The Barcelona Method in Lower Divisions feat. Xavi García Pimienta

Women’s football isn’t a simplified version of the men’s game — it’s a tactical laboratory. In this episode, we explore why the women’s game often demonstrates greater collective intelligence, discipline, and creativity than its male equivalent. Guided by the principles of Sarina Wiegman, the only coach to lead two nations to World Cup finals, we break down how tactical philosophies differ across the elite landscape — from Spain’s positional mastery and Barcelona Femení’s fluid rotations, to England’s intelligent directness under Wiegman, and the Netherlands’ adaptable, opponent-specific flexibility.Discover how these contrasting styles shape the game’s identity — and how to replicate them in Football Manager 26 using the new dual-phase tactical system. Learn why set pieces are more decisive, pressing is more coordinated, and transition moments define success.This is football, stripped of assumptions and built on intelligence.---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5

Tired of rigid formations that can't adapt? Paulo Fonseca's systems from Roma to Olympique Lyonnais have mastered the art of tactical transformation - a 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a devastating 3-4-2-1 in possession, creating numerical advantages across the pitch simultaneously.Even when faced with massive squad turnover and budget constraints, Fonseca imposes his signature style: fluidity, controlled possession, and relentless pressing to make his sides easy to identify. His philosophy proves that tactical sophistication doesn't require unlimited resources - it requires intelligent positioning.The Tactical Genius:The transformation begins with a defensive midfielder dropping between center-backs, creating a back-three. This triggers everything: fullbacks become wing-backs, pushing high and wide. Two attacking midfielders occupy half-spaces - those dangerous channels between opposition defenders. The result? A 3-2-5 attacking structure with overloads everywhere.Box Midfield Dominance:Two deeper midfielders plus two advanced "interiors" form a box shape, dominating central zones and opening vertical passing lanes. Opposition teams face constant numerical inferiority - 3v2 in build-up, 4v3 in midfield, 2v1 in wide areas.FM26 Implementation:We'll show you how to recreate this using FM26's dual formation system. The Half-Back role is your tactical trigger - dropping into defense unlocks the entire system. Wing-backs provide width, Advanced Playmakers dominate half-spaces, and the box midfield creates perpetual overloads.Key Metrics:Track final third entries (target: top 2 in league), PPDA under 10 (pressing effectiveness), and progressive passes from wing-backs and interiors. The Visualiser will show your dramatic 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1 transformation.Perfect for advanced FM26 players seeking tactical sophistication through positional intelligence and numerical superiority.What I Read:https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-paulo-fonsecas-lille/https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/paulo-fonseca-tactics-shakhtar-donetsk-roma/https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/paulo-fonseca-tactics-olympique-lyonnais-2025-2026-tactical-analysishttps://the-footballanalyst.com/paulo-fonseca-ac-milan-tactical-analysis/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2464851169https://onefootball.com/es/noticias/positionism-and-key-improvements-made-tactical-analysis-of-paulo-fonseca-39635477---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5

Football Manager 26 has introduced the biggest tactical overhaul in the series' history - and women's football is the key to mastering it. Before you start a save in the Men's Universe, you might want to hear this.FC Barcelona Femení went 38 games and lost just once. They scored 159 goals. They won the Champions League. Again. Their dominance rivals Pep's Barcelona or Ferguson's United. And most of us know almost nothing about this team.The Tactical Revolution:FM26 has completely overhauled tactics with dual-phase formations. You're now setting two formations - one for in possession, one for out of possession. This isn't just new features for the sake of it - it's how modern football actually works.New player roles come directly from innovations in the women's game. With the Visualiser at our fingertips showing exactly how your shape shifts as play progresses, Women's Football is your tactical laboratory.Why Women's Football Matters:This isn't about representation or variety - it's about becoming a better FM player. Women's football is the place. No baggage from fifteen years of "how I play FM." No muscle memory forcing you into old habits. Just pure tactical learning.The WSL, Liga F, and Bundesliga are competitive enough to challenge you but fresh enough that you're willing to experiment. You'll learn FM26's systems properly - thinking in phases, building fluid tactics, using the Visualiser effectively. If you return to your main save, you'll be fundamentally better.---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

Can you play beautiful, possession-based football with technically limited players in the lower divisions? Xavi García Pimienta spent 28 years at Barcelona proving the answer is yes. His message: players are defined by their numbers (the space they occupy), not their names. Philosophy can elevate players beyond their attributes.At Sabadell and then Las Palmas, XGP stuck rigidly to Juego de Posición principles - Cruyff's positional play taken to extreme fluidity. While most possession football is static and predictable, XGP's version features constant zonal rotations that create numerical superiorities and confuse opposition marking schemes. This isn't tiki-taka for the elite - it's Barcelona's method adapted for League Two.What We'll Talk About:How to implement complex positional play with players rated 8-10 for passing and techniqueThe critical half-space inversion: wing-backs overlap while wingers cut inside, creating triangular superioritiesWhy the Defensive Midfielder is your "quarterback" - the reliable pivot ensuring control in transitionHow FM26's dual formation system finally enables true Juego de Posición implementationWhat I Read:https://theanalyst.com/articles/las-palmas-punching-above-weighthttps://totalfootballanalysis.com/team-analysis/laliga-202425-las-palmas-tactical-analysis-tacticshttps://totalfootballanalysis.com/coaches/garcia-pimientahttps://www.reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/lqbn4g/garcia_pimientas_tactics/?rdt=40175https://tacticof.com/managers/xavier-garcia-pimienta-3/https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/garcia-pimienta-at-las-palmas-202223-tactical-analysis-tacticshttps://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/francisco-javier-garcia-pimienta-las-palmas-barcelona/---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

Forget rigid systems. This week, we dissect the tactical genius of Luis Enrique, using his fluid approach—where a 4-2-3-1 seamlessly transitions into a 3-4-2-1—as the ultimate blueprint for FM26.This is for intermediate/advanced managers ready to create unpredictable systems, confuse opponents, and maximize squad depth.Inside the Episode, you'll learn:How to design interconnected formations where player roles logically progress (e.g., a fullback becomes a defensive midfielder).Why FM26's new role system is essential for achieving true positional multiplicity and making your squad injury-proof.The exact player attributes (Positioning 14+, Versatility 14+) needed for seamless transitions.Key FM26 Data Detective metrics to monitor, like Formation Transition Frequency (target: 3-7 times per match), to ensure systematic flexibility.It's not about having multiple tactics; it's about having one adaptable framework. Stop being one injury away from disaster and start building teams that can shift on the fly!Sources:https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/luis-enrique-spain-barcelona/https://pontadelancafm.substack.com/p/luis-enriques-psg-tactics-in-fm24https://talksport.com/football/3558576/luis-enrique-unusual-new-tactic-borrowed-from-rugby-psg/https://totalfootballanalysis.com/coaches/luis-enriquehttps://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/uefa-champions-league/articles-video/luis-enrique-one-game-away-from-glory-the-treble-that-could-put-him-on-par-with-guardiola-2025-05-31https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5405009/2024/04/11/paris-saint-germain-barcelona-style-tactics/https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/luis-enrique-chelsea-barcelona-talks-26636777https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/dec/14/guardian-sport-network-luis-enrique---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠GG⁠⁠/⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

"This is football, papa." José Bordalás doesn't apologise for his approach, and neither should you. While purists rage about his style, Ancelotti and Zidane quietly study his methods. Why? Because Bordalás proved that intensity and directness can compete at the highest level.At Getafe, Bordalás created Europe's most direct team - averaging just 2.1 passes per attacking attempt with the lowest passing accuracy in the top five leagues. Yet they qualified for Europe consistently. They score few but concede fewer. Their PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action) ranks third lowest in La Liga, and their attacks start furthest from their own goal. This isn't park-the-bus football - it's controlled chaos.What We'll Focus On:How to build a compact 4-4-2 low block that suffocates technically superior opponentsWhy specific pressing triggers (on full-backs) create organised intensity without exhausting your playersThe mathematics of beating better teams: functional attacks > possession dominanceHow FM26's dual formation system finally allows proper Bordalás recreationKey Concepts:We'll explore the genius of the narrow, compact 4-4-2 that creates natural 2v1 situations through positioning rather than talent. You'll discover why extreme directness (2.1 passes per attack) generates enough chances to win, and how set-pieces become your primary weapon when you embrace this philosophy.FM26 Application:Detailed setup including separate In Possession/Out of Possession formations, instructions through the thirds, and new player roles like Full-Back (Holder) and Tracking Winger. We'll show you how to use FM26's Visualiser tool to perfect your compact defensive shape across all nine grid squares.Real-World Analysis:Learn to spot the visual cues that show effective low-block defending - compact blocks, explosive pressing triggers, quick 10-second transitions from regain to shot. We'll teach you which statistics prove the system works (PPDA under 8, transition speed under 10 seconds, 40%+ of goals from set-pieces).The Reality Check:This system works with physically dominant, work-rate-heavy players who lack elite technique. It prioritises survival and functional effectiveness over aesthetic beauty. If you're managing a lower-league side, newly promoted team, or squad with limited resources, this is your tactical blueprint.Perfect for FM26 players who want to compete intelligently without unlimited budgets.What I read:https://theanalyst.com/articles/getafe-jose-bordalas-tactics-la-ligahttps://www.football-espana.net/2025/03/18/la-ligas-most-underrated-managers-and-their-tactical-innovationshttps://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/jose-bordalas-at-valencia-2021-22-tactical-analysis-tacticshttps://www.just-football.com/2020/04/getafe-jose-bordalas-tactics-underdogs/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgqvlpwezgohttps://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/getafe-2023-24-their-tactics-under-jose-bordalas-scout-report-tactical-analysis---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠GG⁠/⁠TTA⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠BlueSky⁠/ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you tired of racking up 70% possession in Football Manager, only to see your team produce three shots and zero highlights? In this week’s episode of The FM Technical Area, we’re breaking the myth that Tiki-Taka has to be slow, sideways, and predictable.Inspired by Míchel’s Girona, we explore Vertical Tiki-Taka — a modern twist on the possession game. It’s a style that values quick, forward-thinking passes, using possession not just to control the ball but to carve open defenses at pace.In this episode, you’ll learn:The difference between horizontal possession and vertical possession, and why the latter is so dangerous in FM.How to set up formations, roles, and instructions that bring Vertical Tiki-Taka to life.The real-world tactical principles that underpin this system: direct progression, controlled chaos in the final third, and relentless high pressing.How to spot the data signs that your tactic is (or isn’t) working — from forward pass percentages to passes per attacking sequence.Why this style isn’t just for elite clubs: with the right off-the-ball movement and decision-making, even a lower-league side can make it work.We’ll also dive into:A case study from a save where shifting to this system transformed a mid-table underdog into a European contender.Key player attributes that fuel success — decisions, anticipation, and off-the-ball intelligence.Community contributions, including your favourite player roles in pressing systems.Whether you’re chasing underdog glory or fine-tuning a top-tier side, this episode will show you how to turn sterile possession into purposeful attacking football.🎧 Listen now and start transforming your FM save with Vertical Tiki-Taka.🔗 Resources & Mentions:https://themastermindsite.com/2023/10/15/michel-girona-tactical-analysis/https://www.hudl.com/blog/michel-girona-la-liga-style-substancehttps://community.sports-interactive.com/forums/topic/583471-michels-girona-la-liga-destroying-tactics/https://secretmatchday.com/the-secret-to-gironas-rise-is-not-the-city-group/https://the-footballanalyst.com/girona-michel-tactical-analysis/https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/michel-girona-tactics/Reading: Jonathan Wilson’s Inverting the Pyramid & The Athletic’s Girona tactical analysisCommunity spotlight: https://fmnatics.com/https://coffeehousefm.com/fmrensieblog/hey-football-manager-i-miss-you

Welcome back to The FM Technical Area, the Football Manager Podcast!How did Robin Gosens go from Germany's fourth division to starring at the Euros in just five years? The answer lies in Gian Piero Gasperini's wingback revolution at Atalanta, where tactical intelligence consistently trumps individual brilliance.In this episode, we dive deep into the system that transformed Atalanta from relegation battlers to Champions League regulars - without breaking the bank on world-class players. Gasperini's genius isn't just using wingbacks; it's his asymmetric approach that creates numerical superiority everywhere on the pitch.What We'll Focus On:​Why one attacking wingback paired with one defensive wingback is more effective than symmetrical deployment​How center-backs must adapt their positioning to cover the space vacated by marauding wingbacks​The specific FM roles and instructions that recreate Atalanta's 3-4-1-2 masterpiece​Why tactical systems can elevate average players into key contributorsKey Insights:We'll explore how Gasperini's background in youth football shaped his philosophy of developing players within systems rather than relying on individual quality. You'll discover why positional fluidity and intelligent pressing triggers make this system so effective against technically superior opponents.FM Application:Detailed tactical setup including formation, player roles, and crucial team instructions. We'll show you which attributes matter most for wingbacks (spoiler: it's not just pace and stamina), and how to implement this system with Championship-level players.Real-World Analysis:Learn to spot the visual cues that separate effective wingback play from glorified full-back performance. We'll teach you what to watch for during matches and which statistics prove your system is working.Perfect for intermediate FM players looking to maximize squad potential through tactical innovation rather than transfer spending.---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠GG⁠⁠/⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠---Episode Sources:​https://scoutedftbl.com/gasperini-atalanta-five-principles/​https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-gian-piero-gasperinis-atalanta/​https://the-footballanalyst.com/atalanta-gian-piero-gasperini-tactical-analysis/​https://totalfootballanalysis.com/team-analysis/atalanta-attacking-tactics-202425-tactical-analysis​https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamdigby/2025/06/18/why-gian-piero-gasperini-could-be-the-perfect-appointment-at-as-roma/​https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/gian-piero-gasperini-tactics-roma-2025-2026-tactical-analysis

Forget perfect organisation—sometimes controlled chaos beats technical superiority. This week we're diving into Marcelo Gallardo's River Plate masterclass: creating systematic disruption that levels the playing field against better teams.While gegenpressing gets all the attention, Gallardo's approach goes deeper—intelligent pressing traps that force opponents into predetermined mistakes, calculated "escape routes" that lead to even more dangerous situations, and psychological pressure that turns technical giants into nervous passers.What We'll Talk AboutPressing Traps: How to deliberately overload zones while leaving bait for opponentsControlled Chaos: Creating systematic disruption that appears random to opponentsEmotional Intensity: Using psychological pressure to force technical errorsFM Implementation: 4-2-3-1 setups with specific pressing triggers and player rolesPerfect for managers facing technically superior opposition who want to disrupt rather than out-pass. Learn why sometimes the best defence is controlled offensive chaos—and how to make your opponents play at your tempo, not theirs.Because when you can't out-technique them, you can definitely out-fight them.---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠GG⁠/⁠TTA⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠BlueSky⁠/ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Sources:

The traditional #9 died at football's pinnacle—and the False 9 rose in its place, but the role isn't just about Messi dropping deep or Firmino's pressing. We're exploring how this role has evolved far beyond Barcelona, starting with Hidegkuti's revolutionary Magyars to Martínez's tactical masterstroke using Lukaku as a physical "decoy" False 9 for Belgium.What You'll Hear About:Classic False 9: Technical requirements and why Messi/Firmino became the templatePhysical False 9: How Lukaku's unconventional role created chaos against Brazil in 2018FM26 Implementation: Tactical setups and player instructions for both stylesData Analysis: Key metrics and warning signs to watchKey SegmentsTheory (15 min): Barcelona's possession vs Belgium's counter-attacking chaosListen & Learn (10 min): Visual cues—what success looks like vs common mistakesFM Application (15 min): Formations, roles, and instructions for both False 9 stylesData Detective (10 min): Stats that matter and red flagsCase Study: Transforming Belgium's attack through Lukaku's reimagined rolePerfect for FM tacticians looking to experiment ahead of FM26's release and understand how tactical concepts translate across different player profiles. Whether you're building around a technical playmaker or a physical target man, this episode shows you how to make the False 9 work for your squad.Get those tactical juices flowing—because sometimes the best False 9 isn't the player you'd expect.---Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (GG/TTA) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ BlueSky/ X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved! Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Sources:https://totalfootballanalysis.com/opinion/messis-impact-how-the-false-9-changed-the-game https://fcbarcelona.us/false-nine-soccer/ https://the-footballanalyst.com/false-nine-football-tactics-explained/ https://worldfootballindex.com/2020/07/analysis-barcelona-real-madrid-6-2-may-2009-full-match/ https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/firmino-delivers-false-nine-masterclass-says-klopp-idUSKBN2HF07O/ https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/champions-league/2017-2018/why-roberto-firmino-is-jurgen-klopps-football-philosophy-incarnate_sto6770862/story.shtmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2911770/2021/10/28/analysing-roberto-firmino-liverpools-masterful-false-nine/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1965482/2020/08/05/liverpool-front-three-salah-mane-firmino-analysis-klopp/https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/jurgen-klopp-tactics-liverpool/https://themastermindsite.com/2022/01/29/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-tactical-analysis-2021-22-edition/https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/EPL/The-numbers-game-Stats-show-Firmino-is-a-more-complete-forward-than-Kane/1963187https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/06/roberto-martinez-belgium-players-world-cup-rejigged-false-nine-brazilhttps://learning.coachesvoice.com/tactics-brazil-belgium-hazard-debruyne-fellaini-lukaku-neymar/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/06/lukaku-offers-the-clue-and-belgium-solve-mystery-of-beating-brazilhttps://thefalse9.com/2014/06/world-cup-golden-boot-contenders-romelu.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/manchester-united-man-city-live-updates-premier-league-score-result/B4hgIDpUUuED/VPRkGzv2HQ7A/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/026d-135a261f0c56-3487bcf3a37c-1000--the-no9s-guardiola-s-double-false-nine-messi-the-origina/