In my opinion, a good attacking full-back or wingback is a very valuable weapon on Football Manager.
In my opinion, a good attacking full-back or wingback is a very valuable
weapon on Football Manager.
There is so much success to be had from an overlapping defender exploiting the
wide spaces to cross or overload an opposing defence. I’ve managed a few very
good and productive wing-backs, so I hope these tips can help you add
a new dimension to your tactics. This advice can be applied to any player in
the wing-back position, or the full-back position with either wing back or
complete wing back role.
In an ideal world, you’d play a tactic that has your wing-backs as your only dedicated wide players. If you play with wide midfielders or wingers, you need to make sure they aren’t occupying the spaces you want your wing-backs to be attacking. I recommend using either inside forwards or inverted wingers where possible to stop the wings from becoming too crowded. These roles make your further forward wide players cut inside and occupy more central locations, occupying the defence and leaving the wide areas open for your wing-back.
Get out of their way
In an ideal world, you’d play a tactic that has your wing-backs as your only dedicated wide players. If you play with wide midfielders or wingers, you need to make sure they aren’t occupying the spaces you want your wing-backs to be attacking. I recommend using either inside forwards or inverted wingers where possible to stop the wings from becoming too crowded. These roles make your further forward wide players cut inside and occupy more central locations, occupying the defence and leaving the wide areas open for your wing-back.
ALSO READ: Guide to Opposition Instructions on Football Manager
This is a similar principle to “get out of their way”. By telling the rest of your team to play narrow, you’re forcing the opposition defence to collapse into central areas. Your wingbacks will naturally attack wider than the rest of the team, so by occupying a narrow defence, you leave space for your wing-backs to exploit. On the other hand, if the opposition defend wide to counter your wing-backs, they operate as a decoy and allow your central players to overload through the middle.
Narrow Shape
This is a similar principle to “get out of their way”. By telling the rest of your team to play narrow, you’re forcing the opposition defence to collapse into central areas. Your wingbacks will naturally attack wider than the rest of the team, so by occupying a narrow defence, you leave space for your wing-backs to exploit. On the other hand, if the opposition defend wide to counter your wing-backs, they operate as a decoy and allow your central players to overload through the middle.
ALSO READ: Guide to Training on Football Manager
This might sound contradictory, especially when I’m telling you to get your wingers out of their way, but the best way your central midfielders can support attacking wing-backs is by…being wider. I love carrileros and mezzalas for many reasons, but in my tactic, one of their prime duties is to provide support to the wing-backs. A carrilero particularly will move laterally while remaining behind the wing-back after they get forward, so they won’t be getting in the way of your wing-back. This has the added benefit of providing defensive cover, which stops the opposition from taking advantage of the space left behind.
Consider wider roles for CMs
This might sound contradictory, especially when I’m telling you to get your wingers out of their way, but the best way your central midfielders can support attacking wing-backs is by…being wider. I love carrileros and mezzalas for many reasons, but in my tactic, one of their prime duties is to provide support to the wing-backs. A carrilero particularly will move laterally while remaining behind the wing-back after they get forward, so they won’t be getting in the way of your wing-back. This has the added benefit of providing defensive cover, which stops the opposition from taking advantage of the space left behind.
ALSO READ: Why Positions and Roles Matter More Than Specific Tactics
This point is heavily dependent on how the rest of your team plays, more specifically, your tempo. Do you play a slow, deliberate and thoughtful possession game? In that case, look for overlaps is perfect. This means your midfield will retain possession and give your wing-backs the time to get into attacking positions before they receive the ball. However, with wing-back roles, these players will overlap anyway. Look for overlaps doesn’t create overlaps, it just asks the rest of your team to wait for them to happen. Without look for overlaps activated, your wing-backs will need high pace, off the ball and anticipation, but they might find there is much more space to operate in the final third.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful, and useful in taking advantage of your talented wing-backs. Whether you’re playing with Tino Livramento or Shaun Rooney, these tips will help them to reach their attacking potential.
Look for Overlaps…or don’t
This point is heavily dependent on how the rest of your team plays, more specifically, your tempo. Do you play a slow, deliberate and thoughtful possession game? In that case, look for overlaps is perfect. This means your midfield will retain possession and give your wing-backs the time to get into attacking positions before they receive the ball. However, with wing-back roles, these players will overlap anyway. Look for overlaps doesn’t create overlaps, it just asks the rest of your team to wait for them to happen. Without look for overlaps activated, your wing-backs will need high pace, off the ball and anticipation, but they might find there is much more space to operate in the final third.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful, and useful in taking advantage of your talented wing-backs. Whether you’re playing with Tino Livramento or Shaun Rooney, these tips will help them to reach their attacking potential.
