The tactics are a huge part of the road to success in Sports, and so is in Soccer Manager 2021. You are able to modify a bunch of different settings as well as choose your own formation. This guide should help you in understanding what everything means in the Soccer Manager 2021 Tactics section.
Player Roles in Soccer Manager 2021
Each position in your starting 11 is given a role, which is how you would like them to play. All players have a preferred role however, you are still able to put players into roles that are not in their preferences. Therefore, remember that this will definitely have an effect on how they perform in matches. Here are all the possible roles for each position and what they mean.
Goalkeeper
Keeper
Performs just as any keeper, with the responsibility of protecting the goal.
Modern Keeper
Basically a Sweeper Keeper. This is a goalie that is quick and fast and is able to come off the goal-line to clear the ball. This basically means that your goalkeeper plays both as the keeper and as the last man back. Very few goalkeepers are capable of this role.
Defense
General Defender
The basic role of a Center-Back. These defenders are well-balanced in terms of their defensive abilities
Stopper
As the name suggests, this type of Center-Back. will be the main tackle-maker, playing more defensive as the Center-Back.
Ball-playing defender
The opposite of the Stopper. This kind of CB will be looking to create a play with his strong passing abilities.
Full back
Plays a more defensive role and stays back while attacking.
Wing back
Plays a more offensive role and pushes forward to help out in attack
Midfield
Ball-Winning Midfielder
Plays a defensive role in the midfield, making the tackles in the middle of the pitch
Deep-Lying Playmaker
Tends to start the play deep in the midfield, playing passes forward from the deep midfield.
Box-to-Box Midfielder
Helps out in both attack and defense, moving up and down the pitch. Usually fits with a well-rounded midfielder with good stamina
General Midfielder
Similar to the General Defender, this role is a basic and balanced role for midfield players
Playmaker
Tends to control the midfield with his presence, supplying his surrounding teammates.
Advanced Playmaker
Focuses on providing chances for attacking players rather than for the entire team.
Wide Midfielder
Plays as a normal midfielder but positions far out wide. Tends to provide support in both attack and defense
Winger
Plays wide but focuses mainly on coming forward and providing for the attacking players.
Attack
Wide Forward
Plays like a winger, but focuses on scoring goals rather than providing assists. It is better to play the wide forward with an inverted foot, to allow for cutting in
Support Striker
Maintains a close partnership while providing full support to the main striker
General Forward
The basic role for an attacker, well balanced like the General Defender and Midfielder
Target Man
Stays up-front in a good position ready to receive the ball and score the goal
Finisher
Likes to push against the defensive line and beat the offside trap with pace
Deep-Lying Forward
Tends to drop back and play as the provider for other forwards and wingers
Team Instructions and Tactics in Soccer Manager 2021
Setting your team instructions will result in how your team will play football in a match. You will need to make sure that this will fit in with your formation and the quality of your players.
General
Width
Determines how far out wide your team plays. Bear in mind that playing with high width will leave space in the middle, and playing with low will leave space out wide. Try to cover these areas with players to sort out the problem.
Mentality
This will be the basic mentality of how your team will play. You should keep this balanced beforehand and then change in-game.
Tempo
Determines the overall speed of play. Thus, this will have an effect on how the speed at which the ball is moved. If you have high chemistry, a fast tempo will be quite effective.
Creativity
How strict you want to be with the players. High creativity will therefore result in players moving about playing adventurous passes. Whereas, Low creativity will mean that players will tend to stick to a position and play simple and safe passes.
Attack
Passing Style
Can be set to “Short”, “Direct”, “Longball” and “Mixed“. This will contribute to the creativity of the team and how they play whilst in possession.
Attacking Style
Relates to the are at which your team will attack. This can be down the middle, or down the flanks. Choose this setting based on your formation and how many players are in those attacking areas.
Forwards
Determines how your attackers will attack. They can either shoot whenever possible, work on getting the ball into the box, or have a mix of both. Shooting on sight is better is riskier, but can be good if your team is losing, working the ball into the box takes time, but is safer.
Wide Play
This determines how your wide players will get the ball central. They can either work the ball into the box, play early crosses, or play late byline crosses, or have a mix. Byline crosses work best when your wide players are inverted (use the opposite foot to the side on the pitch, such as a left-footed RW). Working the ball into the box is better for central play, whilst crosses work better with Target Man strikers.
Defense
Pressing
Can be set to your own area, your own half, or all over. The larger the pressing area, the more pressure there will be. However, a larger area to cover will also tire out your players. It is best to switch to pressing all over whilst your team is losing.
Tackling Style
Can be normal, hard, or aggressive. The stronger the tackle, the likelier it is to get the ball off the opponent, however, it is also a lot riskier. Aggressive tackling results in a higher number of fouls.
Back Line
Determines the position at which the backline sits. This can be high upfield, or deep downfield, or balanced. A high backline will be a lot more attacking but leaves a lot of space behind the defense for attackers to run into on the counter. A deep backline plays more defensive, allowing for less room for the opposition to attack. However, this will reduce the numbers in attack.
Did you find this Soccer Manager 2021 Tactics explanations useful? If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.
For more Mobile Gaming news and updates, join our WhatsApp group, Telegram Group, or Discord server. Also, follow us on Google News, Instagram, and Twitter for quick updates.
Thank you, for the help 🙂
Yari Verscharen seems to be world class Number 10 when playing 4-2-3-1 formation
Thanks mate 😊