We are back with our latest tactic test, and this is one of the most entertaining tactics we have tested so far. If you are looking for a tactic that produces goals, goals and more goals, then this tactic could be right up your street.
The tactic in question is Erlings Dream Vs 3. by thedudemeister from FM base. As the tactics name suggests, it was designed to get the best out of Manchester City and Norway superstar Erling Haaland.
As we all know, Haaland is usually unstoppable in any save. However, other people have produced even more impressive results using City and Haaland using this tactic than in normal saves.
The conditions of this test
We tested the game with Everton using the latest FM update. I did a season and set the instructions to reject all offers, so I was using the Everton squad from after the January transfer window, so no Antony Gordon.
My Toffees team was predicted to finish in 16th place. However, it vastly overperformed, but you will have to read on if you want to know just how much it overperformed.
How is the team set up?
As you can tell by the tactics name, the team is set up to serve the central striker, who operates as an advanced forward. I thought initially that my not-great team would be exposed defensively, as the tactic is a 4-1-4-1. My initial thoughts were correct, as the team had one of the worst defences in the league.
However, such was the attacking power of the tactic that the terrible defensive record, which we will come to later on, was negated by the incredible number of goals scored. Well, they do say the best form of defence is attack. This tactic certainly lives by that mantra.
I have used this in my personal saves of late, and with a better backline, players have ended up with far better defensive records than achieved on this test. So, please bare that in mind.
A key to this tactic working is your advanced forward and the four attacking players behind him. On the left is a winger on attack alongside two attacking midfielders on attack and a winger on support on the right flank.
Please note, although the front five are important, you don’t need Erling Haaland to make this tactic work, as in my experience, most competent forwards will be prolific with this tactic. You also don’t even need world-class attacking midfielders to make this work.
How did this tactic perform?
This tactic overperformed for sure, as our team finished fourth place in the Premier League table and claimed a Champions League spot. The team scored an incredible 124 goals in the English top flight, which was by far the best tally of any team in the Premier League.
We also conceded 76 goals, which was the second-worst defensive record after Nottingham Forest, who finished rock bottom. The defensive record mattered little because of the overpowered attacking, and we finished with a goal difference of 48, the third-best in the league.
Unfortunately, we exited both domestic competitions at the third-round stage. However, we had the misfortune of facing the league’s top two teams, Manchester City and Liverpool, in the cup competitions, draws that not even this highly entertaining tactic could overcome.
Usually, I search for a balance between defence and attack in my tactics and formations. However, with this tactic, I was having too much fun to care that my defence was leakier than a sieve with extra holes.
As my results show, if you are not an elite team with world-class players, you will lose games with this tactic, but the positives outweigh the negatives. However, it is very much a case of risk and reward, like most attacking tactics.
Who were the top performers?
Unsurprisingly, considering the whole tactic is based on getting the best out of your advanced forward, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the top performer in the test when it came to scoring goals, as he scored 29 times, despite being injured (never DCL injured!) for some of the season. The England international also got the highest average season rating of 7.99.
However, the biggest surprise of this tactic was that the player with the highest average rating was young backup forward Ellis Simms, who scored 23 goals in 22 appearances, only 11 of which were starts. Only Calvert-Lewin beat his season rating of 7.85. I have never seen Simms perform to such a standard in any test or even a personal save.
Another backup striker Neal Maupay also scored a respectable 14 goals in the campaign, picking up a season rating of 7.39. If only he were as effective in real life, eh Toffees!
As you would expect, the attacking midfielders also hit excellent numbers in the test. Right-winger Demarai Gray scored 16 goals and also produced 17 assists while claiming an overall season rating of 7.52. I am not sure the former Leicester man has ever produced numbers like that in the past on my FM saves.
One of the attacking midfielders Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was amongst the goals in real life in the second half of the Premier League campaign, also performed well, scoring 13 times and producing 14 assists.
On the left wing, the ever-dependable Dwight McNeil was the leading creator, as although he scored just three goals, the former Burnley man picked up 21 assists.
Midfielder Amadou Onana weighed in with eight goals and ten assists, as he played in the DM role but also likely played as an attacking midfielder at times. Alex Iwobi scored six times and created ten goals, standard for the Nigerian international on FM 23.
A special mention goes out to usual bench fodder full-back Ruben Vinagre, who scored four times and produced a highly respectable 13 assists for the season from 21 starts and 17 substitute appearances.
What is our conclusion?
This tactic is a must-use for anybody that wants to enjoy FM 23 to the fullest. If you are a Manchester City, PSG or Liverpool, it is like a cheat code if that’s what you are into.
However, as our test proved with teams with lesser quality players, like Everton, it can still be highly successful, but you have to be prepared to lose some games and concede a lot of goals.
I am currently using this tactic with my all-conquering Everton team on my personal save, and it is one of the tactics that have brought me the greatest enjoyment on FM 23.
Have you used Erlings Dream Vs 3? What do you think of the tactic, and would you recommend it?
