4231 Defense Advice

[Corrick]

I've read every 4231 post going and still can't resolve my defensive woes. I'm in my 3rd consecutive season of qualifying via the league for the Europa League but can't kick on, which I believe is due to the amount of goals I concede. Tactics:

 

DLF(A)

W(A) AM(A) IF(S)

MEZ (S)OR BBM(S) DLP(D)

FB(S) BPD(D) CD(D) FB(A)

SK(S)

Mentality - Positive

In Possession - short passing, play out of defense

Transition - None

Out of possession - high dl standard loe

 

Player instructions - split block front 4

 

I've tried switching to balanced, but that seems to nullify my attack. Should I switch the am to support? Help!

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by Corrick

[Experienced Defender]

1 hour ago, Corrick said:

DLF(A)

W(A) AM(A) IF(S)

MEZ (S)OR BBM(S) DLP(D)

FB(S) BPD(D) CD(D) FB(A)

SK(S)

Mentality - Positive

In Possession - short passing, play out of defense

Transition - None

Out of possession - high dl standard loe

 

Player instructions - split block front 4

The tactic itself look good/decent. So I guess your team is not good enough to execute it properly (or perhaps not good enough for the 4231 as a formation, even with a different tactic). 

I don't know which team you manage, so hard to tell you what exactly you should change. 

[mattmccready]

How quick are your central defenders? And their positioning...?

 

may be the high defensive line. 

[Bluebird123]

How good are those front 4 at pressing? What's their work rate, stamina, bravery? I see a lot of generic "split block" advice on here, but if your forward players are lazy and won't run, you are just asking to be overwhelmed by good teams. 

 

 

[StabbyMcGinge]

Need more info. How good are your CBs? Is their concentration low? Does their marking suck and theyre letting long balls over the top connect? 

What goals are you conceding? Crosses? build up play? long shots?

[Corrick]

Thanks for all the questions. Responses as requested, note one thing I missed out in my first post was that I'm also playing the Offside Trap.

DLF:

AML:(Will be changing to the 2nd player as an IF(A) when fit, LB will likely become WB(S).)

 

AMC:

AMR:

DLP: I alternate between these two:

BBM/MEZ

Either the Paradguayan above or:

DL:

For offensive:

Defensive:

BPD:

CD:

 or 

DR:

[Experienced Defender]

20 hours ago, Corrick said:

I'm in my 3rd consecutive season of qualifying via the league for the Europa League but can't kick on

What exactly do you mean when you say "can't kick on"?

I analyzed the player profile screenshots you posted, and they look pretty good on average. So with the right player selection relative to roles and duties, you should be able to play a 4231, possibly with a couple of tweaks. 

The question is how realistic you are in terms of your own expectations of this team and tactic.

 

[Corrick]

Push on to champions League qualification, something I think is achievable if we can reduce the number of goals we concede. Any view of any tactical tweaks that would support that, or am I left with player recruitment?