Concord's Anti-Meta 4-2-3-1

A balanced, counter tactic that flips between 4-2-3-1dm am Wide in possession & 4-4-1-1 2cdm out of possession. Uses wide, direct play, with wingers cutting inside in possession, positional organization to stretch defenses, and a double pivot to "protect the V".

Why Anti meta?

The meta were familiar with is hard pressing, overloading, short passing into space, and attacking. Everything used here is the opposite of that. The tactic utilizes a lower line of defense & mid block, balanced trigger press, direct passing to feet, and a higher tempo. Its ideal for teams that want to press higher, attack wide, and defend responsibly.

Style of play

In possession

4-2-3-1 dm am wide, balanced mentality, more direct passing, higher tempo, play to feet, play through press, wider attacking width. The double pivot (DM &DM) offer stability and central control, AMC (AP) acts as a free-playmaker (make more forward runs, take more risks). AML positions wider & acts as a ball carrier, AMR positions according to default role settings to stretch defenses, both cut inside and attack the box in possession. The striker is allowed to roam, and carry the ball forwards. Looks to exploit the space behind the opposition back line with quick, vertical passes hit towards the wingers and FC.

Out of possession

4-4-1-1 2cdm, mid block, lower defensive line, step up behaviour, trap inside at high press, stop crosses. The defence steps up, compressing the space in front of it, while the wide midfielders fall back to mid block to trap the opposition inside and try to prevent crosses. Once CDM drops deep into the centrebacks, while the other steps out to press the ball, aiming to win the ball back quickly. Fullbacks drop back to provide lateral cover when defending, and to help stop crosses and sent the opponent central. A solid 4 man back line, screened by a cdm, with a compact block, and disciplined cross protection.

Key attributes

GK - positioning, reflexes, composure - must sweep.
DR/DL - acceleration, pace, stamina - must track back quickly.
CD - positioning, strength, heading - must protect the V, and play it forwards.
CDM (ddm) - stamina, tackling, positioning - must function as additional, intercepting CB.
CDM (pdm) - stamina, work rate, aggression - must win the ball and close passing lanes.
AMR - acceleration, dribbling, finishing - needs to exploit space behind defence and attack goal on the diagonal.
AMC - vision. passing, dribbling - needs to function as primary playmaker, offloading ball quickly and directly, sometimes from deep
AML - pace, crossing, dribbling - has to keep up with the speed of the teams transition, stretch defence, and attack goal on the diagonal.
FC - finishing, strength, heading - needs to score goals, hold up ball to allow attack to keep up with transition speed, and win arial duels.

Throughout the team have good:

technicals - passing, dribbling, crossing - to execute the tactics direct, wide, cut inside approach.
mentals - positioning/otb, composure, vision - to read the flow of the game, create chances, and stay disciplined.
physicals - strength, stamina, pace - to win duels and keep energy for 90 minutes.

Troubleshooting

set "creative freedom" to balanced
set "attacking width" to narrow

remove "step up".
set "defensive line" to lower.

avoid increasing trigger press or activating counter pressing unless you have fullbacks and cdms with 18+ fitness, stamina, and work rate. all three.

The Tests

Tested with:

• Arsenal (elite)
  
• Burnley (underdog)
  
• Afc Telford (lower league)
  

Arsenal

Predicted 3rd, finished champions 10pts clear with a GD 20 higher than anyone else. domestic double (we lost the FA Cup final). knocked out in the CL last 16 by Man City (grrr).
Arsenal have the elite players to really make this system shine. Gyoyeres topped 30 goals, outscoring Haaland and taking the top scorer award.

Burnley

Predicted 20th, finished 15th hitting that magic 40pts. All seasonal objectives passed. Knocked out of both cups by premiership opposition.
The negative goal difference shows that troubleshooting may have been needed defensively, owing to a really thin squad depth and unsuitable players, but Vydra still hit 17 goals, with Edwards not far behind on 14.
While this looks disappointing, it did what was needed for the worst team in the league - signings would have helped, as would troubleshooting the defence. Still a season Burnley can be very happy with.

AFC Telford

Predicted 24th, finished 7th with a +26 goal difference. Defeated in first playoff round. this squad had no right competing the way it did - its too weak, and severely lacks depth. Some players played the whole season out of position.
Disappointed not to have qualified for the FA cup proper, but the match against Maccledfield just didn't go our way. With signings, we could have lifted the title. Stensons 27 goals made him the leagues top scorer.
Not enough data was gathered for a goal analysis (give them a chance, they're semi pro, and on the breadline).











While the Burnley test certainly looks slightly disappointing, it hit all objectives and so only really appears that way compared to the other two. I feel these are good results for a tactic that's built to be off meta, as we know it from FM24.

It has high penetration because it utilizes attacking width, and inside runs in possession. It has high support from forward running. It has good solidarity because of zonal discipline behind a mid - block. it has high defensive cover because of the fullbacks ability to track back, and the dropping dm.







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