As we continue to find new ways to attempt to keep FM24 entertaining, we are once again back with another tactic testing article. The latest tactic we tested was the Incredible Hulk by prolific tactic creator GYR.
As with most of the tactics we tested, we saw that it had decent reviews, so we thought we would give it a go ourselves. Read on to find out if it was a successful test or not.
The conditions of my save
This tactic was tested using one of the more updated databases from the Steam workshop and simmed a full season.
Despite the update, the team I was using, Everton, still had ten points deducted. This is often just an extra level of challenge to test a tactic.
How is the team set up using this tactic?
This tactic is a variant of a 4-4-2. However, it uses a slightly different shape.
It starts with a goalkeeper sweeper keeper with defend as their duty. In front of the last line of defence is a straightforward back-four. This four-player defence consists of two full-backs on attack duty, with two ball-playing defenders sandwiched in between.
This formation then utilises a three-player central midfield, with two central midfielders on support duty flanking a central midfielder with the defend duty.
Ahead of the central midfield trio is an advanced playmaker on attack in the number ten role. Last but not least are two advanced forwards, who are tasked with scoring the bulk of the team’s goals.
As you can see from the green lines on the tactic screenshot, this tactic helped some players forge good relationships. The two centre-backs had a good understanding, as did three central midfielders. Further up the pitch, the attacking midfielder also forged a good understanding with one of the forwards.
How did the tactic perform?
Despite the team starting with a points deduction, it still had a predicted finish of 16th place in the table. However, it overachieved and landed the team an eighth-place finish, which wasn’t a terrible result.
Even without the points deduction, the team would have finished seventh place, possibly claiming a European spot depending on how the cups panned out.
This tactic was highly effective at both ends of the pitch. The team scored lots of goals and was, in fact, the third-highest scorers in the league. At the other end of the pitch, only three teams conceded fewer goals.
It was noticeable that the team finished the campaign in strong form by winning four of their last five games in the Premier League.
It was a decent campaign in the cup competitions. The team made it to the FA Cup semi-final, only to suffer defeat to Manchester United. Meanwhile, we suffered a quarter-final defeat to city rivals Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Who were the star performers using this tactic?
The tactic suited many of the players. The usual suspect, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was the player who thrived the most. The former Sheffield United forward scored an impressive 40 goals in 46 starts and one substitute appearance.
The goals saw Calvert-Lewin pick up the highest average season rating of 7.46. His 31 goals in the Premier League also saw the forward claim the Premier League Golden Boot.
Another player who shone using this tactic was left-back Vitalii Mykolenko, who scored once, but more importantly produced 14 assists, contributing to the Ukrainian finishing top of the assists charts in the Premier League.
When it came to goals, Calvert-Lewin’s strike partner for the majority of the games was Beto, who scored 13 times in 41 appearances in all competitions.
Danish loanee Jesper Lindstrom also scored 12 goals from his advanced playmaker role. Despite being a backup for Beto for much of the season and starting only 11 games, another loanee, Armando Broja, scored a respectable 12 goals and also produced four assists. However, the 24 substitute appearances he made over the campaign helped him reach that tally.
Veteran full-back Seamus Coleman didn’t play all the games, but he rolled back the years by producing a highly creditable nine assists and one goal in 26 appearances.
Playing as central midfielders, James Garner and Dwight McNeil both produced six assists each and two goals apiece.
Our conclusion on the Incredible Hulk by GYR
I have to say that anybody who knows me or has read any of my articles will know that I am a big fan of wingers or wide players. That means that winger-less formations never really appeal to me.
Looking at the stats and the setup of this tactic, I would actually use this on my personal save. It’s a perfect tactic for a team with several quality central midfielders, which I have in my current save.
This isn’t a tactic that will break the game, but it achieved really solid results in both attack and defence. With a team with better players, I suspect it would produce some really impressive results.
Have you ever used the Incredible Hulk by GYR on FM24? If you have, let us know here or via our socials
