How do you pick your formation on FM?

As per the poll!

I've made it so that people can select more than one option should they desire to do so.

Feel free to write any comments or thoughts below. Hopefully this might generate some interesting discussion too!

Personally, I tend to either employ a favourite formation from real life, use a formation due to wanting a certain style of play and/or pick something traditional for the country that I am managing in.

In particular, when I move around in the FM world, I like to try to adopt a playing system that is 'traditional' for the country that I am playing in. Some of these are very obvious. For example, in British football it's mainly the 4-4-2, in Spanish the 4-2-3-1, in Italian the 4-3-1-2/diamond and in Dutch football the 4-3-3 and so on and so forth.

I'm actually came up with a pretty nerdy thread on the tactics forum listing the most popular formations in different countries - http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/254779-Football-formations-in-different-countries :o

Other. Based on what I need for the next match.

Went for two options depending on how long I've been at a club.

When I first take over I play whatever suits the team but after a while, I generally try to change to my favoured 4-3-3.

Other. Based on what I need for the next match.

I'm from the Wenger school of thought - let the opposition worry about us. It works better in FM than it does IRL

Interesting poll crouch.

I always base my formations on the players available and initially I tend to use the same formation as the club have been using for that reason.

Whilst not wanting to conform to any type of tradition I do find times when you are forced to use certain formations to counter the opposition. Recent examples for me would be Brazil - I was forced to go man for man with a 4222 formation and Italy where narrow formations overload any attempt to use width.

Finally if I'm struggling I will try something different.

Other. Based on what I need for the next match.

Yeah, that should have been one of the options! Oh well! :o

Went for two options depending on how long I've been at a club.

When I first take over I play whatever suits the team but after a while, I generally try to change to my favoured 4-3-3.

4-3-3 with AMR/AML, I take it?

I'm from the Wenger school of thought - let the opposition worry about us. It works better in FM than it does IRL

Sadly, Celtic and Rangers aren't worrying about us.....yet. I do okay against Rangers but the best I seem to get from Celtic is a draw. One of these days I'll figure them out......maybe.

Interesting poll crouch.

I always base my formations on the players available and initially I tend to use the same formation as the club have been using for that reason.

For better or worse, I tend to go into the club and immediately stamp my mark/put my philosophy into action, and that includes the formation/playing system.

Whilst not wanting to conform to any type of tradition I do find times when you are forced to use certain formations to counter the opposition. Recent examples for me would be Brazil - I was forced to go man for man with a 4222 formation and Italy where narrow formations overload any attempt to use width.

I guess the game is kind of realistic in that sense then. If you went to Italy or Brazil as a manager, you probably would be influenced by the traditions and playing styles of the country, wouldn't you? You'd be less likely to go there playing a high tempo, British-style 4-4-2 anyway!

Yeah, that should have been one of the options! Oh well! :o

Go figure. You have 9 options (not counting other) to choose from and I have to be difficult;)

4-3-3 with AMR/AML, I take it?

Indeed, both inside forwards. Had a lot of success in the latest version using it.

I do a mixture of what I have at the club and my favourite formation. I usually use 4-4-2 or a variant, depending on the skill levels of the players. At Dartford I used a conventional 4-4-2, with fairly simple player roles such as Centre Midfielder - Defend. Occasionally, with better players, I gave them a role such as Advanced Playmaker - Attack, but they'd have to have good technicals and mentals for me to use them in such a way.

At Man City, I've been using a 4-1-1-2-2 formation. The amount of attacking talent meant I wanted two wingers, and I never feel comfortable with a lone striker, so two up top is always the way I roll. However, I wouldn't use such an attacking formation without a strong defensive midfielder, so you have to be sensible.

Eeney meany miney mo....

Pretty much I've always gone with what I know.

Back when I started playing FM, I only knew how to get a 4-4-2 to work. And after playing this game for some time, I got it to work very very well.

Whenever I tried something different (mainly the 4-3-3), I failed miserably.

Its taken me a few years to finally develop a 4-3-3 to my liking and that only happened after reading a lot of different threads on this forum.

Well normally I look how the team play irl, and try to implement this on FM. In my Bayern save I play a 4-2-3-1 wide and it works really well for me with Ribery and Ribben bombarding the wings

So it would have to be what the club I am managing traditionnaly uses irl

option number 2 for me.

I'm like Mike Bassett when it comes to formations, I've tried messing about but am proud to use the old school 4 4 f'n 2 (with a slight diamond twist).

I have a certain style of play in mind and my formation is based on that

I select a formation with certain positions available because I like those positions

I picked these two.

Firstly I like a nice rigid system where a guy sits in front of the defence and is really the key player in the system. That's also the sort of role I prefer when playing football myself, the unselfish guy that holds it all together sort of. Short controlled passing within a well disciplined and well organised system is the aim.

I'm a big fan of a narrow 4-1-3-2 with a deep lying playmaker at DMC and a CMd in front of him set as a ball winning midfielder. I also like to have two strikers (who will hopefully develop a partnership in time) which fits in with this system nicely. The full backs provide the width which means no need for wingers and also makes squad management a little easier.

I've gone with two because it depends on which club I am with. If I am at a big club I tend to go with an attacking 4-4-2 with AMR/AML, or a wide 4-2-3-1 and buy players to suit these formations.

But sometimes when managing smaller clubs I tend to adjust the formation based on the players available. Currently playing a 4-3-3 because I had a lack of decent wingers when I took the team on, and found that it works a treat so still use it 6 seasons later.

I went for 'I have a certain style of play in mind and my formation is based on that'

I like to try and create certain styles or approaches that I think suit the club or the league, and then I alter it when needed until I get the right system that works with my players. Takes a while sometimes but it's definitely worth it.

I tend to switch between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 with 4-5-1 being my main formation. I use it because I like to play with a DM and my striker does really well by himself

I have a certain sytle of play I prefer, but I'll also listen to my staff's pre-season advice. If I've done a good job putting the team together, the advice and what I want to do will be the same...

Intense analysis of my players, their attributes, the opposition, the weather, the pitch size, the referee etc. then ages spent tweaking the team and individual sliders and opposition instricutions.

Then play full 90 minute matches and make tweaks based on what I'm seeing.

I want my tactics to be both good against an opponent waiting for me and on the counter attack.

I pick a formation I haven't used for a while and try and make it work.

Currently using 4132 on my Newcastle save.

I use DL DC DC DR/ DM/ MC MC MC/ ST ST in FM 2011 because it produces some beautiful football and the AI seem befuddled by it in the lower leagues.

Other.

I always have two set of tactics. One with 4-4-2 and another with 4-5-1. Depending upon opponent and situation I use either of them.

Usually I just go for the formation that best suits the players I have at the moment, and if it works fine I don't see a reason to change it as long as it works fine and I have the players to keep it working.

Otherwise I do have a soft spot for the 4-2-3-1 (3AMCs), mostly because for years I've been unable to make two striker cooperate well enough... (possibly a ME limitation?) so the lone striker with 3 AMs behind him are a good solution.

I've also tried to recreate a 4-3-3 Nils Arne Eggen style, but that proved to be tougher than I thought, so I sort of settled for whatever 4-3-3 the ME took out of my instructions.

I always mirror my FM tactics & formations after real life variations. I have a general football philosophy that I follow and I adapt new formations as I make changes. Also sometimes it depends on the quality of the team, injuries, players and opposition.

I usually look for teams and players who can fit a 4-4-2 flat, since it's my preferred formation.

I usually stick to 4-4-2. On FM11 I used a 4-3-3 for about 18 months as Bristol City after some poor performances. I changed back to 4-4-2 after promotion to the premier league.