Alright, let's dive into this new tactic! Today, we're breaking away from the usual and exploring a two-striker formation. This is a collaborative effort, and we've put in a lot of work to get it just right. I've tweaked the base tactic, and we've gone back and forth with different ideas to get to this finished product. I'm going to give you a few different variations on the fullback instructions, so stick around until the end to get the full picture. Trust me, staying all the way through will give you the best chance to get the most out of this tactic. Let's get into it!
Goalkeeper and Defense
Starting with the goalkeeper, we're going with Sweeper Keeper. I know I've got Alisson in goal, so it's a bit of a no-brainer, but I really do think Sweeper Keeper is the best instruction you can have right now. It's great for dealing with through balls and especially with those low-driven crosses coming in.
For the center backs, we're keeping it simple with Defender on both.
Now, here's where things get interesting: the left back and right back instructions. I'll come back to those at the end, as they have a few variations.
Midfield Maestro
The key part of this formation is the CDM on Center Half. You might have seen this before in one of my previous 4-3-3 variations. We've tried a lot of things, but this is what works best. The CDM drops between the two center backs when you have the ball. It's not a back five, it's not a back three, because when you lose the ball, the center defensive midfielder charges down the middle of the pitch. This stops counterattacks and gives you a defensive mid to switch to. If you have the CDM on holding or deep line playmaker, there's a chance he could be a bit too advanced and out of position. Center Half is absolutely key, especially when we look at the shape in a moment.
Just in front of the CDM, we have a Deep Line Playmaker on the center mid. This guy is your consistent and reliable player in the middle of the pitch. He keeps the ball, passes the ball, and is a safe option to switch to, especially on a counterattack.
Attacking Prowess
The real magic happens with the front four. We're using Inside Forward on both the left and right mids. They're going to cut diagonally from wide inwards and really influence the attacking play.
Up top, we have Advance Forward on both strikers. One of them will be more central, and the other will be more complete, working across the lines from left to right.
Fullback Variations
Now, let's talk about the fullbacks. This is where you can really tailor the tactic to your play style. We've got three main options:
- Fullback: This is the most defensive option. They'll stay back and help with counterattacks, making things nice and safe.
- Wing Back: This is the most aggressive option. They'll push up the pitch and provide width, creating space and influencing the attack.
- False Back: This is a hybrid option. They'll tuck inside and help keep possession in the middle of the pitch.
Let's take a look at some graphics to help you decide which option is best for you.
Wing Back
Wing backs are nice and wide, really spreading the play. If you need to switch the play, they're a great option. They do leave you a bit more open at the back, but the benefit is having that option to go wide and create space when things get congested in the middle. They'll join and influence the attack further up the pitch, especially if you need to sustain pressure. Be careful with how you lose the ball, as you can leave yourself vulnerable to counterattacks.
Fullback
Fullbacks are much narrower and offer protection and help with counterattacks. They're great for short passes and suffocating the opposition. They're still advanced and will influence the play.
False Back
False backs are still advanced and will influence the play. They're still going to influence the play, but look how narrow they are. They're great for short passes and suffocating the opposition. They're still advanced and will influence the play.
Stay Back While Attacking
If you're used to the "Stay Back While Attacking" instruction, you can certainly do that with this formation.
Remember, you can experiment by having one fullback on one instruction and the other on a different one. Find what suits you!
Shape and Gameplay
This is a great example of the shape you've got with the center midfielder. The front four is where the magic happens. The center mid is not too aggressive, just in that middle part of the pitch. Especially when you've got the ball in their half, they're just going to sit kind of like 10 yards outside of the box, a really safe option to knock this ball about, keep possession, and also then counter-press if you do lose it.
This 4-1-3-2 is a different formation. Going forward is absolutely superb, and I promise you're going to create lots of chances if you practice with it and find the right moments against the right formations. But it's at the back, and especially on counterattacks, you have to find your way that suits your play style.