FM13: Two Deep Lying Forwards on support, Can this work?

[DeathJester]

I see that a common tactic used is a deep lying forward on support to draw one centre back out creating space for one of the two inside forwards to get in behind the defence for a goalscoring opportunity. A typical setup seems to be one inside forward on attack, one inside forward or winger on.support with a deep lying forward on support to form a front three.

What im wondering is, if you have two deep lying forwards on support, will it draw both centre backs out for two inside forwards to then easily exploit?

[retrodude09]

I'd think that it depends on the rest of the formation tbh. It could work, although I'd guess that it'd work better with one of the strikers given an attack duty.

[BiggusD]

I do this in my tactic and it worked great in FM11 and 12. It still works well in FM13. They both drop deep to receive the ball and then links play with the other striker or one of the two wingers/inside forwards. Lots of good one-twos and through-balls. In addition, they wait a bit with the forward runs so that when there are crosses or wide play they are actually still moving when the cross or pass comes from the flanks.

Of course, I use classic tactics so I get them the way I want them. No Hold Up Ball, for instance, but still attacking mentality while RFD rarely. So a mix between Support and Attack I suppose. Maybe you could replicate the same thing by setting the strategy to Attack, passing to Shorter and then, setting him to Support will give him RFD rarely but a relatively attacking mentality? Then all you have to do is to untick Hold Up Ball

[aderow]

I've done similar in the past with 2 trequartistas

The whole idea is to create space in behind for who is making the runs. It should work as long as you have players making intelligent runs.

[anaezthesia]

I've done similar in the past with 2 trequartistas

The whole idea is to create space in behind for who is making the runs. It should work as long as you have players making intelligent runs.

nice one aderow, i am really intrigued with this; since 2 DLFs dropping back will surely create spaces, and IFs about to exploit them anyway, but what about the opposition's FBs? if they man-mark the IFs, then it would be a hard time for the IF to actually cut inside.

let's say that we got ourselves 4-2-4, with 2 IFs in AML & AMR slot, the result of opposition's CB drawn back by a DLF will compromise a danger to nearby IF being met with dead end because the lured CB will be much nearer to the zone where IF was supposed to cut inside and the opposition FB will most likely to chase after the IF; so cutting inside or charging ahead will be pretty much harder than ever. but if you did like aderow said (using trequartista instead of DLF), the CB will be drawn wide to the channels (since trequartista often moves wide looking for space), thus creating a comfortable zone for IFs to cut inside without finding himself with aforementioned dead-end.

but if youre going to actually use the two DLFs setup, i suggest that you have a flat four front (kind of unfamiliar to me though) with 2 IFs and 2 DLFs, so that the IFs will instantly cut inside to the space left behind the defence. but thats just my thought

[lam]

If you use two, it is unlikely that they will both drop deep at the same time. They will more likely support eachother and only one will drop back at a time.

[PeeKay]

I find the DLF(s) pass too often and sometimes prefers to pass instead of shooting (frustrating sometimes) but really goes well with other types of selfish roles, like IF's, Poachers, etc. Having two would be twice as frustrating!!!

[Cleon]

If you use two, it is unlikely that they will both drop deep at the same time. They will more likely support eachother and only one will drop back at a time.

Make sure they have good teamwork attribute though or you could find they both drop off at the same time.

I find the DLF(s) pass too often and sometimes prefers to pass instead of shooting (frustrating sometimes) but really goes well with other types of selfish roles, like IF's, Poachers, etc. Having two would be twice as frustrating!!!

Aye I find this too.

[Jad123]

Make sure they have good teamwork attribute though or you could find they both drop off at the same time.

Spot on for me. Would work well as long as they were two players who understood each other and were good mentally. Otherwise you would get some counter-productive movement.

[BiggusD]

This is what it looks like for me, even when playing away against good opposition employing a defensive midfielder. I think the clue is to employ defensive midfielders (on support) yourself so that there is even more space for them to drop in and the wingers to cut inside into.

[lam]

My main concern about the two roles is the mentalities. If you are keen to use the two I'd be tempted to use a DLF(S) and a DLF(A) but adjust the (A) instructions so that they mimic the (S). This way he will have a higher mentality but will just do things a little higher up the pitch and might take a few more risks. This should also give their defence something to think about.

I wouldn't increase the mentality of one of the (S) if you change strategy a lot as it willmess with that.

LAM