Against which formation you struggle most?

[ermant]

I play a high defensive line possession football and i can easily say it is "4-2-3-1 Wide" for me. For FM17 it was especially Mourinho's Man Utd. I can see it still makes a difference for other teams too. They don't have to be as strong as Utd.

Although it seems like an open formation compared to the formations like 4-2-2-2 DM, i struggle more against this one. Opposition sometimes manages to lock the game and tries to use wide wingers. I usually find many chances like at least 20 shots per game but when a strong side plays with this formation, i struggle to crack open the defence. Sometimes they all turn to this formation if one of them manages to get result.

I would say AI was a 4-2-3-1 Wide specialist this year.

[AFCBeer]

In the lower leagues I struggled the most against what FM calls the 5-2-1-2 WB. Attempting to play a possession game myself, I found this AI formation just completely boxed me in and my possession in games would be well below 40% compared to my usual 55% or so. 

[ermant]

Defensive 4-4-2 is also significant to me. Very nice defensive shape and those 2 strikers sometimes ruin my game.

[RadioRes]

The one with 3 AMs playing centrally with one striker up top. Even when I set with 5 at the back and 2 DMs, I still seem to leak goals.

[gunner86]

Mazzari's 5-3-2 at Watford was a nightmare for me. Especially at Vicarage Road.

[isignedupfornorealreason]

I play a 4-3-2-1 Asymmetrical, so AML, MR and an AMC. Sort of a lop-sided 4-4-1-1 really.

 

I struggle most with facing 4-2DM-1-2-1 or any other variation of the 4-2DM defensive setup. Usually, I only see those formations in home games. In FM16, after dominating for three seasons, nearly every team except the top 4 came to my stadium playing a variant of the 4-2DM formation to try and park the bus. 

I say I struggle against it, but that's a bit of a lie, I actually do bludgeon through it, because crap teams can't perform it well, and even better teams leave the initiative on our side so if we score one, that's it, gameplan out of the window. That said, it is eternally frustrating to see that formation and to face it, because it is difficult to figure out what to do on the rare occasions they do shut up shop successfully.

 

Another formation I have trouble with is a high 4-2-3-1 (with the front four in the AM/FWD slots), because it seems difficult to break out of that set up if the team successfully gets me pinned back into my area. I can't clear long because my wide players are back defending, I can't play out of the back because the 'four' are pressing, and my keeper will just punt it for a recycle. That too, can lead to frustrating games for me. 

[ben carter]

This variation on a 3-5-2/5-3-2 has become a real pain in the backside for me to breakdown.

[MoxeysTheName]

1 hour ago, ben carter said:

This variation on a 3-5-2/5-3-2 has become a real pain in the backside for me to breakdown.

When up against that formation i use 4-1-2-3. Push your two full backs into the wingback slot and have them play as inverted wingbacks. I also use 2 wingers on support and a false 9. I also use 2 BP centre backs, a DLP(d) and 2 b2b midfielder. I use structured and attacking with instructions to play narrow, play at a higher tempo and exploit the wings. If they don't use an attacking midfielder, then I play wide

[abhid30007]

4 hours ago, ben carter said:

This variation on a 3-5-2/5-3-2 has become a real pain in the backside for me to breakdown.

I just beat Everton 5-0 p0l0aying as Man Utd. Lemar scored a direct freekick so if you ignore that its basically 4-0 open field gols.

I played 4231 wide. Can share more tactical details if you want them. Currently I am on winning streak of like 15 including friendlies. All easy matches though.

 

On 10/12/2017 at 23:03, ermant said:

I play a high defensive line possession football and i can easily say it is "4-2-3-1 Wide" for me. For FM17 it was especially Mourinho's Man Utd. I can see it still makes a difference for other teams too. They don't have to be as strong as Utd.

Although it seems like an open formation compared to the formations like 4-2-2-2 DM, i struggle more against this one. Opposition sometimes manages to lock the game and tries to use wide wingers. I usually find many chances like at least 20 shots per game but when a strong side plays with this formation, i struggle to crack open the defence. Sometimes they all turn to this formation if one of them manages to get result.

I would say AI was a 4-2-3-1 Wide specialist this year.

I also used to struggle a lot against this formation despite myself playing 4231. But then I use one of my wide attacking midfielders as playmaker to better control the game and hit them through the middle. It has been easy for me beating a 4231 since then. Because as soon as my wide playmaker receives ball he is closed down and there is tons of space in the middle to exploit.

 

here are the highlights

https://youtu.be/L3sFz9VBbNc

[MrPompey]

On 10/12/2017 at 18:33, ermant said:

I play a high defensive line possession football and i can easily say it is "4-2-3-1 Wide" for me. For FM17 it was especially Mourinho's Man Utd. I can see it still makes a difference for other teams too. They don't have to be as strong as Utd.

Although it seems like an open formation compared to the formations like 4-2-2-2 DM, i struggle more against this one. Opposition sometimes manages to lock the game and tries to use wide wingers. I usually find many chances like at least 20 shots per game but when a strong side plays with this formation, i struggle to crack open the defence. Sometimes they all turn to this formation if one of them manages to get result.

I would say AI was a 4-2-3-1 Wide specialist this year.

IRL playing this formation with attacking full backs and a big lump centre forward allows the full back and winger to get a 2 v 1 on the opposition full back and crosses into the centre