4th in the league, an overperformance (year one of the man-marking system)
All-out man-marking + extreme pressing — the most extreme pressing system in this catalogue
Not enough votes yet (0) to rank — shown as New for now.
Players only move where their role tag says — it's not a match replay
3-4-1-2
A back three with the wing-backs providing width, pushing forward fast the instant the ball is won.
Identity
Shows where the same player moves to between in- and out-of-possession phases.
| In possession | Out of possession |
|---|---|
| GKNo Nonsense Goalkeeper | GKSweeper Keeper |
| CB (L)Advanced Centre-Back | CB (L)Stopping Centre-BackSuggested (limited data) |
| CB (C)No-Nonsense Centre-Back | CB (C)Stopping Centre-BackSuggested (limited data) |
| CB (R)Advanced Centre-Back | CB (R)Stopping Centre-BackSuggested (limited data) |
| CM (deep)Box To Box Midfielder | CM (deep)Pressing Central Midfielder |
| CM (high)Box To Box Midfielder | CM (high)Pressing Central Midfielder |
| WB (L)Wing-Back | WB (L)Pressing Wing-Back |
| AM (C)Second Striker | AM (C)Tracking Attacking MidfielderSuggested (limited data) |
| STChannel Forward | STTracking Centre-Forward |
| ST 2Poacher | ST 2Centre-Forward |
| WB (R)Wing-Back | WB (R)Pressing Wing-Back |
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
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.
Not an appearance ranking — these players embodied the system’s roles.
Tap a position on the pitch and the attributes that spot needs appear right there.
* Suggested (limited data)
A stepping-out centre-back out of possession — one-v-one defending above all
Required
Preferred
In possession: No Nonsense Goalkeeper · Out of possession: Sweeper Keeper
Required
Preferred
* Suggested (limited data)
In possession: Advanced Centre-Back · Out of possession: Stopping Centre-Back
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionDribbling Frequency: Dribble More
Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Specific
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
* Suggested (limited data)
In possession: No-Nonsense Centre-Back · Out of possession: Stopping Centre-Back
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Specific
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
* Suggested (limited data)
In possession: Advanced Centre-Back · Out of possession: Stopping Centre-Back
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionDribbling Frequency: Dribble More
Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Specific
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
In possession: Box To Box Midfielder · Out of possession: Pressing Central Midfielder
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionForward Runs: Make More Runs
Out of possessionTrigger Press: More Often
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
In possession: Box To Box Midfielder · Out of possession: Pressing Central Midfielder
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionForward Runs: Make More Runs
Out of possessionTrigger Press: More Often
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
In possession: Wing-Back · Out of possession: Wing-Back
Required
Preferred
Set by the role
Gets Further ForwardStays Wide
Every other player instruction stays at its default — those are yours to adjust.
* Suggested (limited data)
In possession: Second Striker · Out of possession: Tracking Attacking Midfielder
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionForward Runs: Make More Runs
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
In possession: Channel Forward · Out of possession: Tracking Centre-Forward
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionAttacking Width: Move Into Channels
Out of possessionTrigger Press: More Often
A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.
In possession: Poacher · Out of possession: Centre-Forward
Required
Preferred
Common approach (reference only)
In possessionShooting: Shoot More Often
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.
This card models Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in the 2016–17 Serie A. They finished 4th. Their clearest trait: they were among the league’s most aggressive pressers (2nd of 20), and they kept a low line, 17th of 20. Expect the settings below to ask players to close down quickly and win the ball high up the pitch. On the other axes they ranked: width 4th, tempo 9th, build-up 10th. In FM26 this becomes a 3-4-1-2, with team instructions and role settings listed below. Ranks are within the Serie A 2016–17 field of 20 teams, where 1st is the highest value on that axis.
How the ranks are made: League style reports · How ratings work