Alright lads, let's dive into the best possession formation in FC25: the 4-2-3-1 flat. This is how I set it up, and trust me, it's a game-changer.
Build-Up and Defensive Approach
For the build-up play, we're keeping it balanced. I'm not a fan of Counter or Short Pass for the most part. I'm sure there are formations where those work, but for this, balanced is the way to go.
Defensively, I'm running a high line with 61 depth. I know, I know, some of you might be thinking, "95 depth is the way!" I like 95, but it can expose you to the counter, especially against those park-the-bus merchants. If you can't break them down easily, they'll hit you hard on the counter. If you're losing later on, whacking it up to 95 isn't a problem, it'll still play really well.
Player Roles and Instructions
Let's break down the player roles, position by position:
- Goalkeeper: Sweeper Plus+. Honestly, just use whatever they've got in Plus or Plus+ because you'll get better animations. I prefer Sweeper Plus+ because they dominate the box a bit better. If they have Goalkeeper Plus+, like Howard, they perform really well in terms of animations, so it's worth having.
- Right Back: Fullback and Balanced. I've tried Defend, but I don't mind him stepping up a touch now and again. For the most part, he's just going to stay back, but having him drop into that midfield role when we have the ball is nice. He's there to pass to, and you sometimes need that out ball, especially under pressure.
- Center Backs: Both on Defender Plus. That's it. If you want to use something like a Stopper on this, then you need both center backs to be Stoppers. Otherwise, you'll create a dog leg where one steps out and the other stays back, leaving a gap. If they're both on Defender, like I have them, they both stay back. You want them doing the same role, lads, because otherwise, it's just going to be absolute chaos in your defense.
- Left Back: Wing Back and Balanced. You want this player to be good going forward and have good track-back speed because they're going to be out of position sometimes. If you're really struggling defensively, and the reason you're looking at a 4-2-3-1 is because you want that defensive solidity, change this to Fullback. If you're struggling, because if you hand over the ball too easily in this formation, he doesn't step out too far, he kind of just goes into midfield. But if you give it away cheaply with a Center back, he is going to be out of position. So while you're trying to get used to the formation, it might be worth putting this into a fullback for the time being.
- CDMs: Two different roles here:
- Holding CDM: This is your out-and-out CDM, holding down the midfield. Think Matui. You can use anyone you want here: your Tchouaménis, your Yaya Tourés, your big, physical DMs. They're really good in this position. I also like some passing playstyles in this position because Matui's ping pass really does help you get out of a jam sometimes. He'll kind of dominate this area and stay fixed in the CDM position. It's good to have this holding CDM on the same side as your wing back because when he steps up, he's always guaranteed to be there, so you get the passes to each other. But if he pushes on further, which will happen sometimes, you've got this area sort of held down to a degree.
- Deep-Lying Playmaker: This is Roman. The reason why we have Roman is because we want her to kind of dominate the middle of the pitch, so when we're moving up the pitch, she's going with the attack as well. And because she got that long ball pass to chip through balls with it and mental. I recommend for this position, lads, they still can defend, you still need them to be able to defend, it is a defensive Midfield at the end of the day, but you want them to have good passing, good on the ball ability, someone like a Guaro, someone like a Frankie Dong, just a couple of budget options there, you know, your ball playing cdms, you want them to be in this position and I think for the money you can't get anyone better than Patrick, she's so good in this position just because of her creative ability and the shooting and all the play style she comes with, she's perfect for this role.
- Center CAM: Playmaker and Balanced. He's essentially going to link the attack to the defense. He sits in the middle of the team and pulls everything together. He's the link between the striker and the CAMs. I recommend you have someone that has got unbelievable passing, lads. Pace is really nice in these CAM positions, but not important. This Dembele is a timed loan, but Firman Lopez is Evo in this position and he's just as good because he has Playmaker Plus Plus. And what he'll do is kind of link everything together for you, but you do want him to be able to score some goals, lads, because he is going to pop up with a few chances to score. So important with these CAMs, lads, is that they're not someone like a Pedri that is going to struggle in front of goal. You want them to be able to score. Like Dembele for me is not that great in front of goal. I will say for 1.2 million coins, he is not that guy in front of goal, but he is really nice in terms of the pace and the build up and just being able to dribble in bad gameplay, he is good.
- Left and Right CAMs: These two are going to play almost like, not so much like wingers in this formation, but they are going to step forward and inside. So they are going to be a part of this front line. They play more like CAMs than wingers, to be honest, but they're there because this formation creates lots of triangles. The idea with this formation is that we're trying to control possession, lads. You're trying to control the pace of the game, so having them on balanced, you're like if you whack them in attack, they play more like wingers, but if you have it on balance, they play more like CAMs, and it's kind of what you want. You want the pace because then they can break away if you get the opportunity to break away, but you want them to be good on the ball and pass him because you're looking to dominate that possession. And someone like Rafinha and Nico Williams, lads, optimal, you would have a left footer on the left-hand side and a right footer on the right so you can do the Traves. Nico Williams is five-star weak foot, so he's good for that, but Rafinha not so much, but he's so good is we give him pass, lad, we give him pass.
- Striker: Advanced Forward and Stay Central. He is phenomenal. No role plus for any of the striker positions, but what he does give you is electric pace and mental strength, so when he gets past the defender, he he's very rarely caught up, and there's not many players in the game you can say they don't get caught up when they pass the defender, he is super nice for that. I do sub him out later on.
Team Selection and Substitutions
Let's talk about the team I'm using and the types of players you should be looking for in each position.
- Goalkeeper: Use whoever you want. It's not too important. You want someone that's for met like a quart like a t Sten or you know those two types goalkeepers, you're probably using them already. Allison, not much to really say on there.
- Center Backs: I like lengthy center backs. Like this, an Martinez. I mean, he's not four full matter, but if you're using van Dijk and Varan on these two positions, it is class, lads, it is really good. The one thing I will say with the center backs, lads, is I do recommend that they both have some version of Defender Plus because I think that's the best role for the defender. So Campbell has Defender Plus Plus and then Martinez has just a plus, but if they've just got the plus version, that's amazing.
- Right Back: More defensive. I have Koundé. A lot of you probably do use Koundé, but I recommend if you're using a proper fullback in this position, they're your strongest, they're your strongest defensively minded fullback is something to bear in mind, lads, especially with you got those fast wingers now. Someone like Koundé is brilliant at just removing people from the board. It's what you need. You just need those clean tackles with your defensive fullback.
- Left Back: You need to have someone that is good going forward in this formation because for me at least, they go forward, but we'll get into the tactics in a second.
- CDMs: One more creative and then one more defensive. So someone like Matui who's got unbelievable base stats for defending, you want in this position as well as Holding Plus Plus, which is the role we use on this guy. And then having someone that is a bit more progressive, gets involved with the attacks, it is important. You can use like a Frankie Dong, like Pat tree, those sorts of CDMs, you definitely want them to be quite good on the ball, lads.
- CAMs: As you notice, they're all very, very, very fast, all very, very nice on the ball as well. And Nico Williams, this Dembele on a Time loan is fun, not worth 1 million coins in my opinion, and then I've got the Rafinha and he's pretty sick as well. You want good pace, good ability on the ball, and I I do like a minimum of four-star weak foot on these guys because they are going to get a lot of different types of opportunities as well as they're going to be setting up for the striker.
- Striker: You can use whoever you want. I'm just using a Dharma TR because he just beats defenders, but you can use someone like a Son that would be amazing in this position. If you want to use a Son, you've got that finesse shot, and I'm just using a Dharma cuz this is sort of a Barcelona pass and priz at minus one or two players just because, you know, you got to play into the matter sometimes.
- Substitutions: The players you need to probably substitute in this game are the left back. I recommend having a replacement for your CDM because she get TI because she's out of position, one of your CAMs, so I bring in Ferman or Malcolm, and then your striker. So that they're the subs I tend to make with this formation. They're the the positions that get tired the most.
That's the 4-2-3-1, lads. Get out there and dominate!