We are back with our latest tactic testing, and this time, it’s ThatRyRyGuy’s- Hyper press, Any level, Underdog to Elite.
This was the first time I was aware of the tactic, and I have to say I was highly impressed. Here is what happened using this excellent tactic:
The conditions of the test
I decided to change the team I started with. Instead of starting the game with Everton, I began with Brighton, with an updated transfer database. I made no transfers and went on holiday for the season.
How is the tactic set up?
The tactic is a 3-4-3 with a balanced mentality, which proved to be really effective. The formation starts with a goalkeeper on sweeper with support duty.
In front of the last line of defence are two ball-playing defenders on defend duty, with a libero on support sandwiched in between the pair.
The players in the four are two wing-backs on attack duty, flanking two volante’s on support. In attack, two deep lying forwards on support duty are just behind an advanced forward.
The formation suited Brighton’s personnel, which has led the tactic to produce excellent results. The two ball playing defenders developed a good relationship in the tactic.
In attack, one of the deep lying forwards also developed an excellent relationship with the advanced forward.
How did the tactic perform?
This tactic was one of the most impressive I have seen of late, and I have looked at lots of tactics lately. The team were predicted to finish in ninth place in the Premier League.
Our team overachieved brilliantly, finishing in third place, collecting a creditable 83 points, and qualifying for the Champions League.
The team scored the third most goals in the Premier League, with only the top-two Liverpool and Tottenham scoring more goals in the Premier League.
The team had the sixth-best defensive record at the other end of the pitch. However, that was to be expected using three forwards, even if the team’s mentality was balanced.
The team was consistent throughout the season, and looking at the schedule, it neither seemed to let the level of results drop.
Brighton’s cup results were mixed. The team did superbly in the Europa League, winning the competition via a penalty kick win over Romain in the competition’s final.
In the domestic cup competitions, the team suffered elimination from the FA Cup against Arsenal in the quarter-finals while losing out to Liverpool in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Who were the top performers using this tactic?
This tactic brought out the best in many players in the squad, with many players picking up high average ratings, lots of assists, and lots of goals.
The highest-rated players over the season were left wing-back Pervis Estupinan, who picked up an average rating of 7.30. Forwards Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson were not far behind the Ecuadorian international with a rating of 7.28.
Ten players in the formation had an average rating of more than seven, which has been rare in our tactic testing.
Many players were prolific using this tactic, contributing to more than their fair share of goals.
Three of the forward players were amongst the highest scorers. Brazilian forward Joao Pedro was the team’s top goalscorer, with 23 goals scored in 52 appearances in all competitions.
Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati scored 19 goals in 48 appearances, while Danny Welbeck also scored 14 times.
Wing-back Estupinan scored a highly impressive 11 goals in 43 competitive games. Irish forward Evan Ferguson scored ten goals in 29 appearances.
Another forward, Simon Adingra, did well to score eight goals, considering that only 15 of his 37 appearances came from the start of games.
Pascal Gross and James Milner both weighed in with seven goals, while Solly March and Julio Enciso both scored seven times.
The wing-backs provided the main creativity during the season. Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey had the highest number of assists in all competitions, having created 13 goals.
Solly March played as a wing-back on both flanks, showing his versatility. He produced a respectable 12 assists. Strangely, Jan Paul van Hecke, who played as a centre-back all season, picked up ten assists.
Veteran James Milner also matched Van Hecke’s assist count, having played most of the season as a volante. His fellow volante also produced nine assists over the season.
Forwards, Ferguson and Fati scored goals and created seven goals apiece for their teammates.
What is my conclusion?
I have to say this tactic was very good all around. I don’t usually like or use tactics with the forwards, as it usually makes the team slightly unbalanced.
However, this tactic seemed to have a good balance, which is what I always look for in a tactic because I may well be slightly pragmatic with tactics on FM.
What I liked about this tactic was the fact that so many players thrived, scoring goals and picking up assists. It is an exciting tactic.
The biggest compliment I can give to this tactic is that it is one that I would use in my personal save. In fact, when I play my personal save next, I will certainly try this tactic.
Have you ever used the ThatRyRyGuys- Hyper press, Any level, Underdog to Elite tactic? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic via our socials.
