Very Rigid Mentality Structure: Production Lines – Part 6

Football Manager Very Rigid Mentality Structure – Part 6 of The Mentality Ladder

Welcome to the final part about the specific fluidity settings in Football Manager. Here will the Football Manager Very rigid mentality structure be discussed in detail – looking at the player roles and positioning tactical priority in the different match strategies.

Learn more about the very rigid mentality structure in Football Manager and player responsibilities when selecting this fluidity.

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 Rigid Mentality

Very rigid mentality structures actually cover a narrower range of tactical priorities than rigid (and, potentially, balanced) mentality structures. Like rigid mentality structures, very rigid mentality structures organizes tactical priorities according to position within the team’s defensive shape, but unlike rigid mentality structures, there is less of a general tactical distinction between wide and central players.

This means that wide players are not specifically relied upon to help quickly link the various parts of the team, though the team as a whole will look to prevent either the attack or defence from becoming isolated by maintaining a slightly more compact shape. In practice, this means the team will be slightly slower to break from its defensive shape going forward, though centrebacks and forwards will also be slightly more inclined to help support the midfield compared to a rigid system.

Basically, very rigid mentality structures are intended to produce highly organized football in which the team can execute a focused, precise attacking approach while maintaining the ability to quickly transition back to its defensive shape at a moment’s notice. As with rigid mentality structures, this means players have a distinct and clearly defined function within the team with defensive position having an even greater influence on the decion-making of wide players. Accordingly, this can make the team’s approach very predictable, though this isn’t necessarily a problem for managers looking to perfect a highly specific style of play.

Very rigid mentality structures should also not be equated with limiting specific position’s contribution to a single phase of play. Again, team mentality and duty are the primary factors in determining whether specific players get forward or drop back to defend.

The Sweeper Effect in Very Rigid Mentality

Certain very rigid mentality structures are subject to the Sweeper Effect. Essentially, under a more defensive team mentality, using a sweeper role will cause other players on the team to become slightly more aggressive.

The Sweeper Effect applies to very rigid contain and defensive mentality structures that use 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) up one position on the mentality ladder for Defensive mentalities and up two positions for Contain mentalities if the mentality structure is subject to the Sweeper Effect. Keep in mind, the alterations imposed by the Sweeper Effect are the same regardless of how many sweepers are used.

The Deep Lying Playmaker Effect in Very Rigid Mentality Structure

A similar effect occurs when a Deep Lying Playmaker is used as at CM in Contain and Defensive mentalities. In such situations, you should move every outfield player other than the Deep Lying Playmaker and sweepers up one position on the mentality ladder. Keep in mind, however, that the sweeper effect still applies to the DLP and the effects of using a CM DLP and sweeper are cumulative for all other players.

The Trequartista Effect

And again, a similar effect occurs when a Trequartista is used as a lone striker in Control, Attack and Overload mentalities . In such situations, you should move every outfield player other than the Trequartista up one position on the mentality ladder.

-GK: Shield Goal
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Limit Pressure

-SW: Obstruct Shots
-Libero (All Duties): Restrict Space Cautiiously

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

-DL/R: Slow Attacking Movement

-DMC: Divert Attacking Movement
-Halfback: Contain Attacking Movement

-WBL/R: Divert Attacking Movement

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

-ML/R: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-AMC: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously
-Shadow Striker: Recover Possession

-AML/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-ST (Lone Striker): Recover Possession Immediately
-Attack Duty (Multiple Strikers): Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Defend/Support Duty (Multiple Strikers): Recover Possession
-False Nine (Lone Striker): Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Trequartista (Lone Striker): Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Trequartista (Multiple Strikers): Recover Possession Immediately

-GK: Limit Pressure
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Distribute Safely

-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 Aggressively
-Halfback: Restrict Space

-WBL/R: Restrict Space Aggressively

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

-ML/R: Recover Possession After Defensive Transition

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

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

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

-GK: Limit Pressure
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Cycle Possession

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

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

-DL/R: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-DMC: Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Halfback: Disrupt Attacks Judiciously

-WBL/R: Disrupt Attacks Quickly

-MC: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Box to Box Midfielder: Recover Possession Immediately
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Disrupt Attacks Quickly
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Recover Possession

-ML/R: Keep Possession Away From Pressure

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

-AML/R: Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Away From Pressure

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

-GK: Distribute Safely
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Cycle Possession

-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
-Halfback: Disrupt Attacks Quickly

-WBL/R: Recover Possession

-MC: Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Box to Box Midfielder: Keep Possession
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Recover Possession
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Keep Possession Away From Pressure

-ML/R: Keep Possession Under Pressure

-AMC: Shuttle Ball
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Under Pressure
-Shadow Striker: Spearhead Attacking Moves from the Hole

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

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

-GK: Cycle Possession
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Initiate Attacks

-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: Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Halfback: Recover Possession

-WBL/R: Keep Possession Away From Pressure

-MC: Shuttle Ball
-Box to Box Midfielder: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Keep Possession Away From Pressure
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Keep Possession Under Pressure

-ML/R: Shuttle Ball

-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 from the Hole
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Suppress Counterattacking Options
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances Patiently

-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): Create Chances Urgently

-GK: Cycle Possession
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Initiate Attacks

-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: Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Halfback: Keep Possession

-WBL/R: Shuttle Ball Into Space

-MC: Spearhead Attacking Moves
-Box to Box Midfielder: Create Chances Patiently
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Shuttle Ball Into Space
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Shuttle Ball Through Defence
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Create Chances

-ML/R: Spearhead Attacking Moves
-Defend Duty (All Roles): Suppress Counterattacks
-Support Duty (All Roles): Create Chances

-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 Intermittently
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances Urgently
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Isolate Advancing Midfielders
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances When Necessary

-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

-GK: Initiate Attacks
-Sweeper Keeper (All Duties): Support Attacks

-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: Create Chances Patiently
-Defend Duty (All Roles Except Deep Lying Playmaker): Suppress Counterattacking Options
-Halfback: Shuttle Ball

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

-MC: Penetrate Gaps
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances
-Box to Box Midfielder: Force Half Chances When Necessary
-Deep Lying Playmaker (All Duties): Create Chances Patiently
-Defend Duty (All Other Roles): Suppress Counterattacking Outlets
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Force Half Chances

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

-AMC: Draw Off Defenders
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances
-Enganche: Test Defence With Precision
-Shadow Striker: Overload Defenders
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Test Defence With Precision
-Trequartista: Test Defence With Precision

-AML/R: Draw Off Defenders
-Advanced Playmaker (All Duties): Force Half Chances Without Hesitation
-Defensive Winger (Defend): Hassle Dawdling Defenders
-Support Duty (All Other Roles): Test Defence With Precision

-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

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.