Fluid Mentality Structure: Solid Foundations

Football Manager Fluid Mentality Structure – Part 3 of The Mentality Ladder

Welcome to part 3 of ‘The Hand of Gods’ Mentality Ladder series. Today we will focus on the Fluid Mentality Structure and how players tactical priority and rung of task will be decided under each of the 7 mentalities in Football Manager; from contain to overload.

It will give you the chance to learn how the player responsibilities will change from one strategy to another within the fluid mentality setting. Learn more about the Football Manager fluid mentality structure and its influence on players tactical priority according to duty and role below.

By reading ‘The Hand of Gods’ 8-step guide on mentality ladder for Football Manager 2014 you will be able to enhance your understanding on how a Football Manager tactic will be organized under different fluidity / mentality combinations and further improve your tactics by focusing on the impact the different mentality structures and player duties has on the play – in the different match situations and on players mentality level through the 4 phases of play.

The Mentality Ladder Complete Series

1. The Mentality Ladder: Player Duty and Fluidity Settings
2. Collective Responsibilities: Very Fluid Mentality Structures
3. Solid Foundations: Fluid Mentality Structures
4. Asymmetric Shapes: Balanced Mentality Structures
5. Gestalt Systems: Rigid Mentality Structures
6. Production Lines: Very Rigid Mentality Structures
7. The Mentality Ladder, Duty and Other Settings
8. Tactical Priorities in Detail

About the Fluid Mentality

Fluid mentality structures divide the team into two separate units each focused closely on a small but distinct range of tactical priorities. In effect, this creates a divided structure with a more aggressive, fluid attack backed by a significantly more cautious defence.

The idea is that the entrenched, disciplined defensive unit frees the attacking unit to get forward without being distracted by pressing defensive responsibilities, though the division between the units calls for a higher degree of attacking/defensive specialization to ensure both can cope with the increased demands resulting from their relative isolation from one another.

The Controller Effect in Fluid Mentality

Certain fluid mentality structures are subject to the Controller Effect. Essentially, under a more defensive team mentality, using certain roles with a lower tactical priority than other roles in the same position will cause others on the team to become slightly more aggressive.

In practical terms, this represents a player who stays deeper than other players in his position to focus on controlling the flow and tempo of the match. His non-controller teammates, accordingly, become slightly more aggressive to compensate for the controller-playmaker’s more cautious orientation.

The Controller Effect applies to fluid contain and defensive mentality structures that use a Deep-Lying Playmaker at CM or a Sweeper (that is, the role, not the position). In the following outlines, you should move each outfield player (with the exception of other sweepers, DLPs at MC, APs at AMLRC and trequartistas at ST) up one position on the mentality ladder for Defensive mentalities and up two positions for Contain if the mentality structure is subject to the Controller Effect. Keep in mind, the Controller Effect does not affect other sweepers or CM-DLPs, and the alterations imposed by the Controller Effect are the same regardless of how many controller-playmakers are used.

CONTAIN

GK:

Sweeper Keeper (All Duties)

SW: Obstruct Shots
Libero (All Duties): Restrict Space Cautiously

DC: Obstruct Shots
Stopper Duty (All Roles): Divert Attacking Movement

DL/R: Slow Attacking Movement

DMC: Contain Attacking Movement

WBL/R: Divert Attacking Movement

MC: Disrupt Attacks
Box to Box Midfielder: Restrict Space Aggressively
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Restrict Space Cautiously
Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Restrict Space Cautiously

ML/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly

AMC: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks
Shadow Striker: Recover Possession Immediately

AML/R: Recover Possession
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Quickly

ST (Lone Striker): Recover Possession Immediately
Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Keep Possession Under Pressure
False Nine (Lone Striker): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
Support/Defend Duty (Multiple Strikers): Recover Possession
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Keep Possession Away From Pressure

DEFENSIVE

-SW: Contain Attacking Movement
-Libero (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-DC: Divert Attacking Movement
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Contain Attacking Movement
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Restrict Space Aggressively

-DL/R: Restrict Space Cautiously

-DMC: Restrict Space
-Halfback: Restrict Space Cautiously

-WBL/R: Restrict Space Aggressively

-MC: Recover Possession
-Box to Box Midfielder: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Restrict Space Aggressively
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-ML/R: Recover Possession Immediately

-AMC: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession
-Shadow Striker: Keep Possession Under Pressure

-AML/R: Keep Possession
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession Immediately

-ST (Lone Striker): Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Support/Defend Duty (Multiple Strikers): Keep Possession
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Shuttle Ball Into Space

COUNTER

-SW: Restrict Space Cautiously
-Libero (All Duties): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition

-DC: Restrict Space Aggressively
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Restrict Space Cautiously
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Disrupt Attacks

-DL/R: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-DMC: Disrupt Attacks
-Halfback: Restrict Space Aggressively

-WBL/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly

-MC: Keep Possession
-Box to Box Midfielder: Recover Possession Immediately
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition

-ML/R: Keep Possession Under Pressure

-AMC: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession
-Shadow Striker: Shuttle Ball Through Defence

-AML/R: Shuttle Ball
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Under Pressure

-ST (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Spearhead Attacking Moves
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Support/Defend Duty (Multiple Strikers): Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Shuttle Ball Through Defence

STANDARD

-SW: Restrict Space Aggressively
-Libero (All Duties): Recover Possession Immediately

-DC: Disrupt Attacks
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Restrict Space Aggressively
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition

-DL/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly

-DMC: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
-Halfback: Disrupt Attacks

-WBL/R: Recover Possession

-MC: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Box to Box Midfielder: Keep Possession
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Recover Possession Immediately

-ML/R: Shuttle Ball

-AMC: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Shadow Striker: Spearhead Attacking Moves

-AML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves from the Hole
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Suppress Counterattacking Options
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances Patiently

-ST (Lone Striker): Spearhead Attacking Moves
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Penetrate Gaps Intermittently
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Lone Striker): Suppress Counterattacks
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Support Duty (Lone Striker): Create Chances
-Support/Defend Duty (Multiple Strikers): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Create Chances

CONTROL

-SW: Disrupt Attacks
-Libero (All Duties): Keep Possession

-DC: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Disrupt Attacks
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Recover Possession Immediately

-DL/R: Recover Possession

-DMC: Recover Possession Immediately
-Halfback: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition

-WBL/R: Keep Possession Away From Pressure

-MC: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Box to Box Midfielder: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession Immediately
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Keep Possession

-ML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves from the Hole
-Defend Duty (All Roles): Suppress Counterattacking Options
-Support Duty (All Roles): Create Chances Patiently

-AMC: Spearhead Attacking Moves
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances
-Shadow Striker: Penetrate Gaps Intermittently

-AML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances Patiently
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances Urgently

-ST (Lone Striker): Penetrate Gaps Intermittently
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Penetrate Gaps Persistently
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Lone Striker): Isolate Advancing Midfielders
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Multiple Strikers): Suppress Counterattacks
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Create Chances
-Support Duty (Lone Striker): Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Support Duty (Multiple Strikers): Create Chances
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Create Chances
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Force Chances When Necessary

ATTACK

-SW: Recover Possession
-Libero (All Duties): Shuttle Ball

-DC: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Keep Possession

-DL/R: Keep Possession

-DMC: Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Halfback: Keep Possession Away From Pressure

-WBL/R: Shuttle Ball Into Space

-MC: Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
-Box to Box Midfielder: Create Chances Patiently
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Shuttle Ball
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances Urgently

-ML/R: Penetrate Gaps Intermittently
-Defend Duty (All Roles): Isolate Advancing Midfielders
-Support Duty (All Roles): Force Half Chances When Necessary

-AMC: Penetrate Gaps
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances Urgently
-Enganche: Force Half Chances
-Shadow Striker: Penetrate Gaps Persistently
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances
-Trequartista: Force Half Chances

-AML/R: Penetrate Gaps Persistently
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Isolate Holding Midfielders
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation

-ST (Lone Striker): Draw Off Defenders
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Overload Defenders
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Lone Striker): Hassle Dawdling Defenders
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Multiple Strikers): Isolate Advancing Midfielders
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Force Half Chances
-Support Duty (Lone Striker): Test Defence With Precision
-Support Duty (Multiple Strikers): Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Force Half Chances
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation

OVERLOAD

-SW: Keep Possession
-Libero (Attack Duty): Spearhead Attacking Moves
-Libero (Support Duty): Create Chances

-DC: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Cover Duty (All Roles): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Stopper Duty (All Roles): Shuttle Ball

-DL/R: Shuttle Ball

-DMC: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Halfback: Shuttle Ball Into Space

-WBL/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves from the Hole
-Defend Duty: Suppress Counterattacking Options
-Support Duty: Create Chances Patiently

-MC: Penetrate Gaps Persistently
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation
-Box to Box Midfielder: Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Suppress Counterattacks
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation

-ML/R: Draw Off Defenders
-Defend Duty (All Roles): Hassle Dawdling Defenders
-Support Duty (All Roles): Test Defence With Precision

-AMC: Overload Defenders
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Enganche: Test Defence
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Test Defence
-Trequartista: Test Defence

-AML/R: Challenge Defenders
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Test Defence With Precision
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Hassle Defenders Relentlessly
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Test Defence With Power

-ST (Lone Striker): Bypass Last Defender
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Bypass Last Defender
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Lone Striker): Force Clearance
-Defensive Forward (Defend – Multiple Strikers): Hassle Dawdling Defenders
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Test Defence
-Support Duty (Lone Striker): Rush Ball Forward
-Support Duty (Multiple Strikers): Test Defence With Precision
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Test Defence
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Test Defence with Power

The Mentality Ladder Complete Series

Credit

This article was written by the SI moderator and tactics guru The Hand of God. Passion4FM would like to thank him for writing this excellent Football Manager guide on mentality structures, fluidity and player duties and for letting us re-distribute it on our website to our audience.

The original version of this FM14 guide can be found on Sports Interactive Community forum – Sigames.com

Passion4FM encourage you to use the comment field on the original thread if you got any questions to the author.