D!@n 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow diamond!

I find 4-1-2-1-2 narrow diamond really unbalanced. I just played a league game against a player with quality 53.3 and me 53.5.
My formation is 4-3W-1-2 and he played narrow diamond, ofc I lost the game 0-4! and I dont understand why.
What should I do? there are 4 teams in my league playing narrow diamond and would appreciate some advice.
I could play narrow diamond too but I find that formation boring.


My formation:

4-3W-1-2

My setup:

Normal mentaliy
Mixed passing and focus
own half pressure
zonal marking

No counter
No offside trap

Off course you loose big, narrow diamond attacks through the middle and you dont have a midfield, only 2 players (MC/AMC)

You should of played a 4-5-1-V

I play 4-3-2(AML/AMR)-1 against it, works too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smoggie

You should of played a 4-5-1-V

---

You need a fair superiority in midfield. I play reds on my DR/DL in 4-1-2-1-2 an that nullify usually MR/ML.

3-1-4-2 or 3-1-3N-2W-1 should work.

Wonder if classic 4-4-2 will work. I dont have players with right position to play 4-5-1V missing aml&amr.

4-1-2-1-2 is the natural counter to 4-4-2, i wouldn't go for it.

Nothing personal but what is with the 4-5-1-V everyone in this forum use 4-5-1-V
use 4-5-1-V dont you have another good formation:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by influenze

Off course you loose big, narrow diamond attacks through the middle and you dont have a midfield, only 2 players (MC/AMC)

---

Hi guys, pardon my ignorance but aren't ML and MR midfield players too?

I appreciate the advice given about how certain formations play through the middle or down the flanks. But I am wondering, if one team plays a particular way, wouldn't playing your team the opposite way also benefit you?

For example, if narrow diamond plays through the middle, why should only Awglan's team suffer? Awglan will have ML and MR players, and IF Awglan plays down the flanks, wouldn't Awglan exploit his opponent's lack of cover on the flanks?

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong. Just trying to get a better understanding.

Thanks again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shpend

nothing personal but what is with the 4-5-1-v everyone in this forum use 4-5-1-v
use 4-5-1-v dont you have another good formation:d

---

------st------
aml-------amr
---mc---mc---
-----dmc-----
-dl-dc-dc-dr-

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by violetmind

Hi guys, pardon my ignorance but aren't ML and MR midfield players too?

I appreciate the advice given about how certain formations play through the middle or down the flanks. But I am wondering, if one team plays a particular way, wouldn't playing your team the opposite way also benefit you?

For example, if narrow diamond plays through the middle, why should only Awglan's team suffer? Awglan will have ML and MR players, and IF Awglan plays down the flanks, wouldn't Awglan exploit his opponent's lack of cover on the flanks?

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong. Just trying to get a better understanding.

Thanks again.

---

I totally agree with your argument, if narrow diamond benefits through the middle play. Then my formation should take him through the flanks. That is why Im thinking that narrow diamond is unbalanced. And it was not like he had 20-80 possession it was 50-50% and had almost same amount of shots fired.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Awglan

I totally agree with your argument, if narrow diamond benefits through the middle play. Then my formation should take him through the flanks. That is why Im thinking that narrow diamond is unbalanced. And it was not like he had 20-80 possession it was 50-50% and had almost same amount of shots fired.

---

1. Don't look at overall team quality, compare the first 11.
2. Did you played through the flanks?
3. What were the after-match ratings for his DL & DR and your ML & MR?
4. How did his team scored the gools? strikers? midfielders?

My guess is he played defensive, mixed or long pass, maybe with hard tackling

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by influenze

I play 4-3-2(AML/AMR)-1 against it, works too

---

Lost yet another match against narrow diamond, and no 4–3N-2-1 and 4-5-1V didn't work. This is getting ridiculous...

4-5-1 V totally destroyed this formation a few matches ago and now you can get away with a win if you are lucky.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kukilon

4-5-1 V totally destroyed this formation a few matches ago and now you can get away with a win if you are lucky.

---

Nothing seems to work against it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by violetmind

Hi guys, pardon my ignorance but aren't ML and MR midfield players too?

I appreciate the advice given about how certain formations play through the middle or down the flanks. But I am wondering, if one team plays a particular way, wouldn't playing your team the opposite way also benefit you?

For example, if narrow diamond plays through the middle, why should only Awglan's team suffer? Awglan will have ML and MR players, and IF Awglan plays down the flanks, wouldn't Awglan exploit his opponent's lack of cover on the flanks?

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong. Just trying to get a better understanding.

Thanks again.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Morgan O'Bree

You need a fair superiority in midfield. I play reds on my DR/DL in 4-1-2-1-2 an that nullify usually MR/ML.

3-1-4-2 or 3-1-3N-2W-1 should work.

---

Read all posts :cool:

What exactly is unbalanced? The only formation that is balanced the most is the 4-1-2-2-1 asymmetric
----ST
Aml----AMC
---mc-------mr
------DMC
4 def
This formation has players in every position horizontal and vertical, but unless you possess a star studded squad you can't play it.

Most of us should play through middle or through the wings. The weaker your squad is, the more simple your formation should be.
To beat the narrow diamond, understand that the AMC should be stopped as he usually is the classic #10 player who can create and score. use 3DC and 2 aml/amr with red arrows to push back the opponents fullbacks to cut off the opponents midfield support. the rest is up to you depending on your supply of players.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fmldotcom

use 3DC and 2 aml/amr with red arrows to push back the opponents fullbacks to cut off the opponents midfield support. the rest is up to you depending on your supply of players.

---

just 3 defenders against two attackers? usually means kamikaze in this game for me. Are you sure about this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hullabaloo

just 3 defenders against two attackers? usually means kamikaze in this game for me. Are you sure about this?

---

3 DC i stronger than 2 dc + 2 fullbacks centrally. They are going through middle, you can't play 4 DC lol.

use 3-5-2 V or 4-5-1 V or 3-1-4-2 it don't make much difference but you have to bring out the best out of your team. Just have to know that the narrow diamond uses short passing through middle, they press high and most likely use offside trap with 2 fullbacks pushing up for support. Few ways to beat it is push the fullbacks back, if they push higher they are exposed on the flanks, also confusing them is perfect way to beat the offside trap. A simpler way is just to use 3DC and pack your midfield and cut them off possession.

If they are totally superior use 4-5-1V defensive, flanks, long and counter, no offside. In this case use easy tackling own half to draw them onto our side of the pitch before excuting long ball to the flanks for our wingers. Make sure use fast wingers and all around ST.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Morgan O'Bree

Read all posts :cool:

---

Hmmm..... I understood reds to be applicable during attack. Happy to be corrected on this.

IF that understanding is correct, why would you nullify your opponents' midfielders with your attacking fullbacks during, well, your attack?

With narrow diamond I've just beaten 4-5-1-V badly (6-0). So I'd say that's not a good counter to it, opposite ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by violetmind

Hmmm..... I understood reds to be applicable during attack. Happy to be corrected on this.

IF that understanding is correct, why would you nullify your opponents' midfielders with your attacking fullbacks during, well, your attack?

---

reds on DL/DR --> DML/DMR likewise.

reds on MR/ML (like 4-4-2 flat usually uses) -> AML/AMR

DML/AML and DMR/AMR plays in the same field zone, so if your defenders are better you tend to stop almost everything in there. An additional blue arrow on your dmc can make him help the remaining 2 DCs if you are facing 2 STs. or the 2 DCs can dispose of the lone st.
Additionally, DR/DL get aid from the dmc on the sides.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fmldotcom

also confusing them is perfect way to beat the offside trap.

---

Thank you for your tips fmldotcom, but could you explain what you mean by confusing them to beat the offside trap?

hi Don't take it too serious guys i played a match with my friend in the league me 4 5 1 v equal qlty i lost 3 -0 we played the same match in a friendly same 22 players and formation friendly was 1 - 1 me twice away team once i won at home 3 -1 ??????

reverse logic

I will face a ND team with a little bit better quality a few days later. I am thinking of whether 3-1-4-1-1 works or not. Tatics: normal, 2 flanks, hard tackling (to counter an old-man team with about 30-33 age so that I can make 1-2 injuries)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lemonlennon

I will face a ND team with a little bit better quality a few days later. I am thinking of whether 3-1-4-1-1 works or not. Tatics: normal, 2 flanks, hard tackling (to counter an old-man team with about 30-33 age so that I can make 1-2 injuries)

---

I tried, not so good.
I think ND is a couter to that formation...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eugen Cristea

I tried, not so good.
I think ND is a couter to that formation...

---

Thank you for your reply.
How about 4-1-3n-2? Could it stop its attack through the middle?

I'm going to try 3-5-2 V style.
Will post the results.

About 4-1-3n-2, could work in one game, but it doesn't look like a long term counter.
But if your squad, does not have the players to play Vstyle, you should go for it...

Edit: 3-5-2 V-style, worked for me.
Attachment 17052