[Is my 4-3-3/4-5-1 right for my team?]

I didn't have a style in mind when I created it. I just tried to make the best use of the players I had available within a balanced structure. I considered all of the options you've suggested. I rejected the 4-4-1-1 because neither my 10 or my 9 have any pace. Both of them can find space and link play but neither is going to attack space.

4-4-2 is a possibility and I'm currently trying some ideas but it does mean quite a lot of changes. I don't think that 4-1-4-1 would work with the players that I have.

[Is my 4-3-3/4-5-1 right for my team?]

We're predicted to finish 11th and my board want a top half finish (10th or above).

My players are all one dimensional. My back four are all primarily defensive. My CM(d) has the best positioning out of the three central midfielders. My BBM is an all-rounder with good stamina. My AP(a) is really an AMC/AMR but I felt we needed someone creative, who could find space in our midfield three. The right winger is slow but can dribble well and pass to an acceptable standard. My AML is lightening quick and direct (and right footed).  My striker is meh, he has good movement, balance, touch, technique, determination (as well as being a team leader) and fantastic at set-pieces. Unfortunately he's not strong, good in the air or quick hence making him a false 9 and not a DLF(s). He's not going to hold the ball up with his back to defenders but he can find pockets of space and link things together.

The basic idea is to have the fullbacks support but not too much. The CM(d) offer protection in front of the centre backs enabling us to play with a standard defensive line. The BBM supports the AML and the LB. The AMR stays very wide, hopefully dragging a fullback wider. My false 9 drops off taking a centreback with him and the gap that's left should be perfect for the AP(a) to squeeze through. The AML's job is play as an orthodox winger when we're building up on the left but to attack the far post when we're building up on the right.

The tactic is working but I feel it could be better.

I'd appreciate any advise.

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

@Experienced Defender Can I just check, are you telling me what I should do as my base tactic or what I should do as my plan B? Either way would you mind fleshing out your suggestion please so I've got an idea of what you're thinking Role, Duty and TI wise?

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

1 hour ago, Experienced Defender said:

 

Okay, both these tactics have flaws, so they can be improved.

If your fullbacks are really so bad that they cannot offer anything tangible in the attacking phase, I would seriously consider a hoofball-based tactic (as I already said in my previous comment). But not the preset one, because presets have a number of flaws and hence require pretty much tweaking (some more, some less). 

Instead, I can give you an example of a basic tactic you can use as a good/decent starting point to build from by adding small gradual tweaks as you see fit.

However, you've failed to answer my question about your strikers - what type(s) of players are they? 

Generally I'll have have (or aim to have) a striker with pace who I pair with a more physical, hard-working striker. So As I said before it'll end up being some kind of PF(d) + PF(a) combo. In an ideal world the PF(d) will have the attributes to also play as either a DLF(s) - i.e - good creativity and passing or a TM(s) good height, jumping and strength but its not always the case. But I generally have one quick and one strong and aggressive.

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

I didn't want to post a picture of my tactic because I didn't want to distract people from my general point which runs something like this

I prefer 4-4-2's or 4-4-1-1's because I feel that these formations offer the most compactness and enables everyone to support everyone else. Plus I just prefer them.

I start by looking at my CBs and they'll always be slow. That means we can't play a high line. Then I look at my fullbacks to see if either of them can get forward. They pretty much never can so I look at my wide midfielders and they're usually standard wingers so that's easy. Fullbacks on defend or support with wingers on support or attack. In central midfield I tend to pair a CM(d) or BMW(d) or a DLP(d) with a CM(s) or a BWM(s) or BBM(s) or sometimes an AP(s) or DLP(s). I don't play two playmakers together or two ball winners together and I always try to have at least one be a player that will hold position unless I have a BWM(d) alongside a BBM(s) in which case I'm just relying on them to both put in a shift. Up top I go with one forward dropping off, either a DLF(s) or a PF(d) or a TM(s) alongside a PF(a), a P(a) or an AF(a) who will hit the space. Really simple stuff. In terms of team instructions it would tend to be very limited. Slightly lower defensive line.

This would be a usual set up by me.

 

Also, I'm not saying my tactics are broken. I can make quite effective tactics for my side its just that I don't really have that many ways to change it up when things do go wrong. If my centre backs are slow and my fullbacks can't attack there doesn't feel like there's much that I can do to switch things up. I don't feel like I can mess around with my wingers because they're the only ones giving me width. I can't do much with my CMs because I only have two and they need to cover and support. My forwards aren't multi talented either. One can drop off and has no pace and the other one has pace but not much else.

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

3 minutes ago, Experienced Defender said:

What about hoofball (not the preset tactic but style of play)? What type(s) of strikers do you have? 

In any case, post a screenshot of your current tactic, because that way we can see if it has any obvious flaws that can be improved by tweaking.

Its not just a problem with my current tactic. I always play as the underdog and my team generally have bad fullbacks and slow central defenders.

In my current save I'm using the Direct Counter Attack preset (a lot of the time I develop my own tactics from scratch).

The issue is how change it up.

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

How would you play if you're team were too slow to play a high line and your fullbacks were too poor to attack?

[Tactical options with a limited squad?]

Hi

I like playing LLM and more often than not have a dreadful squad. I do the usual squad assessment and set up my team to play compact and on the counter because we're too slow at the back to play a high line. I play a containment style rather than an aggressive press because we're not physically or mentally able to press. I have to rely on my wide midfleders for width because my FB's are terrible at going forward. The problem is that when that's not working we don't really have a plan B because I feel like my players can't do anything else.

What am I missing? How do you turn a one dimensional team into a team that can adapt? Especially if you feel like you can't play a high line or send your fullbacks forward?

 

Thanks