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Attacking 4-3-3 Style and Substance

This system promises football that is pleasing to the eye and more importantly is very effective. It will get you loads of goals and players all over the pitch will put in good performances.

So this is a tactic that I used last year end with some tweaks, this time round it is even more effective. I created it with my Celtic team, I know the Scottish League is hardly a challenge but the manner of my victories- literally steam rolling teams on my way to amassing 104 points in my second season with over 120 goals scored.

What makes this more impressive is my run in the Champions League. In the first season my side got to the quarter finals before Real Madrid taught them a footballing lesson. On my second season however we won the trophy and the manner of the win was more impressive beating the likes of Bayern 5-0 and Liverpool 3-0 along the way.

So like all systems it's not one size fits all and there is certain types of players that suit the positions better and there is different ways of training the efficiency of it. The potential of this system will only be realised once the team is efficient in understanding how to implement it and the players are a good fit for what is expected of them.

Disclaimer (Sort of) I wouldn't recommend using this tactic away from home against vastly superior teams until you are accomplished in the system and you have the players to fit. I learned this the hard way away from home in the champions league in the first season.

The more complicated a system is with team and individual instructions the longer the team will take to become fluent in every aspect of it. As it happens this system is very intricate with numerous individual instructions. To speed up the learning process set it on all three tactic slots.

Pre season Lots of friendly fixtures and tactics training will speed up the understanding of the system but don't neglect fitness training as fixtures will quickly pile up. Once the season is underway I normally maintain a general training schedule with increasing intensity during international breaks and decreasing as and when fixtures inevitably pile up. Match day training is dependent on the opposition and whether it is home or away. If it is at home it's Attacking movement or set pieces. Away from home against better opposition Defensive positioning or set pieces.

I have not invested much time in the set pieces creator. At the moment I play the short one but the AI is better this year and after a few months they started marking the short option. It still gets goals but its effectiveness is not as it could be. I am open to suggestions or improvements in this department.

No opponent instructions on matchday they will only serve to stifle your attacking options!!!

Right then the players themselves as I eluded to earlier the system requires certain attributes in different positions to maximise its effectiveness. It will take time to ship out the dead wood and bring in players that are a natural fit. Don't hold onto your best ball winning midfielder out of nostalgia as he will not put in a good performance and will stifle your attacking potential.

Goalkeeper (Sweeper Keeper) - One on ones, Reflexes and concentration are a must. This tactic like most attacking systems will present that guilt edged opportunity to your opponents even though you have been peppering their goal for 90 minutes. The will mostly score from set pieces or long balls in behind the centre backs.

Centre backs - Acceleration, concentration and strength. Your CD's will be isolated in defence often as 8 players flood the opponents box trying to carve out an opening. Speed will help mitigate against the long desperate punt up the park that inevitably sets a striker one on one.

Wing Backs - Acceleration, dribbling and crossing. These guys will provide the width in an otherwise narrow system and will be a good outlet when the centre of the park is crowded. The will get to the by line and provide the tap ins for your strikers. Very often they will put in MoM performances for the sheer number of goals they provide.

Centre Mids- Passing, vision and work rate. These guys will put the miles in the midfield so a good engine is a must. They will distribute the ball wide or send defence splitting balls from deep to the forwards. Every man in the midfield must be able to pick a pass but more importantly have the work rate to drop back into the system if possession is lost.

Deep Lying forwards - Finishing Composure Dribbling. All these guys will bang the goals in 30+ a season. The man in the centre is the outlet, he will hold up the ball to allow the reinforcements to flood forward in support. He should be the strongest of the three with the best areal prowess. The wider forwards will run the channels and either cut inside or play the ball in to the runner at the back post for a simple tap in.

I hope you have as much success and enjoyment with this tactic as I do, I will be interested to hear how you got on or even if you have any recommendations on how the system can be improved.