Yo, what’s up guys! It’s Ley here, and today we’re diving into a brand-new formation, tactics, and player roles video. This time, we’re breaking down the 4-3-3 (CAM) variation—the classic 4-3-3 with a central attacking midfielder. I’ll show you why this formation is one of the best attacking setups in the game, with plenty of examples to back it up. Offensively, it’s picco bello (perfect), but defensively, there are a few areas where it might fall short. Let’s not waste any more time and jump straight into the tactics and gameplay!
Tactics Breakdown
First up, let’s talk tactics. For the buildup style, I’m going with Balanced—nine times out of ten, that’s my go-to. For the defensive approach, I set it to High Pressure with a depth of 70. This keeps my team pushed up, which is crucial for how this formation operates.
Now, let’s break down the player roles:
- Goalkeeper: Balanced. Nothing fancy here—just a standard setup.
- Fullbacks (RB & LB): Both on Fullback (Balanced). I want them involved in the attack but not too aggressive.
- Center Backs: Both on Defender (Defend). They stay back and hold the line.
- Left Center Mid (LCM): Playmaker (Roaming). This player needs to be involved in the attack, so I’m using someone with great passing and dribbling—Frankie de Jong is perfect here.
- Right Center Mid (RCM): Holding Midfielder (Defend). This is the anchor of the team. He stays back, wins the ball, and is always available for cutbacks. He won’t push into the box but will recycle possession.
- CAM: Playmaker (Balanced). The creative hub of the team, linking midfield and attack.
- Wingers (LW & RW): Both on Inside Forward (Balanced). They cut inside, get close to the striker, and create overloads in and around the box.
- Striker: Advanced Forward. The focal point of the attack, always looking to get in behind.
This setup gives you so many passing options in and around the box, which is why this formation is so deadly offensively. Now, let’s get into some examples to show you how it works in action.
Attacking Examples
This formation might just be the best attacking setup in the game, and here’s why: you’ve got six players in and around the box at all times. If you can play quick, one-touch passes between your midfielders, wingers, and striker, your opponent won’t stand a chance.
Example 1: Quick Passing Play
In this first clip, I win the ball straight from kickoff. Notice how high my team is pushed up—this is because of the high defensive line and the two center mids pushing forward. The ball moves quickly from my holding mid to de Jong, then to the wingers and striker. I’ve got five players in the attack against my opponent’s four defenders. It’s all about finding the right pass, and when you do, it’s unstoppable. A quick one-two between Mbappé and Haaland, and it’s in the back of the net.
Example 2: Recycling Possession
In this clip, I’ve triggered a run from my fullback, which is why I don’t set them to “Stay Back.” The ball gets recycled from Mbappé to Salah, and another easy goal is scored. The key here is patience—if the counter isn’t on, recycle the ball and wait for the right moment.
Example 3: Timing the Runs
Here, I send Tchouaméni on a run, and it’s all about timing the passes. The ball moves from de Jong to Haaland, then to Salah, who twists and turns before laying it off for Tchouaméni to finish. Another clean and easy goal.
How to Attack in This Formation
When you win the ball high up the pitch, look for the straight counterattack. If it’s not on, recycle the ball and build up patiently. Use your fullbacks to stretch the play, then push forward with your wingers. Once you reach the byline, look for the cutback. This formation thrives on quick, incisive passing, and if you can master that, you’ll score plenty of goals.
One thing to keep in mind: your wingers won’t defend much, which can be a weakness defensively but a strength on the counter. If your opponent parks the bus, this formation will help you break them down with all the passing options you have.
Defensive Weaknesses
Now, let’s talk about the defensive side of things. The main weakness of this formation is that your wingers stay high up the pitch, which means you’re often defending with just six or seven players. You won’t have a left or right mid helping out, so you’ll need to do a lot of manual defending—tackling, intercepting, and timing your challenges perfectly.
In the defensive examples, you’ll see that when I win the ball back, it’s either high up the pitch from pressing or in my own box from a well-timed tackle. If you let the AI do the defending for you, your opponent will score. But if you’re proactive and make the right decisions, you can hold your own.
High Pressing Advantage
One of the strengths of this formation defensively is its ability to press high up the pitch. Because your center mids stay higher than CDMs, you can suffocate your opponent in their own half. In one example, I win the ball with Schweinsteiger high up the pitch, and it’s an easy goal from there. Was it my opponent’s mistake, or was it good pressing? I’ll let you decide in the comments.
Final Thoughts
That’s everything you need to know about the 4-3-3 (CAM) variation. It’s an incredible attacking formation with a few defensive quirks, but if you can master the high press and quick passing, you’ll dominate your opponents. Give it a try in Weekend League and let me know how it goes in the comments. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one. Ciao!
[Music]