The FM Technical Area - A Football Manager Podcast18 Sep 2025

"The Wingback Renaissance" - Gasperini's Tactical Revolution

Welcome back to The FM Technical Area, the Football Manager Podcast!

How did Robin Gosens go from Germany's fourth division to starring at the Euros in just five years? The answer lies in Gian Piero Gasperini's wingback revolution at Atalanta, where tactical intelligence consistently trumps individual brilliance.

In this episode, we dive deep into the system that transformed Atalanta from relegation battlers to Champions League regulars - without breaking the bank on world-class players. Gasperini's genius isn't just using wingbacks; it's his asymmetric approach that creates numerical superiority everywhere on the pitch.

What We'll Focus On:

Why one attacking wingback paired with one defensive wingback is more effective than symmetrical deployment
How center-backs must adapt their positioning to cover the space vacated by marauding wingbacks
The specific FM roles and instructions that recreate Atalanta's 3-4-1-2 masterpiece
Why tactical systems can elevate average players into key contributors

Key Insights:We'll explore how Gasperini's background in youth football shaped his philosophy of developing players within systems rather than relying on individual quality. You'll discover why positional fluidity and intelligent pressing triggers make this system so effective against technically superior opponents.

FM Application:Detailed tactical setup including formation, player roles, and crucial team instructions. We'll show you which attributes matter most for wingbacks (spoiler: it's not just pace and stamina), and how to implement this system with Championship-level players.

Real-World Analysis:Learn to spot the visual cues that separate effective wingback play from glorified full-back performance. We'll teach you what to watch for during matches and which statistics prove your system is working.

Perfect for intermediate FM players looking to maximize squad potential through tactical innovation rather than transfer spending.

---

Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠GG⁠⁠/⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved!

Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

---

Episode Sources:

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(122)

FM26 is Dead & Gone, it's with ProEvo in the Grave

In an alternate reality, we'd all be sitting here excited for the World Cup semi-finals after playing the biggest and most exciting version of FM that let us play the licenced version of the competiti...

15 Juli 47min

The Tactics - What Makes Women's Football Unique

Women’s football isn’t a simplified version of the men’s game — it’s a tactical laboratory. In this episode, we explore why the women’s game often demonstrates greater collective intelligence, discipl...

7 Nov 202534min

Numerical Superiority feat. Paulo Fonseca

Tired of rigid formations that can't adapt? Paulo Fonseca's systems from Roma to Olympique Lyonnais have mastered the art of tactical transformation - a 4-2-3-1 that morphs into a devastating 3-4-2-1 ...

6 Nov 202533min

The Women's Game Revolution - Why FM26 Changes Everything

Football Manager 26 has introduced the biggest tactical overhaul in the series' history - and women's football is the key to mastering it. Before you start a save in the Men's Universe, you might want...

2 Nov 202541min

The Barcelona Method in Lower Divisions feat. Xavi García Pimienta

Can you play beautiful, possession-based football with technically limited players in the lower divisions? Xavi García Pimienta spent 28 years at Barcelona proving the answer is yes. His message: play...

22 Okt 202546min

Positional Flexibility Mastery feat. Luis Enrique

Forget rigid systems. This week, we dissect the tactical genius of Luis Enrique, using his fluid approach—where a 4-2-3-1 seamlessly transitions into a 3-4-2-1—as the ultimate blueprint for FM26.This ...

16 Okt 202549min

The Low-Block Counter-Revolution feat. José Bordalas

"This is football, papa." José Bordalás doesn't apologise for his approach, and neither should you. While purists rage about his style, Ancelotti and Zidane quietly study his methods. Why? Because Bor...

10 Okt 20251h

Vertical Tiki-Taka – Possession with Purpose

Are you tired of racking up 70% possession in Football Manager, only to see your team produce three shots and zero highlights? In this week’s episode of The FM Technical Area, we’re breaking the myth ...

3 Okt 202537min