Roles and Combinations FM24 Guide by Magicomonta

Introduction

Hello to all boys and girls, I'm Magicomonta and I play this football manager game from times long gone, which also reminds me of the passing of my years. I started from Scudetto , passing through Championship Manager up to the contemporary Football Manager. In recent years I have dedicated myself to the special section of tactical emulations and tactical analysis , trying to bring the style of your favorite real coaches back into the game (where possible), also opening up a YouTube channel .

I have never written a general guide on the topic of tactics, but as I turn 40 I want to try to give you one. In this article I will try to explain the roles of Football Manager, also trying to recommend the best combinations between them in the various most used game styles. Because let's be clear, who on FM uses the Bus in front of the door or the bolt (used in some past editions of the game anyway), so we will talk about the Counterattack and Gegenpress , Tiki Taka and Control of Possession, starting from an important premise .

Premise

This guide is not created to tell you what works and what doesn't work in the game, but is just advice . Because in FM, as in real football, all the strangest and often discordant things can work and vice versa. For example, who would have said many years ago that the goalkeeper would be more important with his feet than with his hands? Who would have thought that someone would win a treble by having an attacker play as a full-back? And there are a thousand other examples that I leave to your memory.

Another premise to make on the tactical creation side is balance. It is always advisable to distribute combinations of support, defense and attack tasks across the entire field. For example in the flanks, in the case of the presence of two men it is advisable to have one in attack and one in support and on the other hand the opposite to have two alternatives for developing the game and not appear predictable and unbalanced. After these premises, we can begin
the analyses.

The Goalkeepers

As mentioned in the introduction, the goalkeeper has become important in a team almost at the level of a midfielder. Why the midfielder? Because already from its setup we can understand how our team will play. Hence another premise linked to each role we will examine. Before choosing a role, our playing style must be decided.

A Libero Goalkeeper , for example, is synonymous with high defense, high pressing and the desire to play with a style based on ball possession, therefore Tiki Taka and Control of Possession. Even in the Gegenpressing or counterattack, a Libero goalkeeper can be useful , perhaps set up with defense/support tasks so that he remains high when not in possession to interrupt the opponents' counterattacks and restart the maneuver quickly. Not recommended for teams with low defenses or the presence of a defender in coverage. In this case we recommend the classic goalkeeper.

The Central Defenders

There are many types of central defenders in Football Manager, some reserved only for the three-player scheme. An important innovation in this 2024 edition is the possibility of deploying the Libero who Advances also in a 4-man defence. We start with the examination from this.

- No-Nonsense Centre-Back: Preferable to use it in categories where the technique of our players is not excellent and, here also in high categories, where you want to leave the ball to the opponents by playing on the counterattack, for example counter-attack-bolt with a prudent mentality .

- Central Defender: Recommended for styles of ball possession and distribution to nearby teammates, therefore recommended for classic Tiki Taka and control of possession . The classic defender will not carry the ball in an offensive progression, let alone look for risky or long passes (unless different
team and personal constraints).

- Ball Playing Defender: The player set in this role will try to bring the ball as far forward as possible before playing it to a teammate, looking for risky direct passes with the intention of puncturing the first opponent's pressure. Here is the first dangerous point of this role, losing the ball in a critical position. Recommended in Gegenpress, Counterattack and Vertical Tiki Taka styles.

- Libero: Not to be confused with the old-fashioned libero! In FM he is a player who breaks away from the defensive line during possession to help the midfield. It can be set to support or attack, so depending on the task it will push more or less high into the field. Recommended in ball possession styles.

Roles	Possession	Transition
Central Defender	✔	✔
Ball Playing Defender	✔	✔
Libero	✔	✘
No-Nonsense Centre-Back	✘	✔

Assignments:

- Defense: Will remain in line based on the height indicated by the team settings.
- Marking: He will try to anticipate and pressure the opposing attacker in every area of the pitch, however risking allowing depth.
- Cover: It will come off to prevent the defender from escaping behind the defensive line. However, in a four-man defense there is the risk of granting too much space and freedom to the opposing attacker who would have time to think about the best solution.

Combinations:

Never two in coverage or marking, alternation is not recommended but not prohibited. The two defenses are highly recommended.

A separate discussion must be made for the Libero. If used in a four-man defence, he must be supported with an inverted full-back or a Methodist centre-half, who takes his place in the ball possession phase, avoiding defending with just one man. In a three-man defense, however, the problem does not exist because there are still two other teammates who remain to cover.

3-man Defense

In the three-man defense there is also the role of Defense Arm. This role is nothing more than the defensive third who proposes himself in the advanced phase of possession, often in the external areas of the pitch in support of the full-back. It can be set up with Defense, Support or Attack tasks. To put it briefly and directly, the more offensive the task, the more the arm will push into the advanced area of the field.

Combinations:

The Braccetto goes well with a classic defender or one who sets in coverage. It is not recommended with the Libero for a simple reason, one role blocks the other. Libero goes well with two defenders on defense.

Midfield

THE MATCH IS WON IN MIDFIELD!

With this premise we begin the paragraph dedicated to the most important area of the pitch, the midfield. This area will decide your defensive phase. Here you will decide the style, whether pressing or waiting. Remaining on the premise of advice and not an obligation, it is always better to have at least one player with defensive duties.

Returning to the matter that here you will decide your style, there are two roles that cannot coexist with two styles. One is the midfielder. This player will protect the area dedicated to the opponent's number 10, the man between the lines, the attacking midfield, so due to his role characteristics he will remain in position so if used in intense pressing tactics he will leave holes in your midfield.

The other is the meeter. If set up like this, this player will not protect the area but the man, chasing the opponents to put pressure. Therefore recommended for pressing and non-containment styles.

Combinations

For example, let's examine a style of restarts. In this case, runners and insertion roles are needed. For example, if we are talking about a midfield with two in midfield, a recommended combination could be a midfielder with a second midfielder or a defensive midfielder (halfback) and a second midfielder.

For three-man defense schemes, however, a defensive midfielder (halfback) is recommended in midfield and a classic insertion midfielder (support or attack), a midfielder or a CCQ in front. The combination of one defense, one support and one attack is recommended.

For ball possession styles , however, at least one leading role, playmakers, is advisable. The classic playmaker, for example, has freedom to receive the ball and move horizontally and vertically, playing risky and lethal balls for the opposing defense.

A very similar role, but starting from the attacking midfield, is the attacking midfielder. He too ranges across the entire front. but in the offensive zone.

If we wanted an attacking midfielder, but more centrally static then we have to use the Finisher or Advanced Director. The latter can be deployed both on the midfield line and in the attacking midfield and can help the defensive phase, unlike the first two.

Roles	Pressing	Waiting
Defensive Midfileder	✔	✔
Anchorman	✘	✔
Box to Box Midfielder	✔	✘
Segundo Volante	✔	✔
Ball Winning Midfielder	✔	✘

Diamond Midfield

In a diamond midfield, the size of the team and the choice of our roles to exploit it become important. First of all the choice of the single wing player, then the full-back. Here too we need to decide our style. For one possession, the fluidizing full-back is recommended, as he does both phases well and helps the
phrasing with the midfielders in the opponent's half of the field.

For a style of quick restarts and transitions, the full exterior is recommended. Classic full-backs and inverted wingers are not recommended. The first because he won't be able to do both phases well while the second because it would crowd an area of the pitch already full of our players, i.e. the centre. As regards the midfield roles, the Mezzala and the Carillero are advisable to provide width. There is a substantial difference between the two, the first moves in an offensive diagonal towards the outside of the pitch, the second in a horizontal/defensive diagonal.

Combinations

There is no preference for combinations in a diamond midfield as there are four men in the area. Obviously, as mentioned before, our adopted style of play must be taken into account. The only role that is not recommended is the attacking midfielder, because he would remain estranged from the game so a finisher or advanced playmaker is preferable.

Midfield and defense wingers

Even in these roles, as often, we must start from the style we want to give to our team and how we want to defend or attack. There are two possibilities to set the bands:
- Single player
- Double player

The single player is understood to be without a more advanced partner in front of him. This type of footballer must know how to attack and defend in the same way, have running and stamina. He can be positioned in the defensive line, midfield line or in the intermediate intermediate position.

Ironically, the higher you place him, the more inclined he will be to return to the defensive phase.

Roles	Single	Double
No-Nonsense Centre-Back	✘	✔
Full-Back	✘	✔
Wing-Back	✔	✔
Complete Wing-Back	✔	✔
Inverted Wing-Back	✘	✔
Winger	✔	✔
Winger 3/4	✘	✔
Inverted Winger	✘	✔
Inverted Winger 3/4	✘	✔
Defensive Winger DF	✔	✔
Defensive Winger SU	✘	✔
Wide Midfielder DF	✔	✘
Wide Midfielder SU	✔	✔
Wide Midfielder AT	✘	✔
Wide & Advanced Playmaker	✘	✔

In this table you will find the roles suitable for the two types.

By pair we mean when we have two players on the wing. Here unlike the single player, we have to decide how we want to attack. For example, it is advisable to combine the winger with a classic full-back or inverted winger , so as not to crowd the advanced external area and set one cross from the back and the other from far away.
Complete external and fluidizing not recommended.

Tightening roles such as the advanced playmaker (a player who will tend to huddle in the central area and come to take the ball from the defence), attacking midfielder (similar to the advanced playmaker but will tighten in the midfield area), inverted winger (a winger who will cut inside the pitch with the ball) and External Forward (an attacker who starts from the outside and will aim straight for the penalty area, more without the ball than with it) it is recommended to combine them with Fluidizing Fullback and Complete Fullback.

The difference between the two? The first is a full-back who, in addition to crossing, will help in phrasing while also looking for through passes from the wing and therefore more suitable for a possession style. The other, however, is more direct and will aim straight at the wing and the penalty area, therefore recommended for more direct styles. Another tip is to alternate and reverse tasks. For example attack with support and vice versa.

Attack

I'm going to be repetitive, but again, you need to decide on your style first.

Direct, quick and cross attacks

For a style of this type it is advisable to combine players of different body types. One tall and robust, the other quicker.

Combinations

The recommended roles to combine are Area Man/Centre Forward with the fulcrum of the game/Complete Striker. The choice of the last two depends on how you decide to attack. If the game involves crosses, a Fulcrum is advisable, otherwise a Complete Punta is better.

If your formation instead includes only one attacker, the best choice is the Complete Striker or the Area Man to be combined with wing men, External Attacker or Space Finder, while centrally with Attacking Midfielder, Support Attacker. If there is no man in the attacking midfield, these roles can be replaced by the classic midfielder with attacking duties.

Ball possession styles

In the case of a couple attack it is advisable to combine a creative man with a bomber jacket, often also positioned staggered. This pair is advisable for ball possession styles that try to undermine the opposing defense centrally with one-twos, give and go, one man meeting and one in depth and so on.

Combinations

The recommended combinations are:
- Two-man attack with Second Striker or Full Striker together with a Center Forward
- Single attacker with one of the above and behind him an attacking midfielder, advanced playmaker or finisher.

The False 9 and the attacking midfielder

A separate discussion must be made for the False 9. This role moves backwards without the ball, dragging opposing defenders away, freeing up space for teammates to run in. The attacking midfielder is similar but often does it with the ball. Similar movements are also made by the Complete Tip, which however also helps in the defensive phase.

Combinations

combinations with an F9 or Attacking Midfielder are Support Forward, External Forward and Space Finder.

How to choose our style

Before thinking about which module and roles to use, the style must be decided. Everyone has their favorite and we all know, but first of all we need to decide whether we want to start a career based on our favorite style or on making the best of the squad we have.

For example, if I love tiki taka and I necessarily want to play like that in my career I won't be able to start from the slums or from technically poor teams but I will have to immediately choose the team based on that style. However, if I want to try to get the best out of the squad that comes my way (for example in
careers starting while unemployed) I will initially have to evaluate some team factors.

And where do I find them? In these screens.

PREMISE

Deputy Team Plan/Reports

In this example I took the report of the assistant coach of the deputy (there would also be a day of speeches on the staff but this is not the article indicated) of Cagliari.

Here our assistant already shows us a nice general overview of our team strengths and weaknesses, which already gives us an imprint to base our style on.

Team/competition plan

In this screen, however, we begin to find the characteristics of our players. We can divide them into general ones by setting all the roles, or divide them role by role. As you can see there are different reports, from generic data such as physique and age, up to the individual technical-psycho-physical data in the other sections.

After examining this data you will be able to understand which tactical style and settings your squad will be able to best propose.

After choosing the style and formation you can move on to evaluate the various players from the Best XI screen.



This data will help you understand where to go to act on the market, for example in a role where you lack good players, or in choosing between one player or another.

Fundamental attributes

As for the attributes of the players important for that role, it already highlights Football Manager in the player's profile so there's no point in talking about it. There are two highlighted colors, green and blue. The first highlights the fundamental, useful but less important attributes.



The value of the greens , in general, can be recommended as follows:

- First division: from 15 onwards
- Second division: from 12 onwards
- Third division: from 11 onwards

Ps: an important attribute but not highlighted by the game is the psychological aspect in a young person. A young person with low values of commitment and determination will hardly reach his maximum potential. Another attribute not highlighted but important in a position is heading for full-backs. Another is eccentricity in goalkeeping. A high value in this attribute means the goalkeeper is more likely to take risks and make mistakes. This means a duck, but rather a risk for example on a risky exit or risky handling of the ball with the feet such as dribbling etc.

Hidden attributes

There are some hidden attributes that can only be discovered through some additional skins but equally important for the evaluation of a footballer.

Skills

Skills must also be examined. Skills are moves, abilities, that the footballer has in his possession and prefers to do. If a footballer has these skills, he will try them regardless of what you ask of him.



Examples:
- If a winger has the Skill “Cut inside with the ball” he will do it even if you tell him to stay wide and go to the back.
- If a defender has the Skill “Try long passes” even if you set up short passes and run fewer risks, he will try them.

Offline Reading

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