For today’s post, we are back-testing another FM23 tactic. After the success of 4231 Extreme Volts by Delicious Story, we thought we would test another tactic from the same creator in the 3421 Extreme Volts XXIV.
Fair to say we didn’t seem to get the same results with this one as its sister tactic. However, it wasn’t a terrible tactic. Please read on to see how it fared in the test.
What were the conditions of the test?
I played a game using the latest FM update with Everton. During the season, I instructed the club to reject all offers and used the squad from after the January transfer window.
Despite being predicted to finish in 16th place, my Toffees team exceeded expectations. If you want to find out how much it exceeded expectations, keep reading.
How is the team set up?
As the name suggests, the tactic is set up in a 3421 formation, which looks relatively defensive on paper. The goalkeeper is on sweeper keeper defend, while in from of him are three ball-playing defenders on defend.
To add extra solidity to the formation, two central midfielders play in the ball-winning midfield role, flanked by wing-backs on attack to aid the team’s attacking effort.
The attack is led by an advanced forward on attack, with two inside-forwards in attack, his main attacking support.
I have to admit that I am not usually a fan of formations with two ball-winning midfielders, as I like my teams to play attacking football. However, the wing-backs in this formation provide adequate attacking support to ensure the team isn’t just attacking with the team’s front three.
My preference for my central striker is Advanced Forward, as the role tends to be one in which most forwards can succeed. That is the case with this tactic, as the central forward was pretty prolific, more on that later.
How did the tactic perform?
The tactic produced a solid eighth-place finish. In truth, the season was a mixed one, as the team won 17 league games but also lost 15 matches in the Premier League. The team had the fifth-best attack in the top flight.
At the other end of the pitch, we also had the fifth-best defensive record in the league. They combined to produce a respectable 26 goal difference, which was only bettered by the league’s top five teams.
The cup competitions produced the usual disappointment for Everton. Our team exited the English FA Cup in the Fifth-Round stage against city rivals Liverpool. Meanwhile, they made it to the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup, only to suffer elimination by Norwich City.
Who were the top performers?
As is so often the case with Everton saves, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the star performer for the team with this tactic. DCL achieved a team-high average rating of 7.29 from 31 appearances, having scored 21 goals and produced five assists.
Versatile Nigerian international Alex Iwobi had the second-highest average rating over a season at 7.19, playing in the inside-forward role on the right. The Arsenal star scored 16 goals and also weighed in with six assists, which is a respectable return for a wide-attacking player.
Back-up striker Neal Maupay scored nine goals in 26 appearances, 13 starts and 13 substitute appearances. Winger Demarai Gray netted seven goals and also produced three assists in 41 appearances, 24 of which came from the substitutes bench.
Centre-back duo James Tarkowski and Yerry Mina are always a goal threat from set pieces, and both scored five goals each during the campaign.
Right wing-back Nathan Patterson was the next best when it came to average-rating over the season at 7.06 after scoring two goals and producing 15 goals. The Scotland international obviously made the best use of the attack duty.
Left inside forward Dwight McNeil also enjoyed a solid campaign, scoring five goals and producing 12 assists, with all of his but one of his 39 league appearances coming from the start of games.
What is our conclusion of the 3421 Extreme Volts XXIV?
I have to say this was a solid enough tactic, and it overperformed the predicted 16th-place finish. However, I think we have been spoilt with overpowered tactics and formations of late, including the aforementioned 4231 Extreme Volts.
As always, this tactic may well depend on your team. Everton may not have been the best team to test this tactic with. I don’t think I would use this tactic again on my Everton, but I may use it with another team if I want a realistic tactic that is not overpowered.
Have you ever used 3421 Extreme Volts XXIV, and what are your thoughts on the tactic?
