In this third and final part of the Operation: Suffoco, this blog will explore the rules and guidelines of the save; layout the objectives of the save; give insight into the manager and his tactical style and preferences, and hopefully address any other subjects affiliated with the concept of the Suffoco and the game will interpret the role within the match engine.
Tactical Play & Squad Building Guidelines
Operation Suffoco will incorporate numerous tactical elements that have come to fruition over the last three decades, taking inspiration with different cultural elements that were prevalent in Italy and England
- Leicester City can play any tactics, including (but not limited to) 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1, 4-1-4-1, 4-5-1 and 4-2-4, as well as other tactics and variations of the aforementioned.
- Tactics that are NOT allowed to be used are the generic game-breaking heavy pressing / gegenpressing versions of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 that have been prevalent in previous versions of Football Manager.
- A Suffoco, Advanced Destroyer, Withdrawn Destroyer, Wide Destroyer, Deep Lying Destroyer. etc., or something similar must be used in every tactic (this is defined by marking specific opposition players, tackling harder, marking tighter, and / or max out pressing via the player instructions or a mixture of all four)
- Any form of mentality can be used, although long term preferences must preference minimum goals conceded
- Operation Suffoco will explore different tactical styles of play and taking inspiration from the likes of Sam Allardyce-era Bolton Wanderers, Diego Simeone-era Atletico Madrid, Jose Mouirnho’s first spell at Chelsea Fabio Cappello-era Juventus and Arigo Sacchi-era AC Milan.
- British, Irish, Commonwealth, North American and African players will be signed above all else, with European players being used minimally where possible.
- Make the most of versatile players and retrain players where possible.
- Players of African descent can also be used – ie Kevin Prince Boateng – even if their primary or secondary nationality is not of African descent.
- Newgens are allowed, although ideally but preferred; real life players coming through the youth ranks of their respective clubs will be the default preference (ie Wayne Rooney at Everton, Gareth Bake at Southampton, and so on.)
- Players from South or Central America are not allowed to be signed under any circumstances.
- Wonderkids from top European nations – such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc are not allowed to be signed. Exception will be made for French players, although cannot make up more than 50% of the first eleven
- There are no rules in place of the amount of money that can or can’t be spent on a player
- The DNA of the club and players will focus on players with high Work Rate, Teamwork, Decisions, Concentration, Composure, Anticipation, Positioning and Stamina, with secondary focuses on Aggression, Bravery, Leadership, Jumping Reach, Strength, Pace, Acceleration, Agility and Balance. Technical attributes will be the least preferable, outside of Corners, Free Kicks and Tackling
Even though we intend to make Heskey the focal point of the team, there are several other players in the Leicester City that we intend to build the squad around.
Neil Lennon – Midfielder
An aggressive and provocative midfield enforcer who has the ability to cover large areas of the pitch, Lennon is the club captain and a perfect individual who encapsulates the aggressive style of play we’ll be looking at in this save
Technically limited but with quality mental attributes that will get better with time, I don’t anticipate that Lennon will finish his career at Leicester, if our progress is as rapid as I hope. That being said, his personality will be imperative when bringing younger players into the squad, and his hidden attributes will be key when we add depth and quality to the squad.
Muzzy Izzet – Midfielder
A former Chelsea academy player and with the ability to play for Turkey because of his dual nationality, Muzzy Izzet is another hardworking midfielder who can play in a couple of different positions and has the ability to drive the team forward with his passing and creativity.
Like Lennon, I don’t envisage Izzet will be a player who will be at the club forever. But his hardworking nature, flair ands natural fitness means that Leicester’s midfield is more in deep of depth and reinforcements as opposed to quality and composure.
Frank Sinclair – Defender
A new £2million signing from Chelsea in the summer, what Sinclair lacks in technical ability he makes up for in mental strength and physicality.
Whilst not the fastest player on the pitch, Sinclair can still be quick off the mark and physically dominant at both centre and right back, with his versatility an important factor as we look at shaping Leicester City’s identity to be a strong and aggressive yet defensively dominant team.
A player I envisage will be at the club for a while, due to his similarity with Lennon in that his hidden attributes will be key to help develop the younger players coming into the squad over the coming seasons.
Matt Elliot – Defender
Another physically impressive defender who can challenge in the air as effectively as he can lead the team, Elliot’s embodies a common theme within the core of the Leicester squad; technically poor, incredibly dominant and with the mental toughness to be able to take the more physical side of the game to the opponent.
Even though he’s entering the twilight years of his career, we’ll be keeping Elliot at the club as long as we can, to help mentor some of the wonder kids coming into the team alongside Lennon and Sinclair,
Emile Heskey – Forward
An absolute hulk of a forward who can bloody the opposite back line with his powerful presence, Heskey will be an integral part of the team as we look to explore the different styles of play within this save, especially as an Advanced Destroyer.
Still only 20 and with time to develop, Heskey is one of the most physically dominant players in the game. And even though his technical is Ok and will increase throughout the seasons, his sheer power and pace is enough to spark fear into any opposition player who’s not up for the fight.
The Manager
An unknown central defender who spent most of his time playing in the amateur leagues of Uruguay, Hector Lentini will have his work cut out for him if he is to win over the Leicester dressing room quickly.
Born to Italian parents in Montevideo, Lentini didn’t let his slight frame from being a competitive and combative defender, even if her never made the professional leagues.
Aggressive on the ground with an intimidating bully boy nature, Lentini didn’t care how points were accrued, as long as the win was secured.
A proponent of the classic 4-4-2, Lentini always played in teams with a double pivot forward partnership, with one doing the groundwork and the other responsible for putting there ball in the back of the net.
Unconcerned with the attractiveness of how football should be played, Lenin’s style of management focuses on hardworking, discipline, rigorous training drills and being able to motivate his players, preferring to chose to boost the moral of his players whilst he works on the tactical side of his game.
Taking cultural influences from both Uruguay – hard work, discipline, team work, – and Italy – aggressive defensive elements, the dark arts of time wasting and defensive football, clean sheets and a never say die attitude – Lentils management style and tactics are very much reflective of his upbringing and surroundings growing up.
And despite holding the highest coaching qualifications, Lentini will have to hit the ground running to win over both the players and the fans ands give himself the best possible opportunity at showing why he could be batter manager than he ever as a player.
