So I came up with this Thor's Hammer concept, partly because the team shape looks like the hammer, but mainly because I wanted a tactic that provided a solid defence that could withstand bigger sides and then flip in an instant to a heavy hitting attacking force, blind siding the opponent.


This tactic was my first and only tactic I created myself back on FM 18. I used it to take Wigan to the Premiership. It was doing so well for me that I uploaded it to Steam Workshop and from the feedback I had on there it proved to be an overall success for most that used it. Currently I am testing this with FC Halifax in the Vanarama National League.


This tactic is a high tempo, short passing, attacking 4-4-1-1 tactic. Your players will need to fit the roles reasonably well although they don't need to be perfect (I say that as my team loosely fit and seem to be coping fine). I recommend as a minimum that the back four defenders match the player roles as close as possible in order to maintain the defensive integrity aspect of this tactic.


When developing this tactic back on FM 18, the defence were very leaky, an issue that I fully addressed and so far that water tight defensive aspect seems to have carried over well.


I think it is possible to make some minor tweaks with regards to player roles, if you require to do so in order to match up with the players you have. For example I have changed the AMC role from trequartista to advanced forward (attack), this was purely because I had a decent AMC for my Non League team, but he really did not suit the trequartista role.


Please give it a go and let me know in the comments how it's going, hopefully you see the instant success that myself and others are having so far with this one. Please leave contstructive feedback guys.


Just for those new to FM, please ensure you copy this tactic file to the following folder (Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2020/tactics). Then in game, go to tactics page, use the drop down menu in the top left of the tactics page and select 'Load' and select the tactic file you downloaded.


*****UPDATE******

18/11/2019
So a little update or advice rather, I am noticing that my team are beginning to struggle a little in the scoring department against smaller teams. I believe that the reason behind this is that as my club rep increases with more and more wins under the belt, the more defensive these teams set up against me as a result (something I have read on the internet recently). To try and negate this, if come half time I am drawing, winning 1-0 or even losing (usually 1-0 as a result of a well executed counter), I switch the mentality from Attacking to Positive. In doing so my players are just showing a bit more patience when going forward, picking their passes and shots a little more wisely. I tried this in quite a few games so far and seems to really do the trick, often getting 2 to 3 goals in the second half, whilst my defence appears to remain solid. It doesn't always work but I have noticed a definite positive trend when making this half time tactical tweak.


17/11/2019
After some of you commented about the tactic file not been found in game, I have saved and uploaded the tactic again here, hopefully that does the trick. I'm not sure if tactics used in the BETA version of the game will be compatible when the full version releases. I will re-upload once full version goes live.

27/03/2020
After being away from FM for several months, I'm starting a fresh save with Derby County. I will flex the tactic and make sure it works well with any updates that have occurred since my last session. Once i'm happy I will re-upload the tactic file here so you can be sure to have the latest version. Watch this space.
Comments
ASHLEY199191
7 years ago
6 months ago
3
Premium
This tactic has solved my defensive problems!!!!
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
Ashley that's good to know. Which team are you trying this with? Has it helped you win more games?
JayHorton
13 years ago
1 month ago
4
Premium
Probably me but whenever I add to my tactics folder, it can't find it
VP.
13 years ago
1 week ago
25,271
Probably me but whenever I add to my tactics folder, it can't find it


Are you adding it to the folders in my documents (if on pc).
JayHorton
13 years ago
1 month ago
4
Premium
Yup Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2020\Tactics. Tried reloading the skins etc and re downloading but it doesn't recognise it. Even tried pointing FM to my downloads folder and it still can't find it
Naknak
4 years ago
2 months ago
2
VP.
13 years ago
1 week ago
25,271
Just tried myself and you're right it doesn't show in game for some reason, even tried renaming but nothing.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
That's annoying, I will try to get to the bottom of this for you guys. Just to confirm though, you are putting it in the following file path (Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2020/tactics)? I doubt it makes any difference but just in case it does, all my folder names here are all lowercase letters i.e. tactics, not Tactics etc. In the mean time I will try re-uploading it here.
VP.
13 years ago
1 week ago
25,271
That's annoying, I will try to get to the bottom of this for you guys. Just to confirm though, you are putting it in the following file path (Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2020/tactics)? I doubt it makes any difference but just in case it does, all my folder names here are all lowercase letters i.e. tactics, not Tactics etc. In the mean time I will try re-uploading it here.


Yes mate it just won't show.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/YQC3RjO1GTgUrIQ8w4Kg5GgPlRMB7orN7Y0IjJ6D.png https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/a3cbUHppyhIO4613G8Q7vmHGpiQuiXTDkS0mbpkG.png
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
For those having issues at the moment with loading this tactic, I have just made a fresh save of the file and uploaded it, please re download and try again. also ensure you have the latest version of FM 2020 (I believe it is version 20.1.0) as this may be a possible cause.
Naknak
4 years ago
2 months ago
2
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
Nice one Naknak hope it goes well for you. Please do leave feedback good or bad.
Joe125
11 years ago
10 hours ago
7
Joe125
11 years ago
10 hours ago
7
Mackanx
10 years ago
5 months ago
2
Yeah I cant see it mate, it sounds great though and im excited to try it once it works!
cmizer0608
4 years ago
2 years ago
1
Same as everyone else. Even after the your re-uploaded it's not showing in my tactics.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
Very sorry this is happening for you guys, very annoying. It's past my bed time now, so I will look into this further tomorrow after work and hopefully figure out why it's not working for you guys. All I can suggest for now is double check what version of the game you are running and if your a Mac user, not sure what the compatibility is like, I don't imagine that has anything to do with it though.

One last suggestion for tonight- go to preferences, clear cache, reload skin. Just something I've seen in a forum regarding this exact issue on older versions of the game. Might be worth a try.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
Ok so I got to the bottom of why the file wasn't showing up for anyone yesterday, while editing my main post, I uploaded the wrong file (4-4-1-1 Thor's Hammer.fmf or any file starting in 4-4-1-1 is a bad file). When you download the file now it should be called - Thors Hammer 2.0 (BETA).fmf. If you had issues with it loading in your game yesterday, please now re-download and fingers crossed it should show up for you this time. Thank you for your patience.
Mackanx
10 years ago
5 months ago
2
It works now! Excited to see the results once I try it. Thanks!
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
@ninjanevo this tactic is a little bit good so far...

https://scontent.flhr7-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/77337746_923599414691977_1461277547751800832_n.png?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=nLvGRM-Ey6cAQkG0naIsDt1ho9nahR87QBeo0KGSHEk1Z52wgssisNOoA&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr7-1.fna&oh=475932bbfdd36296cbd93370e24b6532&oe=5E512692
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Just thought I'd give the tactic a download and thus far with Salzburg it's going quite well, unbeaten in the league after six matches.

https://sortitoutsi.net/uploads/mirrored_images/1CVGCkGhnkY5E3JQIAMg3y1gqkUp7ZQuRb1hfO9U.jpg

The real tests though will come in the Champions League as we've been drawn with Manchester City, Napoli and Galatasary.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
@Dan @Shedender Thanks for the feedback it's greatly appreciated. Some cracking results there Dan, gave Barcelona a good seeing to Shedender as well, good to see plenty of clean sheets in there as was the desired trait with this one. Best of luck with that Champions League group lol. Please do let us all know how your progress with this tactic. I've almost finished my first season with FC Halifax (Town), I won the Conference National with 6 games to spare and booked a place in the FA Trophy final against Barnet. I will upload some screen shots when the season ends.
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
@ninjanevo the only things I've changed is the player roles on some players and I've moved from attacking down to positive. It's been a solid start and I hope it remains.

Oh, I lost 4-0 away to Manchester City.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
@Shedender Nice one, it's become a ritual for me to switch from attacking to positive at half time, works a treat. Unlucky with the City result but I hope it was to be expected lol. I prayed my non league side could take down Chelsea in the FA Cup, I did not unfortunately
Phương Store
4 years ago
2 months ago
1
Thank you! I will try it right now
thegoon65
4 years ago
1 month ago
2
Premium
I love any 442 or 4411 will look at this. My long term save is with Ipswich so hoping my players fit in nicely, any reason why you have 2 AP's?
I like the look of the back 4 set up, will keep you posted.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
@thegoon65 Hope it works for you with Ipswich, as for the 2 AP's, originally I had the AMC role set to trequartista. With my current save, my AMC's are no good for that role, so a switched to AP to better suite. The MC has always been set to AP, but I forgot about that lol, you mentioning it now has just made me realise this so thank you, I think the best option for me would be to change the MC to a different role. If you have any suggestions please feel free to share, I'm not that adept at creating tactics, I just seem to have had some serious beginners luck with this one.
thegoon65
4 years ago
1 month ago
2
Premium
@thegoon65 Hope it works for you with Ipswich, as for the 2 AP's, originally I had the AMC role set to trequartista. With my current save, my AMC's are no good for that role, so a switched to AP to better suite. The MC has always been set to AP, but I forgot about that lol, you mentioning it now has just made me realise this so thank you, I think the best option for me would be to change the MC to a different role. If you have any suggestions please feel free to share, I'm not that adept at creating tactics, I just seem to have had some serious beginners luck with this one.

No expert either but I switched the Midfield AP to a Box to Box Midfielder and works a treat at home. Away have set the midfield to bob to box midfielder and a Deep Laying Playmaker support again works fine.
ninjanevo
12 years ago
3 years ago
22
@thegoon65 Many thanks, I may give that a try myself.
TomDeBomb
13 years ago
4 months ago
1
I'm struggling with it in fairness, I really like the football being played, but I don't think I've won yet in 5 games using it. Although it could be my team, they aren't great. I'm currently NK Sesvete in Croatia, doing a rise of nation challenge, and I can't seem to break mid table so I thought I was would try this. I've drew 3 and lost 2, I've also had 2 red cards and quite a lot of yellows, I'm gonna take off get stuck and see how we get on, I actually prefer how we play on positive as well so in gonna try that too and change the AP in center mid into a BTB as suggested above and I'll let you know how I get on.

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