What I always tell everyone is stop making the game complicated. Drop the numbers and the rules and just go to basics.

Basics of mentality

There are only 5 settings for mentality you need to remember…
1. Ultra defensive
2. Defensive
3. Norma
4. Attacking
5. Gungho

That’s it..now take all the numbers and shove them aside. Understand what each one of them means.

1. My duty is to defend all the time, I will not take part in an attack and I will maintain the shape. I will stay behind the ball when possible. If the ball is not in my danger area I will hold my position.

2. Defensive
My duty is to defend, attacking is not a priority unless the team is already in an advanced attacking position. When we lose the ball, my immediate priority is to defend

3. Normal
I have to support my defense at all times and also support the attack. I take up a central role in support and will be guided more by my decisions, where the ball is and the instructions my manager gives me. If he tells me to make FWR I will do so when a good chance makes itself available. I will also try to keep possession of the ball as much as possible and prod the defense.

4. Attacking.
I spend most of my time, attacking, defending is not a priority unless the ball is near my defensive line, then I will drop back. If the ball is out of my defensive line, I will maintain a forward attacking position.

5. Gungho,
I will attack at any opportunity, my passes are always forward and I’m willing to take more riskier chances with passes.

That’s how I think when I set up mentality. I decide which player needs to behave in that pattern and go accordingly. Forget the 6 and the 8 and the 2 and the 17. I for one find that disconcerting. Always remember that mentality guides positions and risk. Attack is attack, defend is defend.

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