Tactics Gegenpress 4-2-2-2

[Rav44]

First time I have ever made my own tactic. Usually just copy everyone else’s.

However I have been inspired by listening to Jessie Marsch’s coaching philosphy and it is very similar to the coaching philosphy I believe in.

It is based on intense pressing together and fast attacking football through the middle. None of this boring backwards passing with no point in the end play. We press to score goals not to win possession and therefore we want to win the ball up the pitch as high as possible and score as quick as possible. Often the AI just cannot cope with 6 players attacking through the middle.
 

What is needed?
 

Defence - we play a high line to try and close the opposition in. Therefore the defenders must have good positioning and pace. I play one ball playing defender so he must have good passing. The wing backs must be quick and have good stamina because they get tired very quickly.

All midfielders and and forwards in my tactic were required to have a minimum of 15 teamwork to help the tactic work and will ensure they all press together. I was lucky that I had money to spend so could get these players but if you cannot afford it this it the attribute that you should look for first in players.

BBM’s need teamwork, passing , decisions and stamina.

SS’s really thrive in this tactic. I choose this role as part of their role is to close down opposition defenders. They need teamwork, movement , shooting. Pace and decisions are also useful attributes.

I choose pressing forwards up front as obviously their main job is to press. Teamwork, pace , movement and shooting are required. Aerial can also be useful.

During the games I would normally make 5 subs around the 65 min mark as high energy and stamina is required. 

got about 10 goals from corners.

Results

I tested it with Newcastle. Obviously I had a lot of money to spend but it is still the best tactic I have used. First 10 games I was still tinkering with the tactic but after that it was pretty much plug and play

player performances.

As mentioned earlier the SS’s perform really well in this formation. Bruno Fernandes in particular is outstanding.

I am going to keep playing till I win the champions league with Newcastle after which I will choose a different team to test with. Happy to receive any feedback of tests.  Enjoy!

Edited April 10, 2023 by Rav44

[Lux]

Looks like a old Brazil tactics. Great effort. Thanks

[Mike Dodgson]

@Rav44 nice work. Going to try this.

What recommendations do you have for the GK?

Is Vogt any good? His stats always look good but I’ve never bought him!

[Rav44]

3 hours ago, Mike Dodgson said:

@Rav44 nice work. Going to try this.

What recommendations do you have for the GK?

Is Vogt any good? His stats always look good but I’ve never bought him!

Thanks. Originally I was looking to play a sweeper keeper as my defence is so high so I need him to come out. However when I played Vlad as that in the few fixtures he thought he was Zidane and just made too many mistakes. When I switched him to GK he was a a solid as a rock. I would still recommend getting a keeper with above 10 on pace as it they will still need that but there are not many quick keepers about.

[Rav44]

Just now, Rav44 said:

Thanks. Originally I was looking to play a sweeper keeper as my defence is so high so I need him to come out. However when I played Vlad as that in the few fixtures he thought he was Zidane and just made too many mistakes. When I switched him to GK he was a a solid as a rock. I would still recommend getting a keeper with above 10 on pace as it they will still need that but there are not many quick keepers about.

Should also say he is fairly cheap so that helps spend money on other players. I’m sure everyone know this but you can adjust your transfer budgets between transfer funds and wages to help with the kitty.

[nanodrive]

Push full-backs 1, 1 step high, catch two strikers out to the side.  Then your form will immediately put pressure on your opponent.

[Mike Dodgson]

Tried this out as Newcastle too:

A very very good tactic with some beautiful football played and very effective winning the ball back high up the field.

[Schwantz34]

Looks effective so well done to you, genuinely 👏 

I can't use it though. It simply gives me too many painful reminders of Jesse Marsch ripping apart everything good that Bielsa did at Leeds with his penis ball tactics. I'd have nightmares 🤣

Edited April 12, 2023 by Schwantz34

[Darabeel]

21 hours ago, Schwantz34 said:

Looks effective so well done to you, genuinely 👏 

I can't use it though. It simply gives me too many painful reminders of Jesse Marsch ripping apart everything good that Bielsa did at Leeds with his penis ball tactics. I'd have nightmares 🤣

Just saw this thread and was going to say the same thing 😂

i just can’t bring myself to test this even though it looks really fun to try!

[DutchTony]

I know it's only a friendly but WOW!!

[DutchTony]

Season 1 with West Ham and the league title came down to the final day.

I needed to beat Bournemouth at home - which was inevitable as I'd only dropped 2 points at home all season, but I also needed Many City to lose or draw at home to Newcastle...

At half time the live table showed me winning the league on goal difference as City were drawing 0-0 👏

Sadly 2 second half goals from City won them the game, and to add insult to injury Bournemouth scored from a direct free kick late on to snatch a draw.

We won the other 3 cups we were involved in...

Our home league form was great, however our away form should have been better. This will need to improve in order to win the title next season.

Home

Away

My thoughts on this tactic - thoroughly enjoyable. As Mike Dodgson said, it's very good at winning the ball back high up the pitch and we did this often. Also I would add that we never got smashed in any of the 60 odd games we played and we were always competitive. Usually playing as a team like West Ham there's always some games like City or Liverpool away where you just get done 3-0 or 4-0 and don't really get a sniff at the opponent's goal. With this tactic I felt we always had a chance to win. For example we lost away to Arsenal which I thought was harsh.

And the same against United where we had 4 clear cut chances but only scored 1 goal.

Anyway I really really like this tactic and I'm definitely going to play another season at least with it.

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by DutchTony

[Mike Dodgson]

Nice! What a season!

What did your starting 11 look like?

 

[DutchTony]

1 hour ago, Mike Dodgson said:

Nice! What a season!

What did your starting 11 look like?

 

My 2nd team are the subs for 1st team and vice versa.

Bargain of the season - Goretzka. Basically used Carrasco's 17.25M release clause so paid 11.5M for him with 50% sell on. After joining me he was immediately valued around 50M - then did a trade with him for Goretzka 👏

Sale of the season - Rice to City for 109M plus 15% sell on. Can't wait for them to sell him 😂

Surprise of the season - Bowen. 23 goals and 23 assists in all competitions for the season. Amazing.

[DutchTony]

Day 1 of season 2 and Fernandes is only valued at 41M. Time to get haggling 😁

They wanted 59M so I offered 39M.

Then they lowered their asking price to 50M so I lowered my offer to 33M.

Then they lowered it again to 43M so I offered a straight swap of Vlasic plus 40% and we had a deal 👏

Possibly bargain of the 2nd season already... Maybe I could have pushed a little further but didn't want to risk it.

I believe I only need 1 deadly striker to play alongside Toney and the title will be in the bag...

[Mike Dodgson]

Very nice work mate!

I've just ended my 2nd season:

Also won the FA Cup and got beat in the Champions League final on penalties to Real Madrid.

Managed to pick up Nunez from Liverpool for 22m, hardly played the season before and is still 25 so I've got high hopes for him and Werner upfront.

Do you make wholesale changes in the 2nd half like the OP suggested?

[DutchTony]

1 hour ago, Mike Dodgson said:

Very nice work mate!

I've just ended my 2nd season:

Also won the FA Cup and got beat in the Champions League final on penalties to Real Madrid.

Managed to pick up Nunez from Liverpool for 22m, hardly played the season before and is still 25 so I've got high hopes for him and Werner upfront.

Do you make wholesale changes in the 2nd half like the OP suggested?

Great stuff! Only 1 loss in the league 👏

Yes but that's how I always use my subs which I believe I mentioned somewhere in the latest Welcome to Wrexham tactic. I will normally make changes somewhere between 60-65 minutes and I will use all my subs at once. For this tactic 5 of the front 6 will be changed. If I need a goal then 1 BBM will be unchanged. If I'm winning then 1 striker will be left unchanged. That all depends on fitness of players of course but that's usually how I do it.

[DutchTony]

@Mike Dodgson Did you always play on attacking or did you ever go control or balanced depending on who you're playing?

[Mike Dodgson]

1 hour ago, DutchTony said:

@Mike Dodgson Did you always play on attacking or did you ever go control or balanced depending on who you're playing?

No mate, never change anything apart from the substitutions 👍

[DutchTony]

22 hours ago, Mike Dodgson said:

Very nice work mate!

I've just ended my 2nd season:

Also won the FA Cup and got beat in the Champions League final on penalties to Real Madrid.

Managed to pick up Nunez from Liverpool for 22m, hardly played the season before and is still 25 so I've got high hopes for him and Werner upfront.

Do you make wholesale changes in the 2nd half like the OP suggested?

I'm conceding so many goals away. May have to start going balanced for away games. It's costing me silly points...

 

This 1 was just infuriating 😠

Edited April 18, 2023 by DutchTony

[Mike Dodgson]

What is your back 5 like? Any recent signings so they're not properly gelled yet?

Approaching mid-way in the 3rd season:

[DutchTony]

47 minutes ago, Mike Dodgson said:

What is your back 5 like? Any recent signings so they're not properly gelled yet?

Approaching mid-way in the 3rd season:

My team is really strong now and I have all relationships possible - 16.

A Team

B Team

Obviously I won everything but I can't stop leaking goals or dropping silly points away. I think I'll stop for now anyway as it would be very hard to make my team any stronger and I doubt it would make a difference. I'd probably win everything again but still have those infuriating away games here and there that make me want to rip someone's head off 😂

[Mike Dodgson]

10 minutes ago, DutchTony said:

My team is really strong now and I have all relationships possible - 16.

A Team

B Team

Obviously I won everything but I can't stop leaking goals or dropping silly points away. I think I'll stop for now anyway as it would be very hard to make my team any stronger and I doubt it would make a difference. I'd probably win everything again but still have those infuriating away games here and there that make me want to rip someone's head off 😂

Ha! I’d snap your hand off for a quadruple, 115 goals scored with 37 conceded. Still less than a goal a game - I think you just need to accept conceding is inevitable 😂

[DutchTony]

1 hour ago, Mike Dodgson said:

Ha! I’d snap your hand off for a quadruple, 115 goals scored with 37 conceded. Still less than a goal a game - I think you just need to accept conceding is inevitable 😂

That's a very fair point when you put it like that 🤣🤣🤣

[Mike Dodgson]

Finished my 3rd season:

All in all a good season, but I can't help feel a little disappointed.

When we got to Feb/March, I had Bellingham, Tchouameni, Bowen & Son all injured, so I was unable to rotate the subs like normal (which is so so important on this tactic) and we simply couldn't press like we're used to, because everyone was so tired.

I've realised I need a really top quality striker - time for some shopping!

[Mike Dodgson]

This is still by far the best tactic I have tried - when you follow the guide the OP has given in terms of stats, specifically Teamwork.

I have managed to get the England job too, so will be hoping to replicate the success in the next major tournament.

Huge thanks to @Rav44!

[Rav44]

1 minute ago, Mike Dodgson said:

This is still by far the best tactic I have tried - when you follow the guide the OP has given in terms of stats, specifically Teamwork.

I have managed to get the England job too, so will be hoping to replicate the success in the next major tournament.

Huge thanks to @Rav44!

Glad people have enjoyed it. Doing a 1k challenge at the moment so not using it but will come back to it soon

[Schwantz34]

Still too Jesse Marsch for me.

Can't bring myself to try it 🤣

[Mike Dodgson]

14 hours ago, Schwantz34 said:

Still too Jesse Marsch for me.

Can't bring myself to try it 🤣

Maybe it will be some form of therapy; proof by playing the system he got so badly wrong is actually viable, albeit virtually... but it might start the healing process!

Honest mate the tactic is so good, so long as the instructions are followed, it plays some of the most enjoyable football I've seen on this game and is so reliable. It's changed the way I've played the game by completely dismissing players who have low teamwork.

[Schwantz34]

7 hours ago, Mike Dodgson said:

Maybe it will be some form of therapy; proof by playing the system he got so badly wrong is actually viable, albeit virtually... but it might start the healing process!

Honest mate the tactic is so good, so long as the instructions are followed, it plays some of the most enjoyable football I've seen on this game and is so reliable. It's changed the way I've played the game by completely dismissing players who have low teamwork.

Oh I often look for teamwork as a first thing to sort. It kills teams having a couple of low ones unless you're a super team that can carry them.

I may bite the bullet but still tramatised from the real experience as a Leeds fan.

[Mike Dodgson]

Ended the 4th season:

 

The F.A cup final defeat was annoying, my first choice support strikers (both of them) and central midfielders (both of them) were injured.

As I’d mentioned in my earlier post, I’d managed to get the England job and the first tournament was the World Cup…

And then…

Thank you again to @Rav44 for the tactic. My most enjoyable save for many years.

I’ve a few players coming to the end of their careers or simply fading slowly - Kyle Walker (brilliant in this due to his high pace, passing and positioning), Goretzka, Salah, Werner. I’m tempted to try some of my youth that have been out on loan for the past couple of seasons to make it a bit different and more of a challenge.