4-2-3-1 UA by Jake13 [Presentation]

i. Prologue

The habit that became an obsession. The sequel that turned into a trilogy. For once more I proudly introduce you, my view of 4-2-3-1. Things haven't changed a lot for this tactic since its last release. Generally happy with the tactic overall, didn't had many problems except the bad finishing of my strikers, but that's not something for the tactic to blame. Our goal is an attacking and dominant football. Only used with Panathinaikos so far. In most matches for European Competitions a changed the tactic a bit, but this will be analysed later.

ii. Positions



A classical, attacking 4-2-3-1. MCL is the main playmaker, the man that 9/10 attacks the ball will come over him. Needs help from MCR and AMC tho.

A small descriptions for players' duties.

GK: Goalkeeper/Defend [No comment]
DR/DL: Full Back/Support [Our defensive backs have first responsibility to defend. So therefore it's important to look first at their Marking,Tackling,Passing and secondly their Crossing.]
DC: Central Defender/Defend [We have our defence playing really high up, so we need fast defenders.]
MCR: Ball Winning Midfielder/Defend [Many times he will have to run for two in the midfield. We need also good passing cause he will assist as much as he can MCL. Crisetig was amazing last year in this role.]
MCL: Advanced Playmaker/Attack [Our team's mind. Creativity, crossing, flair, dribbling some of the important attributes. Optional here is long shots.]
ΑΜR: Inside forward/Support [Quick player with good crossing, and a good finishing may be useful.]
AML: Winger/Support [Also a quick player with good crossing, cause his first option will be to pass.]
AMC: Attacking Midfielder/Support [The practically second playmaker. Passing, flair, dribbling some of the important attributes.]
SC: Poacher/Attack [Everyone is playing for him. Quick player with good dribbling and finishing. Last year was Yaya Sanogo, Niang and Fierro. This year?]

iii. Instructions



Attacking philoshopy for a team looking to score in every opportunity. I also use long shots a lot, but you can reduce them. Useful shouts are: push higher up, get ball forward, work ball into box.

iv. Results

Superleague's final standing the two seasons I had the team. (On first season I took over at 16th fixture)



First season results


Second season results


Against MU (Away) I used 4-1-2-2-1 with counter and rigid philosophy.
Against MU (Home) and Ajax, Zenith I used 4-2-3-1 but with counter and balanced philosophy. The base was this tactic.
Versus Lyon (Home) I used 4-2-3-1 with control and balanced philosophy. Away I used 4-2-1-2-1 (2DM->ρόλοι DLP/S-Anchor Man/D), counter and balanced philosophy. Base was once again this tactic.
Against A. Villa (Away) I used 4-3-2-1 (3ΜC-AP/A-BBM/S-BWM/D) with control and balanced philosophy.
In those matches I used to assign DR/DL as FB/Defend, and also experimenting with SC as Defensive Forward/Attack, and AML as Inside Forward/Attack with AMR as Winger Support.
In any match that wasn't mentioned I used 4-2-3-1 UA.

Third season results


v. Installation
After downloading the tactic you put it here:

C:\User\My Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2013\tactics

vi. Ending

Don't forget that every team is different and has different needs. You may need to change the tactic depending on your players and team needs.

Download via Susie
Download mirror 1
Download mirror 2

Updated first post with 3rd season's results.

Also take a look of how I have set my attacking corners.

Gave me some goals, especially from left side.

I played almost a half season with the tactic, and it worked as hell. Look at my results here:
But suddenly it stopped working. Hva no idea why. Suddenly i lost to two teams in the relegationspot. I have almost 60% possession and almost 20chances to score pr. match.

Sometimes you might lose just out of pure opponent's luck and then morale drops, and bad results keep coming.

I just had one of my best matches in FM2013 against Twente (with Panathinaikos), woodwork, clear chances, many shots (29 overall) and won just by 1-0. And now in HT I am losing in Greek Superleague, home, by a midtable team.

Dunno where logic is heading to.

Another one rediculous protestantic tactic from sixties .Instead of making your team tighter and compact you give to the opponent all the right to smash you and to score you easy and cheap goals .Next time show us how you apply 5-0-5 .

I signed on with Barrow in the middle of the season. They were in 14th place in BSB North, and I noticed the squad had a good number of AMCs. So I came here looking for some quality 4-2-3-1 formations after doing mediocre with what I had, and came across yours. Suffice it to say, we finished 4th and won promotion in the playoffs, all thanks to your tactics!