My FM23 One Central Defender Custom Clean Slate Tactics: Classic 3-3-4 Version

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In my previous FM23 Custom Tactics articles, I have covered custom tactics with labels like Gegenpress, Tiki-taka, Vertical Tiki-taka, Control Possession, Wing Play, Fluid Counter Attack, Direct Counter Attack, Route One, Catenaccio and Park the Bus. This time, I will be covering a successful custom FM23 Clean Slate 3-3-4 tactic with one central defender, that I made with Valencia CF. So here’s FM23 one central defender custom clean slate tactics.

FM23 says this about Clean Slate “The tactics board is a clean slate, ready for playing style to be created from the ground up”. Well, as always this custom clean slate is of two versions and both of them use one central defender, they are;

Classic 3-3-4 version

Asymmetric 3-2-2-2-1 version

With no further ado, let’s dive into the details of the first version which is the classic 3-3-4 version.

FM23 One Central Defender Custom Clean Slate Tactics | Instructions

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In Possession

We don’t build up play from behind even though Valencia has good ball-playing defenders, rather the goalkeeper takes direct often from goal kick as you can see in the picture below.

As we progress with the ball, my team mostly uses the sides of the pitch than the middle to focus play. Our passing directness is shorter as we try to control the possession of the game. In the creative freedom, I made them to be more-expressive from their positions.

In Transition

The attacking width is wider. As we transit to attack, we don’t go for counterattacks rather we hold our shape during the transition while our ball movements is at slightly higher tempos. As we approach the box, I set the team to look for underlaps or overlaps on both sides of the pitch. We work the ball into the box to end our attacking transitions.

Furthermore, when the team lose the ball while in transition, I instructed them to group to form a defensive wall in our own half. Lastly, I always need the goalkeeper to distribute the ball quickly by rolling it out often.

Out of Possession

For the pressing, I set the trigger press ‘much more often” intensity. We press with a higher line of engagement and a standard defensive line – my team also press to close down goalkeeper distribution. We also defend in a 3-3-3-1 shape.

In addition, the defenders step up the defensive line which means they step up to compress the half leaving them little to build up attacking phases and they tend to trap the opponents outside by sitting compact while defending. Lastly, I want them to prevent the opposition from hitting crosses.

Formation Lineup

FM23 One Central Defender Custom Clean Slate Tactics | Role Selections

GK

My goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili is a sweeper keeper on defence duty.

CD

Diakhaby is a ball-playing defender on cover duty. Since he is our single central defender, so I want to stay behind the defensive line to clear out through-balls and crosses as a sweeper. Diakhaby is also confident with the ball and finds higher-positioned teammates via pinpoint passes.

FBs

Jose Gaya and Foulqiuer are both traditional fullbacks but on defence and automatic duties respectively. Gaya will stay back within the defensive line during attacks playing simple passes to support his teammates. Foulquier on the other hand will switch his attacking and defensive duties based on the team’s general mentality. When he gets forward during attacks, I want to run wide at the flank to support attacks.

DM

Hugo Guillamon is a deep-lying playmaker on defence duty. He has good passing range, vision and ball control which I want him to dictate tempo, switch plays and turn defence into attack from a deeper position. His defensive works are to close down attacks, intercept passes and recycle possession.

CMs

Moriba is a roaming playmaker. He is the main source of creativity in the team during attacks. When he gets the ball, he drives forward with it to lead the attack and equally tacks back to cover defensively.

Mensah is a mezzala on attack duty. He will frequently get into the box to attack the ball and drift wide to operate as a partial winger and move into channels often. Mensah doesn’t get involved in a defensive situation.

Ws

Kluivert is an inside forward on attack duty. Due to his attack duty, he will always stay higher up the pitch sitting narrower at the flank during an attack. He can cut inside and run at the central defenders to shoot or pass the ball in the final third.

On the right flank, Castillejo is an inverted winger on attack duty. He will look to cut inside into the final third while overloading retreating defenders. Castillejo mainly stays wider and also roams from his position often.

CFs

Cavani is a pressing forward on support duty. I want him to lead our pressing lines, closing down the opposition’s defenders during their build-up phase. Cavani equally drops to the midfield to help up attacking transition with the midfielders.

Samuel Lino is a deep-lying forward on support duty. I want him to drop below the attacking lines to the midfield to help build up attacks, connecting with the midfielders as a playmaker before getting forward to attack the opponent’s box.