Concord's 5-4-1 (WB Wide) to 5-2-3-0 Counter Breakaway

Utilizing a deep defensive line and high LoE it takes a counter-attacking approach that aims create scoring opportunities by allowing the opponent to press, winning the ball with an argessive defence, and capitalising opportunities through sustained pressure on exposed spaces with a high LoE that presses minimally. It uses a narrow, direct approach at a standard tempo, and prioritizes defensive solidity out of possession.A false 9 (FC/AMC) and two attacking midfielders (CM/CDM), create a strong attacking presence, that operates box to box. the team will drop back to a more defensive shape (5230), with the wingbacks becoming fullbacks holding a flat 5 line, and the midfielders becoming defensive midfielders: prioritizing defensive solidity and allowing for a reactive break forwards.

Why Break?
The difference between Breaking forward and Counter attacking is the unplanned, opportunistic nature of breaking, Vs the methodical, calculated nature of Counter attacking. Most teams, in the modern game utilise some form of pressing - whether thats through the use of an intense trigger press, or through a counter press. BVasically, whether you like it or not, youre going to be pressed by the opposition. This necessitates the opposition breaking shapoe, which will leave space to be exploited, and its more devestating to do that opportunistically than it is to be methodical. Hit hard, Hit often.

Style of play
In possession
5-4-1 (WB Wide) more direct, standard tempo, narrow width, counter attack.This tactic is built around a direct, long-ball style of play, aiming to play through the opposition's press and create scoring opportunities through killer balls and service over the top. The team will look to play into space created by the opponents press, using the movement of the wide forwards and the link up play of a falñse 9 to overload the box before the opponent can recover thier defensive shape.

Out of possession
5-2-3-0 (flat 5) much lower defensive line, step up, high LoE, more often press, counter press.When defending, the team will sit back and absorb pressure, with the midfielders and fullbacks providing defensive cover. The team will begin a moderate press high up the pitch, with a focus on allowing the defense to reorganise rather than winning the ball. The defense will allow be agressive in the tackle, and will look to spring the team forwards down the flanks to exploit the space the opponent must give up to attack - solidarity and measure. It will attempt a counter press if it loses posession, but mainly for the purposes of allowing time to shift between shapes. Let your oppont do the work and expose themselves.

Game management:
around the 70th minute, increase the press to "much more often", and turn on "get stuck in" - by this point he opposition will be tired, and this will help to take advantage of that, as well as bullying thier tired legs harder for those spaces to exploit. Upping the intensity will be too much for them to cope with after pressing you all game.

Key attributes

GK: Aerial Reach, Handling, and Distribution (short and long) - Distribute the ball quickly and accurately, and provide cover for the defence.
WBR/DR: Pace, Crossing, and Defensive Positioning - Provide width and support the attack, while tracking back to provide defensive cover.
CD: Strength, Heading, and Defensive Positioning - Win aerial battles and provide defensive solidity.
CM/CDM: Vision, Passing Range, and Work Rate - Control the tempo of the game, create scoring opportunities, and provide defensive cover.
AMR/AML: Pace, Dribbling, and Finishing - Create scoring opportunities, cutting inside, pouncing on rebounds
FC/AMC: Vision, Passing Range, and Movement - Create scoring opportunities, link the flanks and deeper areas together, and hold up the ball.

Throughout the team have good:

• Work Rate: Players need to be willing to work hard and press the opposition.
  
• Technique/Vision: Players need to be able to play accurate passes over medium to long distances.
  
• Decisions: Players need to be able to make good decisions quickly, both in and out of possession.
  

*Overall, you will have deep aggressive defending, and penetrative, opportunistic attacks*

Troubleshooting

• If you're not scoring enough: Look to increase the tempo and directness of your attacks, and consider adding more creative freedom to the players.
  
• If you're conceding: Look to drop the LoE and turn counter pressing off to prioritize defensive solidity.
  

Opposition Instructions:
not needed, but:

• Show to weaker foot: Can be useful on opposition fullbacks
  
• Mark tighter: Can be useful centrally, as it can prevent the opposition's key players from getting into good positions.
  
• Tackle harder: Not necessary, as the tactic is already set up to be aggressive in defence.
  
• press: avoid
  

The Tests

Tested with:
Inter (elite)
Pisa (underdog)
Triestina (lower league)

*No signings made for testing, no troubleshooting applied to tactic.*

Inter
Predicted 1st, finished Champions, winning the domestic cup, and super cup. Eliminated in CL quarters by LFC. Impressive goal difference and a points haul of 95pts, which isnt shabby. Only lost one game all season (3-2 away at Roma). Lautaro Martinez scored 43 goalls in 55 games, and both flanks weighed in, with Thuram scoring 22 from the left, and Henrique grabbing 29 assists from the right. Special mention to Calhanoglu who grabbed 22 goals and 10 assists in the attacking midfielder role at CM, arriving from deep. The tactic is suitable for both elite and top teams, as demonstrated by the results and screenshots here.







Pisa
Predicted 20th, finished 7th. Almost qualified for Europe - but a final day loss (4-0, so academic really) to Roma robbed us of the Conference league spot. We made the QF of the domestic cup, losing 2-1 to Atalanta. Still, we have more wins than losees, and an impressive goal difference for a team predicted to finish bottom. Moreo managed 18 goals, with the stengs on the flank, and Marin in the MC position notiching up 11 each. Assists were way more spread around the team, with 3 players hitting 9 assists, and Moreo managing 14 assists up front. While he lacks the quality of Latauro Martinez to put chances away, the wide men were capable enough to convert the chances he spilled. The tactic worked really well here, desite not posting as impressive numbers as it did with inter, allowing Pisa to absolutely anhialate thier predicted finish. The tactic maybe is most suitable for sub top opr underdog sides for this reason, simply because they benefit most from the opportunistic nature of the tactic, and the fact it doesnt rely on technical prowress.







Triestina
Predicted to finish bottom of serie C, finished 8th - in the promotion playoffs.this could have been 6th, but we suffered two defeats in the final two games to Catania. We also made the QF of the Serie C cup, but got rinsed by Inters u23 team - which included one or two big names on the recovery path from injury. This may have been a different story had i employed game management and troubleshooting: but i didnt. The big surprise form this test for me was the amount of goals we conceeded which was the 4th least in the league (until those final two games, it was the least). We also scored the 5th most in the league. Much like Pisa, we blew out pre season predictions out of the water. Vertainen was the main danger here, scoring 24 goals up front - with pedicillo adding another 17 form out wide. 3 players topped 11 assists - though it must be noted that the MC spot was less productive than in the other two tests. Of all teams, Triestina were the ones that might have benefitted the most from signings - thier squad was the smallest and least balanced, and we struggled to even rotate at times once injuries began to bite. Still, its proof that even for a relegation favorite, this tactic can provide wonderful results.






in all im very happy with how all three tests went, and feel that it probably could have been better in each case had i signed players with the attributes the tactic leans on, employed my game management techniques, and troubleshooted the tactic in the moments it needed it - for the sake of a fair test, that showed the tactic warts and all, i didnt do these things. As far as non engine optimized tactics go, this should be up there with the strongest of them.





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