FM 22 Unbeatable Tactic: How to Build a Record-Breaking 4-2-3-1

How Do You Build a Record-Breaking Tactic in FM 22? How Do You Create an Unbeaten Tactic in FM 22?

Before we start, I want to say there is no such thing as an unbeatable tactic. Even if you build the best tactic in the game and set up correctly for every match, the algorithm will make you lose at least one match. The tactic we give here has been tested before and is the most-used tactic of a season that was finished with Bodo Glimt with only 1 draw and 1 loss.

You can stretch or even change this tactic according to your team and your players' abilities. If you insist on using the tactical setup we give, here is a small piece of advice: look for players who suit the tactic!

Which Teams Should I Use the Record-Breaking/Unbeatable Tactic in FM 22 With?

The tactic we want to talk about is the 4-2-3-1 wide formation, one of the setups players know best. It is somewhat difficult to run the tactical approach we give here with a mid-table team. The reason is that you may get troublesome scores when you play against opponents stronger than you. We recommend using it with top-level teams, or with a mid-table team against opponents weaker than you. Because playing around too much with the tactic and changing the template makes it hard to build cohesion, you can use this tactic in a season where you trust your team a lot and set out with a title-winning mindset. Trying this template in an away match against teams equal to or even stronger than you can be difficult. Using the same tactical template but changing the roles and mentality can cause cohesion problems. While using the 4-2-3-1 unbeatable tactic and its instructions, I recommend not tinkering with it and, in tough matches, switching to another tactical template (for example, 5-3-2 away from home). You can reach our articles that often cover different tactical templates through the links at the very bottom of the page.

In our unbeatable tactic, where we do not compromise on lots of passing and tiki-taka play, we will keep looking for goals with balls won high up the pitch and patient passing.

When going forward, big teams no longer leave 2 centre-backs and a defensive midfielder back; instead they plan to build attacks with at least 4 players, using 3 centre-backs (one of whom can be the defensive midfielder in defense) plus full-backs close to the build-up (at least one of them), and to get past the high press by keeping the defense crowded. The player making the pass is always there as an extra option, and the players in the team generally have high passing quality and ball control. In the image above you can see a pattern where the attack is built with 4-5 passes. Although it looks easy at first glance, playing these passes with the right timing and angle while the opponent is pressing is not that easy. But with plenty of practice and skilled players, it is possible to bed this into your team after a while. Let me say now what I will say at the end: tactics like these demand repetition and work, so from the start of the season you must persistently pursue the unbeatable tactic and adapt your team to it. A few changes can be made, and I will cover them later in the article.

You can see the high press here, with players very close to each other trying to cut off every angle. The team in yellow closes down the player in the red shirt who has the ball while also cutting off almost all the passing options he could play. The only move the player can make is to quickly turn back to the centre-back. But after doing that, the player has no chance to play calmly, because the last man and the team in yellow leave him 2 options: he will either go back to the goalkeeper or play long. Either way, their chance of playing out of this press is very small, and if they cannot control the long ball, they will give the ball and the attack to the opponent.

What Are the Details of the FM22 Record-Breaking/Unbeatable Tactic Template?

The 4-2-3-1 unbeatable tactic has a few key parts. Two of them are the wing-backs, a box-to-box midfielder who plays in both directions in the middle of the pitch, and a creative forward who finishes up front. Small changes and updates can be made in the remaining parts. Still, we will share the 2 most ideal combinations with you. We recommend trying those first.

In possession, we should keep the attacking width wide and continue the build-up by playing out from defense and through the central midfielders. Since the biggest enemy of this type of tactic is crossing, we should avoid crossing until we are in the toughest situation and get into the opponent's box with passes. We should also keep our dribbling count high, go at the opposing defense and be aggressive. In our passing style, surprisingly, we should not play short but long, playing sudden killer passes to give sleeping defenses a cold shower.

In transition, we should again try to counter-press and counter-attack when we win the ball. We should put the ball into play quickly and, since we build up with passes, start from the defense.

While setting up our defense high up the pitch, we start the pressing line at the very front, that is, from the opposing goalkeeper. We set the pressing intensity to the highest and keep playing aggressive ball-winning football. Because the injury risk is high in tactics like these, we need to use players who have alternatives and high natural fitness.

Football Manager 2022 Unbeatable Tactic Setup with Bodo-Glimt!

We planned the tactical setup and approach above around Bodø/Glimt's squad and put it into practice. The player group we gave above is carried over from FM 21. The reason we present it this way is that the team has made very few changes since last year. Playing with stable players who suit a high-pressing tactic and know each other is hugely important in an unbeatable tactic setup. Stability and regular work are among the most important factors in creating an unbeatable tactic. Because we took the squad above from FM21, we built a squad by adding or removing the players who joined and left the team this season. All the player information we gave belongs to Bodø/Glimt's current team. Those who want to play with Bodø/Glimt can easily use this setup and these players. If you will try this setup with another team, you should find players similar to the player types we mentioned and try it with them!

Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin

Haikin, who has guarded the goal for 2-3 years, both suits the sweeper keeper type and, being 24 years old, is quite open to development. Since you will start the build-up from the very back, you want your goalkeeper to be comfortable with his feet. Although 11 passing may not look high at first glance, it can be brought to a much more solid level in a few years with regular training. When choosing your goalkeeper, try to pick a sweeper keeper who is either ready-made or has the potential. Playing a keeper who is good at goalkeeping but inadequate as a sweeper can make you concede plenty of goals from passing errors.

Centre-Backs - Moe and Lode

I did not want to separate the two. Of course, Lode is far above Moe in quality and ability, but both are very talented with the ball at their feet. Although they do not look very adequate in terms of defensive skills, they have attributes that very few centre-backs have for the other parts of the game. This team will play as a team and try to do everything together. So it is more important for them to have good stats overall than to be very good in certain areas. The ball will be at your feet most of the time anyway, and when you lose it you will press and win it back immediately. (You do not need Ramos-style tackles!)

Left-Back - Bjorkan

Bjorkan is one of those special talents who, if you let him, could easily play all the way up to striker. I do not know whether you can find one this good, but a good wing-back suits this tactic very well. Especially those who will play the left-back on an attacking duty as I set it up should look for a solid left wing-back. If you are a team with a budget, I say give Bjorkan a try ;)

Right-Back - Sampsted

Sampsted is again someone open to development who has the potential to become a good wing-back in the future. Since he is not as clear-cut a wing-back as Bjorkan, I chose to use him in a balanced role and have the winger in front of him play attacking. His teamwork, off-the-ball movement, pace and acceleration are above a certain level, and he is only 22 years old. With good training he can get very far. You cannot always play the best player. It is important to take risks and add players open to development to the team!

Defensive Playmaker - Patrick Berg

He may be the most familiar name from Bodø/Glimt. Extraordinary talent and only 22 years old. He has all the attributes to build play from the back, and he will also help you in defense at least as much as Saltnes. If you ask for work rate, physical fitness or teamwork, Berg has it all. Saying "masha'Allah", we move on with our box-to-box midfielder...

Box to Box - Saltnes

Your box-to-box midfielder's fitness and overall physical attributes should be top level. Oh, this player type turns out to be Saltnes, I only just noticed (!) With the pair of Saltnes and Berg, born for the box-to-box role, there is hardly any need to worry about the centre!.!

Central Midfielder - Fet or Koomson

Sondre Fet is again young and open to development, like most players. You can easily use him in every area of midfield. For that reason, I find it more right to use him as a joker from the bench rather than in the starting eleven. It may be wiser to start with Gilber Koomson as a shadow striker or attacking midfielder in the starting eleven and use Fet later in the match.

NOTE: In the first tactic we gave above, you can also use the part we gave as shadow striker as an attacking midfielder. It is ideal for making small changes when things get tough.

Gilber Koomson seems to have fallen out of favor with the Football Manager editors within a year. But that does not mean you cannot use him. His physical quality is at a certain level, and he is definitely a player who can do a job behind the striker.

Right Winger - Solbakken

On the right wing, where we put the emphasis on attacking, someone with above-average finishing would do the job, and I chose Solbakken for that. His acceleration is quite good and he is very open to development. I recommend playing an inside forward much more than an inverted winger. I think you will get more out of it.

Left Winger - Boniface or Pellegrino

I added Boniface because Pellegrino does not appear in FM21; otherwise my choice is definitely Pellegrino. I think you will get incredible output from him as a balanced inside forward on the left. His age of 30 also matters for adding experience to the team. You can also train Boniface as an inside forward and slot him in there after Pellegrino.

Striker - Botheim

Another player I definitely recommend using in FM 22 is Botheim. Botheim, who plays well above his stats, should be played in the creative forward role, and you should stick with it.

Central Midfield Alternative - Hugo Vetlesen

Keep Vetlesen in your pocket, as you can use him without trouble if Patrick Berg or Saltnes gets injured, transfers out or has a change of role.

To Wrap Up the FM 22 Record-Breaking/Unbeatable Tactic...

Not every team may be as full of potential and talent as Bodø/Glimt. But with the right transfers and use of the youth academy, you can create your own unbeatable tactic in 1-2 years. Remember, you need to bring together cohesion, talent and stability. If you want to use this tactic a lot, you can start a season with Bodø/Glimt, see the result with your own eyes, and then try it in a more competitive league.