Football Manager 22: Simple, Effective Tactics For New Players - GameRant

The Football Manager series is set to welcome a whole host of new players, as the latest game in the series, Football Manager 22, is releasing day one on Microsoft's Game Pass service for both PC and Xbox. It will be interesting to see how many people stick with the game after giving it an initial try. Although the Football Manager series is one of the most commercially successful and critically-acclaimed management series' of all time, the game can be overbearing and consequently off-putting for newcomers.

One of the most tricky elements for new managers is constructing a winning tactic. Granted, the tactical choice depends largely on the players that the team has available, but to help newcomers to Football Manager, we've listed a few simple but effective tactics. It's worth pointing out that the images below have the Mentality set to Balanced as default, though it should frequently be altered depending on the strength of the opposition and current score during a match.

5 Counter-Attacking 4-4-2

The 4-4-2 formation was a quintessential shape for many years, particularly in the Premier League, though it is now seen by many as outdated. The formation's fall from grace is predominantly due to how important it is to win the central midfield battle in the modern game, which the 4-4-2 shape isn't ideal for.

While the days of 4-4-2 shapes inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and their flying wingers are long gone, the 4-4-2 formation can still be very effective today, and it is even starting to make a comeback with counter-attacking teams.

When defending, the modern 4-4-2 should be set up to drop deep and be very narrow, creating a tight unit that is hard to penetrate. When the ball has been won back, the team can then burst into life as players are thrown forward in hopes of catching the opposition out. As shown in the image above, it's usually best to have the team attack on one side of the pitch. This is why the left-sided roles are more attacking-based, while the left-sided striker drops deep to support the offensive movement and passing play.

4 Gegenpress 4-3-3

From the most old-school entry on this list to the most modern, gegenpressing is quickly becoming one of the most common styles of play for any team capable of pulling it off.

The gegenpress style revolves around extremely high-intensity pressing, with the intention of closing the opposition down as soon as possible. This makes it hard for them to attack, and makes them prone to losing possession. Consequently, the system should only be used by teams with players that are able to sprint for 90 minutes; otherwise, the opposition can easily counter, and the scoreline could get ugly.

The example pictured above is based on Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool. The team predominantly gets its creativity from the attacking wing-backs and false-nine striker, while the two inside forwards provide the bulk of the team's goals.

3 Possession 4-3-3

This 4-3-3 formation has significant differences from the one previously listed, though defensively, it needs to be quite similar. In order to keep and use possession effectively in this offensive shape, it's best to play a very high line with constant pressing defensively to ensure that the side has plenty of the ball.

The example pictured above is based on Pep Guardiola's centurion Manchester City team. The team had two advanced playmakers, who would push very high up to form a front five with the two wingers and striker. This unit was supported by three players, the defensive midfielder and then the two full-backs who played an unorthodox inverted role, pushing into midfield.

Unsurprisingly, this tactic requires a set of players who are collectively excellent on the ball, as one weak link can make the whole tactic come crumbling down. Moreover, as dramatic as it seems, just one bad pass can have devastating consequences, as the team's attacking shape is susceptible to counter-attacking sides.

2 Wing-Play 3-4-3

The 3-4-3 (also known as the 5-2-3) formation is slowly but surely growing in popularity among leagues all over the world. As well as increasing the team's defensive stability in the box, the formation modernizes the classic winger role that had seemingly died out. This is thanks to the wing-backs who are essentially tasked with being both wingers and full-backs, which is possible thanks to the incredible fitness of modern players.

Along with the wing-backs, the formation pictured above also makes use of inside-forwards, who can help out in the wide areas of the pitch to create overloads but should ideally be instructed to be more narrow, offering plenty of goalscoring threat with high-quality forwards.

It's worth mentioning that Football Manager 22 has added a new wide center-back role, offering more options to teams with a back-three. The role is great for some wing play teams as the center backs will essentially play as full-backs in possession, creating an overload in the wide areas.

1 Balanced 4-2-3-1

The 4-2-3-1 formation is ideal for teams needing some stability and balance. The formation can, of course, be drastically altered to suit a wide range of different tactics and playstyles. The team pictured above, though, offers a safe, balanced option that is structured to prevent counter-attacks and form a solid defensive block, while also having plenty of options going forward.

The front four players provide the bulk of the creative and offensive output, while the full-backs/wing-backs can also provide offensive support if desired. Teams that utilize a balanced 4-2-3-1 style are often criticized for lacking bite going forward and for not having a definitive style of play, but the solidity that it offers can be invaluable and makes it a great option for Football Manager 22 newcomers.

Football Manager 22's beta is out now for PC. The full game is set to release on PC, Xbox, and Mobile on the 9th of November. A Nintendo Switch version is also in the works.

MORE: Football Manager 22: How To Negotiate Contracts

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Jack Pursey (331 Articles Published)

A gamer since the age of 3, Jack is knowledgeable about virtually every genre of video game under the sun. He has a soft spot for platformers and collectathons though, and still hasn't given up hope of them making a serious resurgence!