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Home Analysis Formations 3-4-2-1 Formation

How Liam Manning Tactics At MK Dons Have Taken England By Storm 2021/2022 – Tactical Analysis

Adam Scully by Adam Scully
November 18, 2021
in 3-4-2-1 Formation, 3-4-3 Formation, 5-4-1 Formation, Analysis, Andrew Fisher, EFL League One, Head Coach Analysis, Liam Manning, Tactical Analysis
Reading Time: 11 mins read
0
Risky build-up play and halfspace domination: How Manning has taken England by storm with MK Dons – tactical analysis

MK Dons gained considerable attention last season under Russell Martin for their easy–on–the–eye, fluid, possession-based football style.

The team finished thirteenth in the League One table last season, and Martin was subsequently poached by Swansea City in the Championship after Steve Cooper resigned.

While results may not have been overly impressive, MK Dons were clearly progressing in terms of the teams playing style, and the players had clearly responded to fresh ideas from such a young coach.

The board wanted to continue this project, so in August, it appointed the rather unknown Liam Manning as the new head coach.

Manning’s only managerial experience was with Lommel SK in Belgium, but the 36-year-old previously coached with Manchester City, West Ham United, and New York City FC in the United States.

Manning has been in charge for 20 matches so far and even picked up September’s Manager of the Month award.

The Dons have been playing some of the best football in England’s third tier and are extremely entertaining in possession.

They sit fifth in the division.

This article will be a tactical analysis of MK Dons under Liam Mannings tactics.

It will be an analysis of the tactics in possession that the coach has deployed since he arrived at the Stadium MK.

Liam Manning formation, lineup, and personnel

Liam Manning’s preferred system with MK Dons has been the 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 when the wingers are wider, which drops to a 5-4-1 out of possession.

The Dons have used a 3-4-2-1 variant in 77 percent of their games this season.

Risky build-up play and halfspace domination: How Manning has taken England by storm with MK Dons – tactical analysis

Last season in the Belgian First Division B, the young coach preferred a 4-2-3-1, which he used in 75 percent of the team’s games.

This shows that Manning does not have a favoured system and uses the formation that best utilizes the players at his disposal.

Perhaps

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    Adam Scully

    Adam Scully

    Lead Editor for Total Football Analysis + Host of the TFA Podcast

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