Part 2 of The Mentality Ladder – Football Manager Very Fluid Mentality Structure
For every one of you who read part one of The Complete series of the Football Manager Mentality Ladder by ‘The Hand of God’ I assume you are all eagerly anticipating the next part in the series.
Today you will get the chance to understand the Football Manager Very fluid mentality structure and how tactical priorities and duties are covered within this type of fluidity setting. It lets you understand the different player roles tactical priority within the very fluid fluidity and the collective responsibilities which creates more movement between lines. Learn more about the very 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.
About the Very Fluid Mentality
Very fluid mentality structures cover the smallest range of tactical priorities with the team as a whole sharply focused on carrying out a highly specific strategic objective (e.g., completely negating the opposition’s attack, controlling possession in midfield, overloading the opposition third, etc.)
This represents systems in which all players are expected to help contribute to a general, collective function and in which, accordingly, there is significantly less differentiation between players based on position and role. While this demands a greater degree of versatility and tactical awareness from each of the players, it encourages the team to cooperate closely in carrying out specific tasks while promoting more movement between positional strata and, thus, greater variety and unpredictability in the team’s play.
The Controller Effect in Very Fluid Mentality
Certain very fluid mentality structures are subject to the Controller Effect. Essentially, under a more defensive team mentality, using a designated playmaker 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 playmaker 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 very fluid contain, defensive and counter mentality structures that use a Trequartista at ST, an Advanced Playmaker at AMC/L/R, 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 Counter/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 controller-playmakers regardless of their position, and the alterations imposed by the Controller Effect are the same regardless of how many controller-playmakers are used.
CONTAIN
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GK: Shield Goal
SW: Obstruct Shots
DC: Obstruct Shots
Stopper Duty (All Roles): Divert Attacking Movement
DL/R: Slow Attacking Movement
DMC: Contain Attacking Movement
WB: Divert Attacking Movement
MC: Restrict Space Cautiously
ML/R: Restrict Space
AMC: Restrict Space Aggressively
Shadow Striker: Disrupt Attacks
AML/R: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
ST (Lone Striker): Disrupt Attacks
Attack Duty with Multiple Strikers: Recover Possession
DEFENSIVE
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GK: Limit Pressure
SW: Divert Attacking Movement
Libero (All Duties): Restrict Space Cautiously
DC: Restrict Space Cautiously
Cover Duty (All Roles): Divert Attacking Movement
Stopper Duty (All Roles): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
DL/R: Restrict Space
DMC: Restrict Space Aggressively
Halfback: Restrict Space
WB: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
MC: Disrupt Attacks
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
ML/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
AMC: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Quickly
Shadow Striker: Recover Possession Immediately
AML/R: Recover Possession
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
ST (Lone Striker): Recover Possession Immediately
Attack Duty with Multiple Strikers: Keep Possession Under Pressure
False Nine (Lone Striker): Recover Possession
Support/Defend Duty with Multiple Strikers: Recover Possession
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Recover Possession
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Keep Possession
COUNTER
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GK: Distribute Safely
SW: Restrict Space Aggressively
Libero (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
DC: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
Cover Duty (All Roles): Restrict Space
Stopper Duty (All Roles): Disrupt Attacks Quickly
DL/R: Disrupt Attacks
DMC: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
Halfback: Disrupt Attacks
WBL/R: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
MC: Recover Possession
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
ML/R: Recover Possession Immediately
AMC: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession Immediately
Shadow Striker: Keep Possession Under Pressure
AML/R: Keep Possession
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
ST (Lone Striker): Keep Possession Under Pressure
Attack Duty with Multiple Strikers: Shuttle Ball
False Nine (Lone Striker): Keep Possession
Support/Defend Duty with Multiple Strikers: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Keep Possession
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Shuttle Ball Into Space
STANDARD
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GK: Cycle Possession
SW: Disrupt Attacks
Libero (All Duties): Recover Possession After Defensive Transition
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: Keep Possession
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession Immediately
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 with Multiple Strikers: Spearhead Attacking Moves
False Nine (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Into Space
Support/Defend Duty with Multiple Strikers: Shuttle Ball Into Space
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Shuttle Ball Into Space
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
CONTROL
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GK: Cycle Possession
SW: Recover Possession
Libero (All Duties): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
DC: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
Cover Duty (All Roles): Recover Possession
Stopper Duty (All Roles): Keep Possession Under Pressure
DL/R: Keep Possession
DMC: Keep Possession Under Pressure
Halfback: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
WBL/R: Shuttle Ball Into Space
MC: Shuttle Ball
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Under Pressure
ML/R: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
AMC: Spearhead Attacking Moves from the Hole
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball
Shadow Striker: Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances Patiently
AML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
Defensive Winger (Defend): Suppress Counterattacks
Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances
ST (Lone Striker): Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
Attack Duty with Multiple Strikers: Penetrate Gaps
Defensive Forward (Defend-Lone Striker): Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
Defensive Forward (Defend-Multiple Strikers): Suppress Counterattacking Options
False Nine (Lone Striker): Create Chances Patiently
Support Duty (Lone Striker): Create Chances Urgently
Support Duty with Multiple Strikers: Create Chances Patiently
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Create Chances Patiently
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Create Chances Urgently
ATTACKING
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GK: Initiate Attacks
SW: Keep Possession
Libero (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Into Space
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: Spearhead Attacking Moves
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Suppress Counterattacks
Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances
ML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
Defend Duty: Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
Support Duty: Create Chances Urgently
AMC: Penetrate Gaps Intermittently
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances
Enganche: Force Half Chances When Necessary
Shadow Striker: Penetrate Gaps
Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances When Necessary
Trequartista: Force Half Chances When Necessary
AML/R: Penetrate Gaps
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances Urgently
Defensive Winger (Defend): Isolate Midfielders
Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances
ST (Lone Striker): Penetrate Gaps Persistently
Attack Duty with Multiple Strikers: Draw Off Defenders
Defensive Forward (Defend-Lone Striker): Isolate Holding Midfielders
Defensive Forward (Defend-Multiple Strikers): Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
False Nine (Lone Striker): Force Half Chances When Necessary
Support Duty with Multiple Strikers: Create Chances Urgently
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Force Half Chances When Necessary
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Force Half Chances
OVERLOAD
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GK: Support Attacks
SW: Shuttle Ball Through Defence
Libero (Attack Duty): Spearhead Attacking Moves
Libero (Support Duty): Create Chances
DC: Suppress Counterattacks
Cover Duty (All Roles): Shuttle Ball
DL/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves Closer to Defence
Defend Duty (All Roles): Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
Support Duty (All Roles): Create Chances Urgently
DMC: Force Half Chances When Necessary
Defend Duty (All Roles Except DLP and HB): Isolate Advancing Midfielders
Halfback: Suppress Counterattacks
WBL/R: Penetrate Gaps
Defend Duty (All Roles): Isolate Midfielders
Support Duty (All Roles): Force Half Chances
MC: Penetrate Gaps Persistently
Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation
Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances When Necessary
Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Isolate Holding Midfielders
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 Without Hesitation
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 with 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 with Multiple Strikers: Draw Off Defenders
Trequartista (Lone Striker): Test Defence
Trequartista with Multiple Strikers: Test Defence with Power
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.