Gunners Gunning

In my current save I have used this tactic for the last two seasons with two different clubs. It has been tinkered with and changed throughout those two seasons and this is the end result in what I feel is the ultimate variation.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00004.jpg http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00005.jpg

The idea is to get possession and then keep it, but rather than the tiki taka nonsense it aims to keep the goal of, well, the goal in mind. My board complain that the play isn't exciting but I have to disagree, by the fact I broke the team goals record for the EPL last season.

The instructions and mentality have remained unchanged throughout, though the formation has changed slightly from having three AMs to having one and two wingers, having a DLP in CM to having a RGA in DM. That being said, it's worked in every variation, the changes have mostly been to account for players abilities, though I found I conceded more with a CM and DM rather than two DMs. The Poacher can be altered to fit whatever role your best striker fits but I would recommend Poacher, advanced forward, complete forward and other goalscorers if you keep the roles the same across the AM positions. A False nine or DLF works well when the three AM roles bring the players into the box more often.

Note, I've kept Low crosses as an instructions as I've always favoured small and fast goal machines who can't really get off the ground.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00006.jpg

I use very limited player instructions, the only one being this to the play maker to ensure he does his part on defense and that the passes cover the distance between the DMs and AMs. I find it's best to let the players do as they please within the system.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00011.jpg

I started using the tactic with Brighton and led them to an 8th place finish, after taking charge of them sitting bottom of the table at the end of November.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00010.jpg

As you can see, starting after I took over obviously, that Brighton saw good form under my command but the tactic didn't show its true brilliance until its second season of use, when I took over at Arsenal.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00007.jpg http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00008.jpg http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/AnthonyCooke91/2015-01-09_00009.jpg

Undefeated in all contests for 83 games with Arsenal, and ended up with a clean sweep of competitions in the second season.

I moved on from Arsenal and went on to, using this tactic, take Slovakia to the Quarter Finals of the euros where England knocked me out. I won the Euro Nations with Norway, the Egyptian Premier and Egyptian Cup with Zamalek (they weren't in their continental championship when I was there.) and most impressively of all, in my opinion, the world cup with Ghana*. I'm now at PSG in January of my first season leading Ligue 1 and into the first knock out round of the Champions League after going through my group with straight wins. Obviously roles have changed to fit the needs of each team but the instructions, etc, have remained unchanged and the success it's brought me speaks for itself.


Let me know how you guys fair with the tactic.

*note, with Ghana, lacking any players of notably acceleration and pace in attack, pass into space was removed from the instructions, along with the low crosses.