Formation report 4-2-3-1 (Retracted) / Anyone use this before?

[Cody Allan Taylor]

I ended last season with several key players down, including both top strikers, and my top player at AML. I had to come up with something different to run, and it had to be a single striker formation. I personally really like the 4-2-3-1 (using DMC-DMC, AML-AMC-AMR), but that was a poor option due the down AML.

When I tried to make my usual 4-2-3-1 work I realized that if I move my forward line back that I could make some small changes and everyone would be in position. I still took an overall skill hit, but it also allowed me to focus on training for my top AMC.

Formations:

The ratings between my team and his were very close, mine being a 18.7 and his being a 18.1. I also had made a move for a great keeper off the transfer list, so I had improved my rating some after the matchup was determined.

Team Mentality: Attacking
Focused Passing: Mixed
Pressing Style: Whole Pitch
Tackling Style: Normal
Passing Style: Long
Making Style: Zonal
Force Counter Attacks: Off
Play offside trap: On

Red forward arrows on DL, DR, and MC.

Highlights:

Stats:

I'm not sure that I will continue to purposely run this formation as I still only have two DMC eligible players. If either were to not be available for a match it would mean playing a ML, MC, or DC in that position. I am quite happy with the result, and believe I would have scored more if my top player didn't get injured at 35'.

Any thoughts? Discussion?

[Cat Harrison]

I have used this (anyone surprised: so has Jürgen Klopp). I have more DMC's than the average team, so I have played it a fair bit, and though often it's a low scoring match, I usually win.

My orders differ though. I usually go normal (better opp, defensive + short pass), mixed pass with counter on, no offside.

[Cody Allan Taylor]

I suppose I could have gone with a flat 4-5-1 or a 4-1-4-1 now that I'm thinking about it, but when I saw this option I thought it was more fun than anything. I also really wanted to train both DMC players anyway. One of my DMC is simply still quite young and has a lot of work to do, so a free/meaningless game was a good option for him. My other DMC is a new transfer that I grabbed for free or really dirt cheap recently, but the downfall with him is that he was mis-trained having all of his skill points thrown in the defense category.

Another small problem with my team is I only have two left side eligible midfields, a ML and AML. On the right side, I have four players resulting with two AMR, two MR, and a DMR!

I am curious to see what others have to say about this experiment. I may play it again in a pinch

[Cat Harrison]

Way more often than not I have two DMC's in my formations. But you are so right, they need to have the skill set changed sometimes when you get them. (Right now I am trying one unbalanced to attack to see how he does, but usually I have att/def balanced and of course physical high)

[Cody Allan Taylor]

My second leg against the same team I played a more "normal" 4-2-3-1 since my AML returned from injury. I played much different tactics and won 2-4. I suppose that means if I want to stifle someone's offense, I can just play the "retracted" 4-2-3-1.

[ciri]

You think possible play whith red arrows in DMC'S and go through middle in normal mode????

[Cody Allan Taylor]

You think possible play whith red arrows in DMC'S and go through middle in normal mode????

I wouldn't suggest that. By "normal" you mean with "AML-AMC-AMR", correct? lol.

If you are concerned about going threw the middle play a 4-4-1-1 with DMCs or even a 4-2-3-1 using three AMCs.