FM 2009 tactics of different teams
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If you are seeking Football Manager 2010 tactics then I advise you to take a look at my asymmetric one used for Leeds.
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Hello, dear readers! I have prepared very interesting and pretty unusual information regarding different tactical approaches used by Premier League clubs in my Hull game. We will try to understand together what tactics AI clubs prefer more and what tactics lead to success. I reviewed all the tactics used in Premier League one by one. Here you can find also enumerations of clubs with their positions in the league per each tactics.
Classic 4-4-2 formation
2. Manchester United
3. Tottenham
6. Aston Villa
7. Blackburn
10. Newcastle
11. Middlesbrough
12. West Ham
14. West Bromwich Albion
16. Fulham
17. Sunderland
19. Stoke
20. Bolton
4-4-2 is the most classic tactics for the whole history of football. 13 of 20 teams have been using this tactics since the start of the 3rd season in my game. Among them are top 3 teams (Arsenal, Man Utd, Tottenham) at the moment. Yes, of course, they have different tactical instructions which I cannot investigate so easy. But anyway we can see that this FM 2009 tactics may lead any team to success. It’s just matter of careful tuning of team instructions and selection of squad members.
4-1-3-1-1 – tactics of sacked coach 
4. Chelsea
Luiz Felipe Scolari (who was sacked few weeks ago in real life) uses strange centre-concentrated tactics with one forward. As you see he is still ruling the club in my game. This means that he is on the way of success with it! And actually Chelsea won Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup of the previous season (2009/2010) following this smart tactical approach of famous Brazilian coach.
The main strength of this FM 2009 tactics is strong and mobile centre of midfield. Such guys like Essien, Ballack and Mikel can enclose flanks when it’s needed.
If you have some time I will try to investigate this tactics more. I would even like to tune for my team… But it can only happen in case if I’m not happy with the current one. ![]()
4 in advance, 6 behind
5. Liverpool
What have we here? Another quite rare approach of team work when 4 players are used only for wide attacks and 6 players think about defense. It’s pretty fluently because either defensive midfielders or wing backs can be involved in attacks in case when it’s necessary.
By the way, in my game this tactical style is produced by Louis Van Gaal – not Rafa Benites because he is sacked already. ![]()
Standard 4-4-1-1 tactics
8. Everton
18. Wigan
This one is hard to implement for me! I used this formation in different versions Football Manager and actually FM 2009 with Hull. Unfortunately it didn’t give me results I expect. But Everton performs quite good in my game anyway.
Though potentially it looks smart and tough because of 5 midfielders and 4 defenders together.
My 4-1-2-2-1 FM 2009 tactics 
9. Manchester City
13. Hull
15. Wolves
There are 3 teams including my Hull left without being discussed. All of them use formation of my best FM2009 tactics! If you are permanent blog reader you should know all its features from this post. Manchester City doesn’t have high achievements with it, though Hughes is still Man City manager. We will see if my Hull is able to prove that this tactical approach is one of the most effective!
And what tactics do you use in FM2009? What’s your favourite?
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The Author

Hull
I have a save with Aston Villa I'm in year 2016/17, I use a 4-4-2 and the hardest club to play against is Arsenal, they are my direct opponent to all season competitions, the other squads are not hard to beat. I was only able to implement the 4-4-2 tactic with Aston Villa after a couple of seasons when I was able to buy world-class players, before that I was using a 4-3-3.
I'm Cardiff In second season playing 4-3-2-1 similar to your formation without the defensive mid. Playing Keirrison up top with ledley and mccormack on the wings. good post b the way really interesting.
i also use the 4-1-2-21 for chelsea and stoke
excuse me how do you get fm09 to be half screen if you have a mac
I'm with Walsall fighting for my place back in League 1 right now with a good tactic using a relatively simple 4-2-2-2 tactic, but with almost complete emphasis on the attacking side. Free roles for my AMs and one Striker mixed with hold ups and lots of running forwards for my Full Backs has produced me with a 10 game unbeaten streak right now. Of course, you need the players, but it's very effective.
I did use 4-4-1-1 in the 08/09 and 09/10 seasons with Man City
LIKE THIS:
ST
AML AMC AMR
MC MC
LB CB CB RB
Finished 4th and 4th again got bored of managing city half way though the 10/11 so i resigned :)
Using a 4-2-4 in the 11/12 season with Man Utd
LIKE THIS:
ST ST
AML AMR
MC MC
LB CB CB RB
Half through the season 3rd joint
2nd and 4 points behind 1st not to bad ;)
I use 4-3-2-1 without defensive midle. I use this formation with Arsenal I cant remember exactly how long but i think that 6 years and won Prem league 5 times in a row :D Know I am in 2021 :D
I just started a save with Man City. I wanted to do something different, so I did a 3-1-2-2-2. I'm doing quite well with it first in the premiership, although it requires very good tackling midfield and very mobile centerbacks. My lineup looks like this
-----------Hart-----------
--Richards-Dunne-Kompany--
----------Palombo---------
----Tymoschuk-Krancar-----
-Elano-----------Arshavin-
-------Cardozo-Robinho----
I am Atletico Madrid and use your tactic with my insructions GK: Oscar Ustari
RB: Thomas Ujfalusi
LB: Antonio Lopez
CB: Thomas Heitinga
CB: Fedrico Fazio
DM: Ever Banega
Cm: lassana Diarra
CM: Ignacio Camacho
AMR: Maxi Rodriguez
AML: Diego Capel
Str: Sergio Aguero
I have one the La Liga twice in a row as well as the Spanish Super cup and was Champions League semi finalists.
Im using a 4-2-3-1 WIth Liverpool in 2012 with one of my central midfielders plsying like a holding mid and the other making lots of forward runs. First XI looks like this.
---------Akinfeev---------
Rafinha-Sakho-Caselli-Lahm
------Gerrard--Hamsik-----
Silva-----Aguero-----Messi
----------Torres----------
I got lucky and had liverpool bought by a Maltese Billionaire in late 2009 meaning my transfer budget is 100million every season
i am playing with west brom in the second season with tactics 4-1-2-1-2
with dm ,mr ,ml ,amc and two strikers if u get the two strikers with high speed and finishing and the amc of the same style ronaldinho or riquelme u will be unstoppable i am currently working on that
Hi Vitaliy, jst wonderin cud ani1 explain 2 me wen 2 gt a plyer 2 tutor another plyr???????
I use the tactic you also like in almost all my saves. Bu now, with Man. City in the third season I have the following 4x1x2x1x2:
GK: Hart
DD: Chrétien
DE: Kolarov
DC: Richards
DC: Curtis Davies
DM: Miguel Veloso
CM: Defour
CM: João Moutinho
AMC: Freddy Adu / Simon Vukcevic
PL: Oscar Cardozo
PL: Artem Milevsky / James Vaughan
1st season was not good, 7th place, but 2nd season finished 5th and won the UEFA Cup. Now, I am on the 3rd position, semis of the FA and quarter-final of UEFA.
I use 4-1-2-2-1
FW
AML AMR
MC MC
DMC
DL DC DC DR
GK
Fantastic formation. My freddy eastwood manage to score plenty of goals because of this position. I have 1 problem. Westwood, my goalie seem to concede goal too often. I need a goalkeeper that can solve this problem. Any recommendation? I using conventry and i in my 1st season January. Help appreciated. Thanks.
.i have a question...my fm09 version is downloaded along the first patch, i dont have a serial and nothing..when i saw the second patch i downloaded it and installed it, and then started the game, and it asked me for a serial..i have already tried one serial form somebody from the internet, but it doesnt work...any advice??
u hav 2 b a genius 2 work footy manager live!
best tatics are 4-3-3
tatics of sacked coach from chelsea is'nt right scolari didnt use those tatics in real life he used the tatic you used with hull
buy leyenda he's argentinian. he's good and cheap he was my 1st choice but i bought rob green when i got to the premiership.
George Wood:
By pressing Cmd+Tab.
i'm playing in year 2021/2022 with man u and always win the prem for the last six years since i use this tactic and also got a quadruple in 2016/2017.
my tactic is 2-3-2-1-2.
ST ST
AMC
MC MC
WBL DM WBR
DC DC
this tactic is very useful cause i play posession football and concentrate the attacking force from the middle. to use this tactic u should have very good wing backs (they are useful to help when attacking, especially counter attack), defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and also attacking midfielder as the playmaker. set short passing and normal-quick tempo for the team instructions. hope this could be useful.
I am in my third season with Middlesbrough just won the F.A. Cup in my second season beating spurs in the final 2-0.
I play with a 4 3 1 2 formation with team as follows.
GK Lobont
RB Hoyte
LB Atobha
CB Cacereas
CB Wheater
CM Gacar
CM Ritter
CM Riqeulme pushing forward to an AMC
ARM Tuncay (although just bought Downing back from City at half what I sold hime for so he might go ALM)
FC Andy Johnson
FC Jeremie Aliadiere (Although just bought Bojan from Birmingham)
Guys, thanks for all your comments! :) It's always interesting what tactics people use in FM 2009!
i am using
4-1-1-2-2
GK
DR-DC-DC-DR
DM
MC with amc position
AMR-AML
ST-ST
..
my mc always get drop stamina to 80% in 60th minutes and my striker rarely dribble or sprint...
i use 4-4-2
you can check it on this website:
www.footballmanagergameswithme.blogspot.com
I am Barcelona in March 2nd season and this is my line up:
GK:Valdes
DR:Alves
DL:Abidal/Guilherme
DC:Henrique
DC:Chygrynski
DMC:Keita/Toure
MC:Iniesta/Xavi
AMR:Messi
AML:Buonanotte/Jovetic
ST:Bojan/Balotelli
ST:Eto'o
Bojan is top scorer with 20 but on a goal drought of 1300 mins without scoring.
Buonanotte is amazing at setting up strikers because he cuts in and passes. Bojan usually gets on the end of them.
Top of La Liga 9 points ahead of Real Madrid and in Final of Spanish Cup.
i was at one stage using the 433/41212 with wingers that was being used and won the CL with it(nearly half my games were 1-0).
Because i like goals and felt my attacking options were stronger i set up a 4222(442 with wingers playing further up).
Liverpools tactic is actually very similar to what they really use. They pretty much play a 433 as well but instead of 1 DM they play with 2. I guess gerrard is made to attack higher up the pitch in your game. Also chelsea basically used this tactic during scolari's reign during the time malouda was injured.
Its really just a 4411 but mikel being asked to defender more.
Vitaliy Mokosiy
sick tactic you got here mate! i am using it in my barca team and im undefeated!
haha! thanks my fellow ukrainian! i'm half american-ukrainian mate!
cheers,
Fredriech Potapenko
Im Q.P.R a bit random i know but my tactics are working a treat.
I use 4-2-2-2 with wide AM.
GK - Ochoa
DL - Delaney
DC - Radoi
DC - Cononnoly
DR - Ramage
MC - Merida
MC - Diaby
AML - Buananotte
AMR - Torje
FC - Marquinhos
FC - Eto'o
In my 1st season i won the championship unbeaten. In my second season i did extremely well and finished 7th place, winning the F.A cup and qualifieing for Uefa cup. IM in my 3rd season now occupieing 3rd place.
Fredriech Potapenko,
thanks! Good luck with Barcelona :)
i am arsenal in year 2014 have won every cup possiable win the league every year without cheating!! have loads of money and have buit an amazing squad that no one can touch as the other teams dont really buy any class!
Using this tactic with Newcastle,3rd sdeason.
4 1 3 2
GK
DR CB CB DL
MC
AMR AML
AMC
SC SC
12th first season, 5th second.6th in 3rd currently
Attacking style,lots of creative freedom,if u got creative players.
Make the mc slightly defensive,taking long shots and through balls, also the amc but attacking and free role also the playmaker.
Hi,
Good posts chap!
Just one Q.
Can u write smaller posts b'coz its really difficult to read so much in one go!
Well, I prefer to write different posts. Sometimes long, sometimes short. It's just matter of need, actually.
And I don't think that it's problematic to view long posts with a lot of images in it because 99% of us has a quite quick Internet connection
Hey thanx for the tactical advice, I'm blackburn in my Second Season.
I play a 4-2-2-2
GK Sergio Asenjo
LB Martin Olsson
RB Onyekachi Apam
CB Bruno Alves
CB Juanito
CM Kevin Thomson
CM Pape Diop
AML Esteban Granero
AMR Pedro Leon
CF Mladen Petric
CF Giuseppe Rossi
I won the Premier League in my 1st season and am top by 5 points in my 2nd season, won the community shield, League Cup and in Semi Final of Champion's League. Mladen Petric has been amazing so far this Season, 40 goals and i'm still in March!!
4-1-2-2-1
i used your tactics for my 2nd and 3rd season with manchester city, but now in my fourth season i play 4-2-2-2 with the same team intructions except i change the dm to the same as ST intructions. I concede more goals but i'll write my team down and you'll see why i score more!
GK: Pele, Green, Schiemal
RB: Bosingwa, Ferrira
LB: Bossieau (awesome, like 19 now) Bale
CBs: Zapata, Manciennce, Kompany (and another)
CM: Diarra, Kaka, Moutinho, Johnson (someone else aswell :P)
AML: Vela, Rieara, Otte(16 or 17)
AMR: Dos santos, Adu
FC: Bojan, Augero, Benzema, Genteste
A lot of these comments work well with world class players, or lots of pace. I'm curious if someone has found tactics that work effectively with very poor wingers and virtually no pace. I've been managing some national teams where you can't just go pick up someone with a lot of pace, and I'm really struggling to find effective tactics.
i am everton in 3rd season eon league twice 4th first season fa cup twic league cup an uefa cup :) this is my formation
Howard
neville jagielka lescott baines
fellaini
arteta
osman cahill pienaar
yakubu
yes it looks weirs but it is very effective very attacking score about 4 goals each match. wide direct quick tempo all out attack.
i am man city my tacitc is very good i have won premier league 2 times fa cup 2 times league cup 2 times communtiy shild 1ce runner up 1ce champions league 1ce uefa cup 1ce and the super cup 2 times and i am only at the start of my third season it is 4-1-3-2 i play
GK:reina
RB:geln johnson
CB:ferdinand and agger
LB:ashley cole
CM:steven gerrard
AMC:kaka
AMR:messi
AML:ronaldo
ST:torres and rooney
i also play with hull and im at season 2010-2011..... second place at january!!!i was impressed with me to be honest....and as far as my tactics are concerned i use 4-3-1-2 with an attacking midfielder which has been proved very effective both on attack(keirrison,kevin doyle my strikers) and on defence (ignashevic,rusol my c defenders)
where can i donwload the 4-4-2 classic?