Perfecting the 4-4-2, A road to FM Enlightenment

[pezza96]

Hey all I have recently completed my first season as Braunschwieg in the Bundesliga, I feel it was a decent season , yet I was constantly experimenting with new formations without really finding one that I felt played out how I like my teams to play. http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/GermanFirstDivision_OverviewStages_zpsf7dd7745.png

I feel this quote best describes why I've chosen this “I think it’s simply the most rational formation in most cases. In fact, it’s the essence of reason. With a 4-4-2, 60% of your players are occupying 60% of the pitch. No other formation is as efficient at covering space.”

What I want From My Team

There's no point in creating a tactic If i first don't set out an identity for my team; I want to play a 4-4-2 which presses the opposition, with players interchanging positions, whilst playing a game which focuses on having a positive midfield set-up getting on the ball and dominating the opposition in the final third.

With this in mind I've set my team up like this;

The Shape

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsOverview_zps6964b2a0.png

The Team Instructions

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsOverview-2_zpsaf0c1fbc.png

PI's

The Left Back http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsPlayer_zps43f75323.png

I want this guy to play in a Carlos Alberto-Esque style rampaging up the flanks and providing most of my attacking threat down this flank, a typical modern full-back if you will

The Left Midfielder http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsPlayer-2_zpsf51838cb.png This guy is here to provide extra cover in the middle of the park, seeing as most teams will try and exploit the middle

The DLF http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsPlayer-3_zpse6592f0d.png This guy aims to drop off and find spaces in behind the cb's much like Borini v Man City

The AF http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o331/pezz5/BraunschweigerTSVEintracht_TacticsPlayer-4_zps5908e40f.png This guy is a rather static aiming to act as a pivot which my dlf can run off

That covers everything, all feedback is welcome, I'll update with in-game analysis soon

[Brick_Tamland]

I definitely will be following along. I love the 4-4-2 and it drives me mad

[Ö-zil to the Arsenal!]

I'll post a screenshot later today but we are actually playing a very similar system.

Do you mind if I give a pointer? I started with playmakers in midfield myself but found the Central Midfielder role much more effective, one defend and one support. I noticed a huge improvement when I made the change. The defence tightened up, we controlled the game far more and we were better in attack.

Let me know how you find the Wide Midfielder - Defend. I use a Wide Midfielder - Support myself and find it extremely effective. I use Wilshere / Rosicky and I find it is solid in defence, acts as an additional central midfielder in possession and works very well with the wingback in attack.

My midfield is a flat 4:

MR: Winger Attack

MRC: Central Midfielder Support

MLC: Central Midfielder Defend

ML: Wide Midfielder Support

We are fluid and mentality ranges from Defend, to Attack depending on the circumstance.

[pezza96]

I'll post a screenshot later today but we are actually playing a very similar system.

Do you mind if I give a pointer? I started with playmakers in midfield myself but found the Central Midfielder role much more effective, one defend and one support. I noticed a huge improvement when I made the change. The defence tightened up, we controlled the game far more and we were better in attack.

Let me know how you find the Wide Midfielder - Defend. I use a Wide Midfielder - Support myself and find it extremely effective. I use Wilshere / Rosicky and I find it is solid in defence, acts as an additional central midfielder in possession and works very well with the wingback in attack.

My midfield is a flat 4:

MR: Winger Attack

MRC: Central Midfielder Support

MLC: Central Midfielder Defend

ML: Wide Midfielder Support

We are fluid and mentality ranges from Defend, to Attack depending on the circumstance.

Cheers, I found the wm(defend) made my midfield to disjointed, so I'm gonna switch to a wm(support) like you suggested, currently going through pre-season basically revamping my whole squad