Yeah I don't like that these formations work so well (DL-DC-DR too). Should be a much stiffer penalty for playing with less than 2 DCs. The thing is, the engine don't work perfectly as to the transition from defense to offense. With the ball, you get all the benefits from wing-backs/DL+DR, without the ball you can play man-man like you have a 3 (or in this case 2) line defense, like you have 3/2 DCs... In real soccer, you would be killed if you played with only 3 defenders and 1-2 of them joined he attacks like wing-backs or DL/DRs. I've never heard of a team playing with only one DC and hence it shouldn't work in the game too. I am collecting some pictures and I am going to take it up at the suggestion section when I get time.
You just got to be prepared to be killed on the wings without the ball and to face a 4-5-1 team without it. Please be aware that I have not tried this myself, but do you have the players to play:
ST-ST-ST
ML-MC-MR
DL-DC-DC-DR
Long passes
Through middle
Normal approach
Low pressure
Man-man defense
Defensive arrows on ML and MR, and no arrows on the other players (I am not sure on how defensive arrows in the two wide strikers would work) Mixed passing might also be worth trying. Or maybe even short lol....
What do you think?
My ball possession teams (heavy at center) have not done great against these teams. But after trying some stuff I've given up trying to make adjustments since I still got decent enough results and I never had great success with the adjustment I made. But if/when I get another shot and must do something I would try the above...
A troll move in these situations can also always be to carbon copy the guy you are facing and let him taste his own medicine, don't know what orders/arrows that should be used though, and I recon not many have a broad enough bench to put a team with those roles on the pitch.
A good recommendation is maybe to wait until Nico and co comes online, they usually actually knows what they are talking about...![]()