Alright, YouTube, we're back with another Friday video, and you know what that means: brand new, updated custom tactics for you! We're diving into the 4-3-3 (4) variation today, the one with the CAM and two central midfielders. Honestly, this formation is so good. It's a fantastic alternative to the 4-2-3-1, which is probably the best formation in the game. If you prefer central midfielders over CDMs, and your CMs are better than your CDMs, you need to give this a go.
Build-Up Play and Defensive Approach
Let's get straight into the custom tactics. We're using the 4-3-3 (4) attack formation. For the build-up style, you've got two solid options.
- Balanced: This is what I use. Players will make runs forward and come short, and the team's transition to the in-possession shape will be steady. I think it's the best overall.
- Counter: If you're struggling defensively, which might be a lot of you on this latest patch, counter is a viable option. Be honest with yourself, and if defending is a real issue, go with counter.
Now, for the defensive approach, again, we have two options:
- High and 70 on the line height: This is what I'm currently using. It's a riskier approach, applying situational pressure and adopting a high line that tends not to track opposition runs. I like to be aggressive with my defending, going back to my roots.
- Balanced and 50 on the line height: If defending is a struggle, be brutally honest with yourselves, YouTube! If that's you, I recommend this.
Player Instructions
Let's get into the player roles.
- Striker: Advanced Forward and Attack. Always use Advanced Forward and Attack when using a one-striker formation. It's the best.
- Left Winger and Right Winger: Inside Forward and Attack. I want my wingers to play like prime Liverpool, think Sadio Man茅 and Mohamed Salah, making those penetrating runs from out to in.
- CAM: Two options here:
- Playmaker and Balanced: This is what I'm using. The CAM will play in the pockets of space between your opponent's defense and midfield, which is very hard for your opponent to pick up.
- Shadow Striker: Shadow Striker is definitely good. I really like Shadow Striker this year, I think it is a very good viable and usable option, but for me I think playmaker and balanced is the best thing to use.
- Left Central Midfielder: Playmaker and Roam. This CM will be the more attacking-minded of the two.
- Right Central Midfielder: Box to Box and Back. This CM will get up and down the pitch, helping in attack and providing defensive support.
- Right Back: Fullback and Defend. You can use Wing Back and Support, but I don't think it's a good enough option. Having the Fullback on Fullback and Defend on the right-hand side is very, very nice.
- Center Backs: Defender and Defender. Never change this.
- Left Back: Fullback and Balanced. The left back will have a little more license to get forward, giving us some offensive support.
- Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper and Balanced. The goalkeeper will occasionally leave their area to collect long or loose balls. I like that; it's OP to have your goalkeeper charging out.
And there you have it! You'll see in-game how it plays: a flat front three with wingers cutting inside, the playmaker sitting nicely in that number 10 position, the more attacking-minded left CM giving us an overload on the left, and the right CM providing defensive support.