How to play like David Moyes on Football Manager 2022 | FM22

In this Football Manager 2022 guide, we will talk about David Moyes' tactic and how to emulate it on FM22.

In this Football Manager 2022 guide, we will talk about David Moyes' tactic and how to emulate it on FM22.

In the aftermath of his disastrous spell in charge of Man United, you’d be forgiven for thinking David Moyes’ managerial career at the top level was more or less over. After such a high profile struggle, Moyes was disregarded as something of a joke figure, and even his ability to bring stability to Everton - something Toffees fans I’m sure would give anything for now - was derided as an underachievement. 

Thankfully, Moyes has enjoyed a rebirth with West Ham, and has brought the Hammers back into the conversation at the right end of the table. Given West Ham’s prior slow decline and struggles against mid-table mediocrity and relegation battles, it seems fitting that these two Premier League institutions have managed to find a new life together.

David Moyes philosophy

In keeping with the slightly retro feel of West Ham and David Moyes being fashionable again, there’s an old school feel to Moyes’ counter attacking style. They play with a low block, not being drawn into the counter pressing trend, and play direct when they have the ball. Having two midfielders capable of breaking up play in Rice and Soucek suits West Ham down to the ground as they aim to make themselves difficult to break down. A target forward like Antonio also gives the team a very quick outlet for the ball to relieve pressure, while the trio behind him are all adept at running onto the ball in space. This style is somewhat of a throwback, and while Antonio’s goal contributions may have slowed in the second half of the season, his ability to draw the defence is what creates space for the supporting runs.

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How does this look on FM22

This tactic seems to break so many of the unspoken rules of recent editions of FM: it doesn’t counter press, it doesn’t rely on positive or attacking mentality, and it doesn’t involve a pressing forward. But, as above, we’re bucking trends and keeping it old school with this. The tactic revolves around two players more than any others: Antonio and Rice. The low block in a 4-2-3-1 means that both Rice and Soucek sit more like DMs than CMs, both able to break up play well. The Rice DLP role reflects his necessity in West Ham’s midfield to start counters, either by seeking out the wide players or finding Antonio with the long pass.

Speaking of Antonio, his role is a strange hybrid of the pressing forward and the target forward. While his main attacking role is almost textbook target forward, defensively he uses his physicality to bully opposition defences when they try to play out from the back. This is reflected in the TF’s player instructions on this tactic. This is important as it helps to force opposition teams into playing West Ham’s game: under pressure from Antonio, opposition centre backs are often forced into hitting long passes, and with the aerial dominance of their back line and midfield, it's incredibly difficult for teams to find success that way. The crowded midfield caused by two compact midfield lines also make it incredibly difficult to play through this team.

Overall, this tactic - much like many people’s first impressions of Moyes’ appointment at West Ham - feels so wrong. It goes against everything FM22 has told us will work. But sometimes, a tactic can be so wrong it’s right, and this throwback to a direct and counter-attacking style of play will have you frustrating teams and devastating them going the other way.