May 20, 2010

People have often be obsessed with getting the best players in Football Manager and putting them into one team. Often signings great players and asking forums how best they should play those players. But what many may not consider is the rest of their squad, the way you want to play and if everyone else fits into your system.

The Balancing Act

This can mean that even though you have the 3 of the greatest strikers in the world at your club, playing a formation with three strikers might not suit the rest of your squad. At Liverpool I am spoilt with two of the best in the game, Edin Džeko and Fernando Torres. But playing a 4-3-3 there is only room for one out an out striker and the cash isn’t available to reshape the team fully.

The squad includes attacking wingers and a central midfielder, but to play a 4-4-2 would sacrifice the attacking presence of the likes of Babel and Maxi. Further, with crossing ability lacking and many of the players suited to cutting inside as a hangover from the Benitez team playing these wingers in a deep ML/R position would reduce their effectiveness on the game.

Having a team with good passing ability who like to get forward quickly and having a DMC as useful as Masherano have been vital in covering the team when we go forward. This will also help get the ball back from all over the park; especially important when are team rely on having the ball in order to search for the win.

One up front suits my team in the modern game with the speed and great attacking threat of wingers coming inside, while my central midfielders look to get hold and distribute the ball. Giving no room to Dzeko and Torres to play in the same team.

Squad Rotation

Look after your goal scorers. It is very rare to have two great goalscorers in the one side, even rarer to have them both score 30-plus a season. Much of the time a partnership will work as one strikers supports the other. The majority of the goals will come from one source. They can do nothing throughout the game, but as long as they score they have done the job you have bought them to do.

Although two strikers may find you goals and work well, Torres is injury prone and lacking in natural fitness. He simply cannot be relied upon to play in all those important games or the games where I need to grind out a result and nip it with a moment of brilliance as he limps off before the finish. Dzeko, is a natural replacement to come in and pick up where he has left off.

Being able to rotate between the two world class strikers keep those charged with scoring the goals, fit over a long season, helping me become much more consistent and more likely to score goals on a regular basis. Proving successful and in winning trophies and both players top accolades in the same season.

Picking a man on form

Players’ form can go down as well as up. When your number one strikers isn’t scoring the goals, sometimes it can be hard to look elsewhere to see where the goals will come from. When form dips, it can be a benefit to look elsewhere or put pressure on each of the strikers to perform by dropping them. Having a ready-made replacement can ensure that these players can fit in. I know without doubt that Dzeko has the ability to perform in the top games as much as Torres, keep both happy with good man management.

Pick a side that best balances the talents that you have in your squad. If Real Madrid were to play their best side players, they may end up with a 2-3-5 and England would be able to play with Lampard and Gerrard as a pair. But obviously it is not tactic that would be balanced nor successful. Don’t be afraid that you can’t fit in all the players in your side, instead embrace the ability of a squad and how this can best fit your tactics and strategy of a whole campaign.

Football is a team game and not one of individuals, good rotation policy and options from the bench and outside of the first eleven can be as important strategy over a season then the best eleven that you field each game.