Direct Answer
To fix attacking problems in Football Manager you need to improve chance quality, role balance and attacking structure, not simply add more attacking players. Most scoring issues come from poor movement, rushed decisions and unbalanced risk rather than from finishing alone.
Why Attacking Problems Are So Common
If you dominate matches but struggle to score, you’re not alone. Many Football Manager saves reach a point where possession looks good, shots pile up, but goals don’t follow.
This usually happens because the attack is structurally broken, even if the tactic looks fine on paper. Often, these issues appear alongside broader tactical instability, as explained in Why Your Tactic Stops Working in Football Manager
Start by Evaluating Chance Quality, Not Shot Count
High shot numbers can be misleading.
Warning signs of poor chance quality include:
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Many long shots
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Crosses cleared easily
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Low xG despite high possession
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Shots taken under pressure
If your team shoots often but rarely from good positions, the problem isn’t finishing. It’s how chances are created. This links directly to how space and positioning are evaluated in the match engine, as described in How Football Manager Match Engine Works
Role Balance Is Critical in Attack
One of the most common attacking mistakes is stacking attacking duties.
When too many players attack:
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Movement becomes predictable
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Passing options disappear
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Defensive cover is lost
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Counters become more dangerous
A functional attack needs support roles behind the ball. This is a core principle of tactical stability and is discussed in detail in How to Create a Balanced Tactic in Football Manager
Movement Beats Instructions
Attacking success depends more on movement than on instructions.
Key attacking attributes include:
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Off the Ball
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Anticipation
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Decisions
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Composure
Players lacking these attributes will slow attacks, make poor runs or shoot too early. This is why understanding How Attributes Affect Performance in Football Manager is essential when diagnosing attacking issues.
Width and Spacing Create Goals
Crowded central areas kill attacking flow.
Good attacks require:
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Width to stretch defences
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Occupation of half-spaces
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Staggered positioning between lines
If wide players are isolated or central attackers are too close together, defenders can stay compact and comfortable. This problem is especially visible against deep defences, as analysed in How to Beat Low Block Teams in Football Manager
Tempo and Mentality Often Cause Attacking Issues
Many players respond to scoring problems by increasing tempo and attacking mentality.
This often backfires.
High tempo:
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Reduces decision quality
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Forces rushed shots
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Removes patience from build-up
Slightly lowering tempo or mentality often leads to better shot selection, even if possession drops slightly. This is closely connected to possession control, as discussed in How to Dominate Possession in Football Manager
Pressing Supports Attacking Success
Attacking problems are sometimes caused by what happens after possession is lost.
Effective pressing:
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Recovers the ball closer to goal
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Creates disorganised defences
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Leads to higher-quality chances
But pressing must be sustainable. Over-pressing drains players and hurts attacking clarity, a balance explained in How Pressing Really Works in Football Manager
Common Mistakes That Kill Attacks
Some frequent errors include:
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Adding more attackers instead of fixing structure
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Forcing crosses without movement
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Using playmakers with poor decisions
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Ignoring player suitability
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Panicking after short goal droughts
These mistakes compound over time and make attacking problems feel random.
Practical Steps to Fix Attacking Problems
To restore attacking effectiveness:
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Focus on chance quality, not volume
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Balance attacking and support roles
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Improve movement between lines
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Control tempo instead of forcing it
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Use pressing to create chaos, not exhaustion
Small, logical adjustments usually unlock goals faster than full tactical overhauls.
Conclusion
Attacking problems in Football Manager rarely come from finishing alone. They are almost always the result of structural imbalance, poor movement or rushed decisions.
Once you understand how roles, spacing and tempo interact, goals return naturally. For a complete tactical foundation, explore the Tactics section and the Football Manager Guides starting from the FootballManagerGuru homepage