I tried searching through the forum but found limited references on how to counter this formation.
DC-DC-DC-DC
DMC
MR-MC-ML
AMC
ST
At 1st I tried employing 3-1-2-2-2 to crowd out his midfield as well as to assign 1 DMC to counter his AMC. Normal mentality, attack on both flanks, short passing and counter.
LB-CB-RB
DMC
MC-MC
AML-AMR
ST-ST
he scored 1st then i equalised. he scored again and i equalized again to make it 2-2 at halftime. I then pulled my AML-AMR down and subbed my ST out with a CB to switch to a flat 4-1-4-1. he scored 2 more goals after that and I switched back to my initial formation. I managed to grab 1 more goal back to make it 4-3. he slightly edges me on quality by the way.
so it seems my 1st formation somehow helps? or would a 4-5-1V (below) style be better?
LB-CB-CB-RB
DMC
MC-MC
AML-AMR
ST