BEST FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022 RIGHT-BACKS
BRIEF PROFILES ON SOME OF THE BEST YOUNG RIGHT-BACKS IN FM22
We cover youth football and we love Football Manager. We’ve combined both to compile a list of the young right-backs that you should start scouting on your FM22 saves. These aren’t necessarrily “best”, but they’re interesting prospects for clubs across the spectrum of football. They’re players that we like in real-life that look good in FM22.
WHAT ROLES CAN RIGHT-BACKS PLAY IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 22?
Right-back is one of the most interesting positions in Football Manager 22. You can really change your teams play style dramatically just by how you deploy them. The different roles are as following:
- Full-Back
- Wing-Back
- No-Nonsense Full-Back
- Complete Wing-Back
- Inverted Wing-Back
Each role serves a very different function. Inverted Wing-Back has become a fan favourite despite the unusual nature of the role, which sees the right-back tuck inside when your team has possession to help facilitate the build-up play, or to attack space as a dribbler, while maintaining their width out of possession.
The other four roles can be put on a spectrum from No-Nonsense Full-Back to Full-Back to Wing-Back and then to Complete Wing-Back in order of their attacking nature. The No-Nonsense role will typically suit lower-level right-backs with poor technical ability, allowing them to focus purely on their defensive role.
Full-Backs will still look to defend, but also offer width when needed as an overlapping runner. Wing-Backs will look to be more aggressive in all aspects of the play, while Complete Wing-Backs are attack first options that generally need to be supported by a midfielder that will stay deep and support them defensively.
OUR LISTS OF THE BEST YOUNG TALENTS
WHAT ATTRIBUTES ARE IMPORTANT FOR RIGHT-BACKS IN FM22?
Obviously, this is role dependent, but generally a core facet of a right-backs game will be their physical attributes. No-Nonsense Full-Backs will require strength predominantly, while the other roles all require good speed and stamina in order to cover the flank for a full 90-minute match.
In terms of mental attributes, positioning, concentration, decision-making, anticipation and off the ball are all crucial. In a match, right-backs need to make so many choices about their positioning and how much they can commit to an attack without allowing themselves to be exposed defensively, while some of those other attributes are critical for final third movement execution.
As (mostly) defence-first players, the technical focus will rely mainly on marking and tackling. Crossing will also be crucial, especially in a lower-level team that plays a more direct style. Then as you move up the divisions some of the more attacking attributes will come into play: technique, passing, dribbling and first touch. Long throws are also definitely worth training if your right-back shows potential in that regard.
WATCH: 5 YOUNG PLAYERS YOU SHOULD BUY IN FM22
LAST UPDATED: APRIL 5, 2022
DODÔ
DATE OF BIRTH
17/11/1998 (22)
POSITIONS
RB
CLUB
Shakhtar Donetsk
NATIONALITY
Brazil
VALUE
€35M – €105M
Dodô is an aggressive, attacking right-back whose game is underpinned by very strong physical attributes. And you’ll pay for it too, with a price tag around the 70 million for the Shakhtar Donetsk defender.
But you get what you pay for; he’s a tour de force down the right side with good strength and pace, as well as dribbling and technique – and the very underrated long throw attribute that can turn throw-ins into corner-like scenarios.
If you are looking for a Champions League level right-back that can fit right into most systems, he will be a very solid option that should be with you for many seasons.
PIERRE KALULU
DATE OF BIRTH
05/06/2000 (21)
POSITIONS
RB, CB
CLUB
AC Milan
NATIONALITY
France
VALUE
€9.8M – €29M
Pierre Kalulu is an excellent, versatile defensive player. And, at around €20 million, comes at fantastic value to bolster your stocks as a defensive utility. Naturally a right-back or a centre-back though, Kalulu probably suits a wide-centre back or right full-back role best.
Outside of a strong pace attribute, Kalulu has a lot of attributes in that 12-15 range that are ripe for developing further as he gets more minutes under his belt.
For a cheap, but European level option, there is probably not a better option out there than Kalulu, and he is certainly a player you could flip on for profit to pursue a target with a higher ceiling down the line.
TARIQ LAMPTEY
DATE OF BIRTH
30/09/2000 (20)
POSITIONS
RB, RWB, RW
CLUB
Brighton & Hove Albion
NATIONALITY
England
VALUE
€49M – €146M
Tariq Lamptey is insanely fast. At the start of your save, that’s about all he has going for him, alongside a pretty high work rate and dribbling stat. But Brighton’s diminutive right-back has bucketloads of potential to round out his game and become an attacking force despite his size.
His ability to play any position across either flank is a bonus, especially if you are looking to play with inverted wing-backs, or need a winger to stretch the opposition back four with pure speed.
At €55 million though, he is very much on the expensive side for a player that will ultimately be a project at least for the first season or two. However, if you are desperate for an English player, then consider him.
TINO LIVRAMENTO
DATE OF BIRTH
12/11/2002 (18)
POSITIONS
RB
CLUB
Southampton
NATIONALITY
England
VALUE
€31M – €93M
If you are a Premier League team looking to stay within those pesky registration rules, Tino Livramento is a fine option not just for the present, but for developing into one of the best right-backs in the world in the future.
Not only that, Livramento can play across the backline and can even be played as a right winger if required. He brings high level athleticism to your squad, as well as strong technique, dribbling and first touch, making him an excellent player for ball-dominant teams.
He won’t be cheap to sign from Southampton, setting you back around €55 million, but he is a set-and-forget option that will be a European level by the time you can sign him (after the first season).
WHAT ARE FOOTBALL MANAGER WONDERKIDS?
Wonderkid is a cliché term that’s synonymous with Football Manager. They’re young prospects – usually aged 16 to 18 – that have elite-level potential in the game. Freddy Adu is a prominent example for older managers, while Youssoufa Moukoko is a current case. They’re the superstar youngsters that are must-buys on every save.
But it’s also subjective. A wonderkid at Accrington Stanley is completely different to a wonderkid at Manchester City. Essentially, the surroundings dictate the status.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD RIGHT-BACK IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
Ideally, a good right-back will be a player that can do everything – defend adeptly, attack effectively, pass and cross dangerously.
You will need an athletic player, especially in the modern game. You need to have a right-back that can cope with athletic wingers and pose a threatg going forward, especially if you’re managing a team at the highest levels.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST RIGHT-BACKS IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
You can do so by utilising the player search tool, which enables you to specify the certain variables you’re looking for in your player – from age to specific attributes.
Make the most of your scouts, too. Send them to scout nations (rather than regions/contintents) for the best young centre-backs by defining their criteria – specifying under-23, four-start potential, etc. Alternatively, just scour the Scouted Football website!
HOW TO DEVELOP YOUNG ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
As always, pathways are paramount. You have to make sure that your youngsters have access to meaningful minutes at the appropriate levels. If you have a first-team ready talent, phase him into the team gradually, during pre-season ideally.
If your prospect needs a bit more polishing, the loan system is a valuable tool. But pathways to senior level minutes are key. Assess your youngsters on a case-by-case basis, decide what they need, and enact your decision.
WHERE CAN I BUY FOOTBALL MANAGER 2022?
Want to buy Football Manager 2022? Visit our friends at 2game.com and use this link and the code ‘SCOUTEDFTBL’ for 10% off your purchase.
Manchester City’s João Cancelo and Kyle Walker are ranked as the best right-backs in Football Manager 2022 in terms of current ability. César Azpilicueta and Jesús Navas are as well.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Achraf Hakimi are the best young right-back in Football Manager 2022. In terms of potential, Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey and Tino Livramento at Southampton are two of the best.
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