4-2-3-1 / 4-3-2-1 Possession and Counter - FM17 Tactics

This is my first time playing FM and I've only been playing for 2-3 weeks so I'm not the most experienced player so I might miss out information that other people may usually say in these tactic posts but I'll try my best to explain things.

I'm a type of person who believes that a tactic that could meet all the requirements of how to win a game which is basically good defense and good offense with good possession is a good tactic. Hence my tactic foundation I chose is 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 that has support in every part of the field and in both defense or offense.


The reason why I chose the roles:

Goalkeeper on Defend duty - Just a standard goalkeeper with standard goalkeeper responsibilities

Central Defender on Defend duty - Standard defenders with standard goalkeeper duties

Left Complete Wing Back on Support duty - Someone who will be more aggressive on the wings to provide more options while still do defensive duties. Moreno had a 14 crossing stat so I chose this role

Right Wing Back on Support duty - Someone who provides more aggressive defensive duty. Will do crosses but it's just to apply pressure. Clyne seem has good defending stats and good pace despite the below average crossing stat.

Regista on Support duty - Someone who basically stayed at the back who would provide extra defensive cover and provide creative passes.

Box to Box on Support duty - Someone who excel both in attack and defending

Advanced Playmaker Midfielder on Support duty - Someone who sits between the attack and midfield and would connect the attack to the front three

Left Advanced Playmaker on Attack duty - Someone who would apply pressure by dribbling and crossing / through balls for strikers and would also take some screamer shots outside the box

Right Winger on Attack duty - Someone who does more stuff with the ball compared to a playmaker

Complete forward on Attack duty - Someone who pass, shoots and can head the goal

In my first season, I managed to win the league with 1 point ahead of Manchester United who improved their squad with Vrsaljko, Casemiro, Bacca and Mascherano.




Liverpool ended up with Coutinho winning the Young player of the Year, Mignolet with the Golden glove award and myself with the Manager of the year.

Liverpool ended up with the most goal and ALMOST with the least conceded with one goal difference and also having the most average possession.

Only made 1 signing which was Jairo Riedewald.

Training and Opposition instructions and talks are done by Assistant Manger

Transfer and contract talks are done by Director of Football

One major problems are injuries that caused me to lose some games.

When you are down by 10 men, remove striker and replace the position that the person who got sent off. Wingers are capable of making magic to score goals and your midfielders usually move up and find an open space for the easy tap in or headers from the crosses or just banging in screamers from outside the box.

Low crosses are given as instruction as Liverpool's forwards aren't that dominant in the air or that good in the air. Feel free to change it if you're in Manchester United with like a Zlatan and such.

4-3-2-1 usually works better for me since Liverpool's defense isn't that good so the extra defensive midfielder helps a lot.

Do try this tactic out and let me know how I can improve. I'm very new to this game and just wanted to a share a tactic I made all by myself.