This week's Wednesday Wisdom is brought to you by Ihor Crusadertsar of Dictate the Game who focuses on two underrated and under-utilised roles. 

At first glance both Pressing Forwards and Defensive Wingers might appear to be roles you would make use of in the dying moments of a game. Maybe you’d use them when you’re trying to preserve a fragile lead in a tight game, or competing as the underdog in a big match? Whatever the case, it would be very unusual to consider either role as the basis of your standard tactic or formation. However, appearances can be misleading. A different sport gave me the idea of mixing things up.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a seasoned veteran, every team in Football Manager presents its own distinct challenge. Some might expect success on a limited budget, some might give you a huge transfer kitty to work with and some will want you to stay true to the club’s identity on your way to the top.

Strikers are the lynchpin of almost every system. They make or break a good tactic because it doesn’t matter how many goals you can keep out, if you can’t get your front man firing, it’s all over. No team ever won the league with 38 0-0 draws…

Number nines come in many different shapes and sizes in the modern game - no longer are they one-dimensional, known purely for their pace or aerial ability. 

In Football Manager 2020, strikers operate in eight roles, from Deep Lying Forwards to False Nines. Whichever flavour yours comes in, let’s take a look at how you can go about getting the best from him.

We should say, from the top, that the role deployed should suit your player’s individual attributes but since so many strikers can play in so many different roles, it’s key that you begin by getting your selection right.

Regular Wednesday Wisdom contributor, FM Grasshopper is back and this time he's joined by his Grass n Gear podcast co-host, Dan Gear. Today, they're running an experiment to see if aggressive and passive tactical styles can be applied to the same squad, while giving you guys an idea of what's required to get the best out of both options.

This week's Wednesday Wisdom comes from Ihor Crusadertsar of DictateTheGame who looks into what makes a successful combination of player roles in key areas of the pitch.

@MerryGuido takes a look at transitions and, importantly, 'In Transition' instructions in FM20 so you can better manage the phase between defence and attack.

Football is a game of transitions, matches can be won or lost by switching quickly and successfully between attack and defence. Modern teams base their style of play on these transitional moments, making deadly counter-attacks a house specialty. This shift in style for many teams has been emulated by Football Manager; ensuring your tactical system is set up to give your team the best chance of taking advantage of mistakes in the transitional phases while similarly limiting your vulnerability is key to doing well in FM20. 

Guido Merry takes on the task of analysing the newly-introduced Inverted Winger to see what separates that role from other types of wide-men in FM20. 

This week's Wednesday Wisdom comes courtesy of @FM_Grasshopper and focuses on the role of the Enganche in FM19. It's a role that can sometimes be overlooked but could help get more out of your number 10.

This week's Wednesday Wisdom comes courtesy of @FMSamo who has created a guide for the 3-5-2 formation. Here, he covers the main points you need to consider in the system while stressing the importance of finding the right players and attributes to fill those roles. 

If you think you're up to the task of spreading your own Wednesday Wisdom, get in touch - byline@sigames.com 
 

This week’s Wednesday Wisdom is a debut piece from @DictateTheGame with a focus on the Libero. The defensive role is one that isn’t spoken about too often in the mainstream analysis of football, but its fundamentals are very much ingrained in the modern game. 

Wednesday Wisdom returns thanks to @FM_Samo who takes on the subject of captaincy. It's a large part of a manager's responsibility, so how do you get it right? 

This week's Wednesday Wisdom comes from @FM_Samo who has discovered the keys to utilizing the 442 formation. The traditional system is making a resurgence in the modern game as well as in FM19. Here's how to get the best from a classic of football philosophy. 

If you think you've got what it takes to spread your own Wednesday Wisdom then drop us a line on byline@sigames.com with your idea and your work could be in the spotlight.