Football Manager 2020 Tactics: How To Play 4–4–2  The Burnley Way

With our structure in place we can now maximise our effectiveness going forward. We have a Target Man and two players out wide on either flank. Let’s make the most of it.

First, put Hit Early Crosses on. We want those balls coming into the box thick and fast. Next choose the type of crosses you’re putting in. Select either Mixed Crosses or Whipped Crosses while staying away from Low Crosses as they won’t get the best out of your big men up front. Mixed Crosses lets your players make the best choice when looking to deliver a cross while Whipped Crosses can be useful as they look to send the ball into the path of an onrushing forward, something that can come in handy on the counter.

The final piece is individual crossing instructions. If your Target Man is on the right of the front two, put the Cross Aim Target Man instruction your left full back and winger. As for the right, have Cross Aim Far Post to get your other striker or the opposite winger to meet the ball at the back post. Your opponents will be trying to repel crosses like Dracula in a game of tic-tac-toe.