This guide will talk you through what a successful Body Crash tactic can look like and how to implement this on FM22.
This guide will talk you through what a successful Body Crash tactic can
look like and how to implement this on FM22.
This article is part of a series on famous tactical styles. While this tactic
can work successfully as a plug-and-play tactic, it is recommended that
players use this as a basic form of a certain style. Some slight adjustments
may be necessary to play to your side’s strengths.
Football truly is a global game, and for me, one of the most interesting things about tactics is to see how tactically similar ideas developed independently from each other in different corners of the world. This article looks at Body Crash, the Scandinavian equivalent of long-ball football. Similarly regarded as a now old-fashioned style, Body Crash relies on physicality and highly athletic players for success. The point of this article is to explain how Body Crash works and how best to replicate this style on FM22.
As mentioned above, Body Crash is a bit of a throwback style to a time when football was more reliant on physicality, stamina, and brute strength for its success. Typically taking a 4-1-4-1 shape, relying on the loan striker to act as a battering ram to battle against opposition defences. As you might expect, your midfield is required to support both defence and attack, with your wingers expected to both get up the pitch to support the lone striker while also tracking back to support your full-backs against wide attacks. At centre-midfield, your two CMs are expected to be energetic box-to-box midfielders, effectively supporting the attack. Your DM largely sits deep to cover the CBs, but it’s not uncommon to see a player in this role take on the bulk of the playmaking duties. This usually took the form of recovering loose balls and stopping counter-attacks before launching a long pass to either the target man or the wingers for crossing opportunities.
Football truly is a global game, and for me, one of the most interesting things about tactics is to see how tactically similar ideas developed independently from each other in different corners of the world. This article looks at Body Crash, the Scandinavian equivalent of long-ball football. Similarly regarded as a now old-fashioned style, Body Crash relies on physicality and highly athletic players for success. The point of this article is to explain how Body Crash works and how best to replicate this style on FM22.
What is Body Crash?
As mentioned above, Body Crash is a bit of a throwback style to a time when football was more reliant on physicality, stamina, and brute strength for its success. Typically taking a 4-1-4-1 shape, relying on the loan striker to act as a battering ram to battle against opposition defences. As you might expect, your midfield is required to support both defence and attack, with your wingers expected to both get up the pitch to support the lone striker while also tracking back to support your full-backs against wide attacks. At centre-midfield, your two CMs are expected to be energetic box-to-box midfielders, effectively supporting the attack. Your DM largely sits deep to cover the CBs, but it’s not uncommon to see a player in this role take on the bulk of the playmaking duties. This usually took the form of recovering loose balls and stopping counter-attacks before launching a long pass to either the target man or the wingers for crossing opportunities.
How does this look on FM22?
Obviously, you’ll be playing with a target forward, but a complete forward also makes sense. Whoever you have up front, you’ll need to make sure he can go toe-to-toe with the opposition defences, as he’ll largely be expected to operate alone. Passing is extremely direct, with the target forward expected to hold up play and bring others into the attack.
Your main source of support for the lone striker is your wingers and full-backs, who are expected to fulfil both attacking and defensive duties for 90 minutes. This is where good athleticism is essential. With your target man up front, it makes sense to get as many players into crossing areas as possible for chance creation. This is where your DM is important to provide extra defensive cover. While this role can be played by an anchorman, I’ve found best success comes from a DLP, especially if his traits include switching the ball to the other flank. This helps to exploit space left by short-sighted defences switching off from your wingers.
Defensively, you’re looking to prevent the opposition from getting crosses into your box and also to funnel play towards your DM. The DM is arguably the most important role in this tactic, as your team will look to him for defensive leadership.
Final Thoughts
And you thought the English invented Brexit-ball. This is an old-school but effective tactic, and as long as you’ve got the physically imposing players needed to succeed, you won’t go wrong by forcing other teams to go to war with you.
