Capello and his Milan's 4-4-2

[jukilo]

Right, I'm trying to do a project based on that team. I like my teams to be strong defensively, pragmatic and ruthless. Like that team. However I'm having some problems finding some readings regarding their specifics dinamics. The most detailed stuff is about the CL final in 1994 and I want the normal lineup during the league (with one exception). And I want your help, from those who have seen it or have more knowledge/bibliography about that great team.

These are my observations:

1) It was a team based on discipline, teamwork and pragmatism even if it changed during the years because of the circumstances;

2) From what I've seen in the league matches that are on youtube they played what seems to be a standard mentality which was changed accordingly to what the game needed, be it counter/defensive or more aggressive. They seemed to play some direct football with good usage of the flanks and sometimes even direct to the forwards. So a more direct TI is needed I believe. Other TI's might be be more disciplined, pass into space and push higher up or drop deeper. Capello is also a manager who reads the game very well so some contextual TI's migth be needed like higher tempo, exploit the flanks and changing the dline.

3) A clear 4-4-2 was the shape used within a structured framework (FM terms);

4) Having so many variants in all those years, I'm basing my lineup on the basic one in 1993-1994. Here it is with the roles and duties (I know some roles might not be adequate but to get the balance right in FM, we need to change):

• Rossi - GK with defend duty. Nothing fancy here
  
• Tassotti or Panucci - WB with support duty. They seemed to give width and mainly give support on that wing making the occasional late run into the box and some good crossings. So this seems to fit them
  
• Costacurta and Baresi. Costacurta seemed to be a defend duty CB with nothing fancy to add. Baresi sometimes bring the ball from the back and initiate himself the attacks. Maybe a BPD
  
• Maldini - WB with attack duty. He often overlap the midfielder and get himself in danger positions
  
• Donadoni - WM with attack duty. He was the responsible to give width and provide great crosses. But he also worked his socks in the benefit of the team. So WM seems more accurate than Winger
  
• Desailly - CM with defend duty. His main task was stay back and provide security to the rest of his teammates. Simple CM role
  
• Albertini - DLP with Support duty. He was a tremendous football player with great passing ability and dictate the tempo. Here I consider to play a RPM to get the balance of the team right in FM
  
• Boban - WP. I don't know about the role of this guy. When he played on the middle he often did some incisive runs and dribbling but on the wing I'm clueless and need your help
  
• Savicevic - Although he didn't played very often he was simply to good to be left out of this project. So maybe a Trequartista or F9 to recreate is movement
  
• Van Basten - One of the most complete strikers, if not the most, that I've seen playing on this game. So maybe a CF with attack duty
  
• 
  

5) Of course this is hard to achieve in the first season. It's needed some years to have a proper recruitment project, adequate training and good man management. But I'm willing to try this;

6) I'm considering trying this on Milan, Dortmund or Arsenal. I don't know yet.

Please, don't be afraid to contribute to this. I want to hear all of your thoughts on this.

[coach vahid]

it's a very good thread...

i always thought capello means very rigid system. A solid tight defense so ok with your TI drop deeper ( The difference between him and Sacchi )

[jukilo]

Yeah I thought about it too but translating that to FM I fear that it becomes too negative specially with so few specialist roles. And afterall everyone on the team know their job and what it was needed from them. So a structured approach seems a good fit.

Yeah drop deeper for some games and specific contexts was utilized. But from the majority of games that I've seen the dline of standard mentality might be adequate and then changing accordingly to what games requer.