Good formation

[Buffs Mad]

No idea how things work in the game regarding Q comparisons but change in results is probably more about diminishing returns from Q and, perhaps, the disappearance of illegal formation penalty.

If things work based on events and a value check/comparison then 2 obvious options could be:

Difference: (eg deviation from an average/base/direct comparison) - would give more consistent results ie dribbling 5Q above a mean vs tackling 5Q below a mean is always 10Q difference; or
%age comparison: using %age of actual values - would give diminishing returns - 10Q difference at low level could be a 50% attribute deficit/advantage, diminishing markedly up the levels.

(That ofc is likely to be absolutely nothing like what actually happens - just an example)

Imo its sill more likely, on average, to get the 10->20-0 wins at lower levels than as you go higher. Although anything remains possible.

Which is ofc what many more experienced higher level managers than I have reported.

Additionally, perhaps what we are seeing is that the ilegal formation penalty had more impact than just 'possession' and now it doesn't exist anymore

But its not, some formation/player placement optimisation imo.