FM20 Tactic: BJT 41212 WOM feat. Regista Pirlo

BJT - 41212 - WOM - 20.4 / Featuring The Regista Pirlo

Hi all. This is my first tactic release on FM Scout for the final patch 20.4, and I hope you all enjoy this release.

I have created several systems throughout the course of the game, and I’m now at the point of having a tidy up of these so they work on the latest patch, in addition to adding some set plays that I’ve been working on recently.


My previous diamond was in a 4312 shape based more on a Porto style under Mourinho. However I’ve always had a softer spot for the more artistic / elegant style of Ancelotti’s team, which of course centre’s around the star man Andrea Pirlo.

And so I have decided to try and create a diamond which evolves around a Regista in the DMC slot.


WOM stands for Well Oiled Machine.

Tactic Features

• This tactic features the Regista role acting as the lone defensive midfielder in this narrow 41212 formation.


• Providing close support and stability in the midfield are the duo of Ambrosini and the ball-winner Gattuso. Their function to both feed Pirlo the ball, whilst providing security for the two wing-backs marauding down on each flank.


• In the AMC slot is the Trequartista in Kaka, but rather than selecting the more individualistic lazy role, I wanted this guy to fulfil all the Trequartista’s usual movements such as moving wide into the channels and running at the defence, but whilst working hard for the team in the process. I’ve never been a manager for having a player who doesn’t put a shift in.


• Up front is the deeper lying forward more in the Shevchenko mould, along with Crespo the advanced forward up the top of the pitch making the runs in behind the opposition backline.

What you’ll need - Tactic Requirements

• Star man has to be the regista in the team. Very good technically, with great vision, passing ability, composure, decision making, dribbling and anticipation all very important to provide both offensive and defensive measures. He’ll dictate the tempo of the game, and try to play an early killer ball which will be key PPMs here.


• Star man number two is a high quality playmaker that can run, has good movement, dribble, pass, create, everything you want of an advanced playmaker, with moving into channels an running with the ball often will be handy PPMs here.


• System uses a high back line and high line of engagement, so fairly quick defenders with anticipation will be needed. I use the typical Stopper Cover combination at the back, so try to fill these roles accordingly.


• A Carillero and Ball Winner fill the two central midfield slots. They’ll need to be the work-horses of the team, covering a lot of ground and have great stamina to provide protection for the Regista and Wing-backs.


• Wing Backs will of course need to have pace, acceleration, good stamina with dribbling and crossing ability providing the sole width of the team.


• And the two strikers up top. Both will move the channels and feed on from balls deep from the Regista or Wing-backs at times, so good pace and anticipation will be handy to utilise these, along with the usual Deep Lying Forward and Advanced Forward traits, where beating the offside for the AF-A will be a nice PPM addition too.

Preferred Opposition Instructions

• Show LB/WBL/ML/AML onto left foot
  
• Show RB/WBR/MR/AMR onto right foot
  
• Show SC onto weaker foot
  

This will promote a more compact method of defending and making the opponents offence more predictable going wide, especially if the Regista is caught out of position.

Additionally this also is in the hope more predictable crosses come into the box, with any crosses defended by our centre-backs then being sniffed up by the Regista (likely less capable of defending) to be in a strong position to launch a direct / quick counter attack using his passing and vision to find our roaming trequartista or quick strikers down the flanks in space to exploit.

Tactic Results

This tactic will most certainly be geared for a squad that is capable of playing this style of football and having two great DM/AM players to make this system work. So don’t try this tactic with any club at anything less than an elite level.

In my bog standard Liverpool test save which I use for testing a variety of systems, for such a weak system easily exploited in the modern game I think it fared quite well.

We racked up 100 points with no league defeats during the season. We also won the Carabao Cup and the Champions League.

I in part decided to modify the diamond to this, as I’m not sure many have been created starring the Regista nor in a 41212 diamond shape.
Although not a solid system, with the right players it will produce some excellent football on the pitch, with the Italian ugly side in the middle of the park too…so if you appreciate Ancelotti’s diamond and the Master Pirlo, you should hopefully enjoy watching this system at work.