Season 124 - Are you ready?

[Tactician]

I usually play the same formation against all opponents as I do not have enough to buy or train a team of good players. I did recently check for this formation as it is very popular. It was 5-3N-2.

You can beat this with a lot of formations as long as it covers the basics to defend and to attack versus this formation. Orders play significant role these days. The game has changed. Way back I used to use defensive 3-5-2 with defensive wingers (3-2W-3MC-2) and attacking 4-3-3, but last season I used 3-2W-2MC-2W-1 (wing attacks). 451 Flat has also beaten this formation way back (Nik's 451V was beaten), and 3W-2DMC-2-2W-1 also beaten this. One key in beating this in the past was evident - it is 3MCs with cover in the other areas as appropriate according to the approach used for defence and attack. If the approach was attack middle, then needed 3 attackers in front (AMC, ST or 3ST) but if the approach was defensive and counter-attacking, wingbacks and 2ST (still with the 3MC) was needed. Other possible formations are 4-3N-2W-1 and 3-6-1 wide diamond.