Let me first state that I'm by no means an expert on the subject but I do my fair bit of reading and an even fairer bit of testing and trying out interesting and perhaps unorthodox formations and combinations, those following my current 1KC career probably know what I'm talking about. These findings come from my years of experience playing FMM/H careers and testgames. You may have differing ideas or opinions and that's great. Please share yours too so we can have a chat about the pros and cons of either one. I've always tried to keep things as simple as possible, easy for me and easy for the reader/listener, after all the game of football is a simple one, isn't it? The possibilities with these player role combinations in FMM are endless but here are 10 player role combos that have proven very useful to me over the years and I'd like to share with you.
- Player Role Combinations -
Defenders
We have the Limited Defender (LD) who tends to simply clear the ball as quick and far away from goal as he can, we have the Central Defender (CD) who will distribute the ball to nearby teammates which helps keeping possession in the backline, and then there is the Ball Playing Defender (BPD) who will look to ignite (counter-)attacking opportunities by playing through-balls in to players wide or in front of him in midfield. LDs ensure you don't get caught at the back but turn over possession to opponents quicker. CDs alleviate pressure by keeping the ball and help attacks by distributing the ball to a BPD or midfield, but also risk getting caught in possession. BPDs on the other hand focus mainly on possession of the ball and creative passing, which can be the riskiest yet the most rewarding. All 3 have their pros and cons but when it comes to pairing them up the only combination I tend to avoid is the LD + BPD since LDs play direct and clear the ball asap and BPDs need/rely on possession to express their creative intentions, so those generally won't work well together. There's perhaps a case to be made for pairing 2 BPDs but that's a lot of creativity in defence which becomes as creative as it is leaky. I think it's important to prioritize on keeping your defence solid first. Finding the right mix and balance between a solid defence and one with sufficient supporting/attacking intentions is key and below are 3 examples of player role combinations that have worked wonders for me.
1. CD + LD + CD
A simple combo with 2 CDs who play a short passing game and a sandwiched LD who clears the ball from any danger. Works very well with just 3 CDs too so you could opt for that one too as an alternative, or a main. It can be a solid defensive line with the proper players in place.
2. WB + CD + BPD + CD + WB
A fairly attack-minded defensive line with 2 WBs who constantly seek to make forward runs and a BPD in the middle who plays the ball either wide to innitiate attacks or further upfield to the midline. Very effective too when you are playing with IFs on the wings, who tend to cut inside, it enhances good link play and overlaps between the pair.
3. FB + CD + CD + FB
A pretty standard or conservative 4. No bells or whistles, just 4 out-and-out defenders who're there to do a job. Also very useful with simple Wide Midfielders (WM) in combo with the FBs. A defensive player behind an offensive one. Traditional pairing but stable.
Midfielders
Midfield is a little more complicated. These players need to link play, which basically means they have to protect the defenders and provide support for the backline, which is essential, but also create chances for the forwards and support those higher up the pitch. Or simply put, they have to both defend and attack. So any player role combination in midfield I opt for I want at least 1 player who is a little more defensive-minded and 1 player who is a little more attack-minded. If we don't balance this out properly opponents will simply run through midfield unchallenged and create tonnes of scoring opportunities for their forwards. The positions DM, CM, AMC basically determine how well and effectively players are able to perform their designated role but I generally use a Central Midfielder (CM) for defensive duties, sitting deep, and an Advanced Playmaker (AP) for attacking duties higher up the pitch. A Deep Lying Playmaker (DLP) holds position and keeps the ball but creates chances too so I tend to use him or a Box To Box Midfielder (BBM) for both defensive and/or attacking duties. I only go with a Ball Winning Midfielder (BWM) in combination with 2 other midfielders (1 def-minded and 1 att-minded) because he runs/chases all over the place and generally doesn't hold position. This to ensure a balanced midfield so in my view he works best in a triangular shaped midfield combo such as 2 CMs + 1 AMC or 2 CMs + 1 DM as you can see below in 3 examples of player role combinations that work for me.
4. W + CM + BBM + W
The Ws basically need to fulfill their attacking purposes and the CM and BBM their defensive ones. The BBM goes from one box to the other so he provides support to the frontline when in possession. And the exact opposite when not in possession. Fancy? No. Useful? Yes.
5. AM Triangle CM + DLP + AP
Probably my most used triangle combo in midfield. the CM does a little bit of everything but mainly support the backline. The DLP holds the ball up and does the esential link play and the AP is the creative force here and makes necessary forwards runs to support the at times isolated forward(s), especially when playing 3 midfielders. It's in my opinion one of the most balanced combos.
6. DM Triangle CM + AP + BWM
In this triangle the CM is very important since he keeps possession and provides support to the AP who otherwise won't function or at least not as effective. Also, with a BWM in DM spot, who is known to run around the pitch like a headless chicken on a mission, OK, he does win the ball and re-gain possession for the team and we appreciate that, but it's vital to count on a CM for defensive duties as well or this combo would soon become a gaping whole in midfield.
Forwards
This line is perhaps the most complicated one to figure out of all since they depend heavily on how well both defence and midfield peform their tasks, and their supporting duties as to provide enough balls and chances to the forwards. But to keep it as simple as possible when pairing them up I basically group them up into those who create and those who score. One depends on the other so this makes sense. Certain forwards can do both (create and score) while others focus mainly on bringing other teammates into play. Whereas other forwards do the opposite and mainly focus on the scoring part and do very little to provide chances for their teammates. When I look at the 10 available player roles for attackers I see the following as mainly creators: Defensive Forward (DF), Deep Lying Forward (DLF), Advanced Playmaker (AP), Trequartista (T) and Winger (W). For goals I go for scorers: Advanced Forward (AF) and Poacher (P). It obviously doesn't mean that 'creators' don't score and 'scorers' don't create but when pairing them up it helps to group them up in order to find effective combinations up front. The other 3 forwards do a lot of both in my set ups, Inside Forward (IF), Complete Forward (CF) and Target Man (TM). Every effective player role combination up front needs a healthy mix of creators and scorers who are able to play to each other's strengths in order to be deadly in front of the opponent's goal. Below are a few examples of successful player role combinations that have created and scored many goals for my teams.
7. IF + AP + P + IF
An effective combo if you don't really care where the goals are coming from. If your back and midlines are well organized this is a threat to any opponent. IFs that cut inside, a P who directs the ball towards goal at every opportunity he gets, an AP who creates and provides deadly passes. Pure joy to watch when this combo clicks. And click it will.
8. W + CF + TM + W
Not my favorite combo to be honest but it does work. I generally don't often use a TM in my formation but they're known to work very well with Ws on the flanks and a TM's strength and aerial ability are key. The CF may be a surprise but the best ones know no mercy. Creates, provides, supports, scores. Maybe an odd couple to some but they certainly do their job.
9. DLF + AF
They don't come more balanced than this. Creator: DLF. Scorer: AF. That's the plan. Provided the midline is in place with possibly an AP or CMs or an earlier mentioned midfield combo, these two can both create and score when needed. The players have got to fit their (player) role tho.
10. AP + P + T
One of my favorite striking partnerships. The T a.k.a 'the drifter' creates the needed space in opponent's defence, the AP passes the ball to P who rams it into the net. Football really is a simple game. With the right players it's a joy to behold. The T tho is known to add a lot to attack and basically zero to defence. So there's a risk playing him but a good T can be a tremendous asset up front. Risk vs reward, but it's more reward than risk in my opinion.
Final Words
Please keep in mind that not every player is able to perform a certain task so you have to make sure that when you assign a specific role to a player that he's got the proper attributes to back it up and make the player role combination work. It only takes one unfitting player or misplaced role to make a certain combination completely fall apart which creates a chain reaction and affects the other player role combinations as well as the entire team performance.
I hope this guide helped you have a general understanding of what's needed to make a combination/formation work or that it at least had an inspirational effect on some of you. These are just a few examples, the sky is the limit, so do your homework, enjoy trying out new and interesting combinations and most important of all, happy testing.
A opinion to express? Information to share? A question to ask? Please drop a comment. Thank you Vibers!
You can post now and register later.
If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.
Let me first state that I'm by no means an expert on the subject but I do my fair bit of reading and an even fairer bit of testing and trying out interesting and perhaps unorthodox formations and combinations, those following my current 1KC career probably know what I'm talking about. These findings come from my years of experience playing FMM/H careers and testgames. You may have differing ideas or opinions and that's great. Please share yours too so we can have a chat about the pros and cons of either one. I've always tried to keep things as simple as possible, easy for me and easy for the reader/listener, after all the game of football is a simple one, isn't it? The possibilities with these player role combinations in FMM are endless but here are 10 player role combos that have proven very useful to me over the years and I'd like to share with you.
- Player Role Combinations -
Defenders
We have the Limited Defender (LD) who tends to simply clear the ball as quick and far away from goal as he can, we have the Central Defender (CD) who will distribute the ball to nearby teammates which helps keeping possession in the backline, and then there is the Ball Playing Defender (BPD) who will look to ignite (counter-)attacking opportunities by playing through-balls in to players wide or in front of him in midfield. LDs ensure you don't get caught at the back but turn over possession to opponents quicker. CDs alleviate pressure by keeping the ball and help attacks by distributing the ball to a BPD or midfield, but also risk getting caught in possession. BPDs on the other hand focus mainly on possession of the ball and creative passing, which can be the riskiest yet the most rewarding. All 3 have their pros and cons but when it comes to pairing them up the only combination I tend to avoid is the LD + BPD since LDs play direct and clear the ball asap and BPDs need/rely on possession to express their creative intentions, so those generally won't work well together. There's perhaps a case to be made for pairing 2 BPDs but that's a lot of creativity in defence which becomes as creative as it is leaky. I think it's important to prioritize on keeping your defence solid first. Finding the right mix and balance between a solid defence and one with sufficient supporting/attacking intentions is key and below are 3 examples of player role combinations that have worked wonders for me.
1. CD + LD + CD
A simple combo with 2 CDs who play a short passing game and a sandwiched LD who clears the ball from any danger. Works very well with just 3 CDs too so you could opt for that one too as an alternative, or a main. It can be a solid defensive line with the proper players in place.
2. WB + CD + BPD + CD + WB
A fairly attack-minded defensive line with 2 WBs who constantly seek to make forward runs and a BPD in the middle who plays the ball either wide to innitiate attacks or further upfield to the midline. Very effective too when you are playing with IFs on the wings, who tend to cut inside, it enhances good link play and overlaps between the pair.
3. FB + CD + CD + FB
A pretty standard or conservative 4. No bells or whistles, just 4 out-and-out defenders who're there to do a job. Also very useful with simple Wide Midfielders (WM) in combo with the FBs. A defensive player behind an offensive one. Traditional pairing but stable.
Midfielders
Midfield is a little more complicated. These players need to link play, which basically means they have to protect the defenders and provide support for the backline, which is essential, but also create chances for the forwards and support those higher up the pitch. Or simply put, they have to both defend and attack. So any player role combination in midfield I opt for I want at least 1 player who is a little more defensive-minded and 1 player who is a little more attack-minded. If we don't balance this out properly opponents will simply run through midfield unchallenged and create tonnes of scoring opportunities for their forwards. The positions DM, CM, AMC basically determine how well and effectively players are able to perform their designated role but I generally use a Central Midfielder (CM) for defensive duties, sitting deep, and an Advanced Playmaker (AP) for attacking duties higher up the pitch. A Deep Lying Playmaker (DLP) holds position and keeps the ball but creates chances too so I tend to use him or a Box To Box Midfielder (BBM) for both defensive and/or attacking duties. I only go with a Ball Winning Midfielder (BWM) in combination with 2 other midfielders (1 def-minded and 1 att-minded) because he runs/chases all over the place and generally doesn't hold position. This to ensure a balanced midfield so in my view he works best in a triangular shaped midfield combo such as 2 CMs + 1 AMC or 2 CMs + 1 DM as you can see below in 3 examples of player role combinations that work for me.
4. W + CM + BBM + W
The Ws basically need to fulfill their attacking purposes and the CM and BBM their defensive ones. The BBM goes from one box to the other so he provides support to the frontline when in possession. And the exact opposite when not in possession. Fancy? No. Useful? Yes.
5. AM Triangle CM + DLP + AP
Probably my most used triangle combo in midfield. the CM does a little bit of everything but mainly support the backline. The DLP holds the ball up and does the esential link play and the AP is the creative force here and makes necessary forwards runs to support the at times isolated forward(s), especially when playing 3 midfielders. It's in my opinion one of the most balanced combos.
6. DM Triangle CM + AP + BWM
In this triangle the CM is very important since he keeps possession and provides support to the AP who otherwise won't function or at least not as effective. Also, with a BWM in DM spot, who is known to run around the pitch like a headless chicken on a mission, OK, he does win the ball and re-gain possession for the team and we appreciate that, but it's vital to count on a CM for defensive duties as well or this combo would soon become a gaping whole in midfield.
Forwards
This line is perhaps the most complicated one to figure out of all since they depend heavily on how well both defence and midfield peform their tasks, and their supporting duties as to provide enough balls and chances to the forwards. But to keep it as simple as possible when pairing them up I basically group them up into those who create and those who score. One depends on the other so this makes sense. Certain forwards can do both (create and score) while others focus mainly on bringing other teammates into play. Whereas other forwards do the opposite and mainly focus on the scoring part and do very little to provide chances for their teammates. When I look at the 10 available player roles for attackers I see the following as mainly creators: Defensive Forward (DF), Deep Lying Forward (DLF), Advanced Playmaker (AP), Trequartista (T) and Winger (W). For goals I go for scorers: Advanced Forward (AF) and Poacher (P). It obviously doesn't mean that 'creators' don't score and 'scorers' don't create but when pairing them up it helps to group them up in order to find effective combinations up front. The other 3 forwards do a lot of both in my set ups, Inside Forward (IF), Complete Forward (CF) and Target Man (TM). Every effective player role combination up front needs a healthy mix of creators and scorers who are able to play to each other's strengths in order to be deadly in front of the opponent's goal. Below are a few examples of successful player role combinations that have created and scored many goals for my teams.
7. IF + AP + P + IF
An effective combo if you don't really care where the goals are coming from. If your back and midlines are well organized this is a threat to any opponent. IFs that cut inside, a P who directs the ball towards goal at every opportunity he gets, an AP who creates and provides deadly passes. Pure joy to watch when this combo clicks. And click it will.
8. W + CF + TM + W
Not my favorite combo to be honest but it does work. I generally don't often use a TM in my formation but they're known to work very well with Ws on the flanks and a TM's strength and aerial ability are key. The CF may be a surprise but the best ones know no mercy. Creates, provides, supports, scores. Maybe an odd couple to some but they certainly do their job.
9. DLF + AF
They don't come more balanced than this. Creator: DLF. Scorer: AF. That's the plan. Provided the midline is in place with possibly an AP or CMs or an earlier mentioned midfield combo, these two can both create and score when needed. The players have got to fit their (player) role tho.
10. AP + P + T
One of my favorite striking partnerships. The T a.k.a 'the drifter' creates the needed space in opponent's defence, the AP passes the ball to P who rams it into the net. Football really is a simple game. With the right players it's a joy to behold. The T tho is known to add a lot to attack and basically zero to defence. So there's a risk playing him but a good T can be a tremendous asset up front. Risk vs reward, but it's more reward than risk in my opinion.
Final Words
Please keep in mind that not every player is able to perform a certain task so you have to make sure that when you assign a specific role to a player that he's got the proper attributes to back it up and make the player role combination work. It only takes one unfitting player or misplaced role to make a certain combination completely fall apart which creates a chain reaction and affects the other player role combinations as well as the entire team performance.
I hope this guide helped you have a general understanding of what's needed to make a combination/formation work or that it at least had an inspirational effect on some of you. These are just a few examples, the sky is the limit, so do your homework, enjoy trying out new and interesting combinations and most important of all, happy testing.
A opinion to express? Information to share? A question to ask? Please drop a comment. Thank you Vibers!
Link to comment
Share on other sites