FM22 Leeds United 4-3-3 DM Wide Tactic | Team Guide

Football Manager 2022 Leeds tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM22.

Football Manager 2022 Leeds tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers in FM22.

Here is a brief analysis of the Leeds squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM22 manager can use.

About Leeds United

Leeds United are a team that are from Yorkshire, they are renowned in English football and were one of the consistent performers in the early days of the Premier League. After a tumultuous start to the PL era, they stabilized themselves under David O’Leary, never finishing outside the top 5 even once. It is during this time that they qualified regularly for the UEFA Champions league and the UEFA Cup, making it to the semifinals of both competitions. After unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the Champion’s league in the early 2000’s Leeds were forced to sell their best players, eventually getting relegated in the 2003-2004 season. They club went into administration in 2007 and sank even further into the 3rd tier of English football. However, since 2010 Leeds are on the rise, and given a strong performance in the PL season of 2020-2021 after their promotion.

Leeds finished at a very respectable 9th place in the PL and were a very dominant force at home. The board requirements once you take over from the very popular Bielsa will be;

· Finish in the top half of the Premier League.
· Making the 5th round of the FA cup
· Making the 4th round of the Carabao Cup.

You will additionally be required to play entertaining attacking football and develop players using the club’s youth system

Leeds do have good training and youth facilities. They also have a good youth recruitment. However, you will need to improve this once you stabilize the club’s position in the Premier League.

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Squad, Formation and Tactical Style

Leeds are highly liked for their high tempo entertaining brand of football. A Gegenpress is the best suited tactic for their players and that is how they play in real life as well.

A 4-3-3 is the best suited formation for the Leeds squad. However, there is room for experimentation and one can easily play a 4-2-3-1 or a 3 defender formation and change the full backs into wingers.

A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows;

Illan Meslier as a sweeper keeper

Pascal Struijk & Diego Llorente as the 2 centre backs both played as Ball Playing Defenders.

Luke Ayling & Junior Firpo as the 2 wingbacks. Both are good attacking in nature and can cross well, so increased crossing instructions might help with a few goals

Kalvin Philips, Stuart Dallas & Mateusz Klich as the 3 midfielders with Philips playing as a defensive playmaker, Klich as a Mezzala & Dallas as a Box to Box midfielder/

Jack Harrison & Raphinha as the 2 wide players with Harrison operating as an inside forward and Raphinha as an inverted winger.

Patrick Bamford as the lone striker in a Pressing Forward role.

Alternatively, when you change to a 3 at bring Alioski in. Counter attacking style can also be deployed in tough away games as Leeds have really rapid players who can hurt teams on counters.

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Key Players

Jack Harrison

Harrison is a big player on the wings and is high on confidene after a big 2020-2021 season. His goals and intent from the wings will be vital for securing favourable results.

Kalvin Philips

Philips is responsible for starting most attacks for Leeds and is a disruptive presence in midfield. He is a naturally aggressive player who is very comfortable on the ball.

Raphinha

Raphinha has been amazing ever since his arrival to the league and is wanted by several top clubs. He is technically gifted and will shape your season with his performances.

Stuart Dallas

Dallas is the handyman at Leeds and can play in several positions, at an extremely high level. He is also a workhorse on the pitch and is a complete team player who can be an asset to any team.

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Youth Prospects

Leeds have several young players who have the ability to perform at a high standard. Some of the best are;

Illan Meslier

Meslier is already the No1 keeper in Leeds and with time can become one of the best keepers in the league.

Pascal Struijk

Another young player who is a regular in the starting XI, Struijk has very high potential and can become one of the top players at Leeds.

Charlie Creswell

The young defender who plays for the U23s has already been given a few first team chances and has the ability to become a top defender at the club.

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Weaknesses

· The team is not clinical and can suffer from not finishing the chances they create.
· The overall squad depth is also quite average outside the first team where the squad players may not be good enough to achieve the targets of the board.
· Key talents could get poached by better clubs.
· The squad is susceptible to injuries especially while trying to play at a high tempo for a majority of the season.

Potential Transfers (in)

These players could be a handy addition to the Leeds squad and help them achieve their targets,

· Sven Botman
· Myron Boadu

Potential Transfers (Out)

These players maybe surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.

· Helder Costa
· Liam Cooper
· Adam Forshaw

Summary

Leeds United are a very exciting team to manage with their plethora of young players and their ability to play fast entertaining football. However, sustenance and going the next step with the club is the real challenge, are you up for it?