FM24 Matias Vecino: What Does He Bring to Galatasaray?

FM 24 Matias Vecino Transfer: What Does He Bring to GS? How Should You Play Him?

After Galatasaray earned their place in the Champions League, attention turned to the club's remaining transfers. A central midfield transfer in particular became a major expectation for GS, who were also expected to sign a centre-back. As I write this article, we'll be looking for answers to questions like: what does the officially confirmed signing of Matias Vecino bring to Galatasaray? How can he be used in FM24? What are the player's overall attributes?

What Does Matias Vecino Do in Galatasaray's FM 24 Squad?

Before diving into the Matias Vecino analysis, I can comfortably say that the other central midfielders brought into the squad, Kerem Demirbay included, will all be players who pull real weight in a Football Manager 2024 Galatasaray save. In particular, alongside a physically dominant midfielder like Torreira who can comfortably handle both ends of the pitch, you can add central midfielders of whichever different styles you want. My message to FM24 GS Career managers who'll be playing with Vecino is this: either rotate these two players with each other, or place a player with strong attacking output in front of them (Zaha as an inverted striker, Ziyech as a number ten) and try a formation like 4-2-3-1, letting them play as a second striker or number ten. It would be smarter to try this especially in matches where you're strong and the favorite. Against evenly matched teams, or a strong opponent in the Champions League, you can instead shape things as a 4-3-3, with Torreira as the number six and Vecino and Kerem Demirbay as number eights.

FM 24 Matias Vecino Analysis

What Kind of Player Is Matias Vecino?

Don't expect very high ball control or high technical ability from this player. He's strong in areas that demand a high football IQ, such as defensive strength, supporting team play, work rate, and off-the-ball movement, and he has a solid physique with attributes that let him contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Although his defensive strength is higher, the player does have some attacking output too. He's not someone who excels at one particular thing or has standout attributes, but rather a character who's a bit of everything and won't stand out too much to the eye.

What Kind of Player Should GS Have Signed?

I definitely can't call Matias Vecino a bad or useless signing, but after building up expectations sky-high, I can comfortably say Matias Vecino has been a disappointment.

When I look purely at the player's attributes, thinking Matias Vecino is a bigger name than he actually is, I again don't think it was quite the right move — or rather, I think he'll contribute, but I believe GS needed to sign a far more dribble-oriented player instead. A number eight who's eager, technically gifted on the ball, can beat opponents, and has above-standard passing attributes, playing alongside a physically strong but less technically gifted player like Torreira who prefers to keep things simple after winning the ball, would have made this squad far more formidable. In a period where Zaha and Tadic are being talked about as the league's biggest dribbling threats, we'll come to understand as the season goes on that the most important dribbler is actually Fred. A number eight this eager, skillful on the ball, and playing with his head, would bring huge energy to this otherwise stagnant GS squad.

What Does Okan Buruk Think?

Looking at Galatasaray's best matches from last season to now, I can comfortably say they've consistently had a serious tempo problem. While I expected this team, which sets up its defense well, times its pressing well, and rarely concedes soft goals, to play at a higher attacking tempo, based on the matches played so far and the transfers made, I can see they'll be sticking to possession-based football rather than tempo. The Vecino-Torreira midfield pairing will get the job done with very high physicality and clean play, but unfortunately they have no chance of adding tempo to the attack. Up front, Ziyech, Tete, Zaha, and Icardi (or Kerem in place of a winger) can get plenty done, but they're players who don't like playing at a high tempo. To change the team's identity, a player who'd bring incredible tempo to the midfield was essential.

I can understand the logic behind this signing, but I want to say it doesn't fit my own style...

This tempo is enough for every team in the league, but big teams who want to compete a level higher now need to play at a much higher tempo, with every player putting in high two-way effort. Looking at today's Liverpool - Aston Villa match, or the Arsenal - Man Utd. matches, regardless of the fact that the quality of play and the league class are far above ours, we can see that even Salah, arguably one of the best players in the world, is still pressing like a madman after going 3-0 up. Reaching that level isn't easy, of course, but the mindset needs to shift toward younger players and higher tempos, with training built around that.

What Should Galatasaray's Tactics Be for Champions League Matches?

This transfer is also somewhat tied to the draw GS got. Since they'll face very strong opponents and will generally see less of the ball, they seem to have gone for someone balanced who contributes heavily to team defense. If both Vecino and GS's transfers in general hit form, they'll comfortably hold on to their title challenge in the league and go all the way. They could even finish third in the Champions League at the very least...

I hope I'm wrong about all this, and that we all get to watch much higher-tempo, much more enjoyable matches together.

Sorry for drifting a bit away from Football Manager 2024 and into real life there :) Once the transfer window fully closes and the game is out, I'll be writing more detailed FM24 articles about the big four clubs.

Keep following Gamer Papers :)

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