It’s been far too long since I’ve done a tactical analysis post (since my analysis of my 4-5-1-0 with Eibar in fact). These type of write-ups used to make up the majority of my FM writing, but as this year has gone on I have enjoyed the saves I’ve been playing so much that I’ve tried to blend both the tactics and the story aspects together. However, it’s now time to go back to the tactical articles, to look at and disect the new tactic I’ve been using in the Leverkusen save, a 1-2-4-1-2-0. In effect, it’s a strikerless 3-4-1-2, but with a Libero instead of a third centre back.
It was part of not only a tactical shift, but a stylistic shift within the club. Over the first three seasons, I’d used possession based tactics in an asymmetrical 4-3-1-2 and a 4-4-2 diamond, which passed forward aggressively, but then probed around the opposition’s box, looking for a way in, and being patient. I wanted to move away from this somewhat, moving to a more direct, counter attacking approach, with a very fast tempo. It’s highly inspired by my recent research of the 1991 Red Star Belgrade team.