Alright lads, let's dive into the 4-1-2-1-2 custom tactics that helped me secure rank two this weekend. This formation allows for some really quick, tiki-taka football. Let's get into it!
Formation and Defensive Tactics
We're sticking with balanced, like we do with most formations this year. Balanced is probably the best overall, giving you a good mix of counter-attacking and short passing. Short passing is especially effective if you're not used to using the bumpers to trigger runs. They'll naturally come short, and you'll need to use the right bumper to send them on runs. As you get better, you'll learn to use the bumpers to bring players short and send them on runs.
For the defensive approach, we're keeping it at 61 depth. This essentially makes it a high-press formation rather than just balanced, which I prefer. Some of you might be using the 95 depth meta, but honestly, 61 is perfect for me. It gives a nice balance between applying pressure and not overcommitting, leaving tons of space behind your backline.
Player Roles and Instructions
Now, let's go through the player roles and the types of players you want in each position.
- Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper. This is going to command the six-yard box. Use whatever role your goalkeeper has, whether it's GK+, GK++, Sweeper Keeper+, or Sweeper Keeper++. My favorite is Sweeper Keeper because they come off their line a bit more naturally, although chips are pretty OP.
- Right Back and Left Back: Fullback and Defend. You can use proper fullbacks in these positions. I'm using an Evo Alaba, and he's just fine.
- Center Backs: Defender. Don't touch your center backs! Defender is the best because the other roles will pull them out of position. With Defender, they just stay in that position, which is what you want. Plus, the other roles will be really taxing on their stamina.
- CDM: Stay Back While Attacking and Cover Center. This player is going to hold the center of the park.
- Left Mid and Right Mid: Inside Forward and Balanced. I do enjoy putting them on Winger and Balanced if the person has attacking fullbacks because you will really attack that space. I use inside forward because I just find they're easier to pass to, especially with the way passing is in this game.
- CAM: Playmaker and Balanced. Having it on balanced means he does come back on defense, which is nice. You want him to kind of drop in again. Predominantly, he's going to be in this center position, really supporting the forwards. You want someone that's going to be really good on the ball, great at shooting, but mainly better at passing.
- Strikers: Advanced Forward. I do like to put Griezmann sometimes on false 9 in this if I'm finding I'm struggling with the passing, but for the most part, if not using someone like a Griezmann, then having Advanced Forward is the best. Advanced forward over poacher is better because they'll step back sometimes when they're not getting any service. They'll step back and get involved with the play, whereas poacher, they just kind of sit up top, and they can be quite easy to mark out the game. I like to have one player that's got finesse shot, like a Griezmann, like a Son, because it gives you a different dynamic when you're attacking. Having someone that you can just pick the ball up, green time finesse shot to that top bins, it is going to get you out with gel a lot. And what it can do, if you can score one of those, it's going to make someone want to come out and press you, and then you can play a bit more free flow in through them, rather than trying to break them down because they, when they're losing, you do find people change the way they play. And then I like to have someone that is a bit more getting behind chip through balls.
Player Selection and Play Styles
Let's talk about the types of players you want in each position and their play styles.
- Center Backs: Lengthy is recommended. The track back speed on your center backs will be much better if you're using lengthy.
- Fullbacks: You want lots of pace. If you can have them lengthy, that's even better. You're going to be battling wingers, so you need fast fullbacks. Play styles I love are Jockey, Anticipate, and Intercept. Jockey is really nice on a fullback.
- CDM: Intercept and Anticipate are probably the best play styles for this position. Having some passing play styles on your CDM is really nice as well because it is going to get you out of jam.
- Left Mid and Right Mid: These are essentially your main wide creators in this formation. You want them to have bags of pace, fairly good shooting, and passing is important. You want them to be agile. You want to be able to move about with them.
- CAM: This guy's probably not the best, it's the he Jud Evo, and he is pretty good to be fair. He's got a really high shooting, high dribbling, so he doesn't do a bad job in this when we're playing like rank.
- Strikers: Having someone that has the Finesse Shot is really nice, but you don't need it if you don't have it. I recommend having a left footer on the left-hand side and a right footer on the right so you're shooting across the goal.
Substitutions
Here's how I handle substitutions in this formation:
- I always sub out one of the strikers, mainly my fast striker.
- I'll take off the left mid or right mid, depending on who's getting the most joy.
- The CAM is often replaced.
- I change my right back if I'm winning.
- I change both fullbacks.
- I try and have the CDM that has Relentless because it's going to help you not need to change in mid-game.