Originally Posted by
Master Tactician
You can reverse the question. With 2 STs why didn't you score any goals against his 3 DCs?
Let's start with 3-5-2. Main advantage? Ball possession, versatile at attack, kinda strong defense when facing 2ST. Any disadvantages? It's defense can handle properly only 2STs. Anything else is a problem. Therefore, you should try to put some pressure there by adding a 3rd ST or by playing with 1 ST and several AMs (wingers probably). That way you have the extra man on the offense and can capitalize on that. He can't handle well with too much pressure at attack, assuring that you have enough possession to put the ball forward. So, he'll have to play with DMC or (plus) put fullbacks.
I really don't know why did you loose since i know nothing about your players or his, nor the statistics from the match. But I might suggsest 5 reasons:
1) It's Top Eleven (therefore no personal instructions can be given)
2) He had possession and therefore shoots on taret (I'm guessing that)
3) He probably has some strong MC (I'm guessing that as well)
4) He was attacking through the middle where you were exposed, while you had strong flanks and weak centre (he saw you had 2 dmc so he focused through the middle)
5) You used counter attack (I'm also guessing that), therefore you gave up ball possession.
You lost 0-2 so you wanna go offensive. Any good attacking formations that put pressure on 3 defenders? 3-4-3.
All these things said, that's how I came to suggest 3-4-3. You don't wanna risk all at once? Fight fire with fire, go for ball possession as well, 3-5-1-1, or 3-1-4-1. But as long as you have more quality and better players put pressure on him and you'll be awarded. That's how I see it.
Cheers!