Alright lads, the 4-2-2-2 has been a go-to for a couple of years, but it wasn't quite hitting this year... until the post-patch update. Now, it's absolutely ridiculous! Let's dive in.
Tactics Breakdown
First up, the tactics. I'll run through the players I use in each position, as well as the subs I make towards the end.
- Build Up Play: Balanced. I've tried short passing, and it's good, especially late in the game when you're winning and the opposition is pressing. Your players will naturally pass shorter. But honestly, I'm mostly using player locks and the bumpers to bring players closer and send them on runs.
- Defensive Approach: 61 depth. This is my favorite right now. It gives you a good balance between pressing high but not leaving too much space in behind. But use whatever depth you find most comfortable.
Player Roles
- Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper. Use whatever role your keeper has (Goalkeeper+, Sweeper Keeper+, etc.).
- Center Backs: Defender and Defend. Same as always, lads. Don't touch them! This is the best setup in the game. Stopper, Deep, and Ball Playing Defender roles have big effects on stamina and can leave gaps. I just think having a solid, consistent backline is key this year.
- Fullbacks: Fullback and Defend. This is pretty much my setup for most tactics. I'm just trying to keep the back four tight and consistent. I want them defending. You do want the fullbacks to be able to pass, though. Don't make them too clunky. Having some passing playstyles is key.
- CDMs: Deep Line Playmaker and Defend. I've dabbled in "Stay Back While Attacking," but I find I don't need it. When I have it on "Stay Back While Attacking," it affects the runs of other players in the team, so I just leave it on defend. You get that defensive solidity. Because they're on the Deep Line Playmaker role, they do show nice feet for passing. I recommend someone like a Kimmich, who's a bit of a ball winner, and then someone more progressive, like Pedri.
- Wingers: Half Winger and Balance. This is where the formation comes to life. The one issue I found with the 4-2-2-2 is that it can be quite narrow. Having options out wide is essential. I'm using Ansu Fati on Half Winger and Balance. You can use your more attack-minded players, but I think balanced is best. He's going to show lots of space out wide and be a really nice passing option. Because he's on Half Winger, and when you change Bonmati onto Playmaker, she drops more centrally, like a classic 10 or like the other half winger. If you had both of these players on Playmaker, they would be quite wide in that natural 4-2-2-2 position. But because Ansu is being pushed out to the right, Bonmati comes more central and operates more like a center CAM, which I personally prefer. This is kind of like a 4-2-1-3, but you've got two strikers, and then you've got the winger. I think I prefer two strikers with this kind of setup.
- CAMs: You want someone that's going to be lethal in front of goal in this CAM position because they're going to get lots of chances. I think both your CAMs, you do want them to be able to finish and score and pass, shoot mainly, especially with this Winger role. You want lots of pace.
- Strikers: Advanced Forward on the left and False 9 Build Up on the right. Both of these guys have Finesse Shot Plus. I definitely recommend your False 9 if you decide to use the False 9 has Finesse Shot Plus because you are going to be able to drop deeper, but you've still got the opportunity to fire those finesse shots, which is so overpowered, especially if you're using the Finesse Shot Plus, which both my forwards go. If you're not a fan of the False 9, you can feel free to just change this to Advanced Forward, and it will be just as good, lads, just as good for you. But for me, I do enjoy the False 9, but I also like the Advanced Forward.
Team Selection
- Center Backs: You want a lot of pace in your center back areas. Having defensive playstyles on all your backline is so important. They've got some passing ones as well, which I really like. Ping pass off center back because it just helps you to fizz it out of danger.
- Right Back: This is the best right back in the game.
- CDMs: You want someone that's a bit of a ball winner. You want them to have the defensive playstyles, lads. You want them to be able to sweep up.
- CAMs: For the one that comes more inside, they're more of like a central CAM. Pace isn't everything. You want them to be a bit more techy, your playmaker CAM. And then your half winger, you want them to be pretty quick, lad. You want them to be able to burst into that space and just create opportunities out wide because they're going to be able to get to the byline, cut it back to Bonmati will be in the middle, and then you'll have these two striking options then available for you.
- Strikers: I love them for their Finesse Shot Plus, but for me, I prefer players are able to dribble. Having Finesse Shot on both your strikers is a bit of a cheat code. But I like both strikers to be able to, you know, be a bit techy in the area because nowadays when the left stick is so nice, especially post-patch with how much space you got. Again, I absolutely love passing playstyles, especially Tiki Taka on the strikers because you're able to ping those quick one-twos between them, and you can really unlock defenses with it.
Substitutions
- Pedri: I often sub him out for someone like Guro in the game, just because it's just a like-for-like substitution.
- CAMs: Sometimes I will bring on Puscas for Ansu, just because she gives a bit more control, and she's got some really nice, well, she's got amazing passing playstyles, and she's just a great card in general. Lacks a little bit in that pace, but isn't too bad.
- Yamal: I usually take out Yamal then for Bunny Shaw.
- Strikers: I bring on Ronaldinho.
That's the 4-2-2-2, lads! Again, I recommend your CDMs have just be quite continuous. You want them to have Relentless just so you don't have to swap them out.