Football Manager 2021 Ajax 4-3-3 Tactic | Team Guide | FM21

Football Manager 2021 Ajax 4-3-3 tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers.

Football Manager 2021 Ajax 4-3-3 tactic and team guide. Club culture and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential transfers.

Here is a brief analysis of the Ajax squad, their club structure, the relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM21 player can use.

About Ajax

Ajax is the top dog in the Eredivisie and are easily the strongest team in the league and one of the most decorated clubs in the world. They have a whopping 34 domestic league titles, 17 domestic cups and 6 European tournament wins including 4 Champion’s League titles. 

Ajax also have one of the most successful football academies in the world and produce world-class footballers year after year. However, Ajax have not won a European competition since 1995 and are slowly becoming a feeder club to many European giants.

The club was named after the mythological hero Ajax, a Greek who fought in the Trojan War against Troy.

Board Requirements

Ajax are the defending Eredivisie champions and have qualified for UCL as a result. The minimum board requirements once you take over will be;

    1. Win the Eredivisie

    2. Reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champion’s League.

The board will also require you to play attacking entertaining football and show emphasis developing players using the club's amazing youth system.

The club has top-notch training facilities and one of the most fabled youth academies in the world that will churn out top quality players every season. The manager will learn to heavily rely on this in securing the board’s ambitions.

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Squad, Formation and Tactical Style

There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Ajax, however, the best-suited ones will be Gegenpress. This should provide the attacking football that the board demands whilst the pressing will ensure that the ball is won high up on the pitch.

A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 will be the best formations for Ajax with the current squad of players available at your disposal.

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

Andre Onana as a sweeper keeper.

Nicolas Tagliafico & Noussair Mazraoui as the two wing backs.

Edson Alvarez & Lisandro Martinez as Ball playing central defenders as both are comfortable passers.

Daley Blind as the defensive midfielder in a deep-lying midfielder role who is on defence duty.

Mohammed Kudus & Davy Klassen as the 2 central midfielders with the former as a Mezzala and the latter as a box to box midfielder.

David Neres & Quincy Promes as the 2 wide players with Neres operating as an inverted winger and Promes as an inside forward.

Dusan Tadic as the lone forward in a deep lying forward role.

Alternatively, when you change to a 4-2-3-1 or employ a fluid counter-attacking style of football against difficult opposition especially in the Champion’s league.

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Key Players

    1. Dusan Tadic

Dusan Tadic is an extremely versatile forward who has been clinical in front of goal for Ajax. He will be the main focal point of your attacks.

    2. Andre Onana

Onana is amongst the top keepers in the world and the custodian’s ability to marshall defences in an important factor that influences Ajax’s results.

    3. Daley Blind

The experienced defender is one of the most versatile players in the game and is an extremely fit player for his age.

    4. Nicolas Tagliafico

The Argentine is another highly sought after player and is one of the best players in his position at the start of the game.

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Weaknesses

1. Despite Ajax having one of the best youth academies, the crux of the squad is ageing and quality replacements may not be readily available.

2. Ajax are considered a feeder club and their best talent is always poached by financially stronger clubs across Europe.

3. There is very little quality outside the first team and you may need a complete overhaul for most positions.

Youth Prospects

There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,

    1. Ryan Gravenberch

The 18-year-old is already a mainstay in the Ajax squad. He can only improve with time and will go on to become one of the best players in his position in the game.

    2. Kenneth Taylor

The young Dutch midfielder is extremely versatile able to play a variety of roles and positions. He can be one of the leading players in his position in the future.

    3. Antony

The Brazilian winger recently joined Ajax from Sao Paulo. He is already good enough to get first-team starts and will only improve in the future.

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Potential Transfers (in)

The following players will add quality to the Ajax squad and will help take the team to the next level.

· Carles Alena

· Memphis Depay

· Hans Vanaken

Potential Transfers (Out)

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

· Klaas Jan Huntelaar

· Sean Klaiber

Summary

To summarise, Ajax are a legendary club who have become a feeder club of late. Can you shed this tag and make Ajax a European superpower once again?