Dominate lower leagues in FM24 with this defensive masterclass. Inspired by Simeone, achieve 109 points and record-breaking success with Swindon Town!
FM24 Tactic: Lower League Defensive Masterclass Inspired by Diego
Simeone
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Are you bored of the same old 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress tactics on Football Manager
2024? Do you want an overperforming, defence-first tactic suited to lower
league football? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, I’ll be giving my
brief tactical analysis of this system and how I created it, before talking
you through the tactic and demonstrating the brilliant results the tactic
achieved in testing with Swindon Town! Firstly, let’s delve into the
tactical idea and principles of this system!
One of my biggest inspirations for defensive systems is Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. The Argentinian prides himself on his teams’ frustrating, compact systems, where he demands 110% effort from each and every player. As a Man Utd fan, I’ve unfortunately felt the immense frustration his systems and teams can induce, as his Atletico side in the 21/22 season knocked us out of the Champions League in classic Simeone style. At Swindon, I tried to implement this compactness into my system.
The saying ‘Big Man/Little Man partnership’ comes from classic English teams and their systems where they’d start two strikers, one being tall to flick headers down to their quicker, more agile little strike partner. Famous partnerships like Heskey/Owen, Crouch/Defoe and Elkjær/Laudrup made this concept, and the subsequent saying, classic. This concept has bear fruit in recent times aswell, with the likes of Weghorst/Rashford and Okazaki/Vardy – although the former was quite small for a target man!
Swindon Town are one of the most notable ‘Sleeping Giants’ in English football. The club is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in League Two. However, their recent league finishes don’t suggest that. And the club, who have never been below the 4th tier in English football, are languishing down in a very precarious 22nd position in League Two. Along with this, the club are predicted to finish mid-table in-game.
Diego Simeone Inspired Compactness
One of my biggest inspirations for defensive systems is Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. The Argentinian prides himself on his teams’ frustrating, compact systems, where he demands 110% effort from each and every player. As a Man Utd fan, I’ve unfortunately felt the immense frustration his systems and teams can induce, as his Atletico side in the 21/22 season knocked us out of the Champions League in classic Simeone style. At Swindon, I tried to implement this compactness into my system.
The Return of the Big Man/Little Man Partnership
The saying ‘Big Man/Little Man partnership’ comes from classic English teams and their systems where they’d start two strikers, one being tall to flick headers down to their quicker, more agile little strike partner. Famous partnerships like Heskey/Owen, Crouch/Defoe and Elkjær/Laudrup made this concept, and the subsequent saying, classic. This concept has bear fruit in recent times aswell, with the likes of Weghorst/Rashford and Okazaki/Vardy – although the former was quite small for a target man!
Why Swindon Town?
Swindon Town are one of the most notable ‘Sleeping Giants’ in English football. The club is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in League Two. However, their recent league finishes don’t suggest that. And the club, who have never been below the 4th tier in English football, are languishing down in a very precarious 22nd position in League Two. Along with this, the club are predicted to finish mid-table in-game.
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When we have the ball, we want to prioritise getting the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible; We do this by encouraging direct passes with a higher tempo. As we’re focusing on a more transitional game, we’re looking to pass the ball into space for our attackers to chase. To aid progression, especially from counter-attacks, we want our players to carry the ball forward often. Finally, we want to emphasise the height of the team and be efficient from set-pieces, so we look for set-pieces at any opportunity!
When we lose the ball, we want to immediately make the match cagey and marginal, focusing on a dogged fight for the ball. When we win the ball back, we want to thrive in the chaos and look to counter-attack and score immediately. When the ‘keeper has the ball, we want him to distribute it to the centre-backs, who can either retain possession or launch an intentional long-ball to the big man up top.
When we don’t have the ball, we want to try and remain as compact as we can. To aid this, we ask the frontline to sit off the opposition and stay in a mid-block, whilst the higher defensive line will close midfield space and make the shape vertically compact, without risking balls in-behind. ‘Invite Crosses’ encourages our team to remain horizontally compact and narrow. From this shape, we look to force teams into wide cul-de-sacs, where our wingbacks and wider central midfielders can close off options centrally. Finally, we look to be aggressive in duels to physically intimidate and impose ourselves onto our opponents.
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
When we have the ball, we want to prioritise getting the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible; We do this by encouraging direct passes with a higher tempo. As we’re focusing on a more transitional game, we’re looking to pass the ball into space for our attackers to chase. To aid progression, especially from counter-attacks, we want our players to carry the ball forward often. Finally, we want to emphasise the height of the team and be efficient from set-pieces, so we look for set-pieces at any opportunity!
In Transition
When we lose the ball, we want to immediately make the match cagey and marginal, focusing on a dogged fight for the ball. When we win the ball back, we want to thrive in the chaos and look to counter-attack and score immediately. When the ‘keeper has the ball, we want him to distribute it to the centre-backs, who can either retain possession or launch an intentional long-ball to the big man up top.
Out of Possession
When we don’t have the ball, we want to try and remain as compact as we can. To aid this, we ask the frontline to sit off the opposition and stay in a mid-block, whilst the higher defensive line will close midfield space and make the shape vertically compact, without risking balls in-behind. ‘Invite Crosses’ encourages our team to remain horizontally compact and narrow. From this shape, we look to force teams into wide cul-de-sacs, where our wingbacks and wider central midfielders can close off options centrally. Finally, we look to be aggressive in duels to physically intimidate and impose ourselves onto our opponents.
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In this position, we want our ‘keeper to compliment our high defensive line, so we encourage him to sweep loose balls in-behind. The support duty is eccentric, but not too risky. No additional instructions.
In our two wider centre-back positions, we want them both to step-up and interrogate opposition attackers in the half-spaces, further preventing central options for opponents. When they have the ball, we want them to be progressive and to take risks. Finally, we want both players to move wider to offer wide & deep passing options for the wing-backs. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:
Player Instructions
Sweeper-Keeper - Support
In this position, we want our ‘keeper to compliment our high defensive line, so we encourage him to sweep loose balls in-behind. The support duty is eccentric, but not too risky. No additional instructions.
(DCR) Ball-Playing Defender – Stopper
In our two wider centre-back positions, we want them both to step-up and interrogate opposition attackers in the half-spaces, further preventing central options for opponents. When they have the ball, we want them to be progressive and to take risks. Finally, we want both players to move wider to offer wide & deep passing options for the wing-backs. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:
%20Ball-Playing%20Defender%20%E2%80%93%20Stopper.webp "(DCR) Ball-Playing Defender – Stopper")
No-Nonsense Centre-Back – Defend
In this position, as the wider centre-backs are more expressive, I wanted a more solid base. I also made the assumption that teams would be more likely to press the central centre-back first, so I wanted to try and prevent mistakes as much as I could. Along with this, I wanted a centre-back to be more likely to hoof the ball long to our big man/little man partnership. When we don’t have the ball, I wanted the central centre-back to be more reserved and disciplined. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instruction:
(DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back – Stopper
As with the right-sided centre-back, I wanted a more expressive and progressive role in a wider position. However, I didn’t give the left-sided centre-back as much licence as his partner, as I wanted the left-side of our team to be more rugged and functional. Therefore, I removed the ‘Dribble More’ instruction, as seen below:
%20Ball-Playing%20Centre-Back%20%E2%80%93%20Stopper.webp "(DCL) Ball-Playing Centre-Back – Stopper")
Wing-Back – Support
On the right side, I wanted a role which could balance out the riskiness of the roles on his same side, however, with the individual licence to get forward and provide an attacking threat himself. When we had the ball, I wanted this player to get forward and impose himself onto the game. The main way I wanted him to progress the ball was through long-distance carries from slightly deeper positions. I also wanted him to play a little narrower to help the midfield in transitional moments. When he had the ball, I wanted him to try and take some of the creative burden of the team, encouraging him to play risky, direct balls for attackers to chase/for the target man to control. When we didn’t have the ball, I wanted him to be conservative and to try and hold his position, as I wanted our left-side to be the main pressing trigger. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:
Wing-Back – Attack
On the left-side, I wanted a very similar job to be performed, however, with just a bit more attacking intent and from a higher & wider position, almost acting like a winger. Therefore, I felt this adaptation of the previous role was perfect, with the added instructions:
Anchor – Defend
From this position, I wanted someone who would, as the role name suggests, anchor the midfield and provide crucial protection to an otherwise exposed back-three/five. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:
Ball-Winning Midfielder – Support
In this position, I wanted a player who would be very aggressive and potent in defensive situations, especially transitions, whilst not giving up the team’s structure too much. That’s why I preferred the role in a slightly more advanced position, as opposed to a more crucial, deeper position. When we had the ball, I wanted him to move wider to support our left wing-back and to help create wide overloads, to free up space in the channels for the Pressing Forward to sit in. Finally, this role would help implement our idea of a dogged mid-block. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instruction:
Central Midfielder – Attack
In this position, I desired a player role that would have the freedom to move very high, and act as a secondary goal-threat. With this role behind the supporting Target forward, this player could crash the box and even help to create a 2v1 overload on the back post. Finally, when we don’t have the ball, I wanted this player to be dogged in their approach to win back the ball. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions below:
Target Forward – Support
As mentioned multiple times in this article, I wanted this player to win aerial duels and flick the ball onto a shorter, more advanced strike partner. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect! No added instructions.
Pressing Forward – Attack
In this role, I wanted a shorter, more agile player who could press the life out of the opposition, particularly on that left-side. From here, this player would be leading our press. When we have the ball, I wanted this player to have the freedom to roam from his position in order to find gaps in the opposition shape to expose. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instruction:
Opposition Instructions
To encourage our tilted pressing idea, I applied opposition instructions that’d see a more intense approach to our defensive shape on our left, and the opposition’s right side. This was the result:
Results
Sky Bet League Two
In League Two, mid-table-predicted Swindon Town finished top of the league, as we won the league in RECORD-BREAKING fashion; Our 34 league wins and 109 points were both record-breaking tallies in their respective categories! We also scored 122 goals, whilst conceding 51 – an unfortunately high number that’s compounded by the 14 penalties we conceded!
Domestic Cups
We put up incredible fighting efforts in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, as we beat Premier League opposition in both competitions, with impressive wins against Southampton, Brentford and Crystal Palace – 0-3, 1-0 and 3-2 respectively. However, we unfortunately fell to elite Premier League opposition in both competitions, as Chelsea and Man City were in our way in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup respectively. In the game against the former opposition, we actually went to Stamford Bridge and took the lead and took the Blues to penalties, however, we tasted heartbreak from the spot!
Bristol Street Motors Trophy
Our pain in those bigger competitions was recovered, however, as we won the BSM Trophy, following a STAGGERING 1-8 WIN VS BOLTON WANDERERS in the final! Harry the Hero for Swindon at Wembley!
Conclusion
If you’re bored of the same old Gegenpress tactics, and want to embrace your inner-Simeone, this tactic is the one for you! In testing with Swindon Town, this tactic won the league at a canter and beat multiple higher-league opposition in Cup competition! If you want a taste of this overperforming tactic, make sure to download the tactic using the link attached to this article and follow FM Blog and myself on our respective socials. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with this tactic on your saves! Thanks for reading!
