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Category: Guides

FM21: 10 Databases to freshen up your save

FM21: 10 Databases to freshen up your save

It’s that time of year for some people; you’re either 5 years deep in a save on vanilla databases, building your squad season upon season. You’re pushing for a title and with one more regen (sorry newgen, force of habit) striker and a good injury free run you’re in with a shout as champion. You’ve won a cup or two but don’t really matter, it’s all about that elusive league trophy.  In an alternative universe you are at a crossroads:…

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FM21: Starting a Non-League Save

FM21: Starting a Non-League Save

We all enjoy leading our team to major trophies in FM21, but for those who have not started a non-league save (in any country), it is a different world from managing a top tier club. From little money to less training time, starting a non-league save can be jarring for new and older fans.

Zona Mista: FM21 Recreation

Zona Mista: FM21 Recreation

This is the follow-up to my last piece, which was the first part in the Zona Mista tactic guide. It can be found here. Whereas that article gave an introduction to the Catenaccio roots of Italian Game, this one will examine the player roles you will actually need to set up the Italian counter-attacking style in FM21.

Alternative Signings: Positional Switches on FM

Alternative Signings: Positional Switches on FM

Navigating the turbulent waters of the transfer market is one of the great pleasures of playing Football Manager; finding that future world-beater, snatching that top-class player on a free from a rival, or simply closing a long wanted signing. But sometimes, be it through budget limitations or time constraints, it’s hard to find the players you need. When necessity becomes urgent, it’s time for some improvisation. Here are five positional switches you can try and pull off with alternative signings…

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Possession Football in FM21: A Tactical Counter

Possession Football in FM21: A Tactical Counter

  It’s an argument as old as football statistics: is it more important to play possession football, or can you get away with letting the other team control the ball, and taking your chances on the counter? If you’d asked me six months ago, I’d have said no. Possession football was a king in FM20’s match engine, making Tiki Taka and Control Possession enormously useful tactical styles. In FM21, though, I’ve found it’s quite possible to play well without controlling…

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Physio Power in FM21

Physio Power in FM21

In a previous article, I mentioned how important a Physio could be in keeping your players fit, on the pitch and from being a waste of money. By preventing injuries and reducing the length of any that happen your Physio can really help make a difference to your FM21 game. There’s a reason why top-flight teams invest in the medical team. An injury crisis can cost a team on the pitch and on the books. In this article we are…

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Zona Mista: When Catenaccio Met Totaalvoetbal

Zona Mista: When Catenaccio Met Totaalvoetbal

Different football styles inspire many things in us. There is Brazilian Jogo Bonito with its almost sexual joie de vivre. Makes you want to dance samba just watching it. Then there is German Gegenpress with its cold-blooded efficiency. And Italian Calcio which to me personifies romanticism of a simple bygone era. Also Italian football just made sense to me, even as teenager who knew little about football. Score goals and don’t let the other team do it. Actually Calcio from 70s-90s is one of the best jump in points to learn…

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Winning titles with ‘unbeatable’ tactics, and how to get the most out of your FM21 saves.

Winning titles with ‘unbeatable’ tactics, and how to get the most out of your FM21 saves.

Firstly, Happy New Year you Tactical Masterminds! I was really struggling for ideas; Christmas has been and gone, Coronavirus is apparently still and thing and is worse than ever in the UK, and New Years at Home seemed like hell on earth. I thought about making some stupid tactic using 6 midfielders or 2 defenders, “that’ll make for a funny article, that might even help some people”, I thought. But alas my horrific attempt of a “around the midfielder tactic”…

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FM21 Training Features – Give Your Team the Edge!

FM21 Training Features – Give Your Team the Edge!

When managing your team, they say the hard work begins with the basics in training. In Football Manager, this is no exception. It’s not always about picking a tactic you think will work and giving a team talk to your fledgling players. Below, I guide you through the Training Features available in FM21 and using them to your advantage to give your team an edge over the competition.