Do really counter formations work?

yes, but I think only few, in my opinion:

3N-1-4-2 is NOT beaten by 4-5-1 V-Style

3N-1-4-2 is beaten by 4-2-2-2 Hexagon or 4-4-2 Classic
4-4-2 Classic is beaten by 4-3N-2W-1 (red arrows for middle MC, AML, AMR, ST) or 4-5-1 Flat (red arrows on ML, middle MC, MR, ST)
4-5-1 V-Style is beaten by 4-3N-3 (and maybe by 3N-1-4-2)
4-1-4-1 is beaten by 4-1-2-1-2 ND
4-3W-1-2 and 4-3W-2N-1 is beaten by 4-1-4-1
4-1-3N-2 is beaten by 4-3N-2W-1 and 4-5-1 V-Style
4-1-3W-2 is beaten by 4-2-2-2 Hexagon or 4-4-2 Classic

my post in thread 'Counter Formation'
http://forum.topeleven.com/formation...tml#post200635