retired_hope

What does Overloading mean?
Overloading is a footballing tactic used by an attacking team to break down a stubborn defensive formation. Defensive formations usually involve playing narrower and deeper; this denies your team of the opportunity to play through balls to your strikers or allowing them space to create chances for your team.

Overloading increases the pressure on you opponents’ flanks by overloading their defence with more and more players. This forces opposition wingers to track back or risk their fullback being doubled up on. Also your strikers will be looking to move to the flanks hopefully dragging their markers with them to create space for the on-rushing midfield to shoot at goal.

When should you attempt to Overload the opponents defence?
You should attempt to overload a defence in the later stages of the game, if you are behind or you are in a stalemate against a solid defensive set-up.

When should you avoid using Overloading?
Overloading puts the opposition under pressure, but also leaves your team vulnerable to the counter attack though the middle. Only use overloading as a last resort to save a game. If you are behind then it can be considered as you have nothing to lose.

If you consider yourself the better team then you have a whole 90 minutes to prove it without resorting to overloading.

How do you stop a team who are trying to overload your defence?
See my other articles on counter-attacking and desperate defending.

What players do I need to be effective at Overloading?
You will need fullbacks with stamina to bomb forward. A defensive line with good positioning and concentration to maintain the high line and spring the offside trap. Wingers who can run with the ball and beat defenders. Forwards with good off the ball skills to drag markers out of position and finally mid fielders with good passing and shooting skills.

How do I implement this in FM2007?
Remember, this is just a demonstration tactic of overloading, it will work as is but would benefit if you applied your players and style of play to it.

Team Settings
Mentality = 20 (AllOutAttack)
Freedom = 12 (Normal)
Passing = 4 (Short)
Tempo = 16 (Quick)
Width = 18 (Wide)
Line = 16 (Push Up)
Pressing = 16 (Normal)
Time wasting 1 (Rarely)
Tackling = Hard/Normal
Focus = Down the Flanks
Supply = Mixed
Marking = Zonal
Trap = Possibly
Target Man = No
Playmaker = Possibly
Counter Attacking = No

Individual Settings

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Tactical Notes

This variant is an aggressive overload. It is useful when you need a goal and there is nothing to lose. A more measured overload is more suitable when you are trying to break down a stubborn defence at 0-0. As time ticks away turn up the heat by applying more and more pressure in width and aggression.

The more aggressive the overload the more susceptible to the counter attack you become. Be especially weary if the opposition contain fast strikers. You may have to drop your line easing the pressure on the opposition defence.

The team plays a zonal marking system to allow them to maximise the opportunity to use the space available. The midfield should be encouraged to take long shots at go as the strikers will hopefully have drawn their markers with them to the flanks leaving space to shoot. Hard tackling is employed to win the ball and maintain the pressure.

Consider playing the offside trap against direct teams if they are looking to break.

Also consider the use of a play maker to increase the accuracy of your passing. Short and quick passing will cause the opposition to panic and may lead them to make a mistake.

Conclusions

As you can see overloading offer the chance to really take it to the opposing team and dominate play. However it is risky as it allows the defending team the opportunity to hit you on the break through the centre. Gradually increase width as the game goes on to increase the pressure. Aggressive overloading is best reserved for when you are chasing the game late on.

Once again, I hope you have found this guide on overloading an opponent’s defence useful, either to implement your own overloading tactic or to understand what you opponent is attempting when they throw men forward.

Good Luck

Leroy

retired_Damonica

more good work.

i'm inclined to think though htat unless you have a highly skilled team you might not wnt to combine short passing and high tempo.

retired_hope

Very much in agreement. You need high passing to be able to do it accurately and you need high decisons to do it quickly. If you don't have that then lengthen the passing as it is easier for yor players to hit the ball longer with less accuracy or reduce the tempo to allow the players to choose a better option.

Not too slow in England though because due to the cooler climate we can press harder meaning player will be caught with the ball if playing at too low a tempo.

retired_shella12

Leroy, that is a good set up for a team with good crossing and good headers of the ball upfront. But I usually base my teams around speed and technique. So how would I set it up? Mix crossing and more through balls? Its kinda tough when the other team is sitting deep.

retired_hope

Well your teams pace is mitigated by teams playing defensively because it reduces the space behind the defence and having a deep line reduces this space further.

Throughballs are also less effective due to the narrow with used by the defensive team and again lack of pitch left to make most of running through.

Consider getting your wide players to cross aim to the penatly area and have your midfield try long shots to often, the defenders should be being pulled out of positon by your forwards so extra space if opening up for a long shots to be successful. Also by increasing the freedom of your wingers they can play further into the centre taking their marker with them. This will mean the fullback will be able to overlap more to provide the crosses whilst the penalty area has even more of your players in it to either shoot or follow up for the rebound.

morihuel

Leroy, are you using both the individual mentalities and global or just the global alone?

morihuel

Sorry! I miss-read it. :p

retired_jfarleymeade1

A ploy I've used against narrow, defensive tactics, is playing counter-attack, with lots of through balls, but setting my wingers as target men and run on to ball. They get played into acres of space down the flank. Of course you need to have wingers with pace and the ability to cause problems once they get the ball (dribbling and/or crossing). I stick with the quick tempo and try to beat the defence before they get into position. The through ball to the wing stretches their shape...if your winger can beat the first man...you get the idea.