Introduction

The idea is to overload one flank, with many “support” roles that will drag the local FB and CB and free a pass line to an explosive winger. This will be our main way to penetrate the defensive line and bring danger. By committing several players in one flank, we leave behind the other flank, even if it could be exploited by a lonely full-back.

Note: As you see, I overload the left flank in this asymmetrical tactic, but you can of course mirror it depending on your players.

In this tactic:

• The winger is expected to make runs behind the defense. To ensure that he has both space to run into and players that will give him the ball, we will put two players in his zone. The two supporting players will be a SS Classic N°10 and a CAM Classic N°10. The FB on his side will also help.
• If the winger is our penetrative weapon, he will usually not be our goal scorer. A preferably fast striker will remain central, and they’ll be both running to the goal once the defensive line is broken. Keep in mind that no matter how fast the winger is, he starts running from the side of the pitch and cannot do the job alone.
• The rest of the midfielders will be designed to balance the team by their positioning. They will provide recycling solutions, be excellent passer in case a pass line opens for the winger, be at least decent defensively.
• An optional second path to goal: the opposite full-back. As we are quite focused on one side, another player can lurk on the other side and provide a solution.

Team Playstyle

This is quite versatile so chose your favorite Team’s Playstyle. I personally use Long Ball Counter because it triggers runs when the ball is still in your half, but you can also use Quick Counter or Outwide.

• Offensive Instructions:
  • Anchoring – CF
  • Offensive – RB (optional)
• Defensive instruction:
  • Counter Target – Winger
  • Counter Target – CF (optional)

Positions

GK
As you got a winger that will not defend, a GK with Low Punt and you can reach him quickly for counters.

CBs
They roles and profiles are not mandatory for this tactic, so just use the one you fancy the most. As one of your FB could be offensive (more details below), I would only suggest “his” CB to be fast to cover his ground.

LB
The Left Fullback will be a Defensive Fullback. With this role he will be behind the winger, providing support and defensive stability. You do not need to give him an instruction, this playstyle is quite balanced. He may be required to be a good passer as he has a direct pass line to the winger, but this is optional to his defensive attributes.

RB
The RB is the role in this tactic that will vary the most. Ideally, he will provide a solution on the other side of the attack, as a second way to attack the goal. For that, we will give the Offensive Instruction to an Offensive Fullback. Unfortunately, this leaves our defense quite exposed. If the opponent uses an LWF, I will usually unable the instruction or even replace him with a defensive fullback. This role is really dependent on the current game and the opponent, you must make your own balance game by game. Just remember he is an alternative to the main tactic that really does not rely on him.

Midfielders - Orchestrators
The DMF and right CMF in this tactic will both be Orchestrators. They will be used for the build-up, offer pass solution, recycle the ball, and if possible, also launch the wingers with long balls. (My) Xhaka is really a Pirlo-esque DMF as he is solid defensively and has excellent passing attributes. He also has 90+ in Kicking Power, I don’t know how this influence passes (also in PA2), but in doubt that was another good point for him.

The right CMF Orchestrator will sometimes run behind the defense if he spots an opportunity, but this is rare enough to keep him available most of the time. I tried at first a Creative Playmaker, but he was doing too many runs and was not helping enough in the build-up.

Midfielders – Classic N.10
One Classic N°10 will be an AMF, the second will be a SS. This playstyle will note runs behind the defense and it’s exactly what we need to: competent passer making combining together, waiting for an opportunity to launch the wingers. About the SS, I also tried Deep-Lying Forward or Creative Playmakers, but they make too much runs forwards. You can use them to add some unpredictability to your game, at the detriment of the main goal of this tactic.

Also, the SS Classic N°10 will runs to the edge of the box, and sometimes be free for a cut-in cross rather than the striker.

Winger – Prolific Winger
He needs to be fast, VERY fast. I’m talking about minimum 85 in Speed, Acceleration and Dribbling (which helps determine his speed with the ball). You’ll say that this is not particularly fast as many players can go in 90+ in those attributes, and I’ll agree with you, but here the catch: once he’s dribbling behind the defense, he will need to pass, shoot, and sometimes tuck inside. I was at first glad of my K. Coman but get frustrated as he couldn’t constantly deliver the final cross.

This of course remains your choice, but I highly recommend having some decent stats in passing and shooting (around 75 and higher). Add to that some skills to make him less mono-dimensional such as a good weak foot or Outside Curler, to make your play unpredictable. Also, Pinpoint Crossing, Long Range Shooting, Long Range Curler, Stunning shots, etc.. could be an asset. All that makes it difficult to have those 90+ in Speed, Acceleration and Dribbling, which remains our first focus.

I also give him the Counter Target Instruction, so he remains available for quick counter attacks.

Striker
The striker will be the main goal scorer in this tactic. As you want to get your explosive winger running behind the defense, you need Goal Poacher to accompany him, and fast so he can outrun the defenders. This is the primary criteria, but I will highly suggest having a good/tall header as you might need to cross if a defender is between your winger and your striker. I started with K. Mbappé but went to V. Osimhen who suits the tactic more. K. Mbappé is of course a better player, but I was frustrated of how many headers he missed.

Because we want him to remain central, and because having an SS next to him and no winger on the other side make him drift, we’ll put the Instruction Anchoring on him. I sometimes give him the Counter Target Instruction, so he remains available and central for quick counter attacks.

Expected movements

There is a lot of available midfielders, and we can make the ball circulate quite easily. We keep an eye on the winger and any pass line that would be available. Generally, the pass will be from one of the Classic N°10, as they are in a zone attracting opposite Fullback and CB, hence liberating spaces to run.

Once the winger gets the ball behind the defense, he’s running and should be uncatchable by his FB. He approaches the box and should give the ball to the striker. If there is no direct pass line:

• A cross can always be done, that’s why I have chosen V. Osimhen over K. Mbappé.
• The SS Classic N°10 should be around and able to shoot a curler.
• The winger itself can dribble, cut inside, pass or score.

The players that score the most are the CF, followed by the SS Classic N°10 and the Prolific Winger together.

Other runs behind the defense can come from: the striker, the CMF Orchestrator, the attacking RB.

This strategy works like a charm if your opponent has a high line of defense (so Quick Counter with G. Zeitler or Possession with A. Roman/Guardiola). It’s still efficient against low block: you simply will have less time on the ball with your winger and will have to cross more as the box is crowded. This explains while sometimes this tactic seems mind blowing one game, and just good the next one.

In Practice

Edit

So I've revisited this article to capture the examples you saw above (that's why the players are slightly differents), and I'd like to provide some additional clarifications. Since the time I wrote it, it seems to me there have been a bit of gameplay changes, especially regarding the Classic N°10. Now, they seems way more mobiles. You can benefit from that by having a more "fluid" and impredictable gameplay, or you can adjust the Classic N°10 duo by having them as CMF/AMF rather than AMF/SS.