Combinations and opportunities for an asymetric 4-1-4-1/4-2-3-1 (Heerenven)

[klaasjan]

I have successfully exploited the AI to underestimate a team by their media prediction and got to a very unexpected pos.2 at the half of the season, a point when the clever AIs are already changing their approach and are suddenly playing more cautious against and obviously this might be the early stages of a disaster as the matches vs big 3 are coming.

The initial setup was basically an aggressive 4141/4231 geggenpress which forces to opponents to make mistakes and hits them on counter after regaining the ball high up but obviously needs changes. The basic idea for this is that the tactic on the screen is also the defensive positioning so I have tried combining the generally more stable defense of 4141 with 4231's more offensive options while also creating some spaces for a virtual trident with the ST+AM+IF.

In midfield I had initially a BWM on the right side of the DLP to offer him some protection and let him use his vision and passing range for through balls to the AM/ST/IF but changed later to Mez after the AZ and Ajax succesfully expIoited the space on the right and gave nightmares to a RB who also is extremely unreliable in big games (signed Janmaat on a free ASAP but he is ageing and losing speed and fitness).

As the club's philosophy is to play attractive football but also has a history of nurturing talents like van Nistelrooij, Juntelaar and Dahl Tomasson, the intention is to not buy any strikers aged over 21. Their current strikers lack speed but are generally strong enough to be used as a route 1 destination - a plan B option I think I should implement in the initial tactic as most of the assists are coming from though balls and I would like to diversify that. They also have some strong and fast wingers but who are lacking the stamina / workrate for this high intensity, a weakness  I think I could manage with rotation as I'm a big fan of it.

So, what can be done to diversify the scoring chances while also keeping the pressure out of the back 4 who are generally not very quick but able to pass some long balls?

Edited December 3, 2020 by klaasjan
added a screen with the offensive positions and tried to resize the pics

[frukox]

Can you also share the photos of your back line?

[klaasjan]

The LB's speed and crossing ability is going to be fixed in the summer as I'm signing on a free that guy from Marseille and another one from Barca. I forgot to pay them a fee to have him now so I have to stick with what I have and hopefully hold a top 4 until summer with these guys when I will most likely sell Floranus and replace him with someone better while also loaning a better CB.
 

[frukox]

After seeing the back line, playing a high block could be risky so I think you are better off playing with a medium block even when the opposition sit deep. They might expose your vulnerable back line with balls over the top. I would definitely aim to stop the opposition in the middle third with an aggressive press. Then, I would try to probe attacking opoortunities using the width of the pitch or blitzing through opposition defence after we force them to fail in their transitions. I would play a 4-4-1-1 with this team. You have good speed on the flanks and physical strikers. I can see two creative midfielders so using them as a double pivot and letting wing-backs bomb forward looks good for your tactic. My proposed changes are:

1)DLP(S) in DM strata---> CM(D) in CM strata. 

   MEZ(S)--->DLP(S)

   Now you have a proper double pivot. The rest looks good for a wing-based tactic.

2) Positive--->Balanced ( 4 attack duties will see your play rushed too often.)

3) Consider removing:

    - Pass Into Space ( Where is the space when opposition is completely in their defensive third?)

    - Low Crosses ( You only have one player who can take advantage of cut-backs)

    - Work ball into Box (Three players trying to push behind the defensive line- Who's going to join the build-up other than your double pivot?)

    - Overlap Left (risky when they have a nimble and agile winger/forward and you have a natural overlap there)

    - Throw it Long (risk of losing possession)

    - Counter ( We already aim for a fast wing-based attacking play and sometimes we won't have the chance to counter)

    - Counter-press(too risky against good sides- remove it when your possession percentage is lower than 60)

    - Much Higher LOE(Let them come out a bit from their defensive third for a fast attack)    

    - Higher DL( when you often see balls over the top or against fast and agile attackers)

   - More Urgent(we are going to set-up a midfield trap)

   - Prevent Short GK Distribution( we aim for a medium block)

   - Get Stuck In ( you don't have many good tacklers - it would cost us dangerous free-kicks/yellow and red cards)

  - Tighter Marking ( is personally a no-no for me with regard to a good medium block)

  - Use Offside Trap( when you drop your DL to standard or below you can remove this)

4) Consider adding:

  - Hit Early Crosses ( we have good crossers and aim for fast attack to score a goal before the opposition defence settle)

   Player Instructions (for the split-block and midfield trap)

  -AMA, IFA and PFA (close down more) --->split block

  -WBS/WBA (close down more)---> midfield trap 

   Opposition Instructions

   All WB and FB support or attacking duties----> Always Close Down

    

 

 

[klaasjan]

I have tested it without any training vs Feyenoord away when of course all the RBs were unavailable and forced to play that LB there, who of course got booked, I needed to replace him aaaand suprise the makeshift CB I put there won them a penalty in '79 at their first run in the penalty area. The result is very good considering I have played away against someone with media prediction 3 so I'm going to use it whenever facing the big guys.

Also a good thing is their wide players really struggled

The bads seem to be the low scoring opportunities as our goal came from a cross via a throw-in and excluding IF's 2-3 chances, these were almost all, resulting the 0.78 xG. Changed to positive and upped a bit the LoE but that was too late as the AM was also mediocre.

I'm going to spice things a bit in the next game as I'm playing home against a worst team by going positive and hit them on counter whenever possible:
 

[klaasjan]

Those pressing instructions on their wide players are simply sublime as we are quickly firing from recovering the ball ON THE WINGS. I have also listened to my 18 tactical knowledge assman's advice, who wanted them to be more expressive, and THIS happened in a semifinal (the Gk had a brainfart and I had to sub him ASAP):

 

after the red card I have switched to a counter attack tactic I've seen suggested elsewhere which simply humiliated them:

 

So, thank you very much as I'm very likely to get at least an Europa League place! (time to get drunk)

 

[frukox]

1 hour ago, klaasjan said:

Those pressing instructions on their wide players are simply sublime as we are quickly firing from recovering the ball ON THE WINGS. I have also listened to my 18 tactical knowledge assman's advice, who wanted them to be more expressive, and THIS happened in a semifinal (the Gk had a brainfart and I had to sub him ASAP):

 

after the red card I have switched to a counter attack tactic I've seen suggested elsewhere which simply humiliated them:

 

So, thank you very much as I'm very likely to get at least an Europa League place! (time to get drunk)

 

You're welcome. Any time, mate:)