With FM27 out sometime in November, I have been trying to get the most out of FM26 before the new edition drops. However, I have also been looking at FM26 tactics that could work in FM27.
With that in mind, I tried the 3-2-5 With Wingers and WM OOP by Gringo. As always with these tactic tests, it produced some interesting results.
How are the test and the tactic setup?
As usual, I used Everton for my test. They were ideal candidates to test this tactic, as they have a lot of attacking midfielders/wingers compared to weak areas of the pitch, such as up front or at full-back. This tactic eliminates the Toffees’ weak areas.
For the test, I took over the team, made no transfers and let the auto pick choose the starting line-up. In the holiday settings, I also set it to reject all transfer offers so the team keeps the same players throughout the season. I then set a return date for 30th May 2026.
As the title suggests, this formation is a 3-2-5, though it is set up more like a 3-2-2-3, with the most advanced players in attacking midfield roles.
The formation starts with a ball-playing goalkeeper in possession and a regular goalkeeper out of possession. In front of the last line of defence are two overlapping centre-backs, flanking a ball-playing centre-back in possession, with all three becoming centre-backs when out of possession. In midfield, we have two channel midfielders in possession and become defensive midfielders out of possession.
Out wide, there are two inside wingers in possession, who, when out of possession, become wide midfielders when the ball is lost. When we come to the most advanced players, there are two second strikers in possession, who become wingers when out of possession. They flank an attacking midfielder, whose role is the same both in and out of possession.
At first glance, some may see this strikerless formation as defensive. However, in attack, the two inside wingers join the three attacking midfielders, creating five players in attacking positions. This can create overloads in and around the penalty area.
How did the tactic perform?
The team was predicted to finish in tenth place in the table. However, that prediction was blown out of the water, with a fourth-place finish and qualification for the Champions League.
One highly noticeable facet of the campaign was the number of goals the team scored. With an impressive goal tally of 107, we were the top goalscorers in the division.
Often, when a team is that prolific in attack, they neglect their defensive duties. That was true in this case, as the team’s record of 58 goals conceded was only the ninth-best in the league.
Unsurprisingly, the team had both the fourth-best home and away record in the Premier League.
In cup competitions, the team exited the FA Cup in the semi-finals, losing 5-2 to Tottenham, and were knocked out in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup by Manchester City.
Which players performed well in this tactic?
Looking at the goals scored, you would think it would be the more attack-minded players who thrived in the tactic, but it wasn’t necessarily the case. Playing as an attacking midfielder, Charly Alcaraz scored 20 goals and produced nine assists.
However, Alcaraz’s wasn’t the most goal contributions in the team, as that honour fell to central midfielder James Garner, who scored 14 goals and produced an impressive 18 assists.
His central midfield partner Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was also highly effective when it came to goal contributions, scoring 12 goals and producing 11 assists.
The goals and assists were pretty evenly spread across the rest of the team. For example, midfielders Merlin Rohl and Tim Iroegbunam both scored seven goals and produced six and four assists, respectively.
Winger Iliman Ndiaye produced an underwhelming four goals, but also managed nine assists, while fellow wide man Tyler Dibling scored seven goals and produced eight assists. Defender Jarrad Branthwaite produced an impressive attacking output of six goals and seven assists, a tally matched by inside winger Dwight McNeil.
What is my conclusion for the 3-2-5 With Wingers and WM OOP by Gringo?
Regular readers of the site probably know by now that I am not the biggest fan of strikerless formations. It always feels alien to me to see a team playing without a striker. Obviously, teams in real life have enjoyed success without a central striker.
This tactic intrigued me because I immediately thought of Everton. The team’s search for full-backs has seemingly lasted forever. Thankfully, they brought in former Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles on deadline day, and he has made a steady start to life on Merseyside. Even with Maitland-Niles at the club, the Toffees still only have two senior full-backs at the club.
Arguably the situation is even worse upfront, with Thierno Barry the only recognised senior striker at the club. It’s becoming a running joke. Somebody even quipped on Wednesday during the win over Wolves that there were more prime ministers in the stadium than Everton strikers (referring to both English Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney attending the game).
I doubt Everton boss David Moyes will try this formation anytime soon in real life, but it’s a fun tactic if your FM squad is midfield/attacking-midfielder heavy. You will concede goals, but they will be heavily negated by the sheer volume of goals you’ll score.
This will likely be one of the first tactics I use on FM27, as it suits this season’s Everton squad even better than it did last season.
Have you ever used the 3-2-5 With Wingers and WM OOP by Gringo on FM26? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic via our socials
