Cognacg

There are threads about how to play like Arsenal in FM but I was hoping for tips on how to play like a Gary Megson team! Why would anyone in their right mind want to do this??? Because it might be unattractive football (VERY unattractive!) but it’s effective. It will get you results, in the lower leagues at least (as a Baggie I'll never forget what the great if grumpy man did for us!).

It might help people struggling with the game too – I for one found it really hard to defend in FM07. I could get results with a decent team playing attacking football, but even playing counter attacking stuff, if I was a team tipped to struggle I’d do just that. Big time. This forum was a lot of help (thanks!) but even so it was hard going (and unlike those who blame the game, I absolutely blame my own tactical rubbishness!).

Megson teams play very much in your face high tempo, high closing down, low risk footy. As Leicester fans have already found out, it can take a bunch of average players (no offence!) and make them solid. But in FM I’ve found it difficult to match high closing down with a solid defence as players tend to get dragged out of position a bit too much. I was unable to be really successful playing defensively and was wondering what the best balance was? Already in FM 08 you seem to have quite a bit of joy with tight marking so maybe that might be the way to go?

So how would technical gurus, playing 4-4-2, play it like Meggo? [he used to favour 3-5-2 on occasion with the Baggies but as I struggle with 4-4-2 I don’t want to get too ambitious!] I know at the moment there are issues with closing down in FM08 so it might not be the best time for testing a system that relies so much on closing down the opposition. But even so, any suggestions would be very welcome, cheers!