FM21 Lille tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers.
Football Manager 2021 Lille tactic and team guide. Club culture and board
requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers
in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Lille squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM21 manager can use.
About the club
Lille OSC or simply Lille are a professional football club that ply their trade in Ligue 1. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger between 2 first division clubs Olympique Lillois & SC Fives, hence the name Lille OSC.
Lille have won 3 top division league titles & 5 Coupe De France (French
Cup). Lille play their home games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, a 50000 strong
capacity stadium and have a long-standing rivalry with RC Lens. Lille have
become relatively consistent off late producing good league table finishes and
have produced some extremely talented footballers through their academy.
Lille finished 4th in the league in 2019-2020 and secured an automatic qualification in the Europa League. The board requirements once you take over will be,
1. Make the top 4 of Ligue 1 (Automatic Europa League qualification)
2. Make the Quarter Final of the Coupe de France (French Cup)
3. Reach the 2nd knockout round of the Europa League.
You will additionally be required to sign players under the age of 23 for the future. However, they board do not require you to play in any particular way and they will be happy as long as you achieve your targets in whichever style you like.
Lille have excellent training facilities and an excellent youth system. You will learn to depend on these to achieve your targets once you stabilize your position at the club.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
Lille are a fast team that like to hit opponents on the counter. However, they also like to play a good build-up game against weaker opponents. So the primary tactic should be a vertical tiki-taka and can be changed to a fluid counterattack against tougher teams.
A 4-4-2 is probably the best-suited formation to the available squad of players. This also helps them maintain the width and releasing the ball quickly to counter opponents.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-4-2 formation is as follows,
Mike Maignan as a sweeper keeper.
Jose Fonte & Adama Soumaoro as the 2 centre backs with Fonte playing as a Ball Playing defender..
Zeki Celik & Jeremey Pied as the 2 wingbacks. Increased crossing instructions are recommended to take advantage of their high crossing attributes.
Benjamin Andre & Renato Sanches as the 2 central midfielders, with the former in a deep playmaker role and the latter as a Mezzala.
Jonathan Ikone & Jonathan Bamba as the 2 wingers, Bamba as the inside forward and Ikone as the inverted winger on the right.
Burak Yilmaz & Jonathan David as the 2 forwards with Yilmaz as the deep-lying forward and David as an Advanced forward.
Alternatively, you can go with a 4-3-3 formation and increase the strength of the midfield, especially when playing on the counters.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
Despite being just 22, Ikone is one of the best players in the side. His pace and trickery on the wings are an important asset to the team and he will pop up with crucial goals and assists.
Maignan is an experienced goalkeeper who maintains calm between the sticks for Lille. His performances will probably shape your season and secure important results.
At just 22, Renato Sanches has already had a topsy turvy career. However, no one can deny his quality in midfield and is an important part of the Lille squad.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
1. The quality of backups in the squad may not be up to the quality and could prove fatal if your squad is affected by injuries.
2. You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs especially in search of higher wages.
To Summarize, Lille are a very exciting squad to manage for many FM21 managers with their young superstars. The allure of creating the next Hazard or Pepe is very tempting. However, it is extremely difficult from keeping your stars being poached and to maintain competition and maybe a challenge too steep for many. Are you up for it?
Board Requirements
Lille finished 4th in the league in 2019-2020 and secured an automatic qualification in the Europa League. The board requirements once you take over will be,
1. Make the top 4 of Ligue 1 (Automatic Europa League qualification)
2. Make the Quarter Final of the Coupe de France (French Cup)
3. Reach the 2nd knockout round of the Europa League.
You will additionally be required to sign players under the age of 23 for the future. However, they board do not require you to play in any particular way and they will be happy as long as you achieve your targets in whichever style you like.
Lille have excellent training facilities and an excellent youth system. You will learn to depend on these to achieve your targets once you stabilize your position at the club.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
Lille are a fast team that like to hit opponents on the counter. However, they also like to play a good build-up game against weaker opponents. So the primary tactic should be a vertical tiki-taka and can be changed to a fluid counterattack against tougher teams.
A 4-4-2 is probably the best-suited formation to the available squad of players. This also helps them maintain the width and releasing the ball quickly to counter opponents.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-4-2 formation is as follows,
Mike Maignan as a sweeper keeper.
Jose Fonte & Adama Soumaoro as the 2 centre backs with Fonte playing as a Ball Playing defender..
Zeki Celik & Jeremey Pied as the 2 wingbacks. Increased crossing instructions are recommended to take advantage of their high crossing attributes.
Benjamin Andre & Renato Sanches as the 2 central midfielders, with the former in a deep playmaker role and the latter as a Mezzala.
Jonathan Ikone & Jonathan Bamba as the 2 wingers, Bamba as the inside forward and Ikone as the inverted winger on the right.
Burak Yilmaz & Jonathan David as the 2 forwards with Yilmaz as the deep-lying forward and David as an Advanced forward.
Alternatively, you can go with a 4-3-3 formation and increase the strength of the midfield, especially when playing on the counters.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
Key Players
1. Jonathan Ikone
Despite being just 22, Ikone is one of the best players in the side. His pace and trickery on the wings are an important asset to the team and he will pop up with crucial goals and assists.
2. Mike Maignan
Maignan is an experienced goalkeeper who maintains calm between the sticks for Lille. His performances will probably shape your season and secure important results.
3. Renato Sanches
At just 22, Renato Sanches has already had a topsy turvy career. However, no one can deny his quality in midfield and is an important part of the Lille squad.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
Weaknesses
1. The quality of backups in the squad may not be up to the quality and could prove fatal if your squad is affected by injuries.
2. You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs especially in search of higher wages.
3. This is one of the youngest squads in FM21 in terms of average age and
could take a few years for the players to reach their potential and could
affect results currently when the players are in their learning curve.
Lille are not the best squad in the league with respect to squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Maxence Caqueret
· Adil Aouchiche
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Burak Yilmaz
· Thiago Maia
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
The young Canadian is a very recent signing at Lille. He is one of the best Canadian wonderkids in the game and will be a leading star for most clubs in the future.
Already good enough to be starting games for Lille, Soumare is a very talented defensive midfielder in the game. Several clubs are after the youngster and it is important that Lille hold on to such quality players if they are to improve.
At just 16, Kiala has a ton of potential and a lot of room for growth. He can take over the Lille midfield in the future and can be a top player at the club.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
Potential Transfers (in)
Lille are not the best squad in the league with respect to squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Maxence Caqueret
· Adil Aouchiche
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Burak Yilmaz
· Thiago Maia
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Jonathan David
The young Canadian is a very recent signing at Lille. He is one of the best Canadian wonderkids in the game and will be a leading star for most clubs in the future.
2. Boubakary Soumare
Already good enough to be starting games for Lille, Soumare is a very talented defensive midfielder in the game. Several clubs are after the youngster and it is important that Lille hold on to such quality players if they are to improve.
3. Nathan Buayi-Kiala
At just 16, Kiala has a ton of potential and a lot of room for growth. He can take over the Lille midfield in the future and can be a top player at the club.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
Summary
To Summarize, Lille are a very exciting squad to manage for many FM21 managers with their young superstars. The allure of creating the next Hazard or Pepe is very tempting. However, it is extremely difficult from keeping your stars being poached and to maintain competition and maybe a challenge too steep for many. Are you up for it?
