These two hilariously broken Football Manager tactics have been BANNED, and here’s why

Recently, popular Football Manager YouTuber Lollujo helped set up ‘The League’ – a Football Manager fantasy draft featuring 20 creators, running a full season. It’s one of the most exciting new developments in FM content creation since FM24 dropped. Who knew competitve FM could be so fun?!

But while the idea was to breathe some life into a game many feel has gone stale, there’s an elephant in the room. As the league progressed, it became clear that basically every single player was using exactly the same tactic. The same formation… the same tactical philosophy… everything identical (and it’s different to the tactic I previously thought was the best tactic). So, what’s the tactic? Why’s it such a big deal? Let’s dive in.

(I know all of you are here to find out what this banned meta tactic is, but if you want a great non-meta tactic? I’ve also got you covered)

What is the tactic

Here’s the quick version: in every single game, The League found itself flodded by the exact same tactic: a 4-3-3 – with a twist. All three attackers were strikers. Layer in the usual hallmarks of a meta tactic – overlapping full-backs, relentless high pressing – and you get the picture. It was a disaster.

If you haven’t already, go watch YouTuber Lollujo’s full breakdown of the ordeal. He nails exactly why this tactic’s dominance became such an issue that it had to be banned.

As Lollujo put it:

“It didn’t matter who I played. You could swap the club badges and creator names and not notice the difference.”

Not the first ban

This isn’t the first time a tactic’s been too good for its own good. Remember the FIFAe Football Manager World Cup? The Indonesian team swept the competition using a brutal 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress setup – all-out attack, suffocating press, every player geared towards pure chaos. That tactic was so effective it got itself banned too.

And it’s hard to argue. Lollujo even tested it in his own save, taking Luton Town from relegation fodder to Champions League in a single season.

“It smothers opponents completely,” he says. “It turns average squads into world-beaters.”

Why is this a problem?

Sure, it sounds impressive, but it exposes a bigger issue. When one approach is so powerful, variety disappears. Multiplayer starts feeling less like football and more like a competition to see who can exploit the match engine harder.

“It’s like banning a character in a fighting game for being too good. Except here, it’s a tactic,” says Lollujo.

It also strips out realism. High-pressing dominance makes sense, but in the real world, even managers like Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot bring unique nuances to their systems. In FM24, those nuances get flattened into a one-size-fits-all meta.

Part of the problem is how long FM24’s been out. With no FM25 to shake things up, the community has squeezed every last drop of efficiency from the match engine. The result? A stale meta so entrenched that even casual players find it hard to avoid.

What’s the fix?

Short answer? We need the new game. At this stage, it’s unlikely FM24 will get a sweeping update – and honestly, I’d rather Sports Interactive focus on FM26. But as Lollujo points out, there are changes they need to make: patching exploits, improving AI adaptability, and creating tactical diversity.

This isn’t just an FM issue either. In competitive Call of Duty, overpowered weapons often get banned. The best developers quickly tweak these outliers to stop them breaking the experience. FM needs that same approach to make sure no single tactic reigns supreme because of match engine quirks.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. If you’ve ever felt like every FM24 save ends up looking the same, you weren’t imagining it. And if you’re still hammering that flat 4-3-3, maybe it’s time to mix things up – or not. Play how you want. But just know, the community might be ready to do the mixing for you.