When it comes to Football Manager 2024, there are numerous strategic options available to managers, spanning from high-pressing tactics like Gengenpress, designed to overwhelm the opposition with pressure, to possession-based strategies such as Tiki Taka, aiming to wear down opponents by maintaining ball possession.
Football Manager 2024 players have the flexibility to adapt their tactics on the fly, adjusting to the opposition or honing their expertise in a specific tactic with the goal of establishing an unbeatable playstyle for their club. Crafting tactics in Football Manager 2024 is an incredibly enjoyable process, allowing players to experiment with their teams and witness the results firsthand.
1 Park The Bus
Defend First Attack Later
- Considered the most defensive tactic in the game
- Ideal for securing leads or holding onto a draw
- Thrives best in 5-defender formations (5-3-2, 5-2-2-1, 5-2-3, 5-4-1)
The term 'Park The Bus' was coined by legendary manager José Mourinho after facing an extremely defensive Tottenham Hotspur team during his initial tenure at Chelsea in 2004. Since then, 'Park The Bus' has evolved into its own tactic within Football Manager, embodying the concept of packing a multitude of defenders in front of the goal to stifle the opposition's attacks.
Despite its reputation for being a negative style of play, 'Park The Bus' can offer surprising enjoyment and effectiveness, particularly in situations where maintaining a lead is crucial or when securing a draw is imperative. The tension that arises when employing 'Park The Bus' is palpable, with the opposition likely dominating possession. This creates an exhilarating atmosphere as managers celebrate each defensive block, making every rare attacking opportunity a thrilling event.
2 Wing Play
Crosses Into The Box And Shots From Wingers
- Relies on proficient wingers
- Benefits tall and strong strikers
- Most effective in 4-3-3, 5-2-3, or 3-4-3 formations
In global football, many wingers prefer cutting inside to take shots, prompting managers across top leagues to opt for inverted wingers over traditional wide players. This preference transcends into Football Manager 2024, where most wingers excel as inverted wingers or inside forwards.
One of the appealing aspects of the Wing Play tactic is its adaptability to various types of wingers, accommodating outside wingers who aim to beat their marker and deliver crosses to tall strikers, as well as wingers who favor cutting inside and unleashing shots from distance. As the name suggests, Wing Play revolves around supplying the ball to the wingers, granting them the freedom to express themselves, making it imperative for the team's striker to possess clinical finishing abilities for this tactic to thrive.
3 Vertical Tiki Taka
Direct And Aggressive Form Of Tiki Taka
- An excellent tactic for aggressive, attacking teams
- Susceptible to being countered if players lack skill
- Thrives in narrow formations such as 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-2-2
Tiki Taka stands as one of the most renowned modern football tactics, and Vertical Tiki Taka amalgamates old-fashioned direct elements with the slick and stylish Tiki Taka approach, emphasizing rapid passing to effortlessly unpick defensive setups, evident in Football Manager 2024 matches.
The concept revolves around prioritizing direct passes over the usual Tiki Taka's emphasis on short passing, representing a riskier and high-intensity approach that necessitates players with exceptional stamina and technical attributes. When executed proficiently, Vertical Tiki Taka presents an enthralling and formidable tactical style.
4 Tiki Taka
Short And Precise Passing
- Showcases beautiful passing sequences
- Favors unselfish players
- Ideal for any 4-defender formation
Celebrated for its effectiveness during Pep Guardiola's tenure at FC Barcelona, Tiki Taka remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing tactics in global football and Football Manager 2024. Tiki Taka revolves around channeling attacking play through concise and swift passes, involving numerous triangular passing patterns and strategic traps to disorient defenders, resulting in a highly gratifying gameplay experience when successfully executed.
Managers should seek to recruit players with a high teamwork stat and possessing a team-focused mentality suited for unselfish play, as Tiki Taka demands collective synchronization at all times. While allowing room for one or two players to take on their markers, the emphasis lies on prioritizing passing, necessitating players with exceptional passing and decision-making abilities.
5 Gegenpress
Extremely High-Intensity Playstyle
- Emphasizes high pressing in the attacking phase
- Requires players with exceptional stamina and mental attributes
- Thrives in 4-defender formations, notably 4-2-3-1
The German Gegenpress made a resounding impact in the English Premier League when Jürgen Klopp introduced the tactic during his tenure at Liverpool. The hallmark of Gegenpress is its relentless high pressing, suffocating the opposition and effectively transforming attackers into the team's first line of defense. Pairing high-flying wing-backs and center-backs with adept passing abilities fortifies the effectiveness of Gegenpress, establishing it as one of the most potent and menacing tactics in Football Manager 2024.
Managers can revel in experimenting with Gegenpress, adaptable to nearly any 4-defender formation, provided the attackers maintain a relentless pressing stance. The build-up play under Gegenpress is dynamic and clinical, enabling the team to recapture the ball high up the field, necessitating efficient conversion of each opportunity for optimal performance. Furthermore, it's crucial to note that the defenders should possess pace, as Gegenpress employs a high defensive line, making the team susceptible to swift opposition breakthroughs without agile defenders.