Specialist Position Theories

In general, it is inadvisable to give specialist instructions until you have a well-gelled and world-class squad, the respect of your players plus enough managerial experience to design a tactical system around certain types of player and the confidence to change tactics as and when necessary. However, if you are a lower level manager lucky enough to possess a player whose technical skills far exceed those common to the division, you may be able to use similar settings to make him the key component of your team. It is also inadvisable to have too many specialist roles within one tactic, as then nobody will perform the water-carrying role, possession will be difficult to come by and play will become disjointed. If you are confident that you have the right players and experience, the following tactical instructions will enable you to get the best out of your specialist players.

Sweeper Keeper

Key Attributes: Aerial Ability, Command of Area, Handling, Reflexes, One on Ones, Communication, Eccentricity, Rushing Out, Acceleration, Pace, Anticipation, Positioning, Decisions, First Touch, Outfield Rating

Famous Examples: Fabian Barthez, Jorge Campos, Rene Huiguita

The Sweeper Keeper aims to perform two roles: a standard keeper and an outfield sweeper. Operating behind a pushed up d-line, he will be assigned a higher mentality than the DCs, plus mixed creative freedom. Alongside standard goalkeeping duties, he will sweep up balls in front of and wide of the penalty area and initiate counter-attacking moves with direct through balls to breaking players. He needs to be highly athletic and extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet.

• Player Role: Support
• Run With Ball: Rarely
• Long Shots: Rarely
• Through Balls: Mixed
• Cross Ball: Mixed
• Cross From: Deep
• Hold Up Ball: No
• Distribution: Long Kick (Defensive), Quick Throw (Standard), Defender Collect (Attacking)
• Distribute To: FC/TM (Defensive), ML/R (Standard), DL/R (Attacking)
Sweeper/Libero

Key Attributes: Jumping, Marking, Tackling, Positioning, Strength, Pace, Acceleration, Decisions, Concentration, Anticipation, Passing, Creativity, Flair, Dribbling, Technique

Famous Examples: Franz Beckenbauer, Franco Baresi

There are two different methods of employing this type of player, either as a pure Sweeper (DCd) or as a defender-playmaker in the classical Libero style (DCa).

Sweeper (DCd): The Sweeper operates on a lower mentality than the other DC/s in the defensive line. His exceptional athleticism and reading of the game enable him to cover defensive errors, sweep them up from a deep position and secure possession. This will often be the preferred option for those wishing to employ a high defensive line.

• Player Role: Defend
• Run With Ball: Rarely
• Long Shots: Rarely
• Through Balls: Mixed
• Cross Ball: Rarely
• Cross From: Deep
• Hold Up Ball: No

Libero (DCa): The Libero also sweeps behind the back line in the same manner as the Sweeper. The key difference is the Libero will roam forwards in support of the midfield when the team has possession and aim to be the extra body in defence. The attacking intent of the tactic, his assigned role and his mentality settings determine to what extent he will leave his defensive position. It is also useful to assign high Creative Freedom settings, and possibly a free role. The Libero works better with a lower defensive line as this allows him to step into the space in front of the other DC/s.

• Player Role: Support/Attack
• Run With Ball: Mixed/Mixed
• Long Shots: Mixed/Often
• Through Balls: Often/Often
• Cross Ball: Rarely/Rarely
• Cross From: Deep/Deep
• Hold Up Ball: No
Deep-Lying Playmaker

Key Attributes: Marking, Tackling, Positioning, Strength, Stamina, Passing, Technique, Creativity, First Touch, Decisions

Famous Examples: Andrea Pirlo, Cesc Fabregas, Juan Roman Riquelme

The Deep-Lying Playmaker operates in the space between his defence and midfield and aims to initiate attacking moves via pinpoint passes to players positioned higher up the pitch. A key element to setting up an effective Deep-Lying Playmaker is ensuring his passing instructions enable him to hit first time passes to any point on the pitch, thus requiring mixed-high mixed as minimum settings. Although creative freedom is not a necessity, especially in the Defend role, assigning a free role will ensure he drifts into space and makes himself available for the easy pass.

• Player Role: Defend/Support
• Run With Ball: Rarely/Mixed
• Long Shots: Rarely/Mixed
• Through Balls: Often/Often
• Cross Ball: Rarely/Mixed
• Cross From: Deep/Deep
• Hold Up Ball: Yes
Box-to-Box Midfielder

Key Attributes: Marking, Tackling, Positioning, Strength, Stamina, Passing, Technique, Acceleration, Long Shots, Decisions, Teamwork, Bravery, Determination, Work Rate

Famous Examples: Brian Robson, Roy Keane, Steven Gerrard, Redondo

Nowadays, the box-to-box midfielder is a threatened species to be found mainly in the British Isles. The precise tactical plans of modern-day football have no place for the non-stop dynamism of box-to-box midfielders, as seen by the problems continental European managers have in working out how to best deploy Gerrard. In FM terms, it is best to allow the Box-to-Box Midfielder highish mentality and creative freedom alongside a free role to get him forward while assigning him a Support role ensures he won’t neglect his defensive duties.

• Player Role: Support
• Run With Ball: Mixed
• Long Shots: Often
• Through Balls: Mixed
• Cross Ball: Mixed
• Cross From: Mixed
• Hold Up Ball: Yes
Advanced Playmaker

Key Attributes: Passing, Technique, Creativity, Flair, Long Shots, Strength, First Touch, Anticipation, Off the Ball, Decisions, Dribbling, Teamwork

Famous Examples: Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Dennis Bergkamp, Zico

The Advanced Playmaker can operate in the MCa, AMC or FCd position. Requiring very high creative freedom and free role instructions, the Advanced Playmaker aims to drop into the hole between the opposition’s midfield and attack, making himself available for his teammates’ passes and aiming to turn defence into attack in an instant. In a Support role he mainly restricts himself to making chances for others. In an Attack role his flair, creativity and tactical freedom make him a defensive nightmare. If playing him as an AMC or an FCd, it is worth giving him lower than normal mentality settings and fewer forward runs to encourage him to drop into space and look for passes into all areas of the pitch. Similar instructions without selecting playmaker options will have the player operating as a creative forward/midfielder.

• Player Role: Support/Attack
• Run With Ball: Mixed/Often
• Long Shots: Often/Mixed
• Through Balls: Often/Often
• Cross Ball: Mixed/Often
• Cross From: Mixed/Byline
• Hold Up Ball: No
Target Man

Key Attributes: Strength, Stamina, Jumping, Heading, First Touch, Long Shots, Anticipation, Bravery, Decisions, Teamwork, Work Rate

Famous Examples: Jan Koller, Nikola Zigic, Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch

Although the examples give above are all internationals, the Target Man instruction is far more suited to less good sides than leading ones, as it restricts the variation of attacking play. However, a dominant Target Man can transform an average team into a good one by using his sheer physicality to disrupt the opposition’s defence and open space for his strike partner and supporting midfielders. Although the quality of opposing defences means the Target Man won’t score many goals at higher levels, thus restricting his role to Support, he should bag hatfuls in lower leagues and can thus be deployed in a more Attacking role. For a shorter but technically gifted Target Man who is happy playing with his back to goal (think Mark Hughes and the older Alan Shearer) employ the ‘To Feet’ supply instruction. For a tall, less technical player, use ‘To Head’. For a tall, technical gifted player, then the ‘Mixed’ instruction is ideal.

• Player Role: Support/Attack
• Run With Ball: Rarely/Rarely
• Long Shots: Often/Mixed
• Through Balls: Often/Often
• Cross Ball: Mixed/Mixed
• Cross From: Mixed/Mixed
• Hold Up Ball: Yes
Poacher

Key Attributes: Pace, Acceleration, First Touch, Off the Ball, Finishing, Composure, Flair, Dribbling, Decisions, Anticipation

Famous Examples: Michael Owen, Gabriel Batistuta, Filippo Inzaghi, Ruud van Nistelrooy

The goal poacher is rapidly being phased out at the top level as modern football begins to favour forwards who offer more to the team than just being able to score. However, outside the top level a quality poacher can guarantee enough goals to ensure the team is pushing for a good league position. Setting tactical instructions that force the poacher into playing as part of the team will not get the best out of him. Instead, play to his strengths by giving him a high mentality, a free role and creative freedom to make the best use of any space he finds and simple instructions that encourage him to look for final third opportunities. The ‘Target Man/Run onto Ball’ instruction combination can often get the best out of a Poacher. Restricting his passing options will also encourage him to make a beeline for goal over playing in a teammate.

• Player Role: Attack
• Run With Ball: Often
• Long Shots: Rarely
• Through Balls: Rarely
• Cross Ball: Mixed
• Cross From: Byline
• Hold Up Ball: No

Complete Forward

Key Attributes: Acceleration, First Touch, Off the Ball, Finishing, Composure, Flair, Dribbling, Decisions, Technique, Creativity, Long Shots, Strength, Heading, Stamina

Famous Examples: Pele, Johan Cruyff, Thierry Henry, Romario

Should a manager be lucky enough to work with a complete forward, he needs to allow him to make use of the full range of his ability. Whether operating behind an FCa as deep support or spearheading the strike force, the complete forward simply needs to be given his head. Assigning him a free role and plenty of creative freedom will ensure the opposing defence has a torrid time trying to cope with him, unsure of whether he’ll run, shoot, play a through ball, drop deep, stay high and central or drift into the channels.

• Player Role: Support/Attack
• Run With Ball: Often/Often
• Long Shots: Often/Often
• Through Balls: Often/Often
• Cross Ball: Often/Often
• Cross From: Mixed/Byline
• Hold Up Ball: Yes