Sean Dyche

/Burnley 2016-21

The byword for staying up in the Premier League year after year

Direct long balls + set-piece specialism + physical defending

Source: FBref / Sports Reference

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Style vector

DirectnessVery High

Long balls rather than short passing

Pressing IntensityLow

Holding the line before pressing high

Reliance on IndividualsLow

Set-piece routines and physical match-ups are the key

TempoLow

Waits for the chance without hurrying, and does not give the ball away forcing the play

WidthNarrow

Squeezes the middle to close the running lanes first

Players only move where their role tag says — it's not a match replay

4-4-2

Goes long into the front two rather than building short, and attacks every set piece.

MentalityBalancedBased on: Pressing Intensity Low — only one axis, so treat it as a rough guide

StyleClosest to Route OneSet the instructions below by hand instead — picking this overwrites them with the preset's values · Based on: Directness Very High

Line of EngagementLow BlockDiagram block: Low Block

Style axesDirectness Very High · Pressing Intensity Low · Reliance on Individuals Low · Tempo Low · Width Narrow — no Defensive Line

In possessionPassing Directness Much More Direct · Tempo Lower · Attacking Width Narrower · Creative Freedom Be More Disciplined

Overlay with another manager

Identity

·Set pieces are effectively a separate attack — physicality at corners and free kicks is decisive
·No attempt at short build-up — going long directly reduces the risk

Position mapping

Shows where the same player moves to between in- and out-of-possession phases.

In possession	Out of possession
GKNo Nonsense Goalkeeper	GKLine-Holding Keeper
FB (L)Full-Back	FB (L)Holding Full-Back
CB (L)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (L)Covering Centre-Back
CB (R)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (R)Covering Centre-Back
FB (R)Full-Back	FB (R)Holding Full-Back
CM (L)Wide Midfielder	CM (L)Tracking Wide Midfielder
CM (C)Defensive Midfielder	CM (C)Defensive Midfielder
CM (C)Central Midfielder	CM (C)Central Midfielder
CM (R)Wide Midfielder	CM (R)Tracking Wide Midfielder
ST 1Target Forward	ST 1Tracking Centre-Forward
ST 2Poacher	ST 2Centre-Forward

Team instructions

Most important first. Switch to in-game order when you copy it across.

Amber badges are the identity-defining instructions. We only set a value where the data gives a clear signal; where it does not, the FM default is left in place and shown faded — those are yours to adjust. Click an item to check it off.

In Possession

Out of Possession

Things FM's tactic settings cannot express

FM26 handles one in-possession shape, one out-of-possession shape, and the switch between them. The items below fall outside that — this card carries only what the game can take.

Chained rotations within a phase — Switching between the two shapes exists, but there is no setting for players swapping positions with each other depending on where the ball is.
Ball-position triggers — Conditional movement like "the right wing-back tucks in only when the ball is on the left" cannot be set.
Player-to-player rules — Roles are set per player and cannot reference each other — "when A pushes up, B covers" is not expressible.
Automatic changes by time or score — In-match tactical changes are manual; there is no way to pre-set a condition.

Players who defined this system

Not an appearance ranking — these players embodied the system’s roles.

Ashley BarnesLong-ball target and physical presence
James TarkowskiThe focal point of set pieces at both ends
Ben MeeMarshals the back line of the low block

Attribute profiles

Tap a position on the pitch and the attributes that spot needs appear right there.

Target Front Two

Top priority

Target Forward / Poacher in possession — set pieces and long-ball duels are the measure

Required

Heading 16+Strength 16+

Preferred

Jumping Reach 15+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionHold Up Ball: Yes

In possession: Wide Midfielder · Out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Required

Passing 12+Stamina 13+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Crossing 12+Work Rate 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Position

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

M C Defensive Midfielder

In possession: Defensive Midfielder · Out of possession: Defensive Midfielder

Required

Positioning 13+Tackling 12+Teamwork 13+

Preferred

Passing 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionPassing Risk: Take Fewer Risks

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

M C Central Midfielder

In possession: Central Midfielder · Out of possession: Central Midfielder

Required

Passing 13+Work Rate 13+

Preferred

Teamwork 12+

M R Wide Midfielder

In possession: Wide Midfielder · Out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Required

Passing 12+Stamina 13+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Crossing 12+Work Rate 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Position

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

This is a well-founded starting point — the FM match engine is a separate system, so real match performance is not guaranteed.