The Tactics That Won the Premier League in my FIRST SEASON with Manchester
United on FM26!
The FM26 ‘Advanced Access Beta’ has recently been released and, as such, I embarked on an incredibly exciting journey with Manchester United to try and fix them tactically. In this article, I’ll break down a few of the new FM26 In-Possession and Out-of-Possession roles I used, before demonstrating the tactics I used in-game with United and showcasing the fantastic results I achieved in testing. Firstly, let’s analyse a few of the new FM26 roles, both In-Possession and Out-of-Possession.
Introducing New FM26 Roles – In Possession
Firstly, before breaking down the new roles, I must explain my thinking from a tactical perspective. I wanted us to build-up in a solid 4-2-3-1, before transitioning into a fluid 3-2-5 in-possession – when we didn’t have the ball, I wanted us to press in a 4-3-3, akin to PSG in-real-life, before dropping into a compact, aggressive 5-4-1 mid-block/low-block.
I began with selecting the 4-2-3-1 in-possession formation, before using the all-new Visualiser as my assistant to ensure my ideas would come to fruition…
Playmaking Wing-Back
The first role I opted for was the new Playmaking Wing-Back role, which would see my right-back invert into midfield – this role, combined with an Inside Full-Back, would create the 3-2 base I was desiring, as seen below:
The crucial difference between the Inside Wing-Back role and the Playmaking Wing-Back role, however, is the latter will act as a central hub for the team’s progression, creating for team-mates and progressing play with line-breaking passes from deep. In testing, Dalot grabbed 5 goals and 4 assists in this role, whilst Mazraoui grabbed 1 goal and 3 assists.
Free Role
The Free Role is another new in-possession role introduced in FM26, and it gives the accommodating player complete licence to roam and create as he please, even if it breaks the team’s structure. In this system, Bruno Fernandes, who played in this role predominantly, rarely broke our 3-2-5 structure to get on the ball, however, I’d assume in a more fluid system, the Free Role would break the structure more often. In this role, Bruno scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions.
Wide Forward
The Wide Forward role is also a new in-possession role for FM26, combining the width of the Winger role and the runs in-behind of the Inside Forward role. I played Bryan Mbeumo in this role on the right-side, and this role, combined with the Playmaking Wing-Back on the same side, created some beautiful automatisms in-game.
Additionally, this role allowed Mbeumo to hold the width on the right-side in this 3-2-5 in-possession structure, before making runs in-behind and moving into the penalty area when we reach the final third, as shown below:
Introducing New FM26 Roles – Out of Possession
Pressing Full-Back
The Pressing Full-Back is one of many new Out of Possession roles in FM26, that allows the accommodating player to jump from the backline to engage in a high-press, moving higher to press opposition players in build-up. To understand the Pressing Full-Back’s scope for pressing, we can use the newly altered ‘Analysis’ button on the Tactics screen – this button shows Dalot will occupy every zone on the right flank out-of-possession, with the role allowing him to press as high as the right-winger to press the opposition full-back on that side, as shown below:
To show the difference the Pressing Full-Back role makes, we can assess the zones the other full-back, of which is a standard Full-Back role out-of-possession, defends/presses when we don’t have the ball:
As you can see, Shaw, the other full-back, will only press as high as slightly beyond the half-way line.
Wide Covering Central Midfielder
The Wide Covering Central Midfielder role is a new central midfield Out of Possession role, that instructs the accommodating midfielder to cover the wide areas out-of-possession. In this tactic, I used this role on the right-side to complement the Pressing Full-Back role; If the Pressing Full-Back is beaten in the press, the Wide Covering Central Midfielder will move across to cover for him – the ‘Analysis’ tool in the Tactics screen showcases this perfectly:
Tracking Winger
The Tracking Winger role is another of the new Out of Possession roles, that instructs the accommodating player to drop deeper when the opposition progress and move into the backline – in this case, with the back four, the Tracking Winger drops to create a back five, as shown in the Visualiser below:
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
In Possession Team Instructions
Out of Possession Team instructions
Player Roles
Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper:
In this system, I wanted the ‘keeper to be active in build-up, moving higher to supplement our build-up play. When we didn’t have the ball, I wanted the ‘keeper to be active in sweeping and cross-claiming. Therefore, I that role partnership was best suited. No added instructions.
Playmaking Wing-Back | Pressing Full-Back:
As aforementioned, I wanted the right-back to move inside in-possession to form a midfield two with the more holding defensive midfielder – from here, he can progress play with line-breaking passes. When we don’t have the ball, I wanted the right-back to push higher to press higher up the pitch. Therefore, I felt this role partnership was perfect, with the added instruction to the OOP (Out of Possession) role:
- Tackle Harder
(DCR) Centre-Back | Centre-Back:
In this system, I wanted the centre-backs to simply focus on defending and passing to more creative players. The only slight discrepancy between the right centre-back and the left centre-back is that the right-sided centre-back moves wider, as displayed in his player instructions:
- Stay Wider
(DCL) Centre-Back | Centre-Back:
On the other side of defence, the Centre-Back follows the same blueprint, minus the tendency to move wider. No added instructions.
Inside Full-Back | Full-Back:
In this position, to accommodate for the Playmaking Wing-Back’s inverted positioning, I wanted the left-back to sit narrower and create a back-three in-possession. However, I did want the left-back to be able to carry forward more often, go more direct at times, and drift wider, giving us a wider back-three base in-possession.
When we don’t have the ball, I wanted the left-back to determine his own defensive aggression based on the relevant situation/game-state. Therefore, I felt this role combination was perfect, with the added instructions:
- Stay Wider
- Dribble More
- More Direct Passing
Defensive Midfielder | Defensive Midfielder:
In this position, my need was simple: Retain possession and break up play. I felt this combination of roles enacted my needs perfectly. No added instructions.
Box-To-Box Midfielder | Wide Covering Central Midfielder:
In this position, I wanted Mainoo to initially reside in a deeper position, supporting the team’s build-up, before moving higher into the right half-space and being able to crash the box for cut-backs. When we don’t have the ball, I wanted Mainoo to move wider to support Dalot and, if needed, cover for Dalot. Therefore, I felt this role combination was most ideal, with the added instructions:
- Move Into Channels
- Make More Runs
- Roam From Position
- Take More Risks
Free Role | Central Midfielder:
In this position, I wanted Bruno to be the team’s primary creative threat in attacking areas, giving him licence to roam and create when he please. Additionally, I wanted Bruno to, like Mainoo, crash the box for cut-backs. When we don’t have the ball, I wanted Bruno to, like the left-back, time his defensive exploits in accordance with the situation and/or game-state. Therefore, I felt this role combination was most effective, with the added instructions:
- Move Into Channels
- Make More Runs
- Roam From Position
Wide Forward | Winger:
In this position, I wanted to utilise Bryan Mbeumo’s elite off-the-ball movement, clinical finishing, and general final third quality to full effect. In this role, he is instructed to initially hold a wider position, however, I wanted him to move narrower at times to deploy minimum width, allowing us to control the centre of the pitch.
Additionally, I wanted Mbeumo to be at the end of everything good we did, thus prompting the licence I gave him to take more risks in possession and reach the byline. When we don’t have the ball, as with the left-back and Bruno, I wanted Mbeumo’s defensive decision-making to be situational. Therefore, I felt this role combination worked best, with the added instructions:
- Sit Narrower
- Cut Inside With Ball
- Dribble More
- Take More Risks
- Cross From Byline
Winger | Tracking Winger:
In this position, I wanted our left-winger to hold the team’s width on the left-side. However, akin to Mbeumo, I wanted to give the left-winger, usually Matheus Cunha, much more licence than just holding the width. I wanted him to move narrower and roam from his position, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to our attack.
When we don’t have the ball, I wanted the left-winger to be the player to drop deeper, into the backline to form out back-five in the low block. Therefore, I felt this role combination was best-suited, with the added instructions:
- Sit Narrower
- Cut Inside With Ball
- Dribble More
- Roam From Position
- Take More Risks
- Cross From Byline
Centre Forward | Central Outlet Centre Forward:
In this position, I wanted Šeško to be the team’s attacking outlet in every phase, able to use his height, strength, pace, link-up play, and ability to run the channels to link everything together and, crucially, score goals. The same went for when we didn’t have the ball. Therefore, I felt this role combination was perfect, with the added instructions:
- Roam From Position
- Shoot More Often
Results
Premier League:
We ended United’s title drought of over 12 years, winning the Premier League with 88 points, after winning 26 league games, drawing 10 league games, and losing just 2 league games all season. In the league, we scored 86 goals and conceded just 23 league goals – the second-highest and league’s fewest in the respective regards.
Domestic Cups:
We began the season competing for the Carabao Cup, wherefrom we reached the Final and eventually beat our City rivals, 0-1, to win the Carabao Cup, thanks to a Bruno Fernandes finish in the first half. On our way to Wembley, we beat the likes of Fulham (3-2 AGG), Arsenal (2-0), and Newcastle (5-1). We were unable to repeat the success in the FA Cup, however, as we were unfortunately knocked out in the Quarter Finals by eventual Runners-Up, Newcastle, 3-0 at St. James’ Park.
Conclusion
With the long-awaited arrival of Football Manager 26 now realised, be prepared for an array of differing tactics on FM Blog! If you have enjoyed this article and FM26 tactic, make sure to follow FM Blog (@fmbIog) and myself (@AshtonGgmu) on our respective social media channels to be notified when a new article and/or tactic releases for you to enjoy. Thanks for reading.
