Tuchel Sends His Regards - P2P Snacks #21

Say hello to the 5221!

Hello my friends!

Welcome back to another issue of P2P Snacks. I left you last time with some thoughts and learnings about the game, and this week, I’m here to give you an updated tactic to deal with those 4321 ra…ehrm players. 

Before sharing the tactic, I must warn you: This tactic may feel uncomfortable. You are going to have to be decisive & clever with the ball. This isn’t a one size fits all tactic designed for anyone to play after just picking up the game. It’s a tactic that requires an understanding of space, pressure, and the art of the counter. 

JAPES! Why are you playing on the counter!? Whoa whoa, I said understanding of the art of the counter…not always playing on the counter…k onwards. 

As with most things FIFA, it is my belief that great tactics can pull some inspiration from real football. Say hello to our old friend Thomas Tuchel.

*Tuchel Image*

During his time at Chelsea, the tactic I most enjoyed was a 3412 formation with a roaming 10, and in previous FIFAs, I’ve used exactly a 3412. This year, that variation doesn’t seem to work the way I’d like it to, and I’ve grown to appreciate how the LWB/RWB moves vs. the LM/RM. Today’s tactic is a Tuchel-inspired 5221.

First, the squad: 

The squad in-game:

Tactics 

Defensive Style: Pressure after Possession Loss

Width: 29

Depth: 94

Build Up: Balanced

Chance Creation: Balanced

Width: 1

Players in Box: 1

Corners x FK: 1

Instructions (Note: If you don’t see a position listed, instructions are default)

LW: Stay Forward, Cut Inside, Get In Behind, Get Into The Box For Crosses

ST: Stay Central, Stay Forward, False Nine

RW: Stay Forward, Cut Inside, Get In Behind, Get Into The Box For Crosses

LCM: Cover Center

RCM: Cover Center

GK: Come for Crosses, Sweepa Keepa

Playstyle 

I choose chaos. Not really…but kinda. Your goal is to allow your opponent to believe they are in control of the match. There is a trend in FIFA that involves overlapping fullbacks. I’m a huge fan since it’s very common in real life, and much like in real life, this leaves large gaps when the fullbacks do go forward. This 5221 is set up to absorb the pressure and exploit the gaps. Attacking, you will need to be decisive in your ability to both play a through ball and tiki-taka your way through a back line. You also can’t be scared of a cross. 

During build-up play, you need to be willing to go backward, use RB/R1 to call your wingers back, and (importantly) play the big switch to the opposite fullback who will ALWAYS be open.

Defensively, you have all the numbers in the world to play hyper-aggressive, so go nuts, lunge into the tackle, and think about pressuring your opponent into a mistake. I’ve often felt that I was one mistake away from a disastrous performance with my aggressive manual defending. This formation sets up to have just enough players back to account for those issues. 

As I mentioned before, it lines up well against the 4321. You have 3 CBs to counter the 3 Forwards. You have two CMs that sit between the gaps the 3 CMs want to attack. You have a LWB & RWB to deal w/ any overlapping fullbacks. In the attack, you have an ST that sits in between the midfield and back line with the False Nine instruction. You have two wing-backs that sit in acres of space outside of your opponent’s LCM/RCM. You have a RW/LW that’s happy to exploit any attacking fullbacks. 

It works.

Other things of note:

• Your ST is your attacking engine. Smolarek is an ample passer and solid finisher, but most importantly, he’s a bull of a player that tenaciously covers acres of space. High aggression helps the press as well. You will need to substitute this player. 

• Your LW/RW are faux Strikers. These players need to be able to finish in a variety of different ways. You want them to be able to outrun your opposition, win a header, and all-around bully opposition fullbacks. Mbappe would probably be unreal in this role, but I refuse to use him.

• Learn Driven Through Balls. I’ve mentioned it before but LB+RB+Y to do a driven lobbed through ball will exploit the space when the CBs step up on your ST, which allows your LW/RW to run in behind.

• Your LWB/RWB will get tired. Make sure you have an adequate sub on the bench for them. They help to open up space and need to be able to run.

• Play trivela crosses from winger to winger. Seriously, it works so well.

• Your CMs need to be able to hold possession. They will get stuck in odd spots and losing the ball with them is the worst-case scenario in this formation.

• Your CMs can ideally be a goal threat. Kimmich supports the ST quite often and is more than willing to run into the box to score. Don’t worry about an easy transition. Your team will press and your CBs step up quickly to swarm attackers.

• DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH TIKI-TAKA. PLEASE DON’T. But Japes, you talked about it…I said you need to be able to play a tiki-taka style to beat the back line, but this formation is set up to exploit space. If you play too slowly, you’re going to allow your opponents to set up too easily defensively. You want them on edge.

As a final note bit of information, here are some goals(and notes under each) to show you how it can attack when played to full potential. 

• Note the quick exploitation of opposition fullbacks and the juicy trivela cross :)

• Mane got unlucky, but Stoichkov most certainly did not. Manual defending with your central CB is key to spring a quick AND VERY DIRECT counter.

• Notice how quickly shifting the point of attack to the wingback negates the midfield and opens up acres of space as your opponent’s defense has to shift and try to recover.

• While Stoichkov didn’t score, that is the sort of quick interplay you need when your opponent’s backline gets set. Your goal is to win the ball back quickly and play very direct on the attack.

• I could’ve played very directly to Smolarek to start with Mane, but my opponent manually switched to the CB to cover the run.

• Who doesn’t love a Roberto Carlos BANGER!? Power shots FTW!

As always, thank you for reading and enjoy your weekend!

Best,

Japes

P.s. Feel free to pop into Discord with any questions <3