SuperClub Diaries (Vol.1) - Positional Play in Paris #FM24 — CoffeehouseFM

Bonjour mes amis,

I think it is fair to say that many of us are enjoying FM24, especially with the introduction of Positional Play. Positional Play in FM offers greater tactical fluidity to our sides through role rotations, I wrote more about what that means for tactics in general during the FM24 early access with CF Monterrey…

But there is still more to say on Positional Play, so I thought I would use my SuperClub Diaries series to demonstrate how I plan to use a few more of the roles that trigger certain movements in the FM24 Match Engine. I will therefore share my three PSG starting formations, discuss my reasoning for using certain roles together and share a few screenshots on how it looks in the ME as I play through the pre-season. On y vas…

Tactic 1 - 433

There is a fair bit of rotation going on here. But I quite like that I can defend in a back four with a DM as cover but still have so many bodies going forward in a front four - something that PSG are constantly looking to do in real-life. Once with the ball, the IWB-S will move alongside the BWM-S in possession, forming a nice double pivot at the base of the midfield. The IFB-D behind will tuck inside and it will be a back three with Marquinhos as the ball player.

The CM-A moving into AMC position will keep the Winger wide, as part of the rotation, but this suits Ousmane Dembélé’s profile due to him being so good in 1v1s against opposing full back and crossing. Another subtle tweak in FM24 is the Winger role given the option to cut inside. Again, this suits Dembélé’s skillset…so he will be the modern day Winger: pushed out wide, until he uses his good Off the Ball and Dribbling to move into more dangerous areas. At times, the PSG attack will be a front four…allowing the AP-S plenty of passing options.

Intended use: This is the primary tactic, certainly the one I start big-ish domestic games and home Champions League ties. I really like the front three roles of IF-CF-W, which I used many years ago with INTER to great effect (remember Facundo Collidio?), but I feel like a revisit is necessary as a lot has changed in the ME since then.

Attacks in: 3241 / 325

Defends in: 4141

Tactic 2 - 4231

The next rotation brings about a natural overload on the right hand side, with the attacking Wing Back linking up with a more central Ousmane Dembélé whose starting position would be more in the half-space area of the opposition’s half compared with Tactic 1. To accommodate this right sided attack, I am once again looking to tuck Hernandez into the back three using IFB-D on the left hand side. The 4231 also has a double pivot, and therefore more conservative…with a Deep Lying Playmaker holding position and with a defensively minded Ball Winning Midfielder to his right.

Intended use: The intended use of this tactic would be when I think the opposition will be a bit more aggressive against us…which could mean more space in behind for our Shadow Striker to advance into. Maybe something for the Champions League away nights? I’ve selected Pass Into Space and removed Work Ball Into Box, so that I can also make use of our explosive wide attackers in Kylian Mbappé & Ousmane Dembélé.

Attacks in: 334

Defends in: 4231

Tactic 3 - 3421

The third, and final, tactic is one that sees both Wing Backs advance high up the pitch; stretching the play by staying wide. This tactic makes use of Nuno Mendes, who will be returning from injury a few months into the save. What I like in the 3421 is that I will have two central triangles: a base with the Libero linking up with the Central Midfielder & Box to Box midfielder and another in the attack, with Attacking Midfielder and Shadow Striker behind a Complete Forward. The key role is the Box to Box, who will move into the space vacated by the Shadow Striker and link both triangles together. I will most likely look like a 3241, with five in attack at times.

Intended use: I would most likely use the 3421 in domestic games where I want to suffocate defensive teams. It has the same Team Instructions as the 433, but it is overloading central areas with the two AMCs. This is probably the tactic I switch to from the primary tactic, when I need goals OR look to rotate players and use the likes of Lee Kang-in, Mendes, Vitinha et al. It’s probably is not a tactic I use too much at the start of the save, because I want to use it when Nuno Mendes is back.

Attacks in: 235

Defends in: 5221 / 3421

Tactical Familiarity

Just a quick note to say that there is not a great deal of difference between the three tactics (more on this in a moment). Tactic 1 and 3 are identical in terms of instructions, with only the roles/starting positions themselves changing. Tactic 2, whilst different in areas, is not a drastic departure either from how I want PSG to go at teams and be positive. My advice would be to not have three tactics widely different from one another, as you may find players not adjusting when you’re switching systems about. This would adversely affect your overall cohesion, and you will likely see your players making lacklustre passes or not press as well collectively for example. We call this Tactical Familiarity in FM.

Tactical Styles

Do you use custom-made Tactical Styles? I am unsure if it’s a well used feature…but I find it rather handy when switching between tactics. Put simply, creating a custom style is like making your very own pre-set template; which you can load into any formation. For this save, I have two at PSG:

‘Style du PSG’ - the Mentality and Team Instructions that I see as our default signature style.
‘Plus contre-atttaque’ - Not too dissimilar (for reasons mentioned previously), but a dash more urgency in our build-up play.

There’s no limit to how many you can make, but just know that only one formation can have one tactical style at any one time. Have fun with it.

A common part of my SuperClub Diaries posts will be an update on the other eleven super clubs throughout Europe. I think this is a good way to stay on top of their state of affairs and could also provide context as to where I go next after PSG. The most important pre-season update from Paris however, is the €275m five-year extension to keep Kylian Mbappé in France. It’s crazy money, but it’s in keeping with the SuperClub Diaries save idea.

Elsewhere in SuperClub Diaries…

England

Chelsea’s £53 million signing, Christopher Nkunku, requires knee surgery and is out until at least December 2023. Liverpool finally refresh their midfielder with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and Leipzig respectively. Reigning English and Champions League winners Manchester City have had a relatively quiet transfer window with £100m being spent on Mateo Kovacic and Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol. A change in goalkeeping style is on the cards at Manchester United as they replace David De Gea with Champions League finalist Andre Onana.

Germany

Bayern Munich edge closer to completing a €100m deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane. The England forward is expected to sign a four-year contract making him the most expensive signing in Bundesliga history.

Italy

AC Milan sell Sandro Tonali to Newcastle for €64m and immediately reinvest that money on three players: Christian Pulisic from Chelsea, Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal and Tunus Musah from Valencia. Across the San Siro pitch, Inter Milan bring in Benjamin Pavard and Yann Sommer from Bayern Munich for just under €40m. Over in Turin, Leonardo Bonucci leaves Juventus stating “I have decided, after great suffering, to take the path of a lawsuit towards Juventus".

Spain

Whilst Diego Simeone looks to extend his 12 year stay in the Spanish Capital, Atlético Madrid also welcome back World Cup winner and former player Antoine Griezmann. João Cancelo continues to push for a move from Manchester City to Barcelona, whilst Ilkay Gündoğan has already made the switch on a Free Transfer. Real Madrid complete the marquee signing of Wonderkid Jude Bellingham for €103m.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief insight into how I am starting things tactically at PSG. I am unsure of the regularity of future diary posts…it will likely be whenever there is a sensible pause or moment in-game that merits a post.

Until then, thank you for reading/sharing and caring,

Tony / FM Grasshopper