If you believe the media and what we see at the top level of football. The 4-4-2 is becoming unfashionable as teams start to punt more for a 4-5-1 systems. But is this true of the Football Manager gamer? Do you think the 4-4-2 is dead or are you playing with a stranger formation then some?
Please comment below about what you think is the best formation in modern football.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
4-1-3-2 with 3 att midf instead of 3 central midf
Tried it in FM06 with s’land and FM10 with notts
I’m a 4-4-2 man although it’s out of fashion. I think that a fluid 4-4-2 can cover the pitch very well if the players can handle high work loads.
Yeah it be good to prove that the 4-4-2 is still loved by the FMers it can work and Manchester United are showing lately that a 4-4-2 can be successful. Despite losing some late goals, but I think that has something to do with tired old legs
I have 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 tactics to be used, but it all depends on situation. For me, I look to exploit the opponents weakness, and from there I get my 3 points!
4-4-2 isn’t that bad actually, but with good players working as a unit, it still can bring glory for team!
Zinedine Zaiddin´s last [type] ..Are We Prepared Enough- Boss Yes- Just Bring it On!
Like andy, I use the 4-1-3-2 with 3 attacking mids. Lots of goals.
yomcat´s last [type] ..The state of my Thesis – Part 1
A fluid Narrow 4-1-2-1-2
4-1-2-1-2 fluid and attacking. OR 4-5-1 fluid and standard with winger as in side forwards.
4-3-1-2 has been my fav choice for this year edition of the game, mainly due to a match engine highly biased towards narrow and wingless formations playing through the middle.
paine´s last [type] ..Are you waiting for Football Manager 11
i use 4-1-4-1 with arsenal
but with AMs on the wings.
but with sevilla i use 3-2-3-1.
I normally take a look at what players i have and choose a formation around them.
I like the 4-4-2 Diamond
I won the league with Bolton in the first season (FM07) only making one signing from Reading using that formation. Since then i have always loved it.
I have never had any success with the diamond formations, it lacks in the middle for me usually. But I do like to keep hold of the ball and I think that the 4-4-2 diamond is a very direct formation.
yeah it was route 2 football. I just got the ball to el hadji diouf and the other wing and ran the ball down the flanks and crossed it in to davies.
But recently i played with a defensive deeplying playmaker and a supporting att mid. and somehow i managed to do well in possession.
I’ve been using a couple of different formations with motherwell, one of which been particularly succesfull…
3-2-1-2-2 – 1 DM a anchorman, other DM support. 1 Box 2 Box MF. 2 Def Wingers. 2 Strikers, vary more what there roles are depending on who is playing.
Works well away from home, or at home in europe, got me to group stages of Euro in 1st season, beating galatasary, lazio and even ajax in the group…still finished last though lol
Other than that use a 3-1-2-2-2 at home against weaker teams, and away in europe against ajax n co I use 4-1-4-1 … gotta be flexible though.
4-1-4-1 for against a weak opponent
4-2-3-1 for against same or stronger opponent at home or weak opponent away,
4-4-2 away for against stronger or same opponent
I like this topic, if I am playing against a team who is also using the 4-4-2 formation, usually it becomes a fight between the quality of your opponent’s players versus yours, and the one who usually has a better stamina will edge in the game. That is why Newcastle has been doing well against teams that are physically weaker than us.
Galvin´s last [type] ..Construction Heavy Machinery
I tend to use the Barcelona 4-3-3 although I see it as more of a 4-3-3. The other formation I may use is the 4-2-3-1 Deep, I tend to play possesion football, no matter what club I am, as West Ham with the core players I can keep hold of the ball, only problem I tend to find is lack of goals but I see that as a reason behind not having the most lethal wide players in front of goal.
Been using 3-1-2-1-3 against teams that play with two strikers. The 2 in the middle are either CMs or Wide Midfielders depending on what is more appropriate game-by-game.
When up against teams that play with one striker I move one of my centre-backs forward to partner the DM, becoming a form of 4-2-1-3 (It looks more like 2-2-2-1-3. The first 2 being the CBs; the second 2 are the DMs; the third 2 are Wide Midfielders).
All good fun.
4-2-3-1 has been my fav choice for this year edition of the game, mainly due to a match engine highly biased towards narrow and wingless formations playing through the middle.
Peter´s last [type] ..Total Hip Replacement Surgery
I am not a fan of 4-4-2 because i like a more solid defence with a sweeper. I prefer a narrow midfield as wingers have to have strong attributed to bomb down the wings for a 4-4-2 plus you not strong fullbacks. 5-3-2 gives you a packed defence with the ability to turn it into a 3-5-2 if your Wingbacks/Fullbacks bomb forward. 4-4-2 is too rigid.