Can you challenge La Liga’s big two in FM24?

October 29, 2023

The beta version, or early access of FM24 as SI chief Miles Jacobson wants it called, is now available after its release on Thursday 19th October.

One challenge I am looking forward to in FM24 is battling with Barcelona and Real Madrid for supremacy in La Liga. Between them, the pair has won eight of the last ten Spanish titles. Here are some teams to manage in FM24 in order to challenge the pair:

Atletico Madrid

Los Colchoneros have been the only team to even challenge the big two in recent years, as Diego Simeone’s team has claimed the Spanish title twice in the last decade, arguably punching well above their weight in La Liga. They are the most likely team to manage in Spain if you want to be successful in this challenge.

Atletico’s squad contains some major talent, including Jan Oblak, Jose Gimenez, Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata. They have a good foundation in which to build a title-winning team. With a few additions, a clever manager could turn Atletico into a force at home and in Europe, similar to what Simeone has done in real life, but to an even larger extent.

Real Sociedad

The side from San Sebastian has established themselves as one of the best teams to watch in the Spanish top flight under head coach Imanol Alguacil. La Real is likely to be a strong top-four challenger this season.

Sociedad has built a strong squad of late, with quality players of the likes of highly-rated young Japanese attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo, Brais Mendez, Mikel Oyarzabal and Ander Barrenetxea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz_tviU5QzE

Like Atletico, Sociedad has the foundations of a stellar squad, and a few smart signings could turn La Real into real title challengers. There are obviously caveats to potential success with Sociedad.

One factor is that you are vulnerable to losing your players to teams with more money or a higher profile. The other is that you won’t get the same sort of transfer budget as you would with Atletico or Spain’s big two.

Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine have in the past been amongst La Liga’s top-four. Currently, they are experiencing a difficult campaign in La Liga after the summer exit of key players such as Pau Torres, Samuel Chukwueze and Nicolas Jackson.

However, they did manage to bring in Norwegian striker Alexander Sorloth youngster Ilias Akhomach from Barcelona, with Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz arriving on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers. The players Villarreal signed in the summer joined a squad with the likes of Yeremy Pino, Alex Buena, Juan Forth and Gerard Moreno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo3dyQ-Zox8

It would undoubtedly be more challenging to achieve success in La Liga in FM24 than it has been in previous editions simply because of the loss of the quality players in the summer.

What you do with talented youngster Pino may well be the key to success at the Estadio de la Ceramica. If you manage to keep hold of him, he can be a vital asset, as he has quality, potential and versatility. However, you could take the other route and sell him in order to bring in much-needed money to strengthen the squad.

Athletic Club

The Basques are one of the most historic clubs in Spain, as they are the only Spanish club other than Barcelona and Real Madrid never to suffer relegation from the top flight. They have also won eight Spanish titles, a tally bettered only by the big two and Atletico.

Your chances of success are helped by the presence of the Williams brothers, Inaki and Niko, who are extremely talented forwards. The latter is a winger who is a must-sign, if you have funds, of course, as he becomes a truly elite player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPCrolKIEII

You have a very capable goalkeeper in Unai Simon, while Oihan Sancet is a promising young midfielder.

Now, the big challenge in turning Athletic into the dominant force in Spanish football is the player restrictions. Athletic is a club that prides itself on tradition, and as part of that tradition, you will only be able to sign Basque players or players of Basque heritage. This transfer policy makes player recruitment extremely challenging. However, it’s good for those managers who like a challenge.

Which team would you pick to manage in FM24 to overthrow Barcelona and Barcelona at the top of La Liga?

Breaking the stranglehold of Bayern Munich in FM24

David Nugent

October 23, 2023

Since the announcement that FM24 will be released on November 6^th, my brain has been awash with ideas for new saves on challenges in the latest edition of our beloved game. One of the challenges that came to mind is overthrowing Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

A dominant force

As most people know, Bayern Munich have been the dominant force in German football for over a decade. They have had a stranglehold of the Bundesliga, winning the title for the last 11 straight seasons.

Last season, arch-rival Dortmund came agonisingly close to being crowned champions, only to let the title slip away on the final day, with a last-gasp Jamaal Musiala winner against Koln sealing the title for Bayern.

It would be a major challenge to get the better of the Bavarians. However, if you want to manage in the Bundesliga, there are some teams that will be your best bet to overcome the Bavarians. Here are your main options:

Dortmund

BVB are the obvious potential challengers to Bayern’s crown and have been in many seasons in the last decade. They have a squad full of decent quality players but have lacked a killer edge when it has come to getting the title over the line.

The squad contains quality defenders like Niklas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Mats Hummels. At the other end of the pitch, youngsters like FM favourite Youssoufa Moukoko, Karim Adeyemi, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Gio Reyna offer excellent attacking options.

The slightly more experienced Julian Brandt, Sebastian Haller, Nicklas Fullkrug and Donny Malen also offer the team a major attacking threat.

Dortmund could well be a decent long-term save, especially as you, after ending Bayern’s dominance, could then turn your attention to conquering the European game and winning the club’s second Champions League trophy.

Bayer Leverkusen

Die Werkself has been a sensation in the Bundesliga this season, as Xabi Alonso’s team currently sits at the top of the table. Alonso’s management has been one of the main reasons for their lofty position in the table.

However, it is not just the expertise in the dugout that has led Bayer to their position at the top of the table. The biggest reason is the quality of players available in the squad. In fact, they have the foundation of a great team.

Leverkusen already had the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Edmond Tapsoba and Patrik Schick in their squad last season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEvbCYAJGk

In the summer, they made some shrewd signings, including Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Alex Grimaldo and maybe most importantly, striker Victor Boniface. The latter has been a scoring machine in the Bundesliga this season, scoring seven goals in as many league outings.

The future looks bright for Leverkusen. However, there is a major issue when managing Bayer in the fact that every season, your star players will be poached by Premier League clubs or even Bayern.

As with other clubs, though, if you can turn Leverkusen into a dominant force in the German top flight, then players will be content to stay with your club, snubbing moves elsewhere.

RB Leipzig

Die Roten Bullen has been one of Bayern’s biggest challengers in recent years after heavy investment from owners Red Bull saw Leipzig become a mainstay in the Bundesliga’s top four.

Leipzig had a good squad of players last season. However, their recruitment in the summer of 2023 was strong, notable by the arrival of Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda. Sesko, of course, in recent FM’s, has been a must-sign.

In real life, striker Openda has been the most potent of Leipzig’s forwards, as the striker has scored four goals in seven Bundesliga appearances. On-loan PSG attacking midfielder Xavi Simons has also shone in the German top flight, scoring three times and producing four assists. Both players could be key players in FM24 if their stats match those of their performances so far this season.

Stuttgart

If you want a massive challenge in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart may be the team for you in the German top flight. Die Roten has made an unbelievable start to their league campaign this season, as they are currently in second place in the table.

Stuttgart’s start to the season is even more remarkable, considering they finished 16^th place in the Bundesliga last season, only beating the drop by winning the relegation/promotion play-off.

One of the main factors in Stuttgart’s excellent start to the Bundesliga season has been the record-scoring form of star striker Serhou Guirassy, as the Guinea international has scored an incredible 13 goals in the opening seven league games.

However, Guirassy’s stats seem unlikely to reflect his current red-hot form in front of goal, so getting results with Sebastian Hoeness’ current squad will be more challenging.

Which could you take to dominance over Bayern Munich in FM24?

Tactics Testing: 5-2-1-2 DP OP Niestandardowa by Matias 1996

David Nugent

October 18, 2023

THTP tactics 5-2-1-2 DP OP Niestandardowa

We are back with another tactic test, and the last for FM23, as a leak on the EPIC Launcher had the release date of the FM24 beta as 19^th October. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, only time will tell.

The latest tactic we are testing is 5-2-1-2 DP OP Niestandardowa by Matias 1996. The tactic produced highly respectable results.

The conditions of the tactic

The test was conducted with an updated database downloaded via the Steam workshop from FMInside.net if you want to update your game.

I started the game with Everton, who had a predicted finish of 12th place and holidayed an entire season. As is usually the case, the tactic overperformed the predicted finish position.

What is the tactical set-up?

Despite the name of the tactic, the formation is more of a 3-4-2-1 than a 5-2-1-2 and uses a positive mentality. In goal is a sweeper keeper on defend, with two ball-playing defenders and a central defender on cover.

Further forward, a ball-winning midfielder on defend and a volante on attack are flanked by two complete wing-backs on support. An advanced forward on attack duty is supported by a shadow striker and an advanced playmaker both on attack.

If you look at the screenshot of the tactic, many of the players built strong relationships all over the pitch. This tactic suited the available players and helped forge those good relationships.

How did the tactic perform?

This tactic overperformed by helping the team finish fifth place in the table after a predicted finish of 12^th place. They were only three points off finishing in the Champions League spot.

For me, this tactic was expertly well-balanced, as the team attacked well but was not majorly poor in defence. The fact that Everton were the fourth top goalscorers in the league illustrated how well it performed in attack. Having the seventh-best defence in the league was not a disaster either, as the teams with better defensive records also finished in the league’s top seven.

One major weakness was that the team finished the campaign poorly, as they failed to win any of their final five league matches, picking up just two draws and suffering three defeats. This is mainly down to the lack of depth in the Everton squad, so the tactic cannot get all the blame for the poor finish to the campaign.

The cup competitions produced very little of note. The team exited the FA Cup at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup and the Quarter final of the Carabao Cup.

Who were the top performers using this tactic?

This tactic definitely brought out the best in some of the squad, including players who don’t always shine in these tactic tests. Firstly, as always in FM, forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin shone, scoring 45 goals in just 44 appearances and producing three assists. Unsurprisingly, he topped the charts for the average season rating at 7.61.

One player who doesn’t usually shine so brightly or even see much playing time, Dele had an outstanding season playing as a shadow striker, which in real life is arguably his best position. The former Spurs star scored 22 goals and produced 16 assists while picking up a season rating of 7.39.

Another player who thrived while using this tactic was promising full-back Nathan Patterson. The Scottish international has shown flashes of his attacking ability for the Toffees. Still, using this tactic, he produced an impressive 17 assists in 39 appearances, picking up a season average of 7.01.

His fellow complete wing-back Vitaliy Mykolenko was also productive going forward, as the Ukrainian also managed seven assists, which is a decent record for a player who struggles going forward at times.

Loan star Arnaut Danjuma usually produces decent numbers in tactic testing and my personal saves. The Dutchman enjoyed a good season playing in the advanced playmaker role, scoring 11 goals and producing 14 assists, leading to his season average rating of 7.19.

Forward Beto was restricted to just three starts and 14 substitute appearances, with Calvert-Lewin first-choice in the advanced forward role. However, he still scored eight goals and picked up a respectable season-average rating of 7.17.

No other players’ stats really stood out using this tactic, but the players that did shine seemed to suit their roles perfectly.

What is my conclusion on this tactic?

This tactic was a good, overperforming, well-balanced tactic that could produce a decent result with most teams. However, there is a caveat in the fact that this tactic is pretty high-intensity, so I would imagine you would need decent squad depth.

If you have the squad to pull it off, then this tactic is perfect to bring your team success. I may well try this tactic when FM24 is released, especially if I can manage a team with a deep squad.

Have you ever used 5-2-1-2 DP OP Niestandardowa by Matias 1996? Let us know your thoughts on our socials

Tactic testing: 4123 Pressure Cooker by the Chef

David Nugent

October 18, 2023

The latest tactic, and maybe one of the last we are testing for FM23, is the 4123 Pressure Cooker by the Chef. I have to admit I am not familiar with the Chef’s menu, but this tactic certainly tasted delicious.

It is fair to say that this tactic worked close to perfection, overachieving majorly. However, you will have to read on to find out just how much it overachieved.

The conditions of the tactic

The test was conducted with an updated database downloaded via the Steam workshop from FMInside.net if you want to update your game.

I started the game with Everton, who had a predicted finish of 12th place and holidayed an entire season. As is normally the case, the tactic overperformed the predicted finish position.

What is the tactical set-up?

As suggested by the title of the tactic, the formation is a 4123, which uses a balanced mentality in order to utilise the three forward players. In goal is a sweeper keeper on defend duty. In front of the ‘keeper are two inverted wing-backs on support, flanking two ball-playing defenders, who are both on defend.

A defensive midfielder on support offers some protection to the backline. Two defensive wingers operate on support in the wide midfield positions. Arguably, the most important players of the tactic line up in attack, with two pressing forwards flanking an advanced forward all on attack.

I have to say this formation suited the players available at Everton. Any formation that can get star forwards Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto into the starting line-up is good by me. However, other players seemed to thrive in their roles, too. More on that later, though.

How did the tactic perform?

Well, it is fair to say this tactic helped the team finish well above the predicted 12th-place finish. In fact, the team finished third place in the table, just two points adrift of second-place neighbours Liverpool.

As you would expect from a formation with three forwards, it was prolific in front of goal. Everton finished the season with 89 goals, which was a tally only bettered by champions Manchester City.

However, unlike other attacking tactics, this one was also reasonably solid at the back, with just 37 goals conceded, the sixth-best defensive record in the Premier League. The strong attack and decent defence combined to give the team a goal difference of 52.

One noticeable aspect of this tactic was how well the team played in the second half of the season, as they won 16 of their last 19 games in the Premier League, which is an incredible record for most top-flight teams. The stellar run included winning their previous five league games of the campaign.

Unfortunately, there was no cup glory to be had in the first season. The team suffered a quarter-final exit against West Ham in the FA Cup while losing out to Fulham in the Third-Round stage of the Carabao Cup.

Who were the top performers?

With a tactic seemingly geared to get the best out of the forward players, unsurprisingly, it did the job, with the three forward players producing the highest average ratings over the season.

The advanced forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a respectable average rating of 7.59, scoring 25 goals and producing ten assists in 44 appearances. One of his fellow forwards, Beto’s season average rating was not far behind DCL’s at 7.46 after the Portuguese forward plundered 30 goals and produced nine assists in 39 appearances.

The third player in attack for most of the season was the versatile Dwight McNeil, who scored 14 goals and also assisted a further 14 while picking up a season-average rating of 7.21.

The defensive wingers didn’t disappoint either when it came to stats. Jack Harrison played most of the season on the left flank, creating a team-high 18 assists while also scoring four goals to get a season average of 7.19. On the other flank was another versatile player, James Garner, who also weighed in with 13 assists and two goals, making his season average rating 7.11.

Centre-back James Tarkowski deserves a mention, too, for his goalscoring exploits, as he notched an impressive ten goals. His stats suggest that the tactic included a highly effective set-piece routine.

Midfielder Idrissa Gueye was also creative, producing six assists from the defensive midfield role. Meanwhile, veteran full-backs Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman produced five assists each.

What is my conclusion on this tactic?

As any regular readers of our site will know, balance is one of the things I look for in my tactics. I liked this tactic, as although it contained three forwards, it had a good balance, likely because only the three front players were on attack duty.

The tactic obviously brought out the best in the front players, including Jack Harrison and James Garner.

The sign of a good tactic for me is if I would be excited to use it in one of my personal saves. I would consider using this one, although, with the release of FM24, I may need to use it on one of my personal saves on the new edition and see if it still fairs well.

I would definitely recommend this tactic to anybody who is managing a decent team with good forward players.

Have you used the 4123 Pressure Cooker by Chef in your personal save? If you have, let us know your thoughts on the tactic via our socials

Four save ideas for FM24

David Nugent

October 14, 2023

While many people are happy to stick to managing the big clubs and winning major trophies in Football Manager, there are always those brave, intrepid players who love a challenge. So here are four save ideas that could offer something of a challenge:

Turning Wrexham into a global force

Since the arrival of Hollywood pair Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, the club has experienced a big upturn in fortunes. The Red Dragons won promotion back to the EFL in season 2022/23 from the National League after a 15-year absence.

The club’s owners are massively ambitious for the Welsh club and are likely to back the club financially to the hilt after already investing money to win promotion. The challenge of taking Wrexham first to the Premier League and then to challenging in European competition will be a fun long-term save.

It seems everything is set for the Welsh side to rise up the football pyramid and go even further than they have ever before.

Reviving Hamburg’s fortunes

Hamburger SV, or Hamburg as they are typically known, are traditionally one of the biggest clubs in the German game. Die Rothosen experienced massive success in the early 1980s when they won the Bundesliga twice and the European Cup, while also finishing as title runners-up in 1981,1984 and 1987.

However, HSV has fallen on hard times in recent years and suffered relegation to the second tier of German football in season 2017/18. The demotion marked the end of a 55-year spell in the German top-flight for one of the Bundesliga’s founding members. It was their first relegation from the German top flight in its current guise.

Since suffering the drop, it has been a case of close, but not close enough when it comes to winning promotion back to the German top flight.

One of their closest calls came last season when Hamburg was set for promotion on the final gameweek of the season, only for rivals Heidenheim to come from two goals down to defeat Regensburg 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner to claim promotion and the title.

Hamburg finished third place in the table, just a point behind both promoted teams, Heidenheim and Darmstadt. For a second straight season, HSV suffered defeat in the relegation/promotion play-off, this time losing 6-1 on aggregate to Stuttgart.

Maybe you could be the one to guide Hamburg back to the place where they belong finally.

Taking Ajax back to the top of the European football tree

This season has been an absolute disaster for Ajax, as the formerly dominant force of the Dutch game currently sits in 15^th place in the Eredivisie table, only a point clear of the relegation play-off spot in the Dutch top-flight.

While many may believe the rot set in this summer when they lost the likes of Muhamed Kudus, Edson Alvarez Jurrien Timber and Dusan Tadic, things have not been right at the Dutch giants for a while.

Last season, they finished third place in the table, 13 points behind champions Feyenoord, missing out on Champions League football. Things are not looking great for the four-time European champions.

However, there is one plus for Ajax in the fact that they have some promising players within their ranks. FM favourites Josip Sutalo, and Sivert Mannsverk joined in the summer transfer window, while other youngsters such as Charley Forbs and Gaston Avila also arrived in the Dutch capital.

Add those young players to the ones already at the club, like Brian Brobbey, Kenneth Taylor and Devyne Rensch, and you have the foundations of a promising young team. All they need is some extra quality added, and then maybe the Dutch giants could become a force to be reckoned with once again in not just the Eredivisie but also the European football.

Overthrowing Celtic in the SPL with Rangers

The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in Glasgow goes way beyond football, with religious beliefs separating the pair. However, down the years, both clubs have had dominant periods in the SPL, where they have dominated the domestic game. Rangers have won 55 league titles, while Celtic have won just two fewer than their arch-rivals.

In recent years, Celtic have had their turn to dominate the Scottish top flight, winning the league title in 11 of the last 12 years in the SPL. Rangers last won the title under former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in season 2020/21. It was a rare title win, though.

With some canny recruitment, it may not be a massive challenge to overthrow Celtic and make Rangers great again in the Scottish top flight. You could then take it a step further and attempt to be successful in European competition with the Gers, which has proven difficult for Scottish clubs in recent decades.

What will your first save be on FM24? Let us know via our socials

Tactic Testing: The Angeball v2.0 by Lowerleagues

David Nugent

October 9, 2023

On this week’s tactic testing, we looked at a tactic called The Angeball v2.0 by Lowerleagues from FM Scout.

As you can guess from the name, it is based on the tactics of Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou. With Spurs thriving this season, it seems like an interesting tactic to test.

I have seen many people attempt to recreate the Australian’s tactics in FM. However, for me, this was the best and closest to Postecoglou’s set-up.

The conditions of the tactic

The test was conducted with an updated database downloaded via the Steam workshop from FMInside.net if you want to update your game.

I started the game with Everton, who had a predicted finish of 12th place and holidayed an entire season. As is normally the case, the tactic overperformed the predicted finish position.

What is the tactical set-up?

The tactic is set up almost in a 2-3-4-1 formation, with the mentality of attacking. The goalkeeper is a sweeper keeper on support, with two central defenders on defend. Interestingly, the two centre-backs are the only players with defend duty in the whole team.

In front of the backline are two inverted wing-backs on support duty, and slightly further forward, a regista on support.

Moving up the pitch, two wingers on support occupy the positions on the flanks with two attacking midfielders on attack in between the wide-men. Up front is an advanced forward on attack.

How did the tactic perform?

The tactic overachieved slightly, finishing in seventh place and, unfortunately, missing out on European football by six points. The team achieved a highly respectable goal difference of 21, the fifth-best in the league, only bettered by the league’s top-four teams.

It is not hard to see that the tactic is based on outscoring your opponent, especially because there are only two players on defend duty. The tactic certainly delivered when it came to goals, as the team scored 85 times in the Premier League, a tally that was bettered by only the top-two Liverpool and Manchester City.

Like any attacking tactic, it was always likely to concede goals, especially when the team didn’t have great defenders to fill the two all-important central defender roles. With this tactic, the team’s defensive vulnerabilities were exploited, as they conceded 64 goals, which made it the sixth-worst defence in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, there was to be no cup glory either, as the team exited the FA Cup in the Third Round against Wolves while also being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the Fourth Round by Crystal Palace.

Who were the top performers with this tactic?

Unsurprisingly, the top performers in this tactic were attacking players. The top goalscorer was advanced forward Beto, who scored 24 goals and produced six assists in 38 appearances, yielding a season-average rating of 7.26.

The only player to achieve a higher average season rating was fellow forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who picked up a season average rating of 7.36, scoring 16 goals and producing 11 assists in 39 appearances.

Dele Alli and Abdoulaye Doucoure, the two attacking midfielders, also thrived with this tactic. Dele scored 14 goals and created 16, with an average rating of 7.17. Doucoure scored 13 goals and produced five assists with a season-average rating of 7.12.

Jack Harrison also thrived playing as both a winger and an attacking midfielder, scoring seven goals and producing nine goals with an average rating of 6.99.

On the other wing, Arnaut Danjuma scored four goals while producing eight assists, with a season average of 6.98. Veteran Ashley Young produced good attacking numbers playing as an inverted wing-back, as he scored four goals and produced five assists, with a season-average rating of 6.72.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford doesn’t usually get a mention in the highest-performing players, as his presence is usually taken for granted. However, despite conceding so many goals, he still picked up a respectable average-season rating of 7.17.

What is my conclusion?

I knew this would be a goal-filled tactic as soon as I saw the tactical set-up. It is the sort of tactic that always produces great entertainment, especially if you have a strong squad of players to fulfil the various roles.

Everton has decent players to fill the roles, but I can’t help thinking that this tactic could be a lot more fun with a better team. This is definitely one I will try on my latest personal save, as I have a squad full of four and four- and half-star players, which would obviously produce better results.

If you are looking for a tactic that will give you many thrills and spills, then this one could be a lot of fun.

Have you ever used the Angeball v2.0 by Lowerleagues? If you have, let us know your thoughts via our socials.

Tactics testing: 4123 Cookie Shooter by Delicious the Assembler

David Nugent

October 5, 2023

We are back with another tactic testing article. This time, we tested the 4123 Cookie Shooter by Delicious the Assembler, who regular readers will know is one of our favourite tactic creators. Funnily, when I saw the tactic, I didn’t even realise it was one of his tactics, but it was another hit for the prolific tactic creator.

The conditions of the test

The test was conducted with an updated database downloaded via the Steam workshop from FMInside.net. I started the game with Everton, who had a predicted finish of 12th place and holidayed an entire season with no changes made to the team.

What is the tactical set-up?

As in the title of the tactic, it is set up in a 4123 formation with a balanced mentality. In goal was a sweeper keeper on defend mentality, which suits Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

In front of the goalkeeper are two inverted Wing-Backs on support and two Ball-Playing Defenders on defend duty. The protection for the backline is a Defensive Midfielder on support. Out wide in the wide midfield roles are Inverted Wingers, both on support. The attack is simple, with three Advanced Forwards all on Attack.

The tactic suited the players available due to the presence of two very good forwards in Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Dwight McNeil did well out of position.

How did the tactic perform?

As with all Delicious’ tactics, it produced excellent results, as the team picked up 76 points and finished third place in the Premier League table.

The biggest takeaway from looking at the league table is the number of goals scored by the team using the tactic, as they scored 102 goals, which was a league-high. However, despite the tactic featuring three Advanced Forwards, the team still had the fourth-best defensive record in the table, too.

Another notable feature of this tactic was the team took 32 points from their 19 away games, which was a tally bettered only by eventual champions Manchester City.

The results in the cup competitions were nothing to write home about, as the team exited the FA Cup at the Quarter Final stage against Arsenal while losing to Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup.

Who were the top performers using this tactic?

As has been the case with many of our tactic testing articles with the updated database, the two-star strikers Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the top performers using this tactic. Both forwards played 43 games in all competitions over the season.

Beto topped the charts for average season rating with a score of 7.69, the second-highest average season rating in the Premier League behind Haaland. The Portuguese forward was also pipped to the league’s Golden Boot award by the Norwegian despite scoring 33 league goals and 40 in all competitions. He also produced seven assists.

Calvert-Lewin’s season average rating of 7.66 was not far behind his strike partner, as the forward scored 30 goals and created 13 goals for his teammates.

The third forward in the formation, Dwight McNeil, usually a winger or a wide midfielder, also enjoyed an excellent campaign, picking up a rating of 7.39 over the season while scoring 16 goals and producing 14 assists in 39 appearances.

Loan star Arnaut Danjuma also enjoyed a productive season playing as an inverted winger on the team’s right side, achieving a respectable 7.17 average season rating, scoring nine times and assisting 15 goals.

The goals were not just the kingdom of the forwards, though, as centre-back James Tarkowski scored eight goals, while defensive midfielder Amadou Onana also found the target on four occasions.

In terms of assists, a special mention should go to left-sided midfielder Jack Harrison, who produced 20 assists in all competitions. His 17 Premier League assists were a league-high. Harrison also scored four goals and had an average season rating of 6.98.

Right-back Nathan Patterson was also highly effective when it came to creating goals for his teammates, producing a respectable seven assists and picking up a season-average rating of 6.92.

Fellow full-backs Ashley Young and Ben Godfrey produced six and five assists over the season, which were also respectable numbers from predominantly defensive positions.

Young forward Youssef Chermiti only played a bit-part role, starting just six games, while making 30 substitute appearances, but he scored three goals and produced five assists. It seems he proved a useful alternative to the starting front three.

What is my conclusion?

As soon as I realised this was a tactic from Delicious, I knew it would be a winning tactic. From how it was set up, I expected the tactic to produce goals and lots of them, and it certainly didn’t disappoint in that respect.

However, the set-up finds a lovely balance between being lethal in attack but also steady in defence, which is often a tough juggling act. Above all, it is highly entertaining, as I have used it in one of my recent personal saves, and it’s just a fun tactic.

I would highly recommend using this tactic, especially if you are starting the game with Everton or a team that has two or three outstanding forward players to occupy the advanced forward roles.

Have you tried 4123 Cookie Shooter by Delicious the Assembler, and if you have, what are your thoughts on the tactic? Let us know via our socials

The Best FM24 Wonderkids

David Nugent

September 29, 2023

With FM24 due to be out on November 6^th, many are turning their attention to the game’s latest edition. One of the most exciting aspects of playing Football Manager is developing young players, as there is nothing better than turning a young starlet into a superstar.

Here are some players who could well be wonderkids in FM24:

Luka Vuskovic (Hadjuk Split)

The big centre-back is being talked about as one of the best young up-and-coming players in his position in the world. At just over 6 feet 3 inches, he is a player who can be highly effective in both penalty areas.

Despite only being born in 2007, Vuskovic has already made eight first-team appearances for Hadjuk. His main strengths are his pace, positioning and aerial threat. His talents have already led to the youngster agreeing to a move to Premier League Tottenham, who he will join in 2025. Spurs fought off competition from big-spending French outfit PSG to secure the defender’s signature.

Ljubo Puljic (Bayern Munich)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OT3DEXWx5k

Even another Croatian defender of what seems to be a never-ending production line of talented young defenders, Puljic, cost Bayern a fee of £2.8m from NK Osijek. The youngster is not yet the finished article, as his passing and tackling are not yet up to scratch.

However, what he does possess is his physique and determination to press opposition teams, which makes him a player worthy of signing, as he will only improve in the future. If he fulfils his potential, then he could become an elite centre-back.

If he makes a big move in the near future, Vuskovic will be more difficult to sign than if he remains with the Croatian giants.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO440v77e0E

The young Barcelona winger has burst onto the scene for the Catalan giants this season, having made his first-team debut at just 15. Without a doubt, Yamal is one of the brightest young players in the world game. The now-16-year-old has already made his international debut for the Spanish national team.

The youngster is likely to be one of the players with the biggest potential in the game and could well be a superb player to own on FM24 if, of course, you have the funds to prise him away from the Spanish champions.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

The midfielder made his debut for Arsenal at the age of 15 and 5 months, making him the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League. Nwaneri can play as an attacking midfielder and an inverted winger, which makes him a versatile asset.

Nwaneri is already an England under-18 international and has been training with the Arsenal first-team while featuring for the club’s under-23s, too. His attributes are so strong that some have already compared Nwaneri to former Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Ethan Mbappe (PSG)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSRvzRV1ub4

The Mbappe name is, of course, a famous one, with PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe being one of the world’s best footballers. However, Kylian is not the only member of his family who is making waves in the football world, as his young brother Ethan is developing a reputation for himself as a highly promising deep-lying playmaker for PSG.

Mbappe has already impressed for PSG’s under-19 team, having made 17 appearances last season while scoring two goals. If he reaches even half the level of his sibling, then he will have a great career ahead of him.

Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)

The talented young attacking midfielder’s potential has already been spotted by Premier League Chelsea, who the Ecuadorian will join in 2025 when he turns 18.

The diminutive star seems to have all the attributes to go on and become a top-class attacking midfielder, such as quick feet, agility and the ability to beat his opponent. He is also creative, as he can pick out his teammates when on the ball.

His ability on the ball has some observers comparing Paez to the likes of Neymar and even Lionel Messi. No pressure, then!

Estevao Willian (Palmeiras)

In recent FMs, we have been spoiled by Brazilian wonderkids in attack, with the likes of Vitor Roque, Endrick, and Marcos Leonardo all proving to be bargain signings who usually become top forwards.

Next off Palmeiras’ production line is Estevao Willian, who, like his fellow Wonderkids, is a versatile forward player who could become an elite talent. Estevao is a player with flair, dribbling ability and excellent close control.

The forward’s potential has already caught the attention of European heavyweights Barcelona, PSG and Real Madrid. He could be a bargain buy at the start of the game and develop into a top player, just like his compatriots have in recent editions of FM.

Who are the wonderkids you are looking to use in FM24?

The Worst Moments in the History of Football

Higher Tempo

September 29, 2023

We all love football and are happy to remember its most amazing moments such as Maradona and the Hand of God or Messi’s best goal ever. But just like the odds Premier League bettors encounter, it wouldn’t be fair to only remember the good moments when there are so many heartbreaking moments to consider in the history of football.

In this article, we will pay tribute to those moments and remember some of the most famous heartbreaking events in the history of football. You might want to sit down for this and get a hot beverage to soothe your soul.

Baggio’s Penalty

It was 1994 when Roberto Baggio’s penalty miss changed the history of football during the World Cup. He is still remembered as one of the finest players in the history of football, but that specific moment of weakness from 12 yards will definitely haunt him for the rest of his life, and it won’t be easily forgotten by many devoted followers.

Beckham Loses it

Beckham turned from hero to villain in France in 1998 when Diego Simeone challenged him and ultimately made him earn a red card. With a tie at 2-2, Beckham was sent off with a red card due to a simple flick of the right leg, which would change the match forever. England still took the game to penalties, where they lost. But this loss was overshadowed by the reaction from the press and public who became rather unforgiving against one of the most beloved players of all time.

Ronaldo and His First Injury

In the late nineties, it looked like Ronaldo was basically a god. When the year turned into 2000, the magic stopped, as it was during the World Cup that the famous Brazilian player ruptured a knee tendon and then his knee cap. This injury will follow him for his whole career, and this is something that no one in the Premier League could have ever imagined.

Ireland in 2002

Ireland was so close to winning the 2002 World Cup, but penalties changed their fate forever. As Fernando Morientes put Spain ahead, Robbie Keane equalized in the last possible minute. The Irish team had the chance to win during extra time but couldn’t take Spain down and was defeated in an undeserved and memorable way.

The Gerrard Slip

Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea is the event that many people consider to be responsible for Liverpool’s loss of the Premier League title in 2013. Later on, Gerrard called this period “the worst three months of my life,” and he would sadly end up departing from Anfield a year later on bitter terms.

Brazil Semi-Final Horror Show

Many people remember this as one of the worst moments in the history of the Brazilian football team. The selection, without Neymar and Silva, was humiliated by Germany right in front of their own fans, with a burning 5-0 score in 29 minutes and eventually losing with an even worse 7-1 scoreline. This was one of the most embarrassing major tournament results in the history of football

Pirlo and His Tears

It was 2015 when the name Andrea Pirlo basically meant “as cool as possible.” Unfortunately, his fame did not last long, as his emotions took the best of him after Juventus lost the 2014/15 Champions League final to Barcelona. He started crying, as this was the only possible response to such a disappointing turn of events.

Leicester Sack Ranieri

In 2017, Leicester took the odd decision of sacking Claudio Ranieri only nine months after he masterminded one of the most spectacular title wins ever. He was loved and respected by fans of the Foxes, and his dismissal felt like an unprecedented and inexplicable event.

Totti Retires

It was also in 2017 when football legend Francesco Totti said goodbye to the field forever. Roma, both the city and team, cried and mourned his decision to retire after 25 years of success and victories. After his final game, a 3-2 win over Genoa, he read a letter of goodbye to his fans and moved on to fulfill other goals of life – pun unintended.

Messi Says Goodbye to Barca

Similarly, in 2021, Lionel Messi left his beloved team, as he wanted to stay in Catalunya but couldn’t due to the club’s financial plight. This is one of the most recent sad moments in the history of football, and it is only right to remember that Lionel Messi and Barcelona helped each other reach extraordinary heights of success over the years.

These were some dramatic moments in the history of football generally, but every real fan has their own personal favorites.

Guide to FM Abbreviations and Roles: Forward Edition

David Nugent

September 27, 2023

harry kane when playing for tottenham celebrating goal

Today, we complete our series on FM abbreviations and roles. Having worked our way up the pitch, our last focus is on the forward roles in the game and the abbreviations for the roles.

So, without further ado, here they are:

DLF (Deep Lying Forward can be used on support or attack duties)

The Deep-Lying forward’s main job in the team is to come deep and be a link man between the midfield and attack. He aims to drop into spaces and hold the ball up before laying it off to teammates, moving the ball back to midfield support, spreading it out wide to the flanks and also laying the ball off to a strike partner if given the time and space to do so.

On attack duty, the DLF will look to create chances for himself while also looking for others with a pass.

Example

It could be argued that the ultimate DFL in FM and world football is Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane. He fulfils the role perfectly. However, the likes of Tammy Abraham, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kai Havertz and Cody Gakpo all fit the bill to play the role.

AF (Advanced Forward can only be used on attack duty)

The AF’s main role in the team is to be the focal point of the attack and, as stated in his title, be the most advanced attacking player. He is not only expected to score goals but also to create them for teammates. He is also expected to press opposition teams for the ball while chasing misplaced passes or clearances from deep.

Example

The dream advanced forward is Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who really has the attributes to play most of the forward roles. However, arguably, the Advanced Forward role is how he is best utilised. Alternatives to Haaland in the position are the likes of Gonzalo Ramos and, later in the game, Endrick, Vitor Roque or Youssoufa Moukoko.

TF (Target Forward can be used on support or attack duties)

A Target Forward is a new name for an old-fashioned target man. They will be the sort of forward who uses their physicality to get the better of defences and, in turn, open up space for their strike partner or midfielders. They may use their strength and aerial presence to bring their teammates into play rather than their technical ability.

Example

A player I have used in this role in FM23 has been Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson, who epitomises all the attributes needed for a Target Forward. However, Gianluca Scamacca, Maximiliano Gomez and Jonas Wind are also alternatives to the Brighton forward.

P (Poacher can only be used on attack duty)

The Poacher’s role is to sit on the shoulder of the last defender, latch on to through balls and get on the end of crosses. They are unlikely to be as involved in build-up play as some of the other forward roles. Their primary aim is to get the ball into the back of the net, and he may very rarely leave the confines of the opposition penalty box.

Example

One of the players best suited to this role is Inter and Argentina star Lautaro Martinez. He is capable of playing a part in the build-up but is best suited to being in the penalty box, mainly due to his finishing ability. Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah has also been brilliant in this role in my past FM23 games.

CF (Complete Forward can be used on support and attack duty)

The Complete Forward is exactly what it says on the tin, they have the technical attributes of a Deep-Lying Forward, the goal-scoring ability of a Poacher and the strength of a Target Forward.

The Complete Forward can fashion chances on his own and create opportunities for his teammates. He is the sort of player who is allowed to do their own thing and transcends any tactical instructions.

Example

Two of the players already talked about, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, fit this role perfectly, but as previously mentioned, they have the ability to play any forward role. One player that I like using in this role is RB Leipzig Benjamin Sesko, as the Austrian star has excelled in the role for me.

PF (Pressing Forward is the only forward role in which you can use defend, support and attack duties)

The Pressing Forward’s main role in the team is to press the opposition defenders and apply pressure to win the ball back deep into their opponent’s half. The point at which they press is dependent on the team’s overall Line of Engagement in the tactical instructions.

On support duty, the Pressing Forward will take more risks when bringing their teammates into the game.

Example

Many players fit the bill when it comes to the role of Pressing Forward. However, the two forwards that instantly spring to mind for this role are Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is another player suited to the role.

T (Trequartista can only be used on attack duty)

The Trequartista can operate in an attacking midfielder role or a forward position within your team.

He operates in a similar fashion to an Advanced Playmaker, as he looks to drop into space between the defence and midfield of the opposition. However, they tend to do less defensive work and are allowed more freedom to wander when the team is out of possession of the ball. They can be a luxury player but may also be a key player in a team’s attacking play.

Example

Undoubtedly, the great Lionel Messi is the best player in FM23 and the world to play in this role. The veteran Argentinian has the perfect attributes to pull off the role perfectly. Alternatives for this role would be Neymar, Phil Foden and, later in the game, Swedish wonderkid Roony Bardghji.

F9 (False Nine can only be used on support duty)

The False Nine role has become popular in the modern game. The FM role description states, ‘The False Nine is, in some ways, similar to a more advanced attacking midfielder/playmaker role. Is an unconventional lone striker or centre forward who drops deep into midfield’

The purpose of the F9 dropping deep is to create space for their teammates, as the opposition defenders are unsure of whether to follow them or allow them space from where they can create opportunities for teammates.

Example

The F9 is more often an attacking midfielder than a forward. Two players that have flourished in the role in my personal saves have been German pair Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz. Barcelona’s new boy, Joao Felix, could also thrive in this role.

Which of the above forward roles do you prefer in your FM23 saves?

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