What Does It Do? - The Sweeper Keeper

By Luke - The Football Manager Addicts and Luke's Stories of An FM Addict

Welcome to the seventh blog of 'What Does It Do?'! My blog series was set up because I had been getting a growing number of requests to talk about how tactics work on Football Manager and insights into what I'm thinking when I'm making my wacky formations!

Today I'm going to talk about how to deploy a 'sweeper keeper'!

Football Manager's Definition!

 

'The Sweeper Keeper aims to perform two roles, those of a standard goal keeper and those of an outfield sweeper.

 

Alongside normal goalkeeping duties, he will sweep up balls in front of and wide of the penalty area and initiate counter-attacking moves with direct through balls to breaking players.'

 

My Defintion...

 

A Sweeper Keeper's role is to be a 'keeper and just a little extra! Your SK must be good on the ball, confident, quick (or strong) and be able to read the game.

 

He will have a slightly higher starting point than a usual keeper; it is this that enables him to charge out and break up attacks (much like a defender).

 

Real Life Example's!

 

Well when we're talking about Sweeper Keeper's the conversation starts and ends with Luke James! However, on a more serious note, your next best thing is Manuel Neuer!

 

 

Not only is Neuer a phenomenal shot stopper; he is a fully rounded footballer! He can read the game like a man 10 years his senior, he is very quick and most importantly good on the ball. The German number one is constantly outside his box passing and clearing the ball to help his side. He tends to also crop up with the occasional diving header...

 

In-Game Example's...

 

I find that there aren't many Sweeper Keepers on this years game unless you have one of the best young 'keepers. Courtois, Neuer and Ter-Stegen all perform the role brilliantly but apart from them I'd look at regens (a lot).

 

When To Use?

 

You can use a Sweeper Keeper in any formation or strategy. However they work the best when you have a slow defence: because players will look to play balls in behind!

 



JOB DONE!



That's all for now I'll be back next Monday at five!

Before I go. If you want to keep up to date with all things AYO, FM Lord Chris and me: go and like or subscirbe to our other ventures!
 

AYO - https://www.youtube.com/user/AYardOut

FM Lord Chris - http://fmchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/team-fa-england.html

Luke - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lukes-Stories-of-An-FM-Addict/1460077947553932

Our Joint Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheFMAddicts?ref=hl

What Does It Do? - The Anchor Man

By Luke - The Football Manager Addicts and Luke's Stories of An FM Addict

Welcome to the sixth blog of 'What Does It Do?'! My blog series was set up because I had been getting a growing number of requests to talk about how tactics work on Football Manager and insights into what I'm thinking when I'm making my wacky formations!

Today I'm going to run through what an 'Anchor Man' can give to your team!

Football Managers Definition...

 

'Sometimes referred to as the 'Water Carrier', the Anchor Man's main duty is to sit in the whole between defence and midfield, intercepting the ball, winning the ball and laying off simple passes to his more creative teammates.

 

Since his key job is to anchor the defence he doesn't venture far from his position either to close down the ball or help his more advanced teammates.'

 

My Definition...

 

An Anchor Man can be right footed and have two left feet as long as he has high mental attributes!

 

An AM's duty is to sit just in front of the back four: protecting them from counter attacks and offering an extra hand in defence. Playing with an anchor man will enable you to play with advanced full-backs because he will sit with your centre-halves until they get back!

 

Offensively an Anchor Man will give you less then nothing. When he gets the ball he'll play it as safe as possible, weather it be long to your striker or short to a wide player.

 

Some Real Life Stories!

 

Anchor Men have got out of fashion a little of late, deep lying playmakers are preferred. However Claude Makélélé championed the role during his career!

 

At Chelsea the Frenchmen was key to Jose Mourhinio's midfield by breaking up their oppositions attacks! The current PSG staff member also carried out his distinctive role at Real Madrid.

 

However today's Anchor Man of the moment is Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona. He often sits deep allowing the more creative players in his side to flourish!

 

Possible Formation's.

 

I'm a frequent user of the Anchor Man so I have three very different formations to share with you: here goes...

 

4-1-4-1 Counter

 

My 4-1-4-1 is strong defensively but still has bite going forward...



This formation works because it is balanced quite well balanced, because I have few players in the oppositions final third you should play more directly: and we do!

The ball is played quick up-field for the striker to do it alone or set it back to an onrushing teammate. You'll also play with width...

 

4-3-3Lions

 

This tactic took me to the top of the world with England! So it can't be to bad...

 

This tactic is a lot more attack orientated: which you'll like! Your players will look to keep the ball, knock it out wide and score from inside the box.

 

When attacking your anchor man sits back with the two centre backs (a bit like Sergio Busquets).

3-6-1 Controlling

 

This one's a bit different...

 

 

For this tactic to work you must have a high quality team: it's a MUST! Your defence needs to be protected by your two anchor men and they do just that! With this strategy you'll practically have 5 centre backs: and it works!

 

Your attacking players will, again, look to keep the ball...

 

JOB DONE!



That's all for now I'll be back next Monday at five!

Before I go. If you want to keep up to date with all things AYO, FM Lord Chris and me: go and like or subscirbe to our other ventures!

AYO - https://www.youtube.com/user/AYardOut

FM Lord Chris - http://fmchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/team-fa-england.html

Luke - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lukes-Stories-of-An-FM-Addict/1460077947553932

Our Joint Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheFMAddicts?ref=hl

What Does It Do? - The False Nine

By Luke - The Football Manager Addicts and Luke's Stories of An FM Addict

Welcome to the five blog of 'What Does It Do?'! My blog series was set up because I had been getting a growing number of requests to talk about how tactics work on Football Manager and insights into what I'm thinking when I'm making my wacky formations!

Today I'm going to tell you all about how best to deploy the player role 'false 9'.

Football Managers Definition.

 

'The False Nine, in some ways, similar to a more advanced attacking midfielder/playmaker role, is an unconventional lone striker or centre forward who drops deep into midfield. The purpose of this is that it creates a problem for the opposing central defenders who can either follow them - leaving space behind them for the onrushing midfielders, forwards or wingers to exploit - or leave him to have time and space to dribble or pick out a pass.'

 

My Definition.

 

The False Nine is a striker who is, pretty much, given a free role. The idea of a False Nine is to confuse the defenders: resulting in space to get in behind. However not all F9's are small, extremely talented footballers; they can also be your big bruising target men! If you deploy a more physical striker as a False Nine he will look to flick the ball on to his teammates, again exploiting gaps behind the defence.



Chalk and Cheese...

 

Andy Carrol or Lionel Messi? Sam Allardyce or Pep Guardiola? Tough choice, right? Well that's a decision you'll have to make if you want to use this intriguing role!

 

Here are two tactics I've made incorporating the False Nine...

 

Chalk

My first tactic for you guys is, well, chalky? It'll produce dull, mundane football but will grind you out results...

 

Who can beat a 4-3-3, eh?

This formation (although I've used it very little) works really well! The ethos of this tactic is very much 'smash and grab'!

 

Your players will boot it straight up field to your striker, who will flick it on and then your wingers (should) have a 2 v 1! Defensively your side will also compact and make it very difficult: you'll form a 5-2-3...

 

Cheese

Here's my second tactic...

 

Less Alardyce... More Pep!

This bad boy is more Barca then Stoke! The hole idea of the tactic is that you keep possession: with your False Nine roaming free!

 

Your False Nine and Shadow Striker will complement each other perfectly; one sitting and one pushing on! Your wide men are pretty standard, they will buzz up and down looking to either put the ball into the box or recycle the play!

 

Piece Of Cake!

 

That's all for now I'll be back next Monday at five!

Before I go. If you want to keep up to date with all things AYO, FM Lord Chris and me: go and like or subscirbe to our other ventures!

 

AYO - https://www.youtube.com/user/AYardOut

FM Lord Chris - http://fmchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/team-fa-england.html

Luke - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lukes-Stories-of-An-FM-Addict/1460077947553932

Our Joint Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheFMAddicts?ref=hl