominant aerially, and

sometimes I will play deep, others high, so I have gone for a
standard Goalkeeper. Koscielny & Mertesacker will play in line
with each other, but Koscielnys distribution is much better, so
he plays as a Ball Playing Defender. I use a Support duty on the
right back, so an Attack duty on the left back. As a result, the
duties are inverted on the wide players ahead of them, so,
Alexis has an attack duty, and Cazorla a support duty. Arteta is
the most defensive minded midfielder, and plays on the same
side as the attacking full back to cover when he goes forward.
The A-S-D-S shape of the midfield offers some good passing
options, as well as a good defensive shape.
As we get into the midfield/forward areas of the pitch, Ozil is a
Trequartista because, as a key player, I wish to use him in his
most effective role. This means, with a CM(D) & Trequartista in
my central midfield trio, that I need a role who provides the
running that both of these roles lack. A Box to Box Midfielder is
a superb candidate, and fits the ability of Aaron Ramsey who
has a great engine, and both defensive and offensive ability.
In the wide areas, because Alexis particularly suits the profile of
a Winger, I have selected him in this role, and as a result,
Debuchy behind will be a Full Back to complement Alexis. On
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the other flank, Cazorla is a very creative influence, so he is

going to be a wide playmaker, which means Gibbs getting
forward as a Wing Back will allow him to offer the width going
forward that we would otherwise lack, because Cazorlas role
will encourage him to drift inside.
In attack, Giroud fits the profile of a Target Man, but this would
encourage the team to play too long and direct towards him,
defeating the purpose of a possession based system. He is also
reliable in his link up play and first touch, so he will play as a
Deep Lying Forward instead, as he will still hold the ball up and
use his strength, but, it will encourage him to use his good
movement more, and his teamwork. There is the risk that he
will get into Ozils space, but because Ozil is a Trequartista, he
will have a lot of freedom of movement. I also give Ozil the
Player Instruction to move wide with the ball, which allows
room for Giroud to drop deep & Ramsey to drive forward into
space.
Finally, my alternative options within this team are; Flamini can
play alongside Arteta as a BWM(S), Wilshere is an excellent
dribbler, and could be an excellent Roaming Playmaker should I
wish to play with a RP(S) instead of a BBM(S). If I wish to play a
2nd winger on the left flank instead, then Gibbs will play as a Full
Back instead.
Finally my most notable alternatives are in attack Lukas
Podolski is an excellent Raumdeuter, if I wish to push my left
midfielder forward in search of a goal. Alexis & Walcott could
provide a more mobile & technical threat than Giroud in attack,
so could play as a False Nine perhaps, or, as an Advanced
Forward to pull across the line, looking to get in behind.
Welbeck is extremely versatile and can play a number of roles
37
and duties, very reliably, which can allow me a lot of situation

by situation tactical changes.
DURING THE MATCH

What I do during the match is something of great importance there is no point having a great tactical set up that is inflexible,
as you will come up against certain opponents and fail to exert
the influence on the game you need to. My in-game changes
earn me several points a season, either holding on to a lead,
changing my approach, or starting the game with a slightly
altered approach.
Formation
I have 3 alternate formations - my above primary system, a 4-23-1, a 4-2DM3-1 version to try and offer more solidity and offer
a greater threat on the break, and, a 4-2-3-1 (Narrow) if I lack
available wide players. My 4-2-3-1 formation is generally suited
to a pressing game, so if I am playing a match, or opposition to
which I would prefer to remain solid, or, no lose at least, then I
will drop my 2 Central Midfielders back to the Defensive
Midfield strata. This specifically involves the selection of Arteta
& Flamini, as they are my only decent holding midfielders.
During the match, if I wish to hold onto a result I will look to
shield the defence more. I will only use my narrow version of
the formation when I have no natural wide players, however I
will encourage my full backs to get forward more to provide the
necessary width.
Team Instructions
During the game, if I wish to play on a counter-attacking
strategy I will ask my team to stay on feet & also to drop
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deeper if we are still leaving too much space in behind, this is

to try and retain our shape and be hard to play through,
hopefully restricting my opponents to long shots only. During a
counterattacking strategy as well I will drop the instruction to
play the ball out from the back, to try and encourage the rapid
transition from back to front that epitomises counter-attacking
football. This is also a useful way of trying to protect a narrow
lead, potentially exposing gaps in the opposing defence as they
try and push forward in search of an equaliser.
Sometimes retaining shape may invite too much pressure, so I
will try instead to keep hold of the ball, simply retain
possession, very low tempo, work ball into the box, play out of
defence, to try and encourage risk-free use of the ball, along
with a defensive strategy, so as not to encourage any risky
football if I am trying to keep the ball. Often I will personally
make a choice to sit compact, or to press high up the pitch,
which involves a high line, hassling of opponents, and an
offside trap to help account for the space I am leaving in
behind.
Offensively, sometimes I simply feel that my short passing
game can still need a shade more urgency, so can simply ask
my team to increase their tempo by a small amount. Otherwise
if I am looking to increase the speed of transition either in a
Counter-Attacking, or simply a direct Attacking system, then I
will ask the team to be more direct instead. I like to try and use
the pace of my team by passing into space and playing more
balls in behind.
Player Instructions
I tend to make very few changes to player instructions in-game,
with the typical accounting for Flamini's presence in the team.
39
Lukas Podolski on the left flank often will play as a Raumdeuter

instead, due to his superb finishing, in a role suited to his
natural position. Often when Podolski plays wide left, I like to
make sure I am playing a Box to Box Midfielder in the central
pair as he can get forward and provide another forward
presence in the box to account for the width on both flanks
instead.
Final Thoughts
I hope you've found this guide useful. As and when I come up
with any further updates I will be sure to add to this. I have a
few more extra things for you to read through now too
40
Formation Guide
For this updated version I thought I would give a few base spreads of roles
and duties to help give you some ideas how to make certain systems
work. These templates still require some team instructions and adaptation
to suit your team.
4-4-2
TM (S) P (A)
W (S) CM (D) BBM (S) W (A)
FB (A) CD (D) CD (D) FB (S)
GK (D)
This system gives a defensive shield, but the BBM provides runs
from deep into the box.
The Full Backs & Wingers link up, offering variety
The Stopper & Cover partnership is employed to close down space in

front of the defence & provide cover behind
The Target Man has effective wide supply & a partner to link up with
3-5-2
DLF(S) AF (A)
CM (A) BWM (D)
WB (S) R (S) WB (A)
CD (X) CD (C) CD (X)
GK (D)
Support for forwards from deep
Defence shielded well by DM triangle
Can be changed to AM triangle
Controls possession from deep & Counter Attacks effectively
Wing Backs offering the width down the flanks as only wide players
Can be adapted to push wing backs back or forwards
With wing backs higher, the centre-backs spread wide to cover
4-1-2-2-1
F9 (S)
IF(A)
IF (A)
CM (A) DLP (S)

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DM (D)
WB (A) CD (D) CD (D) WB (A)
GK (D)
False Nine links play with the players behind him
Lots of runners from wide and deep to attack the space
Good shield in front of defence
4-1-2-1-2
AF (A) CF (S)
T(A)
CM (A) DLP (S)
A (D)
WB (S) CD (D) CD (D) CWB (A)
GK (D)
The central block has movement from deep, but a solid structure.
The AMC will move around and not get isolated by a DM
The Wing Backs supply the width
The Strike Partnership link up well, and the CF can drop deep and
occupy space to help AM, or take advantage of the AM dragging a
DM out of the way.
4-2-3-1
CF (S)
AP (S) SS (A) W (A)
CM (D) BBM (S)
WB (A) CD (X) CD (D) FB (S)
SK (S)
Can afford to play behind a high line
Adaptable options on flanks
Adaptable options in attack
Movement is unpredictable
Player Roles
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Final section in the guide fills in some information on the new roles available for
players. In the style of TT&F I will offer Examples for these players.
Complete Wing Back

The Complete Wing Back is a very aggressive Full/Wing Back, who has plenty of
licence and encouragement to get forward, offering both width & a goal threat given
the chance too. He is capable defensively, but is a significant offensive weapon.
Examples: Daniel Alves (Barcelona & Brazil), Maicon (Inter Milan & Brazil)
Limited Full Back

Most modern Full Backs provide width and link up going forward this player offers
none of them. He is there simply to provide defensive security, behaving like a wide
centre-back in truth. He is a no-frills player. There are not many players who play this
way regularly, often being a game-by-game instruction to remain cautious, or for outof-position centre-backs.
Example: Andy Wilkinson (Stoke City)
Inverted Wing Back

Unlike most modern Wing Backs, he doesnt look to push on down the flank to
provide width, he operates behind a conventional Winger, and cuts into central space
to provide an extra midfield passing option.
Example: David Alaba (Bayern), Leighton Baines (Everton)
Regista
The Regista is a player with an extremely high level of freedom. He is still capable of
shielding the defence, but is allowed to roam off where he likes to influence the ball.
He is often in deeper positions, allowing him time to influence play. He is a playmaker
so the ball is often passed to him when available. Example: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan &
Italy), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona & Spain)
Half Back
The Half Back sits in front of the defence initially, he drops in between the Centre
Backs, pushing them wider to create a back 3. He is also a player who offers a
possession outlet for his side in space.
Example: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona & Spain)
Roaming Playmaker
A roaming playmaker will track into deep, defensive positions, but also keep up with
play into the final third as well. He is similar to a box to box midfielder, but does not
make those late bursts off the ball, into the area. He instead tends to offer a constant
passing outlet, combined with disciplined defensive work off the ball.
Example: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea & Spain), Yaya Toure (Man City & Cote dIvoire)
Wide Playmaker
A player who acts as a hub of creativity for the team, but starts in wide areas, and
drifts into central & attacking areas, looking to play through balls to advanced
players. He has the benefit of sitting in a more defensively sound area to begin with,
43

but can still move into dangerous and advanced areas when the team is in
possession.
Example: David Silva (Man City & Spain), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal & Spain)
Enganche
The Enganche is similar to the Trequartista in that he is given complete freedom to
move into space to receive the ball, at the expense of defensive effort. He is different
to the Trequartista in that he is not as mobile, so does not drift out to the flanks to
receive the ball, merely continuing his movement within central areas only, still
looking for pockets of space to be effective.
Example: Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal & Argentina)
Raumdeuter
A literal translation of the term coined by Thomas Muller to describe his own game,
meaning space investigator. He starts wide, offers passing options, but no real flair
out wide, instead looking to make late, intelligent moves into central positions,
causing overloads, to score goals.
Example: Thomas Muller (Bayern & Germany), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal & Germany)
Shadow Striker
The Shadow Striker is a major goal scoring threat from deeper positions. He is
designed to attack space, vacated, or created by a Strike Partner ahead of him. He is
also aggressive out of possession, looking to win the ball back. This role was coined
by the Dutch press who watched Dennis Bergkamp play behind the centre forward
for Ajax and the Netherlands, before providing a goal scoring threat from deep.
Example: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United & England), Dennis Bergkamp (Ajax &
Netherlands)
Wide Target Man

The Wide Target Man is more common in Scandinavia than it is in most of the
footballing World, but is an interesting tactical variation. It offers a physical threat in
wider positions, where winning the ball in the air is more likely and can open up
alternative angles of attack. Like a traditional Target Man players will look to play
the ball up directly to him, despite any team instructions to play the ball short.
Romelu Lukaku was a perfect example of this during Evertons 3-0 victory over
Arsenal in April 2014 repeatedly bullying the weaker full back, Nacho Monreal.
Example: Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
False Nine
The False Nine is a fairly modern concept and role, with plenty of forwards in a
similar manner, dropping deep to receive the ball in space, before turning and
attacking the defence. The aim is to draw out the defender and quickly spin in
behind him, or, if the defender stays put, to drive at him at pace.
Example: Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
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Playing Styles
In this additional section I will discuss playing styles, and ways
of achieving them. I find that people often struggle to know
where to start with designing a new system or replicating a
style that they know and admire. Often the wrong role
selection, mentality, shape or instructions can damage the
balance of the team.
Possession
Creating a possession style has 2 aspects; keeping the ball and
pressing to win the ball. A lower mentality tends to work best
for keeping hold of the ball, as it encourages more patience and
less risk taking. The system tends to have a patient approach,
with no player encouraged to hoof the ball forward in a direct
manner. Defenders are encouraged to play the ball out from the
back, there are often several midfield options, as well as link
play from the forward to provide passing options. A Target Man
is not advised, he naturally encourages the team to play direct
from the back and bypass the midfield which defeats the
point of playing a possession style.
A Ball Winning Midfielder is an excellent role for trying to
increase pressing to win possession, but the overall shape of
the team is more important, and you need to be able to keep a
reliable defensive shape first and foremost. Pressing styles rely
on hard working roles and players (Ball Winning Midfielders,
Defensive Wingers etc), and can sometimes struggle with lazy
roles (Trequartista, Enganche, Raumdeuter etc) as it can undo
the teams pressing work. Pressing also requires large numbers
of players high up the pitch, e.g. a 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 DM Wide etc.
45
Mentality Counter, Standard, Control

Recommended Roles Advanced Playmaker, Enganche,
Trequartista, False Nine
Recommended Formations 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 DM Wide, 3-4-3, 3-52
Recommended Instructions (keeping ball) Pass Shorter, Retain
Possession, Play Out of Defence, Work Ball into Box, Lower
Tempo
(winning ball) Push Higher Up, Get Stuck In, Close Down
More
Roles to avoid Target Man
Direct
A direct style of play works fundamentally on rapid transitioning
from defence to attack. This can work either on a slick counter
attack, or with an attritional and physical style of play instead.
More direct passing is the obvious and notable feature of the
style, and often in a system that reduces the number of
midfielders because they tend to be bypassed during play, so
there is no point playing extra midfielders when they are less
likely to play an integral part in play.
Often having direct wide players is a useful way of transitioning
quickly, with good dribbling offering a quick route into an
exposed opposition defence. A Target Man offers a good direct
outlet, but he needs a strike partner and other players to link
up with in order to be effective. A Deep Lying Playmaker &
Regista are excellent at looking for Counter Attacking
opportunities, but an Advanced
Playmaker/Enganche/Trequartista force play through their
central areas, in a less direct manner, which defeats the
purpose of the system. Often these styles have quite an
46
attacking mentality, with a rapid tempo to try and maintain the

intensity on the opposing defence.
Mentality Counter, Attacking
Recommended Roles Target Man, Poacher, Winger, Deep Lying
Playmaker, Box to Box Midfielder
Recommended Formations 4-4-2, 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3
Recommended Instructions More Direct, Clear Ball to Flanks,
Run At Defence, Higher Tempo
Roles to Avoid Wide Playmaker, Advanced Playmaker,
Enganche,
Trequartista, False Nine
47

Pairs & Combinations FM

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PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Updated for FM15

During The Match

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

If you have a higher line it may be more appropriate to try and

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

The roles are fairly similar in most respects, and defensive

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

same with a pair of Central Defenders who simply play a short

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Stopper & Defend

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

A Ball Playing Defender can help out with the deficit in

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Central Midfield can be set up in several different shapes, with

Pair of Central Midfielders

A pairing traditionally has a sitter and a runner, as they are

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

influence as well, should he possess the ability. The Sitter is

You also need to consider the shape and function of your

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Finally, the shape of your midfield trio is important. If they are

Your choice of roles & duties need to be shaped by the style of

The most obvious ways of setting this up are; to use a Diamond

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

A simple way of allocating the roles and duties here is to

In a Diamond Midfield, the AMC is a high risk of being marked

A further function of 4-man central midfield systems is that it

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

areas. A solitary wide player has more responsibilities and has

Lone Wide Men

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

All things considered, that is a hefty workload to consider. The

Dual Wide Men

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

move into central areas, helping your midfield to dominate,

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Wing Back (Attack)

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

The Big-Man - Little-Man Partnership

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

passes to a quicker team mate, or playing him in behind

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

become more prevalent in cases of creative partnerships. It is a

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

a more creative forward in a more advanced position ahead of

False Nine - False Ten

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

defensive discipline than a Trequartista which can be an

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE

to keep it amongst the defence until openings into midfield

PAIRS & COMBINATIONS: THE COMPLETE GUIDE