Alright Lads, this 442 holding custom tactics setup has been a game-changer for closing out matches. It gives you the perfect balance in attack and defense, so let's dive right in!
Tactics Breakdown
So, diving in with the tactics Lads, here's how it's set up:
- Build Up Play: Short Passing. I absolutely love short passing, especially when you're trying to dictate the tempo. I do switch between this and balanced depending on the formation, but for this one, short passing is the way to go. It just makes the players show for the ball a bit nicer. If you're trying to get the ball forward quicker later in games, I'd recommend changing to balanced.
- Defensive Approach: 70. We like to press nice and high; we don't want to get stuck in our six-yard box. Especially with two defensive midfielders, a higher line height is beneficial.
Player Roles and Instructions
Now, let's get into the player roles and instructions, and as always, we'll go through the types of players I sub out and the sorts of players you need in each position.
- Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper, Balance. I've tried the build-up option, but I didn't feel much of a difference, so I leave it on balance. I don't want my goalkeeper taking too many risks.
- Center Backs: Defender, Defend. We want them staying in the center-back position. When you put them on Stopper or Ball Playing Defender, they step out more, and the AI can pull your players out of position. Defender is the best by far, Lads.
- Fullbacks: False Back, Defend. I love false backs, especially with the two CDMs. They help fill up your midfield, especially when you've got players out wide and up top that like to push on. You can still have that midfield dominance and comfortability. The way it works is that the false backs don't come too centrally; they almost come up and are almost like left and right mids. The difference between this and Wing Back Support is that wing backs tend to push down the line more, whereas the false backs tend to be more central, which is what I'm looking for. If you don't have players with False Back Plus or Plus Plus, you're more than welcome to use Wing Back on Support. It offers a similar role, but the false back defend is much better.
- Defensive Midfielders: Deep Lying Playmaker, Cut Passing Lanes. The more attacking-minded CDM is on Balanced, and that's because we want her to kind of move and occupy a lot of free space. She's essentially going to be doing a lot for us in terms of creating and defending. It's nice to have one CDM that kind of sits and holds down the midfield because you don't want people just running constantly through onto your back line. It's nice to have a bit of a destroyer.
- Left and Right Midfielders: Inside Forward, Balanced. If I'm finding the middle is too congested and I'm not creating too many chances, I will just change these to Winger, even though they've knocked the roles for it, just to spread the play a bit more. For the most part, they do just stay on Inside Forward and Balanced because they will come back into that midfield area and help out defensively when needed. With Winger, they help a bit more out defensively, so bear that in mind. I recommend tweaking these tactics to suit your style of play.
- Strikers: One on Advanced Forward, Attack, and this is more my out-and-out finisher. The other is a False 9, Build Up. I love a False 9 in a two-striker set because I like to have that extra body to pass to. I don't really like False 9 when you're using one striker because it feels like you've got no one in that striker position. When you've got one striker on False 9, especially when it's Griezmann, I love Griezmann because he drops off, but you don't lose the threat because he's got the Finesse Shot Plus, so he's able to cannon those finesse shots. If you're not a fan of Finesse Shot Plus, or not a fan of False 9, then you can always use Advanced Forward on both your strikers. I would recommend Advanced Forward; Poacher is okay, but I find sometimes they just stick to the center backs; they don't really have too much in the way of movement.
Team Selection and Player Types
Diving in with the team Lads, here's what I'm running:
- Goalkeeper: Don't worry too much about your goalkeeper; just use whatever roles he has got. If he's got Super Keeper or Goalkeeper Plus or Plus Plus, use that.
- Center Backs: I definitely recommend you have lengthy center backs. Obviously, you want defensive play styles as many as possible. I just prefer lengthy because you get that catch-up speed, which you don't get with players that are controlled or explosive. The catch-up speed on center backs is so key.
- Fullbacks: You want them to be good on the ball. You need them to have some, you know, at least one or two passing play styles because they are going to be moving a bit more centrally, but you want them to feel good on the ball, have some good dribbling. You don't want to be using like, I know, like a Kounde at False Back, but I wouldn't recommend it because he's quite clunky. You want them to be able to play football and feel really clean on the ball.
- Defensive Midfielders: You want a destroyer, someone that is there solely to defend, and then someone with a lot of passing play styles. Most players in here have at least one. Everyone else has some passing play styles. A lot of Incisive Passes, well, Incisive Pass is so good, but I also love Tiki Taka because without it, you can't really first-time pass.
- Left and Right Mids: I do like in this position having one that's a bit quicker but then one that can step inside with the Finesse Shot. You want them to be very, very good in front of goal, and you know, a couple of passing play styles or just good passing stats is good.
- Strikers: You want someone that can pass; treat them like a CAM. I think Griezmann is the best for the False 9 role in the game, and that's not changed since the start.
Substitutions
In terms of subs, I do try and sub out both my fullbacks in the game just because they do a bit of work with coming out, stepping up, and running back. I like to change one of my central midfielders, my CDMs, and I usually replace him with someone along those lines. I do change my Yamal out because his stamina is not the best, so my right mid comes out. Then sometimes I'll even take a Ronaldinho out because stamina is the most important thing, and I bring in Anu. Then I've always got a sub on for my striker.