Playbook Part 1: Introduction & Philosophy
Structure, Style, Strategy – the LiberoUno way
My FM Journey
Football Manager has been part of my life for as long as I can remember — all the way back to the early days of Championship Manager in 1992. What started as a simple love for building squads and chasing titles quickly grew into a deep fascination with the tactical side of the game: shaping a team in my own image, solving problems, and constantly evolving my approach season after season. That passion is still as strong today as it was over three decades ago.
Over the years, I’ve experienced just about everything FM has to offer — from gritty non-league rebuilds to pushing for European domination with some of the game’s giants. But no matter the club, the challenge has always been the same: create a side that plays with identity, structure, and purpose.
For a long time, I quietly soaked up knowledge from the FM community — learning from brilliant minds like Cleon, THOG, Herne79, Ozil-to-the-Arsenal, and the late, great SFraser. Their insight helped me appreciate that successful Football Manager saves aren’t about chasing “hacks” or “meta” tactics — they’re about building balanced, resilient, and expressive teams.
This Playbook is my attempt to put everything I’ve learned — and continue to learn — into a clear, structured philosophy. It’s not about offering a “perfect” tactic or a shortcut to winning. It’s about giving you the foundations to develop your own style, adapt to challenges, and create something lasting across your saves.
Let’s get started.
Core Tactical Philosophy
Proactive & Positive
We aim to attack with ambition, looking for opportunities to exploit spaces and break down the opposition.
High Tempo
We move the ball quickly, stretching defences and creating openings, maintaining constant pressure on the opposition.
Relentless Pressing & Quick Transitions
We press aggressively to win the ball back fast and counter-attack at speed, capitalising on any disorganisation in the opponent’s defence.
Aggressive Defence
We play with a high defensive line, press high, and get stuck in to force mistakes and suffocate the opposition.
Adaptable Formations
I don’t stick to one fixed formation; it varies depending on the players at my disposal. While the system adapts, the core philosophy remains constant across all teams. I also use player archetypes within my systems, ensuring that any team can learn to play in my style to the best of their ability. I’ll go into more detail on this in a future post.
This style of football is not only the approach I take with my teams but also the type of football I enjoy watching. I thrive on the excitement and intensity that come with fast, direct football—whether it’s an explosive counter-attack or high-tempo pressing that forces the opposition into mistakes. Teams that play with speed, purpose, and relentless energy captivate me.
Some of the teams I admire most are Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and early Wenger-era Arsenal. Klopp’s high pressing and counter-attacking with Liverpool embodies everything I love about the game—relentless energy, rapid transitions, and a constant threat going forward. Similarly, Wenger’s Arsenal teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with their fluid passing and blistering pace, are the perfect example of the type of attacking football I enjoy. They attacked with purpose, were clinical in transition, and always moved the ball quickly to break down opposition defences.
These teams represent the core principles of my footballing philosophy: aggression, speed, and precision. Watching them in action not only inspires my tactical choices but also fuels my passion for the game.
Next Up…
I’ll walk through the core of the team’s style of play: the mentality behind how we approach matches, the key team instructions that shape our identity, and the principles that underpin everything we do on the pitch.