It is no surprise when Jonathan Wilson writes about a tactical development someone will find a way to implement it into Football Manager. Football history just like any history is written by the winners and there is no bigger winner the World Champions Barcelona. The Spanish derby though is what has sparked an interest into the 3-1-4-2.
So I thought why don’t I give it a try, I have similar sort of players that could play the system and if I can impose some good looking football.
So first of all the research.
- The Question: Is the 3-1-4-2 Formation on The Rise? – Jonathan Wilson
- Real Madrid 1 – 3 Barcelona – Zonal Marking
- Valencia 0-1 Barcelona - Zonal Marking
- Barcelona: My Interpretation – WWFan
I have looked at WWFan’s piece which speak more about the old system interpreted in Football Manager. This tactic has come about from evolution rather then revolution, so knowing how Barcelona used to play will lead us to realise how to adapt.
Here is a not so tested start.
Dortmund 3-5-2
I have chosen a counter strategy as WWFan best puts it
My own take on the Barcelona style is that is closest to the Counter Strategy in Football Manager than any other. When Barcelona get the ball, the first thing that happens is the defence drop deeper, opening up passing space between the defence and the playmaking midfield. The Counter Strategy enables this deep move. As mentioned above, they attack in two ways, the slow probe or the fast counter. Again, the Counter strategy allows this.
The rest of the roles are simply straight forward. Bielsa the greatest influence on Guardiola and the 3 at the back formation, it is common to see heavy pressing, hardly given the opposition time to think. This will hopefully mean we get the ball back quicker and also prevent the opposition catching us on the break over the wings.
Defenders
I have split the defenders. Mainly because I like to do this with modern football with the better defender as the cover because if it all goes wrong you want your best man to be the guy who is the last line before the keeper. Gunter makes it as a ball playing midfielder to help with the possession, patient football.
Defensive Midfielder
Sergio Biscuits job for Barcelona is mainly to break up play, but he also offers a consistent passing option. I’d like to think of him as a deep playing Lucas Levia. But he is the guy who starts the attacks off. Anchor man would limit this player where as a defensive midfielder hopefully will re create his role nicely.
Wingers
This is where I have the majority of dilemmas. Barcelona luckly have Dani Alves who is really a winger who makes tackles and not a full back who gets forward. I have no one in a similar mould, apart from a developing Romario, who I am looking to re-train as the MR. For now I have got a decent player who is in a more of a Kuyt mould in Kevin Großkreutz. I have Therefore given a defensive winger role to Kevin, while on the opposite wing Weiss will be another winger.
Central Midfielders
An easy bit of selection, a creative centre with a deep-lying player looking to pick the ball up and recycle possession or feeding it into the more advanced play maker who will look to create chances. Though I am not sure whether I need to have Wilshere or Shelvey the attacking play-makers on an attacking role to add more of a link between forwards and midfield, especially with attacking wingers.
Strikers
When Barcelona took on Real Madrid the chances that were made put Messi in the role of a classic number 10 who dropped pretty deep. This allowed Sanchez to move around horizontally. I have Gotze who has been re-trained to be able to play as a striker and will suit the trequartista role.
Barcelona have had the luxury of great versatile attacking footballers with Cesc, Sanchez, Villa and Messi. I wanted a more of a complete forward up top (but wouldn’t we all?), I have one in the making Ivan Subtic but he is long off in his development. Until then we have to make do and with Paloschi I have one of the best poachers in the league.
This is all a concept at the moment and still not been fully tested and I would love to get your feedback, suggestions and help.
I basically agree with wwfan opinions on the Barça style of play; my teams have made Barça like ball touching when I’ve gone into a counter strategy with keeping ball shout.
I think another point of relevance when it comes to replicate Barça is the combination of speed and time wasting, set it to slow rhythm and then to rarely timewaste for the quicker and more incisive style of three seasons ago or waste more for the lots of horizontal/backward passing from last season.
Hmm, it’ll be interesting to watch usage of such tactics in German Bundesliga. German teams play a bit more agressive football than the ones in La Liga.
Hi Thomas,
Football manager is proving frustrating for me with Newcastle.
Do you change your tactics before every game? Do you consider every single player before you work out exactly what tactics you use and how often during the game do you alter your tactics? I must be doing something wrong. Do you search for players with just “good” stats or do you search for specific skills?
Thanks
Malcolm I do a little bit of tweeking before games. At the moment I have 3 tactics loaded up in he slots available an attacking, through balls of plenty 4-2-3-1. A patient counter 4-4-2 which I will play against sides who I am struggling to get the money off. Finally I am trying to develop this 3-1-4-2
In terms of player attributes it depends on roles, style of play and position and what you already have in the team. You want to create a balance. Have a slow right back, you might want to find someone pacey to play at MR. Or a poor header in the middle of the park, you might want to pair with someone good in the air.
My style of play with lots of fluidity plus personal choice means I like to buy intelligent players, I find decision making, determination, anticipation all very vital. Then good passing attributes, For my MC’s I want high levels of creativity and with the front 4 coupled with creativity I want these guys to be high in flair.
FMPundit,
My question relates to common attributes that you would use when deciding who to keep in your team and who to recruit based of the 3-1-4-2 we all know the key attributes per position/player role whether it be a Sweeper Keeper, Central Defender or Poacher however how do you work out the core attributes each every player has for the overall team (Mental, Physical, Goalkeeping/Technical attributes)?
With these core attributes do you calculate these attributes or are the same no matter the formation, team instructions and player instructions you use.
Regards
Fully agree about the counter-attacking strategy potential, it’s really flexible and could fit differente styles of play, Barcelona included.
Regarding the 3-1-4-2 I haven’t got any experiences using 3 at the back with FM 12, last year the match engine very often made your 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 look like a 5-2-3 or a 5-3-2, what about this year?
Any improvements?
Training in Football Manager http://footballmanageracademy.com/2013/04/18/how-to-make-the-most-of-match-preparation/ – Match Preperation in FM