Hello and welcome to my latest Football Manager guide. Todays topic is FM player attributes. These stats are what makes them a football player in general. But beware, some of these stats are bad to have.
FM abilities in other words attributes are divided into 5 category. These categories are technical, mental, physical, goalkeeping, and hidden player attributes in FM.
Player attributes in Football Manager games can be increased. But the player must be under 24 years old in order to develop. Also physical attributes will deteriorate after certain age, around 30-32 to be specific.
In order to develop a youngster in FM, you need to have good coaches and training facilities. Moreover, if the player is 18 or older, he must play games on the main squad for development. Except determination which can be developed by mentoring.
Technical Attributes FM
FM technical attributes are important for the practical fundamentals of football. By the way, you can change any in game player attribute by using FM 22 in game editor. It might be considered cheating though.
Corners
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to accurately take corner.
Most important attribute for corner takers. At least +14 is required for good corner kicks.
Crossing
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to cross the ball accurately from wide areas.
This indicates a player’s proficiency at crossing the ball from wide areas into the penalty box. Good stat for wingers but you also need tall strikers.
Dribbling
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to run with the ball and manipulate it under close control.
This refers to the player’s ability to dribble with the ball. Great for wingers. But also needs pace, acceleration, technique and stamina.
Finishing
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to put the ball in the back of the net when presented with a chance.
The player’s ability to put the ball in the back of the net when presented with a chance. Works well with high composure and decisions.
First Touch
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to control the ball immediately as it is passed into feet.
How good a player’s first touch is when receiving possession. Really important for counter attacks and fast organizations.
Free Kick Taking
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to strike a dead ball, either when having a shot or putting the ball into dangerous areas from deep or out wide.
This reflects how good at taking free kicks the player is. Both effects direct shots and deliveries made by free kick taker.
Heading
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to head the ball.
This is a player’s competence in aerial situations. Required for defenders and strikers.
Long Shots
This attribute reflects the player’s prowess when shooting from outside the penalty area.
Standalone attribute for player’s prowess at shooting from distance. Good for midfielders.
Long Throws
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to throw the ball long, often in attacking situations.
The ability of the player to perform a long throw. Huge advantage for throw-ins organizations.
Marking
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to stick close to his direct opposition in defensive situations.
How well players, mainly defensive types, mark an opponent. Imperative for stoppers.
Passing
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to successfully find a team-mate with the ball.
How good the player is at passing the ball. All players must have average passing.
Penalty Taking
This attribute reflects the player’s ability from the penalty spot.
Self explanatory.
Tackling
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to win the ball cleanly without conceding fouls in such situations.
How successfully the player is at winning tackles. Important for defenders and midfielders.
Technique
This attribute reflects the aesthetic quality of a player’s technical game; how refined they are with the ball at feet. Technique is important in being able to pull of a tricky pass or cross-field ball.
Really important for attacking players.
Mental Attributes FM
Mental attributes are really important too. However, player needs to have basic technical and physical abilities to perform the play in his mind.
Aggression
This attribute does not necessarily reflect a player’s dirtiness, but their willingness to get stuck in, perhaps at the expense of giving away more fouls.
Good attribute for players with strong physique.
Anticipation
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to predict and react to events going on around them.
High reaction speed can give the player upper hand on certain situations.
Bravery
This attribute reflects how committed a player is, often putting themselves into risky situations which may cause injury.
Brave players risk injury for winning balls.
Composure
This attribute is the player’s steadiness of mind and ability to make intelligent decisions with and without the ball.
As important as finishing for scoring goals. Also helps with heavy pressure from opponent team.
Concentration
This attribute reflects the player’s mental focus and attention to detail on an event-by-event basis.
One of the most important goalkeeper ability.
Decisions
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to make the correct choice both with and without the ball.
This attribute is important in every position but perhaps more so for central defenders.
Determination
This attribute reflects the player’s commitment to succeed and do his very best on and off the pitch.
A determined player will give everything in order to win. Since low determined player influence others badly, always look for determined players. Because skill without determination means nothing. High determination players are good for mentoring too.
Also determination combined with hidden attributes determines the player personalities in FM.
Flair
This attribute reflects the player’s natural talent for the creative and the unpredictable.
High flair players might often lose the ball but also can sometimes win the match single handedly. This reminds me of Neymar.
Leadership
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to influence players around them on the pitch. Team-mates will often rally around them.
Player with a high leadership is the prime candidate for the role of captain.
Off the Ball
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to move when not in possession of the ball, making themselves available to receive a pass in a dangerous position.
Good with pace, positioning, and anticipation.
Positioning
This attribute reflects the ability of a player to read a defensive situation and position themselves accordingly. It is not used in attacking situations; rather, it is used to determine how well a player identifies a threat, when to deal with it, and whether or not they’re in the best position within their current tactical setup.
Important for offside traps too.
Teamwork
This attribute reflects how the player can follow tactical instructions whilst working for and alongside his team-mates.
If your team does not consist of star players, you better look for players with high teamwork to elimite your opponents.
Vision
This attribute reflects the player’s ability to see a potential opening and spot an opportunity another player may not have seen.
Midfielders and attacking midfielders must have high vision to see assist opportunities.
Work Rate
This attribute reflects the player’s willingness to work to his full capacity, going above and beyond the call of duty.
Really good stat for wingers and full backs. However, high work rate requires strong physique and lots of stamina to back it up.
Physical Attributes FM
Physical attributes have a huge impact on gameplay. Let me give you this example. Now lets say a player with 20 finishing has average or below average consistency. That means that this player can not perform as a superb finisher more often than not. Because he does not have consistency. On most days, his finishing power will be 10 – 12 – 14 – 16. Technical and mental attributes are highly corelated with consistency. However, physical abilities are constant. Consistency does not effect physical attributes. That is why I always try and sign players with high physique in Football Manager.
Acceleration
This attribute reflects how quickly a player can get to top speed from a standing start.
Ties in very closely with the pace. Required for wingers.
Agility
This attribute reflects how well a player can start, stop and move in different directions at varying levels of speed both on and off the ball.
Ties in with the pace, acceleration, and balance. Great for wingers and attackers.
Balance
This attribute reflects how well a player can stay on his feet, both on and off the ball.
Wingers needs this attribute to stay on their feet during shoulder charges.
Jumping Reach
This attribute reflects the highest point that a player can reach with his head, often influences by a player’s height.
High jumping reach + heading is the key element of successful headers. Also bravery and aggression slightly helps.
Natural Fitness
This attribute reflects how well a player stays fit when injured or not in training. It is also used to determine how well they maintain their physical attributes past their peak and maintain fitness between matches.
If you are going to transfer a player older than 29, make sure he has high natural fitness. Because after certain age, physical attributes drops abysmally unless the player has high natural fitness.
Pace
This attribute reflects a player’s top speed both on and off the ball.
High acceleration, pace, and stamina creates uncatchable players.
Stamina
This attribute reflects a player’s ability to endure high-level physical activity for extended periods of time.
You have fast players? Without proper stamina, they will tire extremely fast.
Strength
This attribute reflects a player’s ability to exert his physical force on an opponent to his benefit.
Important when challenging for the ball. Good for defenders.
Height
Height does matter for goalkeeper, defenders, and target strikers.
Young players can also grow in height given time.
Weight
Does not effect player’s performance at all.
FM Goalkeeping Attributes
Instead of technical attributes, goalkeepers have their own set of skills called goalkeeping.
Aerial Reach
This attribute reflects the player’s physical ability to challenge in aerial situations.
Good against tall opponent strikers.
Command of Area
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability ot instinctively take charge of his penalty area by coming for crosses and commanding his defensive line.
Goes well with fast goalkeepers. (Pace, acceleration, agility.)
Communication
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability to communicate with his defensive line and organise the defensive side of the team.
Highly important for organized defense.
Eccentricity
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s tendency to do the unexpected with or without the ball.
Double edged sword dare I say. Especially on below average goalkeepers, high eccentricity might be devastating.
First Touch
It determines how well goalkeeper will react to the back passes.
Handling
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability to hold onto the ball when making a save.
One of the most important attribute for a decent goalkeeper.
Kicking
This attribute reflects both the distance the goalkeeper can kick to and the accuracy he can find both from hand and from dead-ball restarts. Passing reflects their ability at moving the ball during play.
Only useful if you are using long ball tactics.
One On Ones
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability to do well when faced with an opponent in a one on one situation.
Imperative stat for a goalkeeper.
Passing
Must have for libero / sweeper keepers.
Punching (Tendency)
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s inclination to punch the ball clear in situations where he could perhaps attempt to catch the ball.
Another double edged sword.
Reflexes
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability to react to unpredictable events with a high success rate.
I believe this is the most important goalkeeper ability.
Rushing Out (Tendency)
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s tendency to come off his line to react to through balls and crosses.
Good against offside traps and fast opponent attackers.
Throwing
This attribute reflects the goalkeeper’s ability to accurately distribute the ball from his hands.
Good to have if your team is tryin to use counter attack tactic.
Hidden Attributes FM
Hidden attributes and determination ability determines the FM player personalities.
Current Ability
Player’s current ability value. Does not show the general level of a player. However, when current ability grows, the relative attributes grow, too.
Potential Ability
Player’s potential ability value. A maximum value of Current ability which can be possibly reached by a player by means of good trainings, regular match practice on a high level and ambitions.
Adaptability
How well player adapts to living in a country that isn’t his own.
A player with low adaptability might struggle on a foreign country after his transfer.
Ambition
How much ambition player has to play at the highest level he can.
Important for reaching potential.
Loyalty
How loyal player is in general.
Determines players loyalty to his team, manager, and squad members.
Pressure
How well player is able to handle pressure on and off the field.
Player with low pressure might struggle on away matches. Also transfer rumors will effect his performance badly.
Professionalism
How professional player’s conduct is on and off the field.
Important for reaching potential just like ambition. High ambition + professionalism = super fast player development.
Sportsmanship
How sporting player’s conduct is on and off the field.
Not really important to be honest.
Temperament
How well player keeps his temper on and off the field.
Low temperament often results in red cards.
Controversy
How controversial player is off the field. This is a negative attribute.
You better don’t argue against players with high controversy.
Consistency
How consistently he performs from match to match. There is no player that will perform to his current ability 100% of the time. For example, 20 Consistency = 20/25 games, 1 consistency = 1/25 games played at full potential. Also note that the physical attributes are not taken into consideration when it comes to consistency. Only the technical and mental attributes are marked down depending on consistency.
Most important player attribute is consistency in FM to be honest.
Dirtiness
How dirty player is on the pitch.
High dirtiness often results in red cards just like low temperament.
Important Matches
How well player performs in important matches.
Players with high important matches skill will win you the derby and final matches.
Injury Proneness
How likely player is to get injured. The higher the number the more likely the player will get injured. (1=very unlikely to get injured, 20=very likely to get injured.)
High injury proneness players are really not worth signing. Even if they are really good.
Versatility
How easily player adapts to playing in unfamiliar positions.
Just don’t player low versatility players off role.