Alright, every time I score a goal like this, I can't help but think about the beauty of the 4-3-3 formation. So, let me tell you why this formation is not just popular, but one of the best in FC25.
Formation and Build-Up Play
The formation we're diving into is the 4-3-3 Attack, the one with the two CMs and a CAM. For building up play, you can go with counter. Counter works great in this game, but if that's too fast for you, or you feel your players are getting too out of position, you can always switch it back to balanced. I've used both a lot, and I'm slightly leaning towards the counter option.
Defensive Approach
For the defensive approach, we're going high again. If that's too high for you or too risky, you can always switch it back to 50 with a more balanced approach.
Player Roles and Instructions
Now, let's move on to the player roles and instructions.
Wingers
The wingers are the most important players in a 4-3-3 setup. Since we don't have two strikers, the key is to set them both on inside forward and balanced. This pulls defenders out of position and creates critical space for your striker. But here's something I like to do: I take my most impactful winger and set the focus on attack, similar to what we used to do with one of the forwards on the 4-3-2-1 in FC24. This will make one of your wingers play kind of like a wide secondary striker. You lose some build-up passing option on one side of the pitch, but the trade-off is well worth it if you can pull off quick counterattacks, which again, in this broken game, is how you score most of your goals. As you can see, one of my wingers is playing on the same line as the striker, while the other winger starts a late run from the back. The stay forward winger attracts the attention of the two defenders, and that's how we create this chance.
Striker
We're going to start this striker with advanced forward and attack. Make sure the focus is on attack and not complete, because you don't want your striker to drift wide and leave the center of your attack empty. But in a tough match where I can't score a goal, I like to sub out my striker and bring in someone tall and put the instructions on target forward. Target forward is so underrated this year, even if your striker doesn't have the role plus. The fact that they're tall is going to just put them in the perfect position for the crossings, and trust me, in those matches where you just can't open up your opponent, this helps a lot.
CAM
I've played with playmaker and shadow striker. Honestly, both are fantastic options. So, my suggestion would be: if you have a shooter playing as your CAM, someone like Bellingham, go over shadow striker. If you have a passer or dribbler, someone like De Bruyne or Foden, you go with playmaker. And even if you go with a shooter playing as your CAM, they still need to have fantastic passing because this player is going to connect everything on the pitch.
Center Midfielders
We're going to have one of these players on holding and the other one on playmaker. Who are we going to have on holding? The one with the more defending? Right? No, actually, the one with the best long passing, especially if you decide to leave one of your wingers as inside forward and attack. This diagonal pass is always just going to be golden. All in all, your three midfielders are going to be under a lot of pressure when they're building up, so I suggest having players with good dribbling and fantastic passing here. Honestly, you can get away with not having the pace or defending, but if you stay locked in under the press and can't build up out of your own half, you're in trouble, and you think the formation is not working. But the fact is, you're going to need three players playing as your midfielders who have amazing passing stats and play style.
Defense
The two center backs always need to be on defender and defend. I'm not just saying it because my players have the role Plus or Plus Plus version. I bought these players because they have the Plus or Plus Plus version of the defender. The other two defending options are just not reliable in my opinion in the meta. For the fullbacks, I have both of my fullbacks on fullback and defend. Or, what you can do is having one of your fullbacks on the same side of the holding center mid on wing back and balance. The 4-3-3 attack is solid defensively, so you can get away with it, but you might invite some pressure on the so against tougher opponents. I suggest keeping this on fullback and defend, but when your opponent is easier, you can always switch back to wing back.
Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper we're going to have on whatever role Plus or Plus Plus they have.
Flexibility and Adjustments
That's it, you can see the code on your screen and I'm going to put it in the description as well. Don't forget the power of the 4-3-3 is in its flexibility. If you're facing a tough opponent, don't hesitate to adjust your midfielders' instructions, turning them into a more defensive role. There you have it, lads, the In-N-Outs of the 4-3-3 attack formation in FC25.