Alright lads, let's dive into the 433(4) – a formation that's been a staple for me over the past couple of years, and this year is no different. Let's get into it!
Formation and Build-Up Play
We're kicking things off with the formation itself, and for the build-up play, we're keeping it on Balanced. The reason for this is simple: we want a bit of everything. We like the counter, you get that in Balanced. We like the short passing, you get that somewhat in Balanced, but I call players short and send them on runs with the bumpers so you can kind of create the short passing play if you get good with the bumpers. So, Balanced just gives you a bit of everything, good balance.
Defensive Approach
Now, for the defensive approach, we're going with 61 depth. I definitely don't recommend you go lower than 61 because you will just get stuck in your box. I think it was a 4231 I forgot to change the depth and it was on 50 as a standard and I just felt like I was stuck in the Box I thought the formation was broken check the tactics and realize I up the depth and honestly 61 versus 50 is game changing just because getting stuck in this box in the game it's not so much about defending the box is when you turn over the ball you feel like your opposition is on top of you and when you defend a bit higher you can kind of break away and build up a lot easier.
Player Roles
Let's get into the roles, lads.
- Goalkeeper: We have him on Sweeper Keeper. This is by far my favorite role for a goalkeeper. They're a bit more active, you know, they engage the player a little bit on their own. If they've got Sweeper Keeper Plus or Plus+, like T or CWA, you're in money, lads, because you're going to get those extra animations and just the overall intelligence with IQ from that Plus+.
- Right Back: On Fullback. Having a traditional fullback that's got decent dribbling in these fullback positions is key.
- Center Backs: Both on Defender. I definitely recommend your center backs have some sort of Plus or Plus+ and that you play them on the same role. So if you like Stopper, that's totally fine, but make sure both your center backs are playing Stopper, not just one on Stopper, one on Defender. Having them on Defender or just on the same one will limit how often you get played between the two center backs.
- Left Back: On Wing Back and Balanced. He's essentially going to step up into Midfield. Because we've got Wingers, we do need to create some more passing options in Midfield, so Balanced really does give us that. He steps up into Midfield, and sometimes with the triggers, we'll send him on. I recommend you have someone that's good on the ball, lad.
- Central Midfield:
- Box-to-Box: One box-to-box on Balanced. He's going to get up, get back, and do a bit of everything for us, which is nice. I don't recommend for this formation you have two box-to-boxes just because you will get caught sometimes on that transition.
- Holding Midfielder: Another Midfield that is on Holding Defend. The job is just going to be sitting there, just holding over. I really like a player with Long Ball Plus in this position.
- CAM: The best player in this team is on Shadow Striker and Attack. This card needs to be someone that is going to put all the strings you. You can use any attacking CAM, you really need them to be able to stick away the ball, so that is important because they do get a lot of chances for you.
- Striker: On Poacher and Attack. If your player has Poacher Plus, play Poacher. If he has Advanced Forward Plus or Plus+, then use that. There's not really too much of a difference between Advanced Forward and Poacher, so just have whichever one they've got the most pluses in because that will help you in terms of movement.
- Wingers:
- Right Winger: On Inside Forward and Balanced.
- Left Winger: On Inside Forward and Attack. The difference is the left winger is going to be more in that Striker region, kind of being the second Striker or always there to score goals. I recommend your forward that is on the attacking forward settings being your most clinical Winger and then your more creative Winger having them on balance.
In-Game Adjustments
If you are winning a game and you want to hold a game out a bit towards the end but you're finding they're getting a lot of space out wide, you can just flip the wingers over into Winger and then have it on Balanced. They come back a lot more into that Midfield role. You can change them over, which I did find quite useful when I was trying to hold out games. They go a bit wider, so they cover those wide areas when the fullbacks are attacking, and they're a bit more of a passing option for you.