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Learn about the best 5-2-1-2 Wing Play tactics in Football Manager 26 to create a dynamic and fluid system that scores many goals.
You can use the 5-2-1-2 Wing Play in Football Manager 26 if you are looking for a tactic with a dynamic shape and freedom. It is a high-risk, high-reward system that produces high XG and creates problems for the opponents all around the pitch. You can leave your opponents in the dust if you have the right players for the key positions, as well as the right shape and instructions.
If you are not sure how to set it up, do not worry, because in this guide, we will tell you how to set the team shape and provide instructions for the 5-2-1-2 Wing Play in Football Manager 26.
Best 5-2-1-2 Wing Play Team Shape for Football Manager 26
The 5-2-1-2 Wing Play in Football Manager 26 might seem like an overly defensive tactic that employs five defenders, but in reality, it is a fluid system that uses its wingbacks to occupy the wide areas and stretch the opponent to make space for their two strikers and one attacking midfielder.
As the name suggests, the two players on the wings will be crucial for this tactic to work. They will have to contribute to attack and defense equally, so we recommend balancing it out with one on an attacking role and one on support. Remember, if your wingbacks are too high up when you lose possession, it will leave huge gaps in your own final third that the opposition can exploit, so do not be too aggressive with them.
Furthermore, divide the two strikers into a poacher who will seek to run behind the opponents to create problems and a deep-lying forward who will drift into the midfield to receive the ball and support the AM and his striking partner. Of course, if you do not have players fitting for these positions, there are alternative ways. Below, we have given a list of how you should position your players in this system with multiple roles.
Style: Wing Play
Mentality: Positive or Attacking
5-2-1-2 Wing Play Team Shape
- GK: Ball-Playing Goalkeeper / Sweeper Keeper
- CB: Wide Centre-Back / Stopping Wide Centre-Back
- CB: Ball-Playing Centre-Back / Centre-Back / Covering Centre-Back
- CB: Ball-Playing Centre-Back / Wide Centre-Back
- LWB: Wing-Back
- RWB: Attacking Wing-Back / Pressing Wing-Back
- CM: Central Midfielder / Wide Defensive Midfielder (Position as a DM)
- CM: Attacking Playmaker / Defensive Midfielder (Position as a DM)
- AM: Free Role / Attacking Midfielder
- ST: Channel Forward or Deep-Lying Forward / Central Outlet Centre Forward
- ST: Poacher / Splitting Outlet Centre Forward
We have gone over the wingbacks and the strikers. However, since this is essentially a counterattacking system, your defenders will become the most important part when out of possession. You will have to soak up a lot of pressure, but instead of going for a passive low block, we recommend setting your CBs as two wide center backs on the sides and one normal center back, or preferably covering center back in the middle, so you can cover more ground and take the opponent attackers head-on.
Also Read: 5 Best Wonderkids in Football Manager 26
Best 5-2-1-2 Wing Play Team Instructions in Football Manager 26
Once you have set up the Team Shape, you must focus on the Team Instructions since without them, your players won’t know what to do and the system will fail. The 5-2-1-2 Wing Play tactics give your team more freedom and a higher tempo. Both of which are key for a successful counterattacking tactic. Take a look at the instructions below so we can further discuss them:
5-2-1-2 Wing Play Team Instructions
In Possession
- Overview
- Passing Directness: Shorter
- Tempo: Higher
- Attacking Width: Narrower
- Attacking Transition: Counter-Attack
- Creative Freedom: More Expressive
- Time Wasting: Less Often
- Play for Set Pieces: Play For Set Pieces
- Final Third
- Dribbling: Balanced
- Patience: Work Ball Into Box
- Shots from Distance: Balanced
- Crossing Style: Low Crosses
- Progression
- Supporting Runs: Both Flanks
- Dribbling: Balanced
- Progress Through: Balanced
- Pass Reception: Pass Into Space
- Buildup
- Build-Up Strategy: Play Through Press
- Goal Kicks: Short
- GK Distribution (Speed): Distribute Quickly
- GK Distribution: Center-Backs
Out of Possession
- Overview
- Line of Engagement: High Press or Mid Block
- Defensive Live: Standard
- Defensive Line Behavior: Balanced
- Trigger Press: Much More Often
- Defensive Transition: Counter-Press
- Tackling: Get Stuck In
- High Press
- Pressing Trap: Balanced
- Short Goalkeeper Distribution: Yes
- Mid Block
- Pressing Trap: Balanced
- Low Block
- Cross Engagement: Balanced
As you can see, despite the system focusing on wing play, the attacking width is set to a narrower one. That is because the wingbacks, at times, will have to drift into the midfield to support the two existing CMs and DM. Of course, you have an attacking midfielder as well, but his role will be to get into channels that the deep-lying forward opens by dragging his defender out of position.
Most teams you come across will generally have a 4-defender-based formation. So, the idea is that two of the center-backs will be busy marking your twin strikers while the fullbacks engage your wingbacks. This leaves your AM and CM wide open, so they can drift higher up and create chances of scoring. The 5-2-1-2 Wing Play tactics in Football Manager 26 aim to overload the opponent’s final third so that at least one of your players can find space to put the ball in the net.
Read More: 5 Best Free Agents To Recruit in Football Manager 2026
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