my ball possession suddenly dropped

[totonno]

hey guys,
i'm struggling to find a reason on the forum why i lost my league match tonite just i couldn't.
So decided to subscribe and post a message.

I was playing
GK
DC - DC - DC
DML - DMR
MC - MC
AMC
ST - ST
tonite, and at minute 38 of a match i haven't changed anything (and was leading 1.0), the system just got mad and gave me suddenly 20% ball possession and a red card to my best central defender who conceded a penalty for a handball.
I wonder if formation above is legal - otherwise i can't explain the sudden drop in the ball possession. What do you guys think? Can Red Arrow / blue arrow have had any influence?
if someone can give me a clear explanation of those arrows, i would also appreciate much.
Thanks

[Zeon]

u need 3 central midfielders. After the red card it was an illegal formation -> 20% posseson

[Oz1905]

have you tried different formations?

[July Fourth]

You need 3 defenders (DML/DMR don't count they are classed as midfielders) when your defender got a red card it left you 2 at the back and it put you into an illegal formation.

[Zeon]

oh, I misread. i thought a midfielder got the red card

then its clear, just listen to July

[casper™]

Just checking: in case of a red card we need at least 3 defenders - 3 midfielders and 1 striker, to be a legal formation that's it?...

[Narf]

Not necessarily, you can play 2 midfielders if you want to.

[casper™]

Not necessarily, you can play 2 midfielders if you want to.

Isn't what the guide says, but please anyone feel free to comment about this situation when we got a red card in the game.

Theoretical Legal Formation Requirements:

• Goalkeeper (Must be player's natural position i.e. a GK) **
• Some combination of at least 3 defenders (i.e. 3 players anywhere in the back row )
• At least 1, but no more than 2, players on EACH outside flank. {the D(L/R), DM(L/R), M(L/R), AM(L/R) slots}
• at least 3 midfielders (DM*, M*, AM*) at least one of which has to be in the middle row (MC, ML or MR) *This rule isn't totally confirmed
• At least 4 players on the opponents side of the pitch.
• at least 1 Striker

[Narf]

Isn't what the guide says, but please anyone feel free to comment about this situation when we got a red card in the game.

Sorry, I though you were talking about MC/MR/ML specifically. Yes, you do need 3 *M* players, but you'll have a tough job not having them on the pitch even with a red card - you have 5 defender spots and 3 for strikers, I haven't seen a sane formation that fills both.

[shwanko07]

Isn't what the guide says, but please anyone feel free to comment about this situation when we got a red card in the game.

i seen teams playing with 1 mid and not suffered no possession penalty

illegals is
- no wingers or fullbacks at each side
- no 3 CB at back
- no striker
i think you can even play with no CM at all