Cloud9

Hm that does sound tricky to diagnosis then. Mistakes late on I would attribute frequently to concentration, as for switching off concentration/anticipation are two to look at. If you're using a Stopper/Cover combo I find that can have fralities in a defensive low/midblock approach. For a back 4 I generally prefer two defend duty center back roles to help prevent having them pulled out of position. You could also look at the fatigue of players? Conceding late on can be attributed to a lack of rotation as well (that one you can see, add "match load, fatigue, injury risk" to your selection view). Once you've finished with your save you might try removing the skin to see what attributes the players actually had in a retrospective analysis to pinpoint where things were going wrong.

Could be poor concentration?

It helps to use traps and proactive role switches to deal with Positional Play if you're getting played through too easily. Could look at your width as well? Just going narrow reduces gaps between players and makes it harder to be played through. I agree with @DeepThought's sentiments here...it's likely the attributes on your centerbacks may be at fault. Strong mental attributes are important in the defensive unit.

For an F9 you're really just looking for another player to be moving into that striker space, while the F9 helps to create space by dragging the defenders out of position. I don't think you should feel compelled to just run a 4-3-3 to get the best out of a F9. A 4-2-3-1 for example could run a SS who pairs excellently with the F9 as does a 4-4-2 with a Poacher + F9 combo.

The stars are influenced by the strength of your squad, so if a player who is 5 stars PA at 17 and ends up at 3.5 stars at 20 or whatever it's often times just a reflection of your squad getting stronger. Whichever coach you assign to do the ratings will impact this as well (just like a scouting report) and the players form fluctuates the star rating as well. You can also look at their market value once you sign them, as that's not dictated by your squads strength (there are pitfalls here as well, it spikes immediately after signing and will deteriorate as the contract winds down). I think you can look at a players PA as a general gauge of if they have space to improve or not, but I agree with what's been said here already... ignore the stars as much as possible and look at the attributes themselves. If a player fits your system he will play well. The player you feature for example, doesn't have a high star rating but he's got the attributes to be a goal scorer, he doesn't need 5 star potential to come off the bench and bang a couple in the back of net. Having different profile squad players is a big plus, and they don't have to be good at all aspects of the game to be useful in your squad. A high PA player who doesn't fit your system now is unlikely to do so in the future either.

Yea take a look at your best players and build a tactic around them. Usually a good starting point is figuring out how you're going to score goals and going from there. A 4-4-2 is a great formation, particularly when you have more limited players as it allows partnerships between role pairings that can cover up for deficiencies. It's worth remembering that consistency doesn't have an impact on physical attributes, usually I'd avoid inconsistent players but at lower level management you have to work with what's available. Also, the biggest thing you can do is day 1 is try to sign free transfers. You can offer trials which is free scouting, but act as quick as possible. I'd keep an eye out for the date in Spring when Premier League clubs release player's from their youth team squads. I did a Bath save some years back and those released players I took all the way up through the leagues with me. Basically the biggest thing you've got going for you in the lower leagues is time and space to develop players, if you bring in a young crop they can grow with you.

In a 4-2-3-1 I like to either have a progressive ball carrier from my defensive unit from either: 1. The double pivot (SV, the defensive BBM is a great option for any pivot). 2. The wingbacks. If I'm opting for a double DM(s) in my pivot I'm usually using a double WB(s) (or another progressive WB combo like IWBs) out wide as the two 6's provide cover for the wingbacks to bomb on. Some people use attack roles on the wingbacks w/two conservative 6's like this, but that tends to be a bit adventurous for my style of play. @crusadertsar's 4-2-3-1 will address some of those transition issues I think you're likely facing at the moment. The current 4-2-3-1 with the double WB(d) is almost better suited to a 4-3-3, where the frontline is given license to kill in quick/direct transitions. The other pivotal choice for me is in your 9. The AF would be fine in the 4-3-3 I mention above where the direct style isn't hindered by his choice to run in behind (forcing turnovers) but in a less direct approach that can be an issue. A poacher will give you a similar spearheading threat, but one who will stay in the box and won't run the channels. Alternatively, like the DLF mentioned, a facilitating striker could help you make space for inside runs, w/out turning the ball over so frequently.

Yea, there's a lot of attacking talent in world football at the moment. I personally retrain DM's or FB's for Midfield strata players as they frequently have the attributes I'm looking for on a MLCR for example.

They get forward with decent end product! 5-3-2 is in a little bit of an awkward place at the moment in the ME (at least for me, particularly around some of the Positional Play changes) and the current configurations on the wingbacks and the two wide central defenders compared to what we see IRL is definitely part of that. I think it's difficult to replicate some of these modern, non-English 3 at the back systems like you see from Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan with how these roles perform. You could always go for an old Atletico 4-4-2 style. I personally abandoned the back 3 I was putting together (although a 3-4-2-1 has a lot of potential w Positional Play) in favor of a 4-4-2. Back 4 systems offer a lot of flexibility which I found really useful in the tinker heavy ME this year. That's just my own experience messing around in game though and others may have found ways to get a 5-3-2 ticking well I do think the DW's are a better replication of what you'd see from an Atletico wingback in the ME than the traditional wingback role.

I would recommend a Poacher w/close down more instead of an AF for Morata. F9 suits Griezmann , but keep in mind Dybala is a traditional 10 not a pressing player attribute wise like Griezmann. I'd also consider utilizing DW's instead of WB's.

I'm not sure what advantage you would gain by staggering your double pivot. W/out the double DM you leave your double wingbacks exposed in transition. I think you'd also find building up from the back more difficult with the advanced AP compared to the traditional double pivot. The all attack role front line can also cause issues and a visual gap between them and the defensive unit.

There isn't a correct side to focus play down, it's a TI I use within matches to influence them based on an opponents weakness, or if I want my fullbacks(s)/wingback(d) more involved up the pitch. The issue here is still your roles, the only player really looking the progress the ball from the midfield or defensive third is the MEZ(a) who will do so aggressively, carrying the ball and making line breaking passes. @crusadertsar recommended to you a BBM or RPM which are both more expansive roles than a CM(s) to pair the MEZ(a). You can keep the CM(s) if you like, but if you want to buildup down the left hand side you will need roles capable of doing that.

If the goalkeeper isn't sparking the issue in your case that's okay. The roles are the core part of why you're seeing the lopsided buildup. If you can address that you will fix your problem.

I have no problems with the focus play TI, except that if you leave it on the entire match your players in that area will be exhausted The DLP(s) as an 8 can cause build up issues (usually 8's don't have hold position) and I don't see a lot of natural width on the left like there is on the right hand side. DLP also doesn't really progress the ball, but recycles it. The Mez(a) on the other hand does, he swings wide right and is your primary midfielder responsible for progressing the ball (dribbling/passing) in your midfield 3. This creates kind of a lopsided 4-2-3-1. Usually when the play is progressing down the right hand side of the pitch it's because your goalkeeper is right footed and he's passing the ball out to the right hand side, which is also where your tactic is setup to progress the ball through the thirds (not the left hand side). Little changes like putting in a FB(a), swapping out the DLP, and distributing directly to the left sided center back (ideally a left footed BPD w/ dribble more) will help you to build up down the left a bit more.

Yea basically on a single pivot you're looking for someone who can connect the defensive and midfield thirds, and the DM(s) helps to do that. I also favor the higher starting position that the support role gives you (In and out of possession). As @crusadertsar mentions, the customization on the role is one of the big draws.

They're flair modifiers.

I have not seen much of Ramsey this season, but in FM terms (and in how Villa play) I like a WM or DW in a 4-4-2 on this profile of player.

The comments on the Positional Play being overturned and making the game easy are just directed at the loud, ill-informed users on the forumn that argue that the only way to win is limited to a singular approach. The point is not that the game is easy and that you are therefore bad, but that many different play styles are possible and effective with a bit of know how (which people on this forumn, like Rashidi, are more than happy to help out with). The other issue with the "game is broken" posts, is that even if it were true... this isn't the place for it. Go post it in the bug report section after compiling sufficient data that there is an issue. Here's the link: https://community.sigames.com/bugtracker/ There are features that imo don't work as they should. I for one struggle to get "Play Out From The Back" to actually improve my squads ability to do just that. Posting here for help on how to get something to work that you're struggling with (or that you feel the game is limited in) is a totally different approach than just saying, "unplayable! you can only gegenpress" which is what we're seeing far too much of atm.

So the real strength of a 4-4-2 are the two defensive lines. I would focus on the tactic being primarily defensively responsible out of possession as to able to handle an assault w/ positional play. This is especially important in a 4-4-2 midblock as the front two, even w close down more, are a bit separated from the defensive unit. I'd consider a couple changes: Passing direct, supports the TF/AF combo well (TF suits Giroud well). Using WM or DW out wide instead of the more attacking IW(who will cut inside and leave you exposed). These will give you players who can contest out wide which fits with your trap outside TI. Drop Pivot back to the DM strata. They will contest headers better (again trap outside), and I personally prefer an SV (a defensive BBM) + a DM(s). Consider a high defensive line with the speed in your backline if the opposition doesn't have pace to punish you. Dropping the WB(s). This role will sit wider and will leave gaps (like the IW) that can be exploited. A switch to a role that will sit narrow like a fullback (a) will give you a forward threat without being as much of a weak spot. Consider removing run at defence. I prefer to tell specific players to do this through roles, TIs. W/a tactic like this w/out a clear playmaker, tinkering with the passing meters in the PIs can be a real help in efficiently progressing the ball when you do win it back.

I think the underlying issue is that his squad is a lot stronger than yours in most positions. To contest w/ a much stronger opponent: I'd go fairly narrow, up the tempo, two wingback (d)'s, move to a more traditional midfield 3 with Bruno as a regista (where he'll act as a ball magnet and launch line breaking passes). This will address the issue of very few players being able to progress the ball in your defensive third to the isolated frontline. Distribute the ball straight to Bruno. You can use the conservative midfield profiles you have to screen Bruno effectively and contest the middle of the park. That will help you get the ball to the attacking fontline a bit more. I would strongly recommend getting a different profile strike, I've struggled with a solo tf on the break in a 4-3-3. I experimented with a TF(s) + W(a) + Ramdeuter w/traits to run in behind but it's high maintenance and requires an exceptional Ramdeuter. That being said, Politano isn't a bad fit so you could give that a go if you keep the TF. I'd want to bring in someone who can lead the line and serve as a focal point to the off footed winger's on attack as a main goalscoring threat. Height + Speed + off the ball are the big three. Your frontline is pretty slow overall and injecting some real pace will help. It's going to be very difficult to break against a team who have Tchouameni + Neves as a double pivot and a backline quicker than your frontline. The other real possibility I'd think about w/no changes to the squad would be running Politano as an AF next to the TF (where the TF is in the center and the AF is slightly off to the side). This will leave you a bit exposed and is asymmetrical but will put him right in position to attack the channel between the exposed WB(a) and CB. That give's you some real goal threat out of possession and keep the route 1 knock down to the TF. This last option would probably be my preferred approach to take on the formation above w/your current squad. You could run a Regista as a 6 + BWM(s) + CAR as 8's (CAR on the side to cover the space exposed by the AF). You'll still be up against it against that opposition (get that morale up before the match )! But that should address some of the key transition/goalscoring issues and focuses around building to your best player's strengths. Hope that works for you & glad the Counter Attacking Thread was helpful.

Attack the wingbacks running to the byline. Both sides, but in particular the left, are exposed in transition.

Looks like a great start I think you'd struggle with the current midfield setup so I'd look to address that first. I'd give this a read before making adjustments for a better understanding on the roles you pick. You can also create your own setup and play w/out asymmetrical formations, which have their own pitfalls to worry about. You could consider running a classic 4-4-2 and progressing from there.

I don't think you're too far off! Should be ticking over in no time

I would want Rashford or Hojlund as spearheading number 9's with their profiles. Either a Poacher or an AF. On Martial, if he's on the left hand side I would distill his ability down to a player who can run with the ball very well. He's quick, strong, has a good agi/balance combo + dribbling flair. An off footed winger support role would help make space for either of your capable 9's to finish off chances. I wouldn't want him in a role like IF where others are working for him as his off the ball is 12 which is a problem on a player you want scoring goals for you. Pulling/pinning the fullback out wide and providing the ability to beat a man let's him provide two distinct functions in your setup. A lot of teams will sit back against you and that width and 1v1 threat will help break down teams that sit back against you. The winger(s) role will help cover up for some of the deficiencies in his profile by keeping things simple for the player. I'd add pass it shorter in his PIs and go from there.

Sorry, unclear on my part regarding height. The game mostly cares about Jumping Reach compared to the height itself. The height plays some factor in being able to reach the ball, but it's largely inconsequential compared to the jumping reach itself (so you're really looking at Martial Jumping Reach 9 vs Rashford Jumping Reach 12). IF(a) would work well for Rashford as you mention, I think his profile is largely focused on scoring goals himself.