Well two games into Euro 2008 we can all see the Dutch playing method, they’ve moved away from the 4-3-3 of past and adopted more of a 4-2-3-1. In a way this tactic is a lot better for them, you can defend with six player and attack with five. The tactic has very few flaws but leaves a lot of physical demands on the players especially on the Wingbacks who join every attack and then have to run back into their defensive roles. In FM you are probably looking at around four or five variations of the Dutch tactic and I’m going to recreate the Dutch magic into a good, solid FM tactic for the Arsenal’s, Barcelona’s and Holland’s of the FM world.
Trying to use Holland’s tactics in FM is a very difficult thing to do, as by no means are we going to get a cheat tactic that promises to win you every game, but what we can achieve is a tactic that replicates the Dutch style of play as well as FM will allow us to.

In Real Life

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Basic Formation

Holland deploy the 4-2-3-1, with the two full backs providing support in attack, the DMC’s and DC’s forming a solid base, the three attacking midfielders picking up the ball and running and the main striker holding the ball up and connecting the play. The formation is a very simple and very effective one that potentially can give you six players defending at any one time in your own half and six players attacking at any one time, the formation is perfect for a quick, short, counter attacking game.

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Defending

When the Dutch defend their formation naturally means that a lot of players have to track back from offensive positions, the wingbacks have to track back to cover any sort of attack from the oppositions wingers and the most central attacking midfielder has to pull back to make sure he picks up the ball if the team regain possession and launch a counter attack. The defensive midfielders will sit in front of the center backs forming a box midfield, one of the most secure tactics within the world of football, the opposition find it very difficult to get any sort of play down the middle of the field and are forced to play the ball wide and in turn this forces them away from the goal.
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Attacking/Counter Attacking

This is where the tactic comes into its own, with the fullbacks joining every attack you end up with six players in the final third of the pitch, a lot of play goes to these attacking fullbacks and this allows the striker and attacking midfielders to overload the box and around the box this will result in a lot of headed goals and a lot of passing and moving. The defensive midfielders can also act as play makers in this formation and generally they have three options; through ball to attacking fullbacks, short pass to one of the attacking midfielders or the long ball up to the striker. Each option is very effective and often deadly, with on coming support from midfield and defense there is never a lack of options while attacking and counter attacking.In the second part of our FM Tactics piece on Holland’s 4321 we look at the basic formation to play within FM, its a basic run over each position and the basic stats are needed for each player to get the best out of the tactic and the best out of your players

In FM
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The Flat Back four offers the Defensive protection needed in FM and it wont be caught out from stray wingers unlike a defense with two Wing Backs which can lead to wingers getting behind the defense. With the two Full Backs running forward it does mean they will attack in game much like the Dutch Full Backs do in real life. The two Full Backs have to be good crossers, hard working, hard tackling, good heading players.
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The Defensive Midfielders offer a lot of security from on coming attacking midfielders and they are rarely caught out, also a lot of the attacking play goes through the Defensive Midfielders spreading the ball out to the oncoming Fullbacks, the Attacking Midfielders and the odd through ball to the Striker. This Box Midfield is the most secure defensive option in FM and can be deadly going forward, two good passing, hard tackling, hard working, creative players are essential in this position. The Central Midfielder will act as the link between defending and attacking, this player has to be fast and have good stats for passing, dribbling, creativity and first touch. The Central Midfielder will make a lot of passes he may not score as many goals as you’d expect but he’ll be essential in the build up play to many of your teams goals.

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The two Wingers will be getting in with the goals and assists, they’ll see a lot of the ball and they are another essential cog in this machine. Good stats for Dribbling, First Touch, Finishing, Passing, Technique, Acceleration and Pace is essential, they’ll be cutting inside a lot and they’ll pick the ball up a lot while outside the box. The Striker will of course spear head the attack but they’ll also hold the ball up to allow support from Midfield and the Full Backs. Good stats for First Touch, Heading, Jumping, Strength, Finishing, Composure, Acceleration and Pace is needed to get the best out of this position.

I’ve tested this tactic out with a few teams and its been very successful, its definitely one that needs the right players to do the job and it wont settle for second best, expect A LOT of goals (1/3 coming from the corner tactic )