Creating the perfect 4-2-3-1?

[Vigilante]

Hello everyone I have been a member of FM base for a fair time just never posted in the forums at all, first id like to say thanks this is a great site and easily the best for anything football manager related in my opinion.

Anyway as a little background on myself im a long time gamer of CM/FM and also over the last 2 years FML.

For the best part of this year really the 4-2-3-1 tactic layout is something I have been trying to master both on FM10 and FML, mainly because its not widely used and it undoublty fits my philosphy of controlling, passing, roaming , free flowing football with the amcs breaking around the striker and either feeding him through balls or showing some flair and dribbling around everyone and scoring.

Anyway iv yet to hit the sweet spot for this formation,, in the past iv looked at other versions of it like goal storm I believe is one, but it generally results in too many long shots and not feeding the lone striker and also the leaving of too much space at the back with balls over the top catching my teams out on either fm or fml.

So yeah im wondering if any tactical genious's (and I know theres alot here) want to maybe come together and work on this formation.

by 4-2-3-1 im referring to:

-------------GK--------------
DR----DC------DC-----DL
--------MC------MC-------
---AMC--AMC--AMC--
------------STR------------

at the moment im set up with a slighly altered version of goal storm I think it is (classic tac), but for player roles im guessing id like something really creative but yet solid and something that would definatly play possesion football not look to hit teams on the counter.

Sweeper keeper
Full Back
Ball Playing Def
Ball Playing Def
Full Back
Deep Lying Playmaker/Support
Deep Lying Playmaker/Defensive
Inside Forward?
Trequartista?
Inside Forward?
Poacher/Complete Forward?

Any ideas.

 

[Calum]

in real life Real Madrid play the 4-2-3-1

Casilas (sp)​

Ramos Carvalho Pepe Arbeloa

Alonso Kadeera (sp)

Ronaldo Kaka Di Maria

Higuain

maybe play that way?

 

[danichese]

i play a wide 4-2-3-1, wingers as inside forwards, striker as a poacher or adv forward, and ball winning midfielders, then have an amc set as adv playmaker. always works wonders and gets me results in what ever league i play in.

 

[Handsome Olmo]

The dutchman says

Against a 4-2-3-1 formation with a 4-2-3-1. Good question. I remember that one of the greatest managers of all time (that would be me) has encountered the same problem . For real. My experience is that there are various ways to counter this tactic. First of all. I think the problem isn’t when your team has possession of the ball but without it. To make a long story short. The problem against the 4-2-3-1 is that the opponents amc will pendel between the midfield and striker area. So who’s picking him up. Your central defender or your midfielder? Oke, without going to much into details I have worked out several methods.
1) Play a zonal tight marking game with a push up defensive line. This way one of your central defenders will pick up the amc. This will not work with slow defenders (read: Naldo). Big disadvantage is that opponents with great speed and off the ball will make escapes. So play off side with fast defenders with high positioning, concentration and anticipation. Oh and it’s a good option to let your wide midfielders mark the backs (by selecting the direct opponent in the marking option menu). Also play at least with one midfielder with high positioning, anticipation etc (16+). And more important let him play as a deep lying midfielder (playmaker). No forward running and moving the slider of mentality to defensive. This way he will be standing closer to the amc when, for example, you lose the ball on the opponents half. Worked for me. But against, for example, Real Madrid (away) you will have to deal with kaka and c. ronaldo in their prime time. In that case I think this tactic is way too risky. So let’s go to 2.
2) Play a man tight marking game. Set defensive line between normal and push up. Let one of the central defenders mark the opponents striker by selecting him. Let the other one mark zonal ( also tight) and give him good closing down (whole pitch). Then let you midfielder mark the opponents amc by selecting him. His mentality slider on defensive and forward running off. This way you will have your midfielder covering the opponents amc for most of the time and your zonal marking defender will interfere now and then. Now it’s necessarily to let your amc mark the midfielder who now has no direct opponent (remember your cm is now marking the amc). A disadvantage is that your amc now has a big defensive roll. Another way is to let your central midfielders mark zonal with the pressure slider on own half and mentality between defensive and normal. This way on of your midfielders will pick up the amc. Still important that your amc falls back a bit to press and intercept, so set the pressure slider on own half. I also think it’s better to put the mentality slider between attacking and normal and the forwards run option to sometimes. This way your amc won’t be too much of a hinder for your wide amc when your team has the ball. Last but not least. Put your backs on the opponents wide midfielders and your wide midfielders on his backs. Your striker will press on the opponents half. Now all players except the opponents central defenders will not be marked (they will fear your rape-marking-technique). This is a good thing because you want their worst technical player to be on the ball the most. In this way you force you opponent to play long balls . Better have some big defenders out there to intercept (read: Naldo).
Well enough has been said. It’s a nice story. Comments?

 

[The Bath Manager]

no trequarista, no they don't work unless world class (Messi, not Ucechi)
Use advanced playmaker and he should steal the show

 

[*Jones*]

in real life Real Madrid play the 4-2-3-1

Casilas (sp)​

Ramos Carvalho Pepe Arbeloa

Alonso Kadeera (sp)

Ronaldo Kaka Di Maria

Higuain

maybe play that way?

That on the game would be classed as a 4-2-3-1 deep, whereas this guy wants to play the normal 4-2-3-1....

 

[Eds]

Real Madrid play more of a 4 - 1 - 2 - everyone float. *Jones* to confirm.

 

[Handsome Olmo]

The dutchman says

Excuse me. I was referring to the wrong thread. But this is interesting. Hey Vigilante, you said
but it generally results in too many long shots and not feeding the lone striker and also the leaving of too much space at the back with balls over the top catching my teams out on either fm or fml.
What are your team settings when you tried this out? Short passing? Fast/slow tempo?