Movement – On the Ball
These traits affect a player’s movement decisions when he is on the ball.
Cuts Inside
The player will be more likely to take the ball from a wide position into central areas.
- Required abilities: good creativity (Anticipation, Decisions, Flair, Teamwork and Vision) and passing ability (Passing and Technique), or good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Flair and Balance).
- Useful for: wide players expected to attempt creative, risky passes, run with the ball or shoot at goal from central areas instead of staying wide where they may be less effective; wide players with poor crossing ability; left-sided players who have a weak left foot; and right-sided players who have a weak right foot.
- Unsuitable for: wide players expected to stay wide when on the ball to make crosses or passes with their stronger foot.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Cut Inside With Ball (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Run Wide With Ball (player).
Knocks Ball Past Opponent
The player will be more likely to kick the ball into the space just beyond an opposition player who is blocking his path, before attempting to run onto it.
- Required abilities: very good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and good endeavour (Work Rate).
- Useful for: more attacking players expected to run with the ball; and more attacking players with poor dribbling ability.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Dribble Less (player).
Runs With Ball Rarely
The player will be less likely to dribble the ball.
- Useful for: more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position; and players with poor dribbling ability.
- Unsuitable for: more attacking players expected to run with the ball.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Dribble Less (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More (player).
Runs With Ball Often
The player will be more likely to dribble the ball.
- Required abilities: good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Flair and Balance) and preferably good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and endeavour (Work Rate).
- Useful for: more attacking players expected to run with the ball but not just down one flank or through the central areas.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Dribble Less (player).
Runs With Ball Down Left
The player will be more likely to dribble the ball down the left flank.
- Required abilities: good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Flair and Balance) and crossing ability (Crossing, Passing, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions and Teamwork), and preferably good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and endeavour (Work Rate).
- Useful for: more attacking left-sided players (including more attacking wide defenders) with a strong left foot expected to run with the ball down the flank and make crosses into the area.
- Unsuitable for: central and wide players expected to attempt creative, risky passes (such as midfield creators or number tens), run with the ball or shoot at goal from central areas; more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position; and players with a weak left foot.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More and Run Wide With Ball (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Dribble Less and Cut Inside With Ball (player).
Runs With Ball Down Right
The player will be more likely to dribble the ball down the right flank.
- Required abilities: good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Flair and Balance) and crossing ability (Crossing, Passing, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions and Teamwork), and preferably good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and endeavour (Work Rate).
- Useful for: more attacking right-sided players (including more attacking wide defenders) with a strong right foot expected to run with the ball down the flank and make crosses into the area.
- Unsuitable for: central and wide players expected to attempt creative passes (such as midfield creators or number tens), run with the ball or shoot at goal from central areas; more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position; and players with a weak right foot.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More and Run Wide With Ball (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Dribble Less and Cut Inside With Ball (player).
Runs With Ball Through Centre
The player will be more likely to dribble the ball through the central areas of the pitch.
- Required abilities: good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Flair and Balance) and preferably good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and endeavour (Work Rate).
- Useful for: more attacking players expected to run with the ball through the central areas.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to play more cautiously on the ball and not take it far from their defensive position; wide players expected to run with the ball down the flank and provide crosses into the area; and central players expected to run wide to create space for teammates.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Run At Defence (team), Dribble More and Cut Inside With Ball (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Dribble Less and Run Wide With Ball (player).
Stops Play
The player will be more likely to hold up the ball by keeping it stationary or moving it slowly to allow teammates to move into better positions.
- Required abilities: good hold-up play (Anticipation, Decisions, Teamwork, Balance and Strength).
- Useful for: supporting attackers (such as number tens) expected to hold up the ball and play a key part in build-up play and creating or setting up chances for others; more attacking attackers (such as number nines) expected to hold up the ball and contribute to build-up play and creating or setting up chances for others rather than focusing mainly on running with the ball and goal-scoring; and more defensive and supporting central midfielders expected to slow play down to allow supporting and more attacking teammates to find space and get forward.
- Unsuitable for: more attacking attackers (such as number nines) expected to focus mainly on running with the ball or goal-scoring; and players expected to quickly exploit opportunities to pass, dribble or shoot.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Hold Up Ball (player).
Having more than two players with this trait can slow down attacking play too much.
This trait must be requested from the Passing Training section when initiating player trait training, but is included here as it relates to movement rather than passing.
Movement – Off the Ball
These traits affect a player’s movement decisions when his team is in possession and he is off the ball.
Arrives Late In Opponents’ Area
The player will be more likely to temporarily refrain from entering the opposition penalty area when your team is in possession, before making a run into the area when he thinks the moment is right.
This can make him more difficult to mark and so he may find himself in more space when he does enter the area.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Off The Ball and Teamwork), and preferably good endeavour (Work Rate), control (First Touch and Technique) and scoring ability (Finishing and Technique).
- Useful for: supporting central midfielders expected to play slightly deeper.
- Unsuitable for: more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions; and players with good physical and aerial presence expected to provide a regular threat in the penalty area from crosses.
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
Comes Deep To Get Ball
The player will be more likely to move closer to the ball when deeper teammates are in possession.
This can allow him to either receive the ball in space, before holding up the ball for supporting players or attempting creative, risky passes from deep, or drag his marker out of position in order to open up space for more advanced teammates.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Off The Ball and Teamwork), and preferably good creativity (Flair and Vision) and passing ability (Passing and Technique).
- Useful for: supporting players expected to play deeper and attempt creative, risky passes (such as midfield creators or number tens).
- Unsuitable for: more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions; supporting players (such as off the ball runners) expected to make forward runs to provide an advanced passing option or create space for teammates; and players with good physical and aerial presence expected to receive the ball closer to the opposition goal.
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
Gets Forward Whenever Possible
The player will be more likely to make forward runs off the ball.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Off The Ball and Teamwork), good endeavour (Work Rate) and other attacking abilities needed to be effective in more advanced positions as appropriate for his position and role.
- Useful for: more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to hold their defensive position; and supporting players expected to play slightly deeper and contribute to build-up play or attempt creative, risky passes (such as midfield creators or number tens).
- Complementary tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Hold Position (player).
Gets Into Opposition Area
The player will be more likely to enter the opposition penalty area when your team is attacking.
This can allow him to receive the ball in threatening positions close to the opposition goal more often.
It is similar to Gets Forward Whenever Possible, but even more offensive.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Off The Ball and Teamwork) and other attacking abilities needed to be effective in the penalty area as appropriate for the player’s role.
- Useful for: more attacking strikers (number nines) expected to get into more advanced positions.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to hold their defensive position; and supporting players expected to play slightly deeper and contribute to build-up play or attempt creative, risky passes (such as midfield creators or number tens).
- Complementary tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Hold Position (player).
Hugs Line
The player will be more likely to position himself closer to the touchline at the side of the pitch.
- Required abilities: preferably good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation and Balance), crossing ability (Crossing, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions, Teamwork and Vision), attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Teamwork and Off The Ball) and mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace).
- Useful for: wide players expected to stay very wide when they are off the ball to help stretch play (such as the more attacking player in a wide partnership); and wide players expected to run with the ball down the flank and make crosses.
- Unsuitable for: wide players expected to stay narrower when they are off the ball to provide closer support to central players and attacking support to a wide partner (such as the less attacking player in a wide partnership); and wide players expected to attempt creative, risky passes.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Play Wider (team), Stay Wider (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Play Narrower (team), Sit Narrower (player).
Likes To Try To Beat Offside Trap
The player will be more likely to attempt to time his run to beat the opposition’s offside trap in order to receive passes behind their defence.
- Required abilities: very good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions and Off The Ball) and mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace).
- Useful for: more attacking strikers (number nines) expected to play off the shoulder of the last opposition defender.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Hold Position (player).
Moves Into Channels
The player will be more likely to make a horizontal run into vertical space between opposition players such as between a wide defender and a central defender.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions and Off The Ball) and preferably good mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace), good dribbling ability (Dribbling, Technique, Anticipation, Decisions and Flair) so he can provide a direct threat on the ball, and preferably decent creativity (Anticipation, Decisions, Teamwork and Vision), passing ability (Passing) and crossing ability (Crossing) so he can effectively set up chances.
- Useful for: more attacking attackers (such as number nines) expected to focus on making runs to create space and to get into off-centre areas from where they can run with the ball at the opposition defence or pass the ball across the penalty area.
- Unsuitable for: strong attackers expected to act as a target for passes, as they should generally be close to an opposition defender when they receive the ball so they can more effectively hold him off and make a pass; and more defensive players expected to hold their defensive position.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Move Into Channels (player).
Plays One-Twos
The player will be more likely to pass short to a teammate before making a forward run into space with the intention of quickly receiving the ball back.
This can help your team to use short passes and movement to play through the opposition.
- Required abilities: good attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions, Off The Ball and Teamwork), mobility (Acceleration, Agility and Pace) and control (First Touch and Technique).
- Useful for: more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions.
- Unsuitable for: more defensive players expected to hold their defensive position.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Hold Position (player).
Plays With Back To Goal
The player will be more likely to face away from goal and towards the ball when your team is in possession.
This can allow him to more easily receive passes played straight to his feet, chest or head, before either holding up the ball for other players or turning towards the opposition goal and trying to create chances.
- Required abilities: good control (First Touch and Technique), and either good creativity (Anticipation, Decisions, Flair, Teamwork and Vision) and passing ability (Passing and Technique), or good physical presence (Balance and Strength) and aerial presence (Jumping Reach).
- Useful for: supporting strikers (number tens) expected to contribute to build-up play or attempt creative, risky passes; and strong attackers expected to act as a target for passes.
- Unsuitable for: more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions and run onto creative passes; and supporting players (such as off the ball runners) expected to make forward runs to provide an advanced passing option or create space for teammates.
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
Static Target Man
(This player trait was called Penalty Box Player before FM 2016)
The player will be more likely to stay in the opposition penalty area when your team is attacking and the opposition defence is deep enough.
This can allow him to receive the ball in threatening positions close to the opposition goal more often, and your deeper and wide players to pass or cross the ball into the area earlier.
- Required abilities: good physical presence (Balance and Strength), and preferably good aerial presence (Jumping Reach), attacking movement (Anticipation, Decisions and Off The Ball), control (First Touch), heading ability (Heading and Technique) and shooting ability (Finishing and Technique).
- Useful for: more attacking strikers (number nines), perhaps with poorer creativity, passing ability and dribbling ability, expected to focus greatly on goal-scoring.
- Unsuitable for: players who are not central attackers; supporting central attackers (such as number tens) expected to play slightly deeper and contribute to build-up play or attempt creative, risky passes; central attackers expected to focus on making runs to create space.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Get Further Forward (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Move Into Channels, Hold Position, Roam From Position (player).
Stays Back At All Times
The player will be more likely to hold his defensive position.
This can allow him to be better placed to defend against an opposition counter attack.
- Required abilities: good defensive positioning (Marking, Anticipation, Decisions, Positioning and Teamwork) and other defensive abilities for when the opposition wins back possession.
- Useful for: more defensive players expected to hold their defensive position.
- Unsuitable for: supporting players expected to get forward to support attacking play; and more attacking players expected to get into more advanced positions.
- Complementary tactical instructions: Hold Position (player).
- Contrasting tactical instructions: Get Further Forward, Roam From Position (player).
