FM24 Best Tactics and Formations Guide

What Are the Best FM24 Tactics and Formations?

Knowing the best FM 24 tactics has always been very important both at the start of the game and further into it. Knowing the best FM 24 tactics, especially the tactics and formations you should use at the start of the game, will let you start the game 1-0 up.

Finding a top-tier formation in Football Manager 2024 (FM24) will help you a great deal in succeeding with your team, and it's also essential for putting all the pieces together with the right tactics. You're free to do whatever you want, but depending on the calibre of players you have, you might not want to overcomplicate things.

For the Various Playing Styles in FM 24;

• FM24 Best Playing Styles

Some teams and players may not have the capacity to play in specific formations, so remember, it's a coaching skill to understand that what you can achieve with what you have is sometimes limited, and to build the best setup with the material you're given!

Below, we've covered all the best formations to use in FM24 and the type of tactics we'll pair with them.

FM24 Best Tactics and Formations

4-2-3-1 High-Press Gegenpress

Every year, this is one of the best formations to use in the game, but since your defense starts from the forward line and requires high pressing from your four attacking players, you need to pick players suited to this style. Likewise, it's very important that your two number 6-8s at the back, who break the press when the opponent gets through your front line, can both sweep and at least one of them can also carry the ball into play. You could think of it as a similar approach to what Okan Buruk has been trying to do.

When you use a high-press tactic, your midfield is largely a pressure cooker, but your fullbacks and wide players can push forward more comfortably as a result and create chances from the flanks. If you can find two-way fullbacks for this tactic, we're 100% sure it will add to your strength!

The only downside is that if you come up against a team that can beat your press, your high line can leave you with incredible defensive problems, which is why your two number 6s play a critical role here. You might lose a few matches, but if your goal is fun or long-term dominance, I can safely say this formation is exactly the tactic you're looking for.

5-3-2 Fast Counter-Attack

To use this system you'll need three very good centre-backs and good wing-backs to provide all the width from the flanks. What matters for how this system works is having two strikers with two different skill sets, meaning one should be shorter, more technical, and able to slip into gaps, while the other should be more physical with classic striker traits. Think of Inter's Martinez and Lukaku partnership back in the day, or the current Martinez-Thuram pairing.

We picked a defensive midfielder at the back for extra insurance, but if you prefer, you can use an attacking midfielder depending on the match. Since your defense sits incredibly deep, you'll see plenty of attacks in your own box and the ball constantly at the opponent's feet. So keep your nerve, trust your team, and enjoy the goal you find on the counter at just the right moment. It might not sound appealing, but believe me, this is a nightmare tactic for opponents too, and beating you won't be easy at all.

4-3-3 Tiki-Taka

If you're going to use a Tiki-Taka formation, you'll need players who can dominate the ball, are mentally strong, and can pass well. To stay in line with football's latest trends, this is a great formation for fullbacks who can fill the midfield, fit the passing game, and use their weak foot too, as they practically invade the midfield and dominate the ball. While scoring chances in tactics like this can come from many positions, they'll especially come from your midfielders and wide players. Your approach to the game in tactics like this should always be patient.

On this pitch, you'll try to keep the ball inside the penalty area and focus on winning it back the moment you lose it. It's strongly advised not to use this tactic, where your tempo is low and you'll find goals by patiently working the ball stitch by stitch, especially in lower leagues or with teams that can't play as dominant a style.

For Those Who Want to Play Full Defense Among the Best FM 24 Tactics and Formations

5-2-3/3-4-3 Wing Play

If you want to create chances from the flanks and get more scoring opportunities, wing play is the best option. You'll fill the channels with plenty of players and hope to score by cutting the ball back to your central striker inside. A striker who can battle opposing defenders for most of the match, has high concentration, and is physically effective will increase your chances of finding a goal. Of course, someone who can instinctively turn loose balls into goals — a Dzeko-type striker, so to speak — wouldn't be wrong here.

With a back three, you'll also be able to prevent attacks from the flanks, which lets you reduce your wing-backs' defensive responsibilities and allow them to be freer going forward. In tactics like this, the most important points will always be your wingers or wing-backs. It's crucial that they're capable of playing both ways, helping the passing game in midfield while also being able to cut the ball back in attack.

For Fans of Attacking Setups Among the Best FM 24 Tactics

4-3-3 Narrow Vertical Tiki-Taka

Vertical Tiki-Taka is narrower, faster, and requires quickly moving the ball from the back into attack. To be great using this system, you need press-resistant, so-called tireless midfielders, and your fullbacks need to provide your width.

To guarantee plenty of goals, three strikers are used, so you need to pick these three players correctly so they can complement each other and help the others score plenty of goals. Using three strikers can create a bit of chaos, but the most important thing to know even about this tactic is that there will be a lot of goals in the matches. We hope you score more than your opponent :) Joking aside, the point we want to stress is that your goalkeeper will have a lot of work to do, so make sure you work with the best goalkeepers.

For those starting an FM 24 career, these formations will be enough to begin the game. We'll keep updating this page as we cover more formations. But the most important thing when starting out is finding a way to get the best out of your best players.