I respectfully disagree. I always play best eleven players, regardless of formation (as long as it is legal), and after four seasons I have two league titles, one champions league title, a deep cup run every year, never missed a champions league entry (and have made it passed the group stage every time I've participated), etc. etc. etc.

When I first played top eleven last summer, I tried to live and die by formation strategies....and I faired far worse (4th place league finish year one, third place year 2, missed champions knock out stage, lost early in the cups). I got fed up with the team and waited the three months for my team to reset. Now I just build a high quality team and train players, and results are far better and much much much easier. I just have to deal with random BS results like original post.