MidfieldStill being reviewed
In one sentence
The computer treats him as the deepest midfielder: he is strongly preferred as one of the two players held back, and his area is kept shorter and further back. DMF only; no stat or stamina effect.
Who does this affect?
Only while the computer moves him (a computer-run team-mate or an opponent). While you control him, your own inputs decide where he goes. Found on: Compatible position in the code: DMF only. On cards: DMF (799 of 801 in the mobile card data), 2 CMF.
How it works
Anchor Man is filed as both an attacking and a defensive style, but both only work when he plays DMF. When the computer picks the two outfield players it holds back (the deepest pair), it treats an Anchor Man as if he stood 30 m further back, so he is almost always one of them. At DMF the front of his area is held 15 m ahead of a team reference line instead of 20 m, and the area is at most 12 m long instead of 15 m. The style is read in about 25 more places in the computer's positioning and job-choice code (for example it removes him from some of the jobs a midfielder can be given, and moves one of his reference points 20 % towards another point). What those places do on the pitch was not traced, so no claim is made about them.
When it applies
- Only when he is deployed at DMF. At CMF or anywhere else every rule below is off.
- Held-back pick: whenever the computer picks the two players it holds back.
- Shorter area: when his area would reach past the forward limit.
Without it
A DMF without the style is ranked for the held-back pick only by where he stands, may push the front of his area up to 20 m ahead of the reference line, and gets an area of up to 15 m.
Common questions
Does Anchor Man stay back more?
Short answerYes
He gets −30 m on the ranking that picks the two held-back players, so he is nearly always one of them, and the front of his area is limited to 15 m instead of 20 m.
Does the style still work at CMF?
Short answerNo
Both of its markers only allow DMF; at CMF all of these checks see no style.
Does Anchor Man improve his defending stats?
Short answerNo
None of the style's checks changes a stat.
The maths
ConditionEvery effect needs him in a DMF position (the attacking and the defensive marker both allow DMF only).
StepHeld-back pick: each candidate is ranked by how far up the pitch he stands; the two lowest are picked. Anchor Man gets −30 m on that ranking (Classic No. 10 and Hole Player get +30 m).
LimitFront of his area: at most 15 m ahead of a team reference line (other DMFs 20 m), unless he is also the first held-back player in a special case the code checks.
LimitLength of his area when it is cut back: at most 12 m (other DMFs 15 m, Box-to-Box 13 m), in the team's normal state; in another state 15 m minus up to 5 m (others 20 m minus up to 5 m).
StepA second forward limit on the front of his area: 7.5 m ahead of another reference line, where other central midfielders get 10 m (only in the case checked for the held-back player).
StepA rule that pushes the back of a central midfielder's area forward uses only 5 m for him (others 5–8 m, plus 10 m in one case).
DetailThe style is read in about 25 more places in the computer's positioning and job-choice code (for example it removes him from some of the jobs a midfielder can be given, and moves one of his reference points 20 % towards another point). What those places do on the pitch was not traced, so no claim is made about them.
DetailThe game also builds an on-ball value from Tight Possession, Ball Control and Speed for players with this style (and some other styles), in any position. Where that value is used was not traced, so no effect is claimed.
DetailNot used by this style: Stamina: the style is not read by the stamina or tiredness code.; No stat is raised or lowered by the style.; Defensive Awareness is not read by any of the style's checks.