Although FM24 has now been out for over a year, we continue to test and try out new formations and tactics. One of the tactics we have tested recently was KNAP EF 424 IF P105 AC by Knap, also known as Electric Funeral 424.
Anyone who has spent any time in the Football Manager community is likely familiar with Knap and his tactical creations. He has long been renowned for prolifically creating excellent tactics, and this tactic certainly didn’t disappoint.
The conditions of the game
As always, for my tactic tests, I simmed a whole season, and I am back with Everton as my test team. I used an updated database, which is available from the Steam workshop. It updated my game to December 2024.
This update removed the points deduction that the Toffees had last season, so the team started the campaign on 0 points instead of minus 6.
How is the formation set up?
This formation is designed to be highly attacking and to dominate opponents. This is illustrated not just by the 4-2-4 formation but also by the fact that the mentality of the team is attacking.
It’s a pretty simple setup, really. The team starts with a sweeper keeper on defend. In front of them are two full-backs on attack, flanking two ball-playing defenders on defend. The two centre-backs are the only players in the team who have defend as their mentality.
Two defensive midfielders are on support duty in front of the defence. In attack, one wide player is set to be an inside forward on support, while an inside forward on attack is on the other flank.
Last but not least, we have an advanced forward on attack and a pressing forward on support leading the line.
Looking at the image, this tactic saw two strong partnerships develop between the two centre-backs and the two defensive midfielders. The two forwards also developed a strong understanding. These partnerships are vital, considering the team’s setup.
How did the tactic perform?
Due to a solid campaign last season, the team were predicted to finish 11th place in the table. However, to say they massively overachieved wouldn’t be an understatement.
In fact, the team won the Premier League and FA Cup double. Even if the team had still had the points deduction, they would have still won the league. That’s how well the tactic performed. A third-round exit of the League Cup to Nottingham Forest mattered very little in the end.
The team won 30 of their 38 Premier League games while suffering just three defeats in the English top-flight. Unsurprisingly, the team had the best attacking record in the league but the worst defensive record of any of the top five teams.
Everton were unbeaten at home in the top-flight, recording 15 victories and four draws. However, they still only had the third-best home record in the league.
The team was also highly effective away from home. They won 15 of their 19 away games, drawing once and losing just three times, and had the best away record in the Premier League.
Everton finished the season strongly by winning four of their last five games in the Premier League, a run which sealed the title.
Which players performed well using this tactic?
As is usually the case with tactics designed to attack, the attacking players prospered using this formation. As is so often the case when playing as Everton on FM24, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin topped the charts for everything.
The forward had the highest average season rating of 7.52 while also being the team’s top goalscorer, with 31 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions. His 22 league goals were enough to see him win the Premier League Golden Boot.
Armando Broja and Beto, who partnered with Calvert-Lewin in the advanced forward role, also thrived. Although they seemed to share the position, both did well in front of goal.
Broja scored 18 goals and produced eight assists from 37 appearances, while Beto found the net 16 times, having started 18 games and also came on as a substitute in 18 games.
Left-sided inside forward Dwight McNeil was also highly effective in providing an attacking threat. The former Burnley man scored 14 times and also produced 16 assists for his teammates.
However, the player with the most assists in the team was right-sided inside forward Jack Harrison, who produced a league-high 22 goals from his position while also scoring six times.
Loan winger Jesper Lindstrom covered both wings, scoring nine goals and producing four assists during the campaign.
One of the defensive midfielders, James Garner, was also productive, scoring eight goals and producing nine assists. Garner’s midfielder partner Idrissa ‘Gana’ Gueye also weighed in with five goals. Considering the pair were playing primarily defensive roles, they were highly effective in helping out in attack.
When it came to assists, the two full-backs, Seamus Coleman and Vitaliy Mykolenko, produced more than their fair share, as they each created nine goals for their teammates. Nathan Patterson, who played at right-back, as well as Coleman also produced six assists.
Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite also had decent attacking stats, scoring six goals and producing four assists.
What is our conclusion?
I’m sorry I discovered this tactic so recently. After testing it, I used it on my personal save, and it produced incredible results on that save, too.
It is a game-breaking tactic, but not one that ruins your enjoyment of the actual game. The tactic makes your team not only win most games but also makes your team truly fun to watch.
I am not sure if I have used any of Knap’s tactics in FM24, which surprises me as he has been such a prolific tactic creator over the years. However, he deserves immense credit for this simple but highly effective tactic. I would recommend this tactic to everybody if they want to overachieve and have fun watching their team dominate in most games.
Have you ever used KNAP EF 424 IF P105 AC by Knap? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic via our socials
