Alright, YouTube, we're back at it this Monday morning, and today's video is all about a brand new set of updated 41212 narrow custom tactics for you, yes! The formation you're looking at right on your screen right now is the one we're diving into. But first, smash that like button for me, drop a comment down below, and if you can, hit that subscribe button – it would mean the world to me!
Formation and Buildup Play
The 41212 narrow is an absolute amazing formation this year. I gotta admit, yes, there are a lot of meta formations out there like the 442, the 5212, and the 433 variations, but this 41212 narrow is right up there with any of them. I'm telling you, it's an amazing formation! And the code will be in the last 10-15 seconds of the video and in the pinned comment down below as well.
So, let's get into the custom tactics. First up, the Tactical Preset, yes, you are definitely going to want to use that. The 41212 narrow, of course, is the one with the two central midfielders instead of a left and right midfielder. We've got one CDM, a left central midfielder, a right central midfielder, and then a CAM. Very, very, very nice. I'm telling you, a very nice formation.
Now, on the Buildup Style, you've got two options, okay? Option number one is the one I use, and that is balanced. I absolutely love balanced. If you read what it says, "Players will vary between forward runs and coming short. The team's transition to their in-possession shape will be steady rather than sudden," which is very, very, very good. That is what we want when we're using the 41212 narrow.
But then, the other thing that is good that you can use on the Buildup Style is counter, yes, counter is very, very, very good. This approach encourages players to get in behind the opposition's defense as the team transitions quickly from defense to attack. That is definitely good. So, maybe if you're struggling defensively when you are using the 41212 narrow, maybe give that counter a go and let me know in the comment section down below which one you do prefer. But for me, it is of course balanced on the Buildup Style.
Defensive Setup
Now, the Defensive Line Height, again, like the Buildup Style, there are two options, okay? Option number one is the option that I am using, and that is, yes, 70 on the line height. 71 as well is very good. Now, I absolutely love being very aggressive, trying to win the ball back nice and high up the pitch and pressing really hard. I absolutely love that. That is definitely the best thing in my opinion you can use, especially when we are using a 41212 narrow set of custom tactics. I just think that is the best, like it really, really, really is.
But, and there is a but, I will totally understand if you struggle defensively, that defensive line height is just too much. Like, I totally, totally get it. I really, really, really do. I get it, it makes absolute sense to me, like it really, really, really does. So, because of that, I would lower it down to 55, yes. So, if you struggle defensively, which may well be quite a few of you that are watching this video, I would lower the Defensive Line Height, or the Defensive Depth, whatever you want to call it, down to 55. But for me, yes, me, I am using 70.
Player Roles and Instructions
Now, we are going to get into the player roles.
- Strikers: On the right side, I would use Advanced Forward and Attack. On the left-sided striker, you then have two options. You can either use False Nine or Advanced Forward and Attack on both strikers. Now, the way I would look at that is, if you are struggling to create opportunities when you are using the 41212 narrow, I would use both strikers on Advanced Forward and Attack. If you read what it says, "A versatile attacker who usually stays close to the opposition's defensive line but opens themselves up for passes in the buildup and makes runs," blah, blah, blah, which is very, very, very nice. I want both of my strikers to do that. But if you're not struggling to create opportunities, give a go with having one of the strikers on False Nine. I really like when I'm using two strikers, whether it be a 442 or a 41212 narrow, having one of the strikers on False Nine and the other one on Advanced Forward. But I'll show you both of them as Advanced Forward and Attack to start things off.
- CAM: Again, you will have two options with this, okay? Option number one is the option that I'm currently using, and that is Shadow Striker on the CAM. Now, if you read what it says, "The attack-minded midfielder who plays in the hole behind the strikers," which is what we want. Their well-timed runs into the box will result in plenty of goal-scoring opportunities, and that is what we want from that middle CAM. We want our CAM to get a lot of goals and a lot of assists and to create a lot of goal-scoring opportunities for us, so that is what I am using and is what I strongly recommend for you to use in the 41212 narrow. But, but, if you don't like the Shadow Striker, maybe give the Playmaker and Balanced a go. So, the Playmaker: "This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attackers, likely to be out of position if the opposition counters," and that's the main reason why I don't use it. I'm not really liking the "likely to be out of position if the opposition counters," and the Shadow Striker is really, really, really nice. I absolutely love it.
- Right Central Midfielder: Is then going to be on Box to Box and Balanced, yes. So, the right side of the central midfielder is a more traditional midfielder, like a number six. "This player operates between the two boxes, operating as neither the last line of defense nor the final part of the attack, but involved in everything in between," and that is perfect. That is what I want. I want my right central midfielder to get forward, help out in the attacking third of the game, but also help out in the defensive structure as well, so that is why the Box to Box on the right central midfielder is perfect.
- Left Central Midfielder: Though, you are going to want to have that on Playmaker and Attack on the left side of the central midfielder, yes. So, have one of your more attack-minded players in the midfield too as this left central midfielder. "This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attacks." I like that, especially because my CAM is on a Shadow Striker. I need one of my midfielders to be in that Playmaker role.
- CDM: Then is just going to be Holding and Defend on that CDM. Deep Line Playmaker though is definitely very, very, very good. I like that, but I think Holding does just suit the CDM role of the 41212 narrow just that ever so slightly better.
- Right Back: Is then going to be on Fullback and Defend, yes. So, the right back will be a very defensive-minded fullback. That right back will not get forward at all unless I manually trigger for that right back to get forward.
- Center Backs: Both center backs are just on Defender and Defend, nice and easy. I like that. I do think Balanced is definitely very good, but I do just prefer Defender and Defend.
- Left Back: This is the key thing: my left back is then on Attacking Wing Back, yes, so Attacking Wing Back, but just on Balanced. So, the left back will have a lot of license to get forward down that left-hand side.
- Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper, though, it doesn't really matter. Have it on Goalkeeper and Balanced. It really doesn't matter. Whatever your goalkeeper has as the plus-plus, whether it's Sweeper Keeper or Goalkeeper, use that one.
And that's how, without the ball of course, we have to defend in the 41212 narrow. But then, with the ball, that right there is how the 41212 narrow looks for me. Very lopsided towards the left-hand side, but I like that. I want my left back bombing on, and then my right back tucking into defenders, a back three, very similar to a Unai Emery's team at Aston Villa, really.
So, that right there, YouTube, and I'll now show you the code on your screen. Right there is the code. That right there is going to be the end of the video for you. If you did enjoy this video, you know what to do: drop it a like for me, drop a comment down below, and if you can hit that subscribe button to my channel, that would mean the world to me. Thank you for watching. Remember, spread the love and positivity. PMA, positive man attitude. Peace out. War!