WM Formation | Football Manager 2023 |
To find out more about the tactic, we need to go back in time to the 1920s. To a team called Arsenal and a man called Herbert Chapman.
Herbert Chapman implemented and had great success with the WM formation. He took advantage of an offside rule change to counteract the effect the 2-3-5 formation had at the time.
To implement this tactic, you need to make sure that the players you are using have good ratings for Work rate and Teamwork. And, of course, role related attributes. But all within the boundaries of what you can afford for your team and depending on the level you manage at.
You need these 2 attributes to have high ratings as the players must interpret the tactic very well and work for the team. If these are non-existent, the tactic will crumble.
To create the formation used by Herbert Chapman we will need to think outside the box, as the game is not that flexible.
To create the WM formation we will use a 3-2-2-3 or a 3-4-3 formation. Depending on how you want to call it.
We will use 2 Wide center-backs that in game will go up when the team is in possession and will become Wing backs. This way, creating the WM.
Sweeper keeper on Attack duty in goal.
Two Wide center-backs one on support and one on defend. And one Central defender on defend duty.
As mentioned, the Wide center backs will help the possession game while the Central defender will be the cover in the defence.
One Half back on defend and one Deep lying playmaker for the first midfield pivot. The Half back covers the defence, while the Deep lying playmaker will be focal point for starting the attacks from the back. A creative player, with good passing attributes is needed here.
Two Mezzale on attack duty. And yes, mezzale is the plural for mezzala :).
These two players need to be creative, dynamic and take very good decisions. They form the second midfield pivot and will go up to the attack, overloading the oppositions defence. In the end, forming a 5 players attack almost every time.
On the wings we have an Inside forward on attack on the left side and an Inverted winger on support on the right one. My recommendation is that both have cuts inside from the flank they play on as a player trait.
And an Advanced forward on attack completes the formation.
As player instructions we have none as the roles offer very good instructions. But tweak them according to your team’s needs.
As mentality we go with Positive, as we need to be on the front foot.
In possession – fairly narrow, shorter passing directness and a slightly higher tempo. Play for set pieces and be more expressive.
In transition – regroup as we constantly have 5 attacking players, so the chances for a counter attack against us are high. Counter, distribute quickly, to the defence and roll it out.
Out of possession – mid block and a standard defensive line. Pressing slightly more often, get stuck in, trap outside and stop crosses. We need to trap teams outside and stop crosses as we play with 3 at the back, in a narrow formation and stretching them would mean a weaker defence in the box.
The tactic is very balanced and can create marvellous goals or chances for goals. The team is constantly on the front foot and ready to counter when needed.
But I am curious how the tactic worked for you. Do let me know in the comments below.
