ceefax the cat

Hello.

I've tried to do this before in FM and almost ended up being sectioned, so I'm pessimistic, but; I'd like to have one more bash at implementing the tactics of The Most Interesting Coach In Italy, Ezio Glerean.

His specialities are two: 3-3-4 and 4-2-4. I'll start with the former.

Glerean's 3-3-4 is relatively similar to Louis Van Gaal's Ajax 3-4-3 in many ways - indeed, that's what the Italian based it on - but there are crucial differences.

While still an attacking formation which produces attacking football, the emphasis in defence is on compactness and standing off, rather than the energetic pushing up and closing down of Van Gaal.

The team defends in two banks of three, best expressed in FM terms as DC, DC, DC; DMC, DMC, DMC. Obviously, this can provide problems on the wings, so there's our first problem. The front line consists of two wing-forwards, a deep-lying second striker/playmaker, and an outright goalpoacher. The objective in attack is to give the ball as quickly as possible to the playmaker and create a goalscoring opportunity using those 3 early options ahead of him, so directness and a quick tempo are recommended.

Glerean's Cittadella team won back-to-back promotions with this system, so obviously he created a bit of a stir and teams learned to look out for him. One obvious way to stymie the 3-3-4 is to play 3 up front, and in this situation Glerean changed to 4-2-4. Nowadays, at Bassano Virtus (correct me if he's since been sacked), he often uses 4-2-4 from the start of matches.

Now, Glerean's preferred formation in FM is set as 4-2-4, and Bassano Virtus use it routinely as a starting tactic. During a career I played with Pro Vercelli, they went up in the first season and were extremely hard to beat.

Now, we all know how effective 4-2-4 is as an emergency tactic for the AI, so I expect it is possible to make this work. I think that, in order to fit Glerean's vision a little better, some changes from the flat 4-2-4 might be necessary. The second striker might best be placed as an AMC, while the back 4 might best be arranged as a 1-3.

Anyone who wants to be in on this one, feel free to MSN me. I've tried both before and it ain't easy, at all.

Cheers.

ceefax the cat

"Now,"

Terrible writing.

ceefax the cat

Why the hell did it post there?

I'm loading up a career with Bassano Virtus. I suggest that anyone who's interested in giving this a bash does the same, as their players might be roughly suited. Though, looking at them, their players are b0llox.

frag

A challenge worth taking people. If you have any love for the game what-so-ever!!

I'll be taking this up. No question.

Goodyfc2

I've managed to get some pretty excellent attacking play with a Van Gaal styled 4-3-3 , the 2 wingers, striker, and diamond man's interplay being particularly joyous. Defensively we played pretty deep, but conceded goals down channels, more so than down the flanks. However, I feel the urge to try the two banks of three of good old Ezio.

Have you got any articles or further descriptions of his style that you could link to, ceefax?

ceefax the cat

There really isn't much online. My information comes from a book called something like "Soccer Strategies in 101 situations" where several Italian coaches give run-throughs of their styles of play. Glerean has a couple of pages in there.

I've just absolutely destroyed Lecco (better players than mine) 2-0 with a 3-3-4 against their 4-4-2. It lined up DC, DC, DC; ML, MC, MR; AMC; FL, FC, FR with barrows on all midfielders. Settings were global, and I played narrow, quick, direct with closing down at about 6.

Looked pretty solid.

Just waiting for someone to try 4-3-3 against me so I can shift to the 4-2-4... I'm a little bit gutted that the game will probably end up listing my preferred formation as 3-4-3 too.

Goodyfc2

I'm having a crack with Perugia, lining up thusly:

DC DC DC
DM DM DM

AMR AMC AML
SC

The centre of midfield looks suspiciously empty so far, but I'm hoping that a combination of the wingers being barrowed and some hefty direct passing from the defensive six will negate that problem. I'm trying your tempo, width and closing down ideas, but I might up the wider DMC's closing down just to keep an eye on the flanks a little.

PRe-season friendlies the next stop.

ceefax the cat

That's more or less the setup I tried last time.

I think whichever shape you settle on, there will always be the problem of occasional wing rape, thanks to the dodgy match engine not making back 3s/anyone else for that matter cover across properly. They're prone to standing in the dead centre of pitch while an attack comes down one side, and not shifting across and backing each other up the way they should.

ceefax the cat

I seem to be settling into a habit of winning 1-0 with the current lineup:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> DC DC DC \ | / MC MC MC AMC FR FC FL</pre>
Team instructions are simple as hell and I don't seem to be getting consistently raped down the wings. Though all my games involve a higher than average number of corners.

MattUK

If you want your defenders to come to defend wingers. Can try zonal marking very high closing down or even no marking? Have the centre defender defend the penalty spot.

How do your wide midfielders do with the barrows?