Best formation

[CaptainCartel]

What in your opinion is the best formation? Personally I like the same formation I ran last year, the 4-1-2-1-2

[NightmareBooster]

Re: Best formation

I think this is a question that's impossible to answer definitively. The effectiveness of a formation depends largely on preference and skill.

My preference is for the vanilla 4-4-2. I started a new CM and wanted to go with the 4-1-2-1-2. I had all of the players I needed to make it work but my play just wasn't what it usually is. I switched back to the 4-4-2 and it was back to ***-whoopin' business as usual

[CaptainCartel]

Re: Best formation

Very true with the whole your preference comment, feels like any formation with less than 4 backs is a nightmare to use though. Even a 5 back isn't as bad as a 3 lol. Well then again if you can play with just 3 backs your good or your team has great defending ability lol

[Rensational14]

Re: Best formation

4-3-3 with a CVM has the best balance, by far. The Dutch school after all. Johan Cruijff preaches it, so does Barca

[doyce7]

Re: Best formation

My favorite(if I have the right players) is 4-2-3-1 wide, I feel like it gives me so many options. I can play wide or through the middle depending on the other team, but you have to have the right personal to make it work, namely a striker who can play alone at the top.

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Best formation

Very true with the whole your preference comment, feels like any formation with less than 4 backs is a nightmare to use though. Even a 5 back isn't as bad as a 3 lol. Well then again if you can play with just 3 backs your good or your team has great defending ability lol

I disagree, although I have gone back to 4-4-2, I have played 3-5-2 pretty extensively. It is pretty flexible. Just don't look at it as 3 defenders and instead think about defending as a team. I like the idea of having 7 defenders / 7 attackers when I need it. It is just a matter of having the right players with the right skills.

[doyce7]

Re: Best formation

I disagree, although I have gone back to 4-4-2, I have played 3-5-2 pretty extensively. It is pretty flexible. Just don't look at it as 3 defenders and instead think about defending as a team. I like the idea of having 7 defenders / 7 attackers when I need it. It is just a matter of having the right players with the right skills.

Second that. Couple CMs with good stamina and 3 CBs can be better than the 4 man back line. Just gotta have the right people. Players make the formation as much as anything. You can be successfull with pretty much any formation so long as you have the right players and know how to use it.

[yanks26ngoin]

Re: Best formation

My favorite(if I have the right players) is 4-2-3-1 wide, I feel like it gives me so many options. I can play wide or through the middle depending on the other team, but you have to have the right personal to make it work, namely a striker who can play alone at the top.

Same. I use 4231 in my Spurs career. Soldado was fantastic for me in year 1, and so far has 10 goals in 5 league matches in year 2. Wish he was as good for Spurs in real life...

[tHurley2010]

Re: Best formation

With Man City I'm rolling with a 4-1-3-2. Touré in the middle is wonderful; Javi Garcia/Fernandinho at CDM in case the CPU wants to counter, and Navas and Silva on the wings with Agüero and Negredo/Dzeko/Jovetic at the striker positions.

Great formation, real fun.

[milrod22]

Re: Best formation

I am a huge fan of the 3-5-2. In my CM, I am a big youth squad/regen guy. I try to get rid of all of my "real face" players as quickly as possible. What I have found in the youth academy this year is that it is very hard to find big CB's but very easy to find CDM's that are actually mis-positioned CB's (and usually taller than my CB's). Therefore, I have a pacier back 3 with good foot skills (since they are actually CDMs) and at least one large CDM in one of the CDM positions in the 3-5-2. Also, the ease at which it is to find LB and RB that are attacking minded means that the two wings in my 3-5-2 are usually fast LB/RB from the youth academy.

With that set-up, this formation is very effective and a joy to play with.

[ROL Jamas]

Re: Best formation

I use the 4-3-3 Attack formation. Right and Left wings, a pure striker, and a CAM to direct traffic. A lot of my offense is derived from pushing the ball up the middle of the field with my attacking mid, and finding my speedy wingers on the runs down the flanks, opening up space behind the defense.

I ran a 4-1-2-1-2 on previous versions of Fifa, but for some reason, having 2 pure strikers now feels cluttered, and the defense has an easier time concentrating on the middle of the field. An evolution of play, I suppose.

[NightmareBooster]

Re: Best formation

I used to love the 4-3-1-2. My friend and I used to play '07 against each other all the time and victory for me was almost always guaranteed when is used that formation. For whatever reason now the 4-4-2 feels so much better to me.

[mfp]

Re: Best formation

Totally depends on the players, the opposition, and the situation, but my baseline formation tends to be a 4-2-3-1. I've also had a lot of joy with a 4-5-1 that focuses on wing play and attacking runs from CMs.

If I'm chasing a goal, up against weaker opposition, or simply want more attacking firepower, I've had success with both 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2.

When I'm up against strong opposition, trying to protect a lead, or just wanted a more conservative strategy, I've had success with various 4-5-1 formations, with different variations of CDM-CM-CAM combinations.

My biggest disappointment is with the 4-4-1-1 formation because there seems to be a bug where the CF and ST bunch up together.

[Lonestar210]

Re: Best formation

With Man City I'm rolling with a 4-1-3-2. Touré in the middle is wonderful; Javi Garcia/Fernandinho at CDM in case the CPU wants to counter, and Navas and Silva on the wings with Agüero and Negredo/Dzeko/Jovetic at the striker positions.

Great formation, real fun.

City is my favorite team; I've yet to start a CM with them but may do so soon and I will probably use that exact formation based on their personnel.

As far as the original question, the formation I use the most is the 4-3-3 (False 9). The False 9 refers to the lone striker who instead of waiting for the ball to be passed to him, instead drops deep and drifts around the pitch in search of the ball. You need a centre forward who can pass and has good attack positioning. I also use the trendy 4-2-3-1 which works just fine.

[orion523]

Re: Best formation

Totally depends on the players, the opposition, and the situation, but my baseline formation tends to be a 4-2-3-1. I've also had a lot of joy with a 4-5-1 that focuses on wing play and attacking runs from CMs.

If I'm chasing a goal, up against weaker opposition, or simply want more attacking firepower, I've had success with both 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2.

When I'm up against strong opposition, trying to protect a lead, or just wanted a more conservative strategy, I've had success with various 4-5-1 formations, with different variations of CDM-CM-CAM combinations.

My biggest disappointment is with the 4-4-1-1 formation because there seems to be a bug where the CF and ST bunch up together.

Agree, depending on the club I start out with I usually begin a CM with the same formation that the club uses in real life because more often than not its the best fit for the team. As time goes on and I begin adding pieces, I tend to go for more of a 4-3-3 with one CDM as the club's anchor, and two box to box types in front finishing the midfield trident. Up front I like three free flowing attackers who can interchange with one another on the fly. With fullbacks I want players with good pace and good marking skills and at CB I like big strong tough guys, heading ability is a plus.