Football Manager Basics

8/11/2019 Football Manager Basics

1/60

Football Manager Basics: PlayerAttributes and Roles ExplainedLearn what each attribute means and which are the key attributes for each

role and duty on the field. Updated for Football Manager 2014!

ByStam Updated on 2013-10-20 17:00 66503views 6Comments

Football Manager is full of choices and one of the many you will be confronted with is what

players will you buy or sell. For Tactics sake, you need the right type of players to play the way

you please. To identify who is in your plans, attributes are important and therefore us here at FM

Scout will demonstrate to you just what each one means.

There are some hidden attributes you don't get to see in-game but they exist and can be very

important; we showcase them as well.

Finally, we list the key attributes for every single player role and duty you can choose on the

football pitch. It's something that you can find on your own in-game, but that would take lots of

clicks and a notepad to write them down. You can find them all here in one page.

Updated: 20 October 2013

Published: 14 June 2013

Goalkeeping Attributes

AERIAL ABILITY

This is a goalkeeper's ability to deal with the ball in aerial situationspunching and catching. Goalkeepers with

higher ratings here will be able to deal with these potentially tricky situations more capably. Taller goalkeepers

may have an advantage as well, but that isnt to say smaller ones will struggle.
http://www.fmscout.com/users/Stam.htmlhttp://www.fmscout.com/users/Stam.htmlhttp://www.fmscout.com/users/Stam.htmlhttp://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html#commentshttp://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html#commentshttp://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html#commentshttp://www.fmscout.com/a-player-attributes-roles-and-duties-explained.html#commentshttp://www.fmscout.com/users/Stam.html


2/60

Marc Vaughan and Nick Habershon:

The capacity to pluck the ball out of the air. A keeper who comes out and flaps at a ball will cause panic among

his defenders. A good aerial ability is helpful against teams who get lots of crosses in or use the long ball tactic.

COMMAND OF AREA

This affects how well the goalkeeper takes charge of his penalty area and works with his defensive line. A

goalkeeper who commands his entire box (i.e. has a high rating) will be instinctive and look to take charge of

situations, especially coming for crosses (therefore working in tandem with Aerial Ability). Do note, however, that

a high rating only increases his penchant for coming for crosses and not necessarily claiming them all.


A keeper with good command of his area is mobile and gets around the box rapidly. He will display this attribute

best at set piecesknowing when to come for the ball and making sure he gets it when he does.

COMMUNICATION

How well a goalkeeper communicates with his defensive line and organizes the defensive side of the team. A

higher rating reflects a better communicator and will allow your back five (or more) to work better together,

ensuring better defensive stability.


A keeper with good communication skills is essential if you want to possess an organized defense. Think Peter

Schmeichel...

ECCENTRICITY

This attribute represents the likelihood of the goalkeeper to do the unexpected and typically act completely un-

like a goalkeeper. Things like dribbling out of his area will be commonplace if the eccentricity attribute is high.



3/60

An eccentric keeper is a double-edged sword. He might be capable of moments of genius, but equally you may

find him scampering out of his box with no hope of getting to the ball before the opposition striker. If you like a

player with a bit of character, a low rating, in my opinion, is not necessarily a good thing.

HANDLING

How securely the goalkeeper holds onto the ball when making a save or coming for a loose ball. Greater handling

will be beneficial in unfavorable weather conditions, but in general a goalkeeper who doesnt give up rebounds

will be useful.


This is the attribute you really want to look out for in a keeper. No handling = no good.

KICKING

The physical capability of a goalkeeper to kick the ball - this purely defines the distance he can reach. His

Passing and Technique ratings will define how accurate his kicks are.


If you play the long ball tactic, make sure your keeper has a good kicking attribute. He'll be able to stick it on your

target man's head from his six yard box. If your keeper has a poor kicking rating, have him distribute the ball

straight to your defenders.

ONE ON ONES

The ability of the goalkeeper to do well when faced with an opponent in a one on one situation. The higher this

ability, the higher is the chance that the keeper will deny the goalscoring opportunity. This combines with good

Reflexes, Rushing Out and Composure.

REFLEXES


4/60

How good the goalkeeper is at making instinctive reaction saves. If he has a high reflexes rating he will be able to

respond to the unpredictable with more success and be able to pull off the highlight reel saves.


This is a great attribute for your keeper to have, denoting how good he is at making instinctive saves

particularly from close range. This combines with good Handling and Agility to keep your goals conceded to a

minimum.

RUSHING OUTHow good the goalkeeper is at coming off his line to react to through balls and similar situations. A goalkeeper

will benefit from Pace and Acceleration here as well.


This is a good stat to have if your team plays the offside trap or if the opposition has a particularly fast striker (aka

Michael Owen). Your keeper will be out to meet them before you can say "Rushing Out"...

TENDENCY TO PUNCH

This determines whether a goalkeeper will catch the ball when he can, or punch it clear. A higher rating reflects a

tendency to punch most things clear even when it may be possible to hold onto the ball.


Something we've seen more of in the English Premiership in recent seasons as more teams employ continental

keepers. Looking for this stat is purely a personal choice punching can clear the danger immediately but it still

remains a risky business. Not recommended with a weak and shaky defense.

THROWING


5/60

How good the goalkeepers distribution with his arms is. A higher rating will increase the accuracy of his throws,

although Strength imparts on the distance he is able to reach.


If you like your team to play Counter Attack football, a keeper with good Throwing ability is essential. Once in

possession hell have the ball out to your striker on the halfway line in no time...

Technical Attributes

CORNERS

This attribute reflects how well the player takes a corner. Taking advantage of set-pieces is important, and having

a capable corner taker to put the ball into key areas is useful.

CROSSING

This indicates a player's proficiency at crossing the ball from wide areas into the penalty box.


If you like to employ wingers and fullbacks marauding down both flanks it's vital that they have the ability to get

quality balls into your strikers. No point in doing this if your attackers are 5ft nothing though. The Crossing

schedule in training is a good way to improve their stats.

DRIBBLING


6/60

This refers to the player's ability to dribble with the ball. This is purely his proficiency with the ball at his feet - his

Pace, Acceleration, Agility, and Balance will all aid his dribbling in different circumstances, and whilst a higher

dribbling attribute will also help him in different situations, dribbling alone isn't enough to get by.


Coupled with Agility and Balance, I consider it essential you have a good dribbler in your side especially in the

more advanced roles with room to run at defenders. Be careful you don't have too many dribblers though as

they'll tend to ignore any passing tactic you might have. Although a dribbler has the potential to be a match

winner, he could also give it away in his own penalty area and lose you the game.

FINISHING

The player's ability to put the ball in the back of the net when presented with a chance. A high finishing attribute

will put the shot on target a majority of the time as a bare minimum but compared to a player with poorer finishing

will find the places where the goalkeeper can't save it. This is purely the ability of the player to perform an

accurate shot - Composure and Decisions will also impart on the ability of a player to score consistently.


Nothing simpler here. Bad Finishing = Missing a Sitter. Mind you, your player has to be in the right position to

score a goal, so ensure your player also has good Off the Ball movement, Balance and Strength.

FIRST TOUCH

How good a player's first touch is when receiving possession. A higher rating will ensure that the player can trap

the ball quicker and put it in a useful position to then act upon. Players with lower ratings here will struggle to

control the ball as adeptly and may be prone to losing the ball if closed down quickly.

FREE KICKS

This reflects how good at taking free kicks the player is. It applies to both direct shots at goal and deliveries into

dangerous areas from wider or deeper positions. A player who is proficient in taking free kicks can be a valuable


7/60

commodity - scoring five free kicks a season and adding five more assists from them can be a huge bonus.

Free Kicks combine well with Long Shots, Crossing and Passing.

HEADING

This is a player's competence in aerial situations. Heading applies to all situations and is only about the player's

ability to head the ball well. Jumping (and to a lesser extent Strength) plays a big part in combination with

heading to utilize the attribute to a greater level, as well as a players height.


As crucial for players you want to use as Target men as it is for Central Defenders. Any team either playing the

long ball tactic or being confronted by it will want some good headers in the side. Look for this attribute combined

with Jumping.

LONG SHOTS

This is the player's prowess at shooting from distance - from outside the penalty area. It is largely a stand-alone

attribute but pay attention to any PPMs the player may have which complement their long shots rating.


If you don't get shots on goal, you're never going to score. A few long shots now and then can also really test a

dodgy keeper. Once you've established that you have a midfielder like Hamann who can bullet them from the

halfway line, instruct him to take a few long pots. He might be good at freekicks too...

LONG THROWS


8/60

The ability of the player to perform a long throw, which can be taken advantage of in attacking situations.


Long Throwing ability is a particularly good attribute for a fullback to have as you will probably be wanting them to

take most of the attacking throws, thereby freeing up your more attacking players.

MARKING

How well players, mainly defensive types, mark an opponent. Marking alone will see them do a good job if the

attribute is high, but remember that other attributes - Strength, Off the Ball, Anticipation - will play a part in the

effectiveness of the marking, as well as the comparable physical statures of the two players.


If a defender has poor Marking it doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a load of rubbish. However, you'll definitely

want to avoid playing a Man-Marking tactic. If your defenders can't mark for toffee, perhaps consider a Sweeper

system or have them defend deeper than you would otherwise like. A Hard Tackling ploy goes nicely with

Marking to soften up the opposition...

PASSING

How good the player is at passing the ball. His technique and ability will determine his success at passing over

longer distances.


If you've got a midfielder posse who would give the Real Madrid midfield a run for their money, then you'll be in a


9/60

good position to use a Short or Mixed passing tactic to good effect. However, your midfield are more likely to be a

bunch of muppets, so have them long ball it for all they're worth.

PENALTY TAKING

The ability of the player from the penalty spot. A player with a high rating here will be more confident and capable

from 12 yards.


Although this stat speaks for itself, I've often found that a player with high Influence (e.g. club captain) will also

come up trumps and have the guts to take a good penalty. Think Beckham...

TACKLING

How successfully the player is at winning tackles and not conceding fouls from such situations. Players with a

high tackling rating will consistently win the ball cleanly and be a more capable defensive player.


If you combine this attribute with Strength, Marking and particularly Aggression and Bravery, you'll have a great

defender on your hands. Essential for defenders and battling defensive midfielders.

TECHNIQUE

Technique is the aesthetic quality of a player's technical game - how refined they appear to be with the ball. A

player with high technique will be more likely to pull off a tricky pass or a cross-field ball with greater ease than

someone less technically able. This in turn affects a number of technical attributespoorer technique will let a

player down.


10/60


Technique is perhaps one of the more important attributes a player can have and refers largely to natural skill

rather than an expertise in a particular area or position. Look for good technique in your more attacking players if

you want to impress the opposition.

Mental Attributes

AGGRESSION

This reflects a player's attitude in terms of playing mentality but is not necessarily a dirtiness indicator. A more

aggressive player will look to involve himself in every incident and get stuck in, perhaps at the expense of a

yellow card or two. A less aggressive player may shy away from situations and merely drop into his comfort zone.


This attribute is a measure of how enthusiastic a player will be when involved in a confrontation with an opponent

or when challenging for a 50-50 ball. Aggressive players will get cautioned more often (which will make them

miss matches) but they won't half get stuck in for your team!

ANTICIPATION

How well a player can predict and react to an event. If a player has a high attribute here he can read the game

well and react to situations quicker than others. This attribute works well with 'Off the Ball'.


If your midfield players have good anticipation, then they will be likely to manage more interceptions during a

match and therefore give your team more possession. Good anticipation is a vital ingredient for defenders and

attackers alike though - best coupled with good Off the Ball movement and Decisions.

BRAVERY


11/60

How committed and indeed, brave, a player is. Braver players will risk injury more in situations a lesser-minded

player may shy away from. They'll go in where it hurts and lay it on the line for the team.


Bravery should be an essential part of any player's vocabulary. A high Bravery rating will increase the likelihood

of your player winning 50-50 balls and generally getting in where it hurts. As previously mentioned, at its best with

Tackling and most goalkeeper stats you care to mention.

COMPOSURE

The player's steadiness of mind and ability, particularly with the ball. When faced with a big goalscoring chance

or heavy pressure defensively, a player with high composure will be able to keep his head and more often than

not make an intelligent decision which is beneficial to the team.

CONCENTRATION

This reflects a player's concentration on an event-by-event basis. A high rating here will mean the player can

concentrate harder for longer and be able to respond to incidents late in the game just as well as he did early on.

Lower concentration will see players lose focus and perhaps become liable to mistakes at crucial times in the

match.

CREATIVITY

This refers to a player's vision and ability to see a potential opening, not necessarily exploit it. A player might be

able to see something to take advantage of but also requires the technical proficiency to pull it off.


Creativity is the ability to make things happen. You'll score more goals if you get a creative midfielder operating in

the centre of the park. It might be wise to support him with a defensive midfielder though as creative geniuses

don't tend to be great tacklers. There are exceptions of course...

DECISIONS

The ability of a player to make a correct decision a majority of the time. This attribute is important in every

position but perhaps more so for central defenders and midfielders, who will see a lot of the ball and have a

number of options when in possession.


12/60


Quick thinking is crucial in a hectic game of football. You want players who can make the right decisions in the

heat of the moment. Look for a good Decisions attribute to be combined with Creativity, Passing and to a lesser

extent Anticipation.

DETERMINATION

A commitment to succeed. A determined player will give everything in order to win. This ties in with Bravery -

players with a high attribute in one of these attributes may also be high in the other as the traits necessary are

similar.


Determination is a measure of your players desire to win and it's a good attribute to possess throughout your

team. You mightparticularly look for Determination in players if you manage a lowly club and often find youre

having to come back from a goal or two down. Players with Determination will keep battling to the final whistle.

FLAIR

A natural talent for the creative and occasional unpredictability. A player with a lot of flair will be one of the key

attacking components in any team but at the same time may need tactical restraint to get the best out of him.

Flair and Creativity work well together.


A player with a lot of flair can cause you a lot of frustration but equally can be a match winner. There will be times

when you wished hed tried the simple pass rather than blazing a bicycle kick into the stands. There will be other

times however when you rise from your seat and applaud the best piece of individualism you've ever seen. Not

recommended for managers who like their team to play George Graham Arsenal long ball.

INFLUENCE


13/60

Influence is the player's ability to affect events or other players without any intentional effort. Players with high

influence will be leaders on the pitch and team-mates will tend to rally around these players.


A player with a high Influence attribute will undoubtedly be a prime candidate for the role of captain. Yet choose

wisely. A player who has high Influence but doesn't seem to command the respect of the players around him will

not make a good choice. Remember, even when you've chosen your captain it's good to have Influence in every

area of the pitch.

OFF THE BALL

A player's movement without the ball. Similar to Anticipation, this is how well a player, particularly attacking ones,

can assess a situation and then move off the ball, making themselves available to receive a pass in a dangerous

position.


Off the Ball is perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of the game of football, yet FM regards it as one of

the most important. A player with good Off the Ball movement (aka Jeffers perhaps) can draw defenders and

generally cause the opposition a lot of problems. Try to find a player who combines a high Off the Ball attribute

with good Pace, Positioning and Anticipation.

POSITIONING

Positioning is the ability of a player to read a situation and place himself in the best possible position to deal with

the unfolding events. Anticipation will help him in the first stage but in terms of his actual positioning, it comes

down to this attribute. A higher rating will ensure the player takes up a better position.


If you've ever entertained the idea of your team playing the Offside trap, you will know that Positioning is the main


14/60

attribute you want your defenders to bring to the game. Combines well with Strength and Anticipation to create an

air of solidity.

TEAMWORK

How well the player follows tactical instructions and works for and alongside his team-mates. A team full of

players with a high rating here will work better as a unit. Players with lower ratings will slack off and not 'buy in' to

the team ethos.


If you not the sort of person who likes to rely on one player to win matches, you'll need players with strong

Teamwork to get your team gelling. High Teamwork throughout your team will see your side working their socks

off for each other. Blends nicely with high Work Rate and Determination.

WORK RATE

This reflects the player's mental drive to work hard. A high rating will ensure a player wants to work his socks off

from start to finish, but he will need the necessary physical attributes to actually be able to pull i t off. Nonetheless,

it is an admirable trait to have in your team.


As mentioned, this is an attribute which compliments a high Teamwork ethic. If you like your team to Close Down

your opponents, then a high Work Rate attribute throughout your midfield will be highly useful. Dont forget to

ensure they've got a bit of Stamina though...

Physical Attributes

ACCELERATION

Acceleration is how quickly a player can reach top speed (pace) from a standing start. It therefore ties in very

closely with the Pace attribute.


15/60


As a measure of how quickly a player can reach top speed, Acceleration is a must-have attribute for wingers and

pacey attackers. You might also consider having defenders with good Acceleration if you're faced by a team who

are aiming to hit you on the break. Good Stamina is a must and a little bit of Work Rate won't go a miss either.

AGILITY

Agility reflects how well a player can start, stop, and move in different directions at varying levels of speed (pace).

It ties in with the Pace, Acceleration, and Balance attributes as they work together in the match engine, especially

when a player is running with the ball.


Agility is an attribute which is most necessary for players in top-flight football. You can get away with being a

cumbersome lump in the lower leagues but the top divisions demand that even the central defenders have a bit

of dexterity. Combined with Acceleration and Dribbling a high Agility rating can make for a great attacking

footballer.

BALANCE

Balance reflects simply how well a player can keep his balance in situations both with and without the ball. With

the ball, it refers to how balanced he is running with it and evading opponents, without it, it refers to his balance

when facing a player running at him, or his stability when turning/jumping.


Although by the very nature of their profession all footballers could do with a bit of Balance, the ones who'll need

it most are the ones who are going to be on the receiving end of a few tackles and kicks. You'll predominantly like

your wingers and other attacking players to have high agility, coupled with good Agility, Dribbling or Strength to

make it difficult for the opposition to knock them off the ball.

JUMPING

This attribute relates to how high a player can jump from a standing start.


An easy one this one. You've got to link it with a good Heading attribute and be sure if you ever want to play long

ball or crossing-intensive tactics that your players are good at springing off the ground. If, say, your players are


16/60

also high on Bravery and Aggression as well as Jumping, make sure you've got them putting in some Hard

Tackling to really dominate the opposition.

NATURAL FITNESSHow fit a player is as standard - his base level of fitness. It affects how many games he is likely to be able to

perform to peak physical fitness in before becoming noticeably tired and susceptible to injury.

PACE

Pace is a player's top speed. Whereas Acceleration reflects how quickly a player can attain their top speed, pace

is that top speed and together with Stamina and Natural Fitness, is how long they are able to maintain that pace

in both short bursts and over the course of a match. A player will naturally be a shade quicker without the ball

than with it.


Pace can actually be a bit of a misnomer so be careful. Your player might be lightening quick but if he can't do

anything with the ball then hell soon become a bit of a liability. Look to link Pace with Flair, Dribbling, Agility and

of course Acceleration. Have your fastest players run from deep to really scare the opposition defense.

STAMINA

Stamina is a player's ability to endure high-level physical activity for a long period of time. With the demands

placed on a player over a nine month season, players with high attribute ratings for Stamina will be able to

perform at their top levels for longer. It ties in directly with Natural Fitness.


The importance of Stamina cannot be underestimatedparticularly if you play an effort-intensive style such as

Closing Down, Gung-Ho or have players set to making lots of forward runs. You'll find that if your team has a low

level of Stamina in general, you will tend to concede goals late in the game. You have been warned...

STRENGTHA player's strength is his ability to exert his physical force on an opponent to his benefit. A player with a high


17/60

strength rating will be able to use it to his advantage against weaker opponents.


Strength is an important issue when challenging for the ball, so you'll be keen to have a fair few players in your

side who can mix it when the going gets rough. Tackling, Jumping and Marking are augmented by Strength and

you will find that stronger players dont give away fouls so often as they can generally muscle players off the ball

instead of having to slide in.

Hidden Attributes

CONSISTENCY

How consistently he performs from match to match. Consistency is a particularly important attribute.

On the basis that there is no player that will perform to his current ability 100% of the time, the ratio of what

consistency means in terms of how often a player plays at his CA is as follows:

20 Consistency = 20/25 games played at CA



The way consistency is used in the full match engine is that the average "off day" will be 10 below the CA. A

random factor will be used to determine how much this is less or more than 10.

Please note that physical attributes are not taken into consideration when it comes to consistency. Only thetechnical and mental attributes are marked down depending on consistency.

DIRTINESS

How dirty player is on the pitch.

IMPORTANT MATCHES

How well player performs in important matches.

INJURY PRONENESS

How likely player is to get injured. The higher the number the more likely the player will get injured (1=very

unlikely to get injured, 20=very likely to get injured).

VERSATILITY

How easily player adapts to playing in unfamiliar positions.


18/60

Mental Traits

ADAPTABILITY

How well player adapts to living in a country that isn't his own.

AMBITION

How much ambition player has to play at the highest level he can.

CONTROVERSY

How controversial player is off the field. This is a negative attribute.

LOYALTY

How loyal player is in general.

PRESSURE

How well player is able to handle pressure on and off the field.

PROFESSIONALISMHow professional player's conduct is on and off the field.

SPORTSMANSHIP

How sporting player's conduct is on and off the field.

TEMPERAMENT

How well player keeps his temper on and off the field.

Key Attributes for all Player Roles and Duties

Goalkeeper


19/60


20/60


21/60


22/60

Central Defender


23/60


24/60

Limited Defender


25/60


26/60

Ball Playing Defender


27/60


28/60

Full Back


29/60


30/60

Limited Full Back - New in FM14

Wing Back


31/60


32/60

Complete Wing Back - New in FM14


33/60

Midfielder Roles

Anchor Man


34/60

Defensive Midfielder


35/60


36/60

Regista - New in FM14

Deep Lying Playmaker


37/60


38/60

Ball Winning Midfielder


39/60

Box To Vox Midfielder


40/60

Advanced Playmaker


41/60


42/60


43/60


44/60

Wide Midfielder

Defensive Winger


45/60

Winger


46/60

Inside Forward


47/60


48/60

Attacking Midfielder


49/60


50/60

Shadow Striker - New in FM14


51/60

Wide Target Man - New in FM14


52/60

Attacking Roles

Deep Lying Forward


53/60


54/60


55/60


56/60

Poacher

Complete Forward


57/60

Defensive Forward


58/60


59/60

Trequartista

False Nine - New in FM14


60/60

Documents

Football Manager Basics