FM27 set pieces

Set pieces are the cheapest goals in Football Manager 27. A near-post corner with a blocker and a second-ball player will produce more chances over a season than most open-play instruction sets, and it costs nothing in tactical complexity. The editor is the same one used for open play, which means you can be as specific as the game allows and as simple as your squad needs.

This page covers the three routines worth building first, the delivery settings that make them work, and the defensive setup that stops the opponent doing the same to you.

Before the routine: the delivery

Every set piece starts with the delivery, and FM27 separates the taker's instructions from the runners' instructions.

• Corner type. Inswinging is easier to attack for a near-post routine; outswinging suits a far-post target and a late runner.
• Delivery target. Near post, far post, penalty spot or edge of the box. Pick one. A routine that aims at "the box" produces a scramble.
• Taker quality. Corners and free kicks use the set-piece attributes, not passing. A specialist taker is worth a squad place in a lower-league side.

The best taker is not always the best passer. Check corner and free-kick attributes, and check whether the player is left- or right-footed: an inswinger from the left corner needs a right foot.

Routine 1: near-post corner

The setup.

• Taker: the best corner taker, inswinging to the near post.
• Target 1: a centre-back who attacks the six-yard line. Heading, bravery, anticipation.
• Target 2: the striker, peeling off to the penalty spot for the flick-on or the second ball.
• Blocker: a winger who blocks the keeper's route out. This is the part most players skip, and it is the part that makes the routine work.
• Edge: the defensive midfielder, holding the edge of the box for the clearance.

Why it works. The near-post delivery is the shortest, most accurate ball in the game. The blocker stops the keeper coming through the crowd, and the striker's movement gives you a second chance if the first header is cleared.

Against zonal marking, the blocker should stand in the keeper's path rather than on the line. Against man marking, Target 1 needs to start deep and attack the ball late.

Instructions. Set the corner to near post, inswinging, with two players on the edge and one staying back. Do not send the full-backs; you need them for the counter.

Routine 2: far-post free kick

The setup.

• Taker: the best free-kick taker, outswinging from the wide areas.
• Target: the tallest centre-back, attacking the far post from deep.
• Decoy: the striker, starting near post and running across to drag a defender.
• Second ball: the midfielder on the edge, facing the goal.

Why it works. Outswinging delivery is harder to defend because the defender has to head it backwards. The decoy run creates the gap, and the edge player stops the clearance becoming a counter.

When to use it. Against a deep defence that defends the near post well. If the opponent leaves one player up, keep two back.

Routine 3: short corner

The setup.

• Taker: a full-back or winger with good close control.
• Receiver: the nearest player, showing short.
• Runners: two players attacking the box as the defence shifts out.

Why it works. It pulls one defender out of the box and creates a crossing angle from a better position. It is also the routine that beats a team that has loaded the six-yard box.

When to use it. Late in a game against a tired defence, or against a team that defends corners with ten players. Do not overuse it: the short option is easy to read if it is your only routine.

Defensive set pieces

Defending corners is where saves are lost. The setup matters more than the individual defenders.

• Marking scheme. Zonal marking protects the six-yard box; man marking stops the best header. Most squads are better zonal with one man on the best opponent.
• Players on the posts. One on the near post, one on the far post, unless you are chasing a goal.
• Players forward. One fast player on the halfway line gives the opponent something to think about. Two if you are losing.
• Keeper. A sweeper keeper claims more crosses, but only if his command of area is good. Otherwise he stays on the line.

Throw-ins and long throws

Throw-ins are low value unless you have a long-throw specialist. If you do, set the routine to the near post and treat it like a corner. If you do not, keep the throw short and retain possession; a long throw without a target is a turnover.

Training set pieces

Set-piece routines improve with repetition. The training module has a set-piece session, and the training guide explains how to fit it into a two-match week without destroying condition.

The practical approach: one set-piece session per week in pre-season, then one every two weeks once the routines are learned. Do not spend the whole week on corners when your open-play shape is still at 40% effectiveness.

How set pieces interact with Tactical Effectiveness

Set pieces do not have their own gauge, but they benefit from the same understanding pillar. A squad that has trained the routines executes them better, and the Tactical Effectiveness page explains why the training screen matters for dead-ball situations too.

Set pieces are also a way to beat a better team. If your open-play effectiveness is low because the opponent is stronger, a well-drilled corner routine is the cheapest way to create a chance that does not depend on your shape.

A five-minute setup

If you only do one thing before your next match:

1. Set corners to near post, inswinging.
2. Put your best header on Target 1 at the six-yard line.
3. Put a winger in front of the keeper as a blocker.
4. Keep one midfielder on the edge and one fast player back.
5. Set the taker to your best corner attribute, not your best passer.

That routine will produce chances immediately. The tactics guide covers how to fit it into the rest of your plan, and the best tactics page has the open-play systems that set-piece goals complement.

Sources

• Football Manager official site
• FM27 on Steam
• Sports Interactive