7th in the league, an overperformance (year two of the man-marking system)
All-out man-marking + extreme pressing — more polished than the year before
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
The same skeleton as the year before, with the attacking play more polished.
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.
Built from Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta side of 2017–18 (Serie A), this card turns real season data into FM26 settings. They finished 7th. Their clearest trait: they were among the league’s most aggressive pressers (2nd of 20), and they defended deep (16th of 20 for line height). 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: tempo 5th, build-up 6th, width 9th. In FM26 this becomes a 3-4-1-2, with team instructions and role settings listed below. Ranks are within the Serie A 2017–18 field of 20 teams, where 1st is the highest value on that axis.
How the ranks are made: League style reports · How ratings work