How many troll results you had this season ?

[Tactician]

My usual formation 4-5-1 V never had good results vs 4-4-2.
That formation doesn't have AMs so the DMC is not necessary.
4-4-2 is a flat formation so counters with 3 AMs can work good - or the high pressing and normal attacks from all sides.
Setting man to man (I used high press +mtm) can prevent from counters of ML-MR or my 2 MCs defend oppo 2 MCs.

4-4-2 can be used to counter 4-5-1V as well. A flat line of 4 followed by 2 ST is good to score versus a line a 4-DMC-2MC, while 4 wide flat back versus 3W is enough. You need to consider this important point: 442 usually attacks the flanks and it also defends the flanks. What 451V does? It attacks the flanks but defends the middle. Even N.D succumbs to 442 at times because while it can score versus 4-4-2, it can conceed a lot too, because it attacks the middle but defends the middle. In my opinion, 4-4-2 is among the hardest formation to beat. You go narrow, and it can exploit you wide, you go wide and it can exploit you in the middle, and when the MR and ML are high up with supporting full-backs, it is such a pain to deal with. Putting 3 MC in the middle can be a key to beat 4-4-2. Even T11 FB asked this question many years ago, does 3 in the middle always beat 4-4-2, something like this, but consider that the game engine changed a lot too and it might not be the same now or with same effect.