As we seek to strive to get more out of FM24, we find ways of keeping things interesting. One way I do this is by trying different tactics on my personal save.
This doesn’t just make my game more interesting but also gives me material for my tactic-testing articles. The latest tactic I tested was 2 Back Madness by prolific tactic creator Josh Daly. It’s fair to say it didn’t disappoint.
How is this tactic set up?
This tactic starts with a sweeper keeper on defend duty. Then, in a bold step, just two central defenders, who are both ball playing defenders with defend duty.
In front of the two-player defence are four players: two wing-backs on support, flanking two defensive midfielders on support.
In attack, inside forwards on support duty are on either side of an attacking midfielder on attack duty. The trio supports an advanced forward on attack duty.
The formation looks relatively bold because it uses just two defenders. However, it is not as attacking as it seems, as this formation is an adaptation of 4-2-3-1, with the full-backs pushed into wing-back positions.
The fact that the creator used the attacking mentality as well was a brave move, but it worked pretty well.
The tactic saw the two central defenders build a good relationship. The wing-backs also struck up a good understanding with their wide players, as did the attacking midfielder and the forward.
How did the tactic perform?
The team was predicted to finish in 16th place in the table, although that was with the ten-point deduction, which I can’t seem to edit out of the game!
However, the team thrived, finishing fifth place in the table and qualifying for the Europa League. Without the points deduction, they would have finished third place, claiming a Champions League spot.
Unsurprisingly, considering that this is an attacking formation, the team thrived in front of goal, with only league champions Liverpool beating the team’s goal tally of 85.
Attacking formations tend to neglect the defensive side of the game slightly. This one was no different, as the team had the worst defensive record of any of the teams that finished in the top six of the league.
One significant factor in the success of this formation was a stellar home record, as the team won 16 of their 19 home games, drawing just once and losing just two home games in the Premier League.
Another important factor in finishing fifth place was that the team finished the league campaign in a strong manner, as they were unbeaten in the final five games of the campaign, recording four wins and a draw.
Unfortunately, the team struggled to make an impact in the cup competitions. They exited the FA Cup in the Fourth round against bitter rivals Liverpool. In the Carabao Cup, they suffered a quarter-final exit at the hands of Tottenham.
Which players performed well using this formation?
As is often the case on Football Manager with Everton, forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the star performer when it came to goals, as he scored 40 goals in all competitions. His 32 Premier League goals earned him the league’s Golden Boot award.
Unsurprisingly, a number of the other attacking players thrived in this formation. Jesper Lindstrom, who played most of the season as the attacking midfielder, scored 12 goals and produced nine assists.
Meanwhile, another loanee, Jack Harrison, also made a significant goal contribution, as he scored ten times and produced 12 assists.
On the left flank, Dwight McNeil scored eight times and produced a league-high 17 assists for the season while producing 19 in all competitions.
When it came to providing for the forward players, the wing-backs also produced good numbers.
On the right side, Nathan Patterson scored three goals and assisted ten goals while also having the best average rating over the season of 7.42. On the opposite flank, Vitaliy Mykolenko scored twice while also producing 11 assists.
Defensive midfielder James Garner also weighed in with more than his fair share of assists, producing eight assists and scoring two goals.
When it came to goals, central defender Jarrad Branthwaite didn’t disappoint, scoring a respectable six goals in 40 appearances.
Overall, the players performed well using the tactic. However, the season average ratings were about the same as other top-performing tactics.
What is my conclusion on 2 Back Madness by Josh Daly?
The creator has been clever by adapting the formation from a 4-2-3-1, but that is what tacticians and creators do. They experiment to see how things can be improved.
This tactic certainly produced decent results, but it is not a tactic I would use on a regular basis on my personal save. However, that is just a personal preference, though.
I did try it with my team, but I only used it for one game. Unfortunately, it nearly resulted in a 60-match unbeaten run coming to an end. Only a stoppage-time equalised saved the run.
I would recommend this tactic to people who want to use a slightly different tactic. As the testing proved, it can get results over a season, and many people have praised the tactic. Therefore, why not give it a go?
Have you used 2 Back Madness by Josh Daly? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic with a comment on her or on our socials
