performWe are back with our latest tactic testing article. This time, we are testing the FM26 Man City 3-2-5 by FM Blog, who have been brilliant at creating successful tactics.
The tactic is specifically designed to mirror how City utilise England international Nico O’Reilly. The tactic produced highly encouraging results.
How is the tactic set up?
As with all our tactic testing, we used Everton as our test team. We went on holiday for a whole season after not making any transfers in the opening transfer window.
Although the name of the tactic states it is a 3-2-5, it is a very fluid formation, which can change in and out of possession. The formation starts with a sweeper keeper in goal. In front of the last line of defence are a ball-playing centre-back and a centre-back in possession, while both are centre-backs out of possession.
Alongside the two centre-backs is an inside full-back in possession, and a full-back out of possession. On the opposite flank, there is a playmaking wing-back in possession and a full-back out of possession. This is the Nico O’Reilly position on which the tactic is based.
In the defensive midfield positions, there is a regular defensive midfielder in and out of possession, alongside a box-to-box playmaker in possession but a defensive midfielder out of it.
Further forward on the flanks are a winger in possession and a tracking winger out of possession, while on the opposite flank are a wide forward in possession and a tracking winger out of possession.
Between the wide players is an advanced playmaker in possession, who becomes a tracking centre forward out of possession. Up front is a target forward in possession and a tracking centre forward out of possession.
The way the tactic is set up is such that indeed five players do attack, looking to overload the opposition’s defence.
How did the tactic perform?
The team was predicted to finish 10th in the Premier League table. However, a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification were a good achievement.
As the team finished in fourth place, it was unsurprising that they were the league’s fourth-highest scorers, having scored 68 goals. At the other end, the defence conceded the fifth-fewest goals, having conceded 41 times in the Premier League.
The team had both the fourth-best home and away records in the league, which, once again, isn’t that surprising, considering the league position.
One notable stat is that the team won three of the final five league games of the season, losing just once. There weren’t really any other standout stats during the campaign.
The team enjoyed mixed fortunes in the cup competitions, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals only to be defeated by Aston Villa. However, a third-round defeat against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup was disappointing.
Which players performed the best using this tactic?
This tactic didn’t produce many notable results in average season ratings. The player with the highest average season rating was Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye, who averaged 7.41.
That rating was due to Ndiaye scoring seven goals and, more importantly, producing 17 assists across all competitions, including a league-high 15 in the Premier League.
Centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite scored the second-highest season average rating, scoring 7.21 over the campaign. There were no other standout players in terms of average campaign ratings.
However, some players still thrived in other ways. Forward Beto scored 19 goals and produced four assists. When it came to goal contributions, though, surprisingly, defensive midfielder James Garner topped the charts, scoring eight times and producing 11 assists.
The attacking midfielders also produced solid seasons in terms of goals and assists. Jack Grealish, playing as the main support to forward Beto, scored seven times and produced seven goals and six assists. Meanwhile, playing on the right flank, Tyler Dibling scored nine goals and created nine goals for his teammates.
Despite not always starting, the duo of attacking midfielders, Carlos Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil, also enjoyed a solid season in terms of goal contributions. Alcaraz scored six goals and produced seven assists, while McNeil netted five goals and managed six assists.
How did the player utilised in the Nico O’Reilly perform? Although maybe not the best-equipped to perform in the role, Ukrainian full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko produced respectable numbers, scoring 4 goals and picking up 6 assists.
Mykolenko is not known as the most attacking full-back, and I am sure a more attacking player would have managed a better goal return.
What is our conclusion on the tactic?
Tactics recreated from a certain manager are always interesting, as it can be hard to get accurate, as are tactics based on a specific role. While it would take more testing to determine whether the O’Reilly role in this tactic was key, overall, the tactic was impressive, as it produced solid results.
If this test were done with Manchester City, which I may do at some point, no doubt it would get better results. However, if you tested any tactic using City, then it would produce better results, which is why I use Everton as the test team to give a realistic result.
This is a tactic is one that I will certainly be using in my personal saves in the future, as I have better players than in the current Everton squad, especially better attacking left-backs.
Has anybody else used FM26 Man City 3-2-5 by FM Blog? If you have, let us know your thoughts on our socials
