How to beat this weird formation(5-2-2-1)

[hoddle]

this is defensive formation which I used 4-4-2 to counter with ML/MR red arrow, normal mentality with own half press, counter. I won 2-0 on away after lost 1-2 on home. No frills but effective and balance 4-4-2 is good to counter. good luck and post your result

Hello big top eleven fellows

Tomorrow, at 10:39 AM, i have a match against the 8th place and i need your advice. He aligns with a lineup that i never faced(5-2-2-1) and i expect some problems. My average quality is 45.8 and his is 40.8.

He's lineup:

-----------ST----------
----AMC-------AMC----
-----MC--------MC----
-----------------------
DL---DC---DC---DC--DR
-----------GK----------

Please give me some ideias to beat him and maintain my first place.

Thanks in advance =)

PS: My idea is using 4-3N-2(AML/AMR)-1, win the midfield with one more unit and explore his flanks. Normal mentality, down both flanks, pressing own half, normal, mixed, zonal, no counter and no offside trap.

[Luís Couto]

Thank you very much hoddle, you're the man

Unfortunately, the final result was 0-0

I used 4-3N-2(AML/AMR)-1 in the first half and i had a certain domain above my opponente. Then i change to 4-4-2 in the second half, with red arrows on ML and MR, but without practical results. The statistics were even more balanced, my team was superior only in terms of ball possession.

I saw his result historial and he lost 3 times, only against 4-4-2 classic as you mentioned. This season, i'm using most part counter formations and i'd never used 4-4-2 to counter, even used it in previous seasons as my base formation. Probably, that's the main problem, we never understand completely top eleven

Anyway, thanks a lot for your help and good tip, wish you best luck and good results