How to play 3-1-4-2.

[Kicked Off]

Good work Skidz, my question to you is, what formation would you play if someone plays the same way, i.e 3-1-4-2. Do you continue to play the same formation and keep everything the same or do play the same way only changing zonal for man on man, or do you change to a completely different formation that counters 3-1-4-2. Would be interested to know what you would do if your average is higher or lower than your opponents playing the same formation.

[soccerLover]

Hi Kicked off, I'm new in this game. I also follow Skidz's formation-order and i think here is 2 option. Firstly you can go with 4-4-2 formation and secondly if your opponent is lower quality you can start with 3-1-4-2 and then change to 3-4-3. But not sure... Skidz can reply best.

[Kickman]

Im new to this.....can some one tell me how to post or ask stuff here?? Adivse needed.

[Josip Crncic]

Very nice presentation Skidz, I'll try it starting with my next season!

[Peter Renn]

This is how to get the best out off playing 3-1-4-2 formation!.

I have played this formation for 8 seasons now to great success so feel I have gained enough knowlege on what works best!, Firstly let me say this there are threads and guide on this forum that other managers have compiled that say what formation plays better against other formations, well for me I am going to ignore all of them lol!, I am not trying to be disrepectfull in any way I am only going on my personal expierence and so you use which ever formation tactics you feel right for yourself...THIS IS AFTER ALL ONLY A GUIDE ASWELL, but !!! ANY FORMATION CAN BEAT ANY OTHER FORMATION FACT!!!, that is the only reason I pay no attention to other formation v formation guides.

1 If you decide to play this then biuld your team gradually or at any pace that suits you!
2 Having cover for EVERY position is essential.
3 Set your season target early! ie, are you trying to win just the league or cup, or both or even a treble(very hard indeed).
4 To win just the league!, always have two identicle teams, this means using all your squad players.
4a, Play your best team in the league only!!! A MUST.
4b, play your remaining players in the cup and champions league!
4c, Your main aim as said before is the league BUT!, you should at least try to get to the leaugue stages of the champions league so if this means playing your first team or mixing them into your second team thats fine!, all you are trying to do is earn some extra cash by getting some more games in!
4d Dont try to force winning everything in the first season!, you will have to build your squad over time unless you have unlimited funds or a token farmer!.
4e, Only train your players once a day! and only after the days game!,.
4f, Manually assign skill points to the neccessary positions!,
4g, Try to keep morale and condition to at least 90% for every match!.

Ok players required, G,DL,DC,DR,DMC,ML,MC,MC,MR,ST,ST..TIMES 2!!, try to buy players with multiple positions like this?
DL/DC. DL/DMC, DR/DC, DR,DMC, DMC/MC, MC/MR, MC/ML, these are worth there weight in gold as when suspensions and injuries occur they really are useful to slot in.

Orders..Attachment 22291

Arrows Attachment 22292

You are now set up but you must remember that many variables can contrubute to any outcome in a game! so watching live games can really help if you need to tweak thing due to your opponent changing things or sending offs/bookings stamina, etc!

How to change thing during live matches!

Your playing a tight game and are 1 up but starting to get over run! what should I do
Take off a MC or ST AND REPLACE WITH A DC so you are now playing either 4-1-4-1 or 4-1-3-2!.

Your losing!!! O KNOW what can I do
Time for some drastic measures!!! take off your DMC! and replace with another ST!, switch team metality to HARD ATTACKING and go for broke you have nothing to loose!. your formation now is 3-4-3.

When you come across formations that flood the attacking half you can always either switch to a 4-3-3 to counter there threat with a heavy threat of your own or start the game a little more cautious and start with 4-1-3-2! it is almost identicle but has the same devestation as a 3-1-4-2 with more defencive cover!.

I hope by now you can see why 3-1-4-2 is such a versitile formation! it has so many possibilties of switching to others if needed that in my opinion it out does any other!, you can even buy a player that is multi skilled with an AMC with him preferably a MC or ST so you then give yourself the option of playing 3-1-4-1-1 OR 4-1-3-1-1!, the choice is yours?.

Ok you have the tactics, players and ideas, now for trying to go and win a little more!.
To do this you need very good players in every position so to do this try to buy a scout or two every season but in a different position everytime!
Scout defenders ARIEL OR DEFENCIVE WALL
.........ML. DRIBBLERS, MC, PLAYMAKERS, FREEKICK SPECIALISTS,PENALY KICK!, MR, DRIBBLERS.
.........ST, ONE ON ONE/ PENALTY KICK.

When you complete a full season then gradually sell your weaker players from your 2nd squad and drop the weaker first team players into the your second squad when you have bought a better first team replacement!, gradually over time you will have built a very very good full squad capable of competing in all competitions!, DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN OVER NIGHT!! unless you are a heavy token buyer or farmer you will need a few seasons to reach this highy quality needed to substain a double or treble winning team!, your main aim is to try to be the best or near the best quality team in your league at the start of the season to give yourself any chance!.
For managers that do not get videos for free tokens and rely on the 35T system then you must buy wisely!, do not attempt to buy on the first few days as you will never get any decent players!, buy players at the end of the season before and go for quality players ending with 8 or 3 DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET PLAYERS ENDING IN 4 OR 9 or have a special ability on the normal aution as you will find yourself in a token war and probably run out off tokens and end with nothing!!!, look for HOT PROSPECTS and Yourth players around the age of 20-25 so you get value for them!!!, if you need older players as your short thats fine as needs must sometimes!

So remember.. be patient, keep to your formation, never give up if you lose a couple of games as you may be against a better team than yours!, build your team if and when you can!, think of the bigger picture not right now!, you will be rewarded for your efforts if you stick to the guidelines I have set", so good luck everyone.

Its been brought to my attention that I missed off offsides and force counter attacks oops!!!.
Any way I always use play offsides in EVERY MATCH!, force counter attacks I always use against 4-4-2, or when playing a team with better quality than me!, otherwise I leave it off!, if you find you are losing and do change to a more attacking formation during the game say at HT then put it on.

I play similar but my midfield is 3 instead 4,ml,mc,mr,and then 1amc and 2 striker,so its actually 4 midfielder s well, but i just replace ur second mc with amc, its good too, and i use pressing all pitch, as i dont see the sense of attacking mentality with own half pressing, cause it means my opponent can pass the ball in its own half one hour and i dont attack, as its not my half. So u waste attacking mentality if u dont even go after the ball

[Skidz]

I play similar but my midfield is 3 instead 4,ml,mc,mr,and then 1amc and 2 striker,so its actually 4 midfielder s well, but i just replace ur second mc with amc, its good too, and i use pressing all pitch, as i dont see the sense of attacking mentality with own half pressing, cause it means my opponent can pass the ball in its own half one hour and i dont attack, as its not my half. So u waste attacking mentality if u dont even go after the ball

The sense in pressing own half bud is it saves energy of your players! whole pitch pressing is making your players run all over the place thus thier condition goes down quicker, having an AMC is fine I sometimes use one when I can pick up a multi skilled midfield player that has it but I dont reall need it as adding the 3rd striker I find more effective. (But if it works for you then thats all that matters bro) we all have so many different factor in our teams that its finding the right combination.

[Skidz]

Im new to this.....can some one tell me how to post or ask stuff here?? Adivse needed.

Not sure what you mean bro? you asked this question ok!.

[Peter Renn]

I understand but it means the opposite can happen, defensive mentality and short passing so ur oponent gets a least a draw, cause if he passes the ball in his own half and u dont attack there he can play the clock down.. So u safe energy but.... But yes if works haha that's important, i play own half too if not enough rest time, somehow my results then suck

[Skidz]

Good work Skidz, my question to you is, what formation would you play if someone plays the same way, i.e 3-1-4-2. Do you continue to play the same formation and keep everything the same or do play the same way only changing zonal for man on man, or do you change to a completely different formation that counters 3-1-4-2. Would be interested to know what you would do if your average is higher or lower than your opponents playing the same formation.

Its absoluelty fine to stay the same and play a mirror formation match!, you will have to watch the game stats very closely to see who is winning the key areas ( Tackling, shots, possession) and alter to suit!, you could try 4-3w-3 and see if it pegs him back, or be more conservative a nd play a back 4 so 4-1-3w-3 would be a good start base!, if you do come across this which I have only on a handfull of occassions then set attacking to normal, no forced counter attacks at the start then change later on say HT!, changing to MOM marking is worth a try! I have never used it in that situation I like zonal to much as MOM I think also drains players energy following his opponent but that just me thinking in my head I dont know for sure if it has any effect.

[Skidz]

Good work Skidz, my question to you is, what formation would you play if someone plays the same way, i.e 3-1-4-2. Do you continue to play the same formation and keep everything the same or do play the same way only changing zonal for man on man, or do you change to a completely different formation that counters 3-1-4-2. Would be interested to know what you would do if your average is higher or lower than your opponents playing the same formation.

If my avarage was lower I would play force counter attacks and attacking from the start!, if lower normal or attacking but no force counter at the start! it is easier to add it to effect the game than start with it and things not so good as you would then have no option!, then its time to gamble and go hard tackling and throw the kitchen sink at my opponent.
Not many players play this formation which I find so surprising!, it can change into so many other formations with just 1 or 2 players being moved around and if you have multi skilled players it is a real threat to any other formation!, I find it very effective against diamond formations.