Counter formations

[Hyina 9,758]

In this thread I will tell you which formations counter which. This is a simple, down to earth thread, easy for everyone to use.

Enjoy

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Updated Version!!!:

In my experience at managing and also general comprehension of tactics, I think that:

To counter 4-4-2, I would use 3-4-2-1 with diagonal arrows on players 10 & 11, 3-5-2, or 4-4-1-1

To counter 4-3-3, use any formation with 5 in the midfield

To counter 4-5-1, use 5-3-2, as suggested by arampage

To counter 3-4-3, use 4-2-3-1

To counter 3-5-2, use 4-5-1 defensive or 4-1-3-2

To counter 3-3-4, use 4-4-2 or 3-5-2

To counter 5-4-1, use 3-5-2

To counter 5-3-2, use 3-2-2-2-1 or 4-3-3 wingers

To counter 5-2-3, use 4-5-1 defensive

To counter 4-4-2 diamond, use 3-5-2 or 3-2-2-2-1

To counter 4-3-3 wingers, use 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2

To counter 4-5-1 defensive, use 3-4-2-1

To counter 4-2-3-1, use 4-5-1 defensive or default 4-4-2

To counter 4-3-2-1, use 4-2-3-1

To counter 4-4-1-1, use 4-3-3 wingers

To counter 4-3-1-2, use 3-4-3 or 5-3-2

To counter 3-4-1-2, use 4-5-1

To counter 3-4-2-1, use 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1

To counter 5-3-2 defensive, use 3-4-3

To counter 4-2-4, use 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 or 4-5-1

To counter 4-2-2-2, use 3-5-2

To counter 4-1-3-2, use 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 wingers

To counter 3-2-2-2-1, use 3-5-2

Hope you enjoy! And start winning games from now on too!

Note, if you have used this advice and lost a game, please post it in this thread so I can have a careful look and maybe change it.

NOTE NOTE: It seems that after SM changed, the counters have mostly stopped working as well as before, as randomisation has been added chance results are more likely to happen (i.e. 352 might not thrash a 442 and 433 wingers might lose to 352 etc.) if you encounter such results post the report here and me and fellow forumers will help you out

P.S. I have un-subscribed from this thread myself due to increasing work load and other reasons.

[Elton 1,380]

Re: Counter formations

4-4-2 diamond also works well against 4-3-3 wingers when I tried it a few times This is useful when someone thinks you will choose the 3-5-2 and try to counter to 4-3-3 wingers but you just switch to 4-4-2 diamond to most probably win

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

4-4-2 diamond also works well against 4-3-3 wingers when I tried it a few times This is useful when someone thinks you will choose the 3-5-2 and try to counter to 4-3-3 wingers but you just switch to 4-4-2 diamond to most probably win

4-5-1 is good too, but I think 4-1-3-2 is best, the 1 DM/CM stops the front striker along with you CBs, the 3 AMs/Wingers and the 2 Fwds out numbers their defensive 3.

What do you think?

[Elton 1,380]

Re: Counter formations

4-5-1 is good too' date=' but I think 4-1-3-2 is best, the 1 DM/CM stops the front striker along with you CBs, the 3 AMs/Wingers and the 2 Fwds out numbers their defensive 3.

What do you think?[/quote']

I only ever used 4-4-2 diamond to counter it, never tried the other 2. Might give it a go and see what happens

[Newman 12,138]

Re: Counter formations

I only ever used 4-4-2 diamond to counter it' date=' never tried the other 2. Might give it a go and see what happens [/quote']

Hehe

.....................

[Elton 1,380]

Re: Counter formations

Hehe

.....................

Yes what is it Newman?

[Jooles 7,156]

Re: Counter formations

Out of interest, what are these counters based on?

How many times has 3-2-2-2-1 played 5-3-2 sweeper, and 3-4-3 played 5-3-2 defensive, what were the results, etc.?

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Out of interest' date=' what are these counters based on?

How many times has 3-2-2-2-1 played 5-3-2 sweeper, and 3-4-3 played 5-3-2 defensive, what were the results, etc.?[/quote']

Results from friendlies, league matches etc..

For the more rare formations I drew the formations out and had a thought about it. E.g:

X

X

X-------X

X-------X-------X

----X------X----

----X------X----

It's difficult to display this on typing, I'll see if I can scan and upload some photos...

[waswas 43]

Re: Counter formations

nice guide of a thread:)

[waswas 43]

Re: Counter formations

i was thinking to improve the thread you can include what tactics play style to use to counter the formation

mind you there is a thread about this sir metz's i think, but don't know if it actually still works

[123_ABC 9,305]

Re: Counter formations

Testing this tonight with two teams with my own instructions.

My 3-2-2-2-1 against 4-1-2-1-2 & 4-5-1

Counter Attack

Use Playmaker

Use Target Man

Normal Tackling

Attacking Mentality

Mixed Passing

Mixed Attacking Style

Normal Tempo

Pressing All Over

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Testing this tonight with my own instructions.

My 3-2-2-2-1 against 4-1-2-1-2

Counter Attack

Use Playmaker

Use Target Man

Normal Tackling

Attacking Mentality

Mixed Passing

Mixed Attacking Style

Normal Tempo

Pressing All Over

What is a 4-1-2-1-2 formation?

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Testing this tonight with two teams with my own instructions.

My 3-2-2-2-1 against 4-1-2-1-2 & 4-5-1

Counter Attack

Use Playmaker

Use Target Man

Normal Tackling

Attacking Mentality

Mixed Passing

Mixed Attacking Style

Normal Tempo

Pressing All Over

Ok, good luck! (Or my thread is ruined :rolleyes:)

[123_ABC 9,305]

Re: Counter formations

Ok' date=' good luck! (Or my thread is ruined :rolleyes:)[/quote']

4-1-2-1-2/4-4-2 diamond how ever you want to put it lol

Anyway this is like last resort for me cause I have good teams losing. many people say counters dont work but this is the test.

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

4-1-2-1-2/4-4-2 diamond how ever you want to put it lol

Anyway this is like last resort for me cause I have good teams losing. many people say counters dont work but this is the test.

suggestion: put a defensive arrow on one of your DMs. and no forward arrows needed on anyoneelse

[123_ABC 9,305]

Re: Counter formations

suggestion: put a defensive arrow on one of your DMs. and no forward arrows needed on anyoneelse

cool. I never use arrows but this 1 makes sense.

[123_ABC 9,305]

Re: Counter formations

Result against 4-4-2 diamond I won 3-0. Dominated on possession which was 63|37. I had 32 total shots compared to 9 from the other team. Still awaiting result against the 4-5-1 formation.

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Result against 4-4-2 diamond I won 3-0. Dominated on possession which was 63|37. I had 32 total shots compared to 9 from the other team. Still awaiting result against the 4-5-1 formation.

Yay, my tactics work!! Whoooooooo

Thank you for broadcasting my success

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

I used 4-4-2 diamond tonight against 4-3-3 wingers and I won 2-0, I had:

55% posession

14 shots

9 shots on goal

6 corners

2 yellow cards

[123_ABC 9,305]

Re: Counter formations

Congrats Hyina

2/2 for you. Second result 1-0. They dominated me on possession but I had 19 Total shots compared to the other teams 8. Shots on Target 7, they had 1. 1 red card and injury for me though but 3 points im happy.

[Hyina 9,758]

Re: Counter formations

Congrats Hyina

2/2 for you. Second result 1-0. They dominated me on possession but I had 19 Total shots compared to the other teams 8. Shots on Target 7' date=' they had 1. 1 red card and injury for me though but 3 points im happy.[/quote']

Thanks

[waswas 43]

Re: Counter formations

great results m8

my man.u won 3-1 away against a 4-4-2 using a 3-5-2 (always play with this formation anways)

but my real test will be against chelsea in 2 days time (cup final match), who always beat me,even when i put my strong team which is 96 rated, guess it won't bee strong as i'll have to go with a 4-4-2 diamond this time

[waswas 43]

Re: Counter formations

my bad, i'll have to play 3-2-2-2-1 to counter the 5-4-1 formation, should do it easily, lol dnt know y i played 3-5-2 against 5-4-1 against them last match lol

[Matt72 25,087]

Re: Counter formations

In my experience at managing and also general comprehension of tactics' date=' I think that:

3-5-2 counters 4-4-2

4-2-2-2 counters 4-3-3

3-2-2-2-1 counters 4-5-1

4-2-3-1 counter 3-4-3

4-3-3 wingers counters 3-5-2

4-4-2 counters 3-3-4

3-2-2-2-1 counters 5-4-1

3-4-2-1 counters 4-3-2

4-3-3 counters 5-2-3

3-2-2-2-1 counters 4-4-2 diamond

4-1-3-2 or 4-4-2 diamond counters 4-3-3 wingers

3-4-2-1- counters 4-5-1 defensive

3-2-2-2-1 counters 4-2-3-1

3-5-2 counters 4-3-2-1

3-2-2-2-1 counters 4-4-1-1

3-5-2 counter 4-1-3-2

3-4-3 counters 4-3-1-2

4-5-1 counters 3-4-1-2

3-2-2-2-1 counters 5-3-2 sweeper

3-4-3 counters 5-3-2 defensive

4-3-3 counters 4-2-4

3-2-2-2-1 counters 4-2-2-2

3-5-2 counters 4-1-3-2

3-4-1-2 counters 3-2-2-2-1

Hope you enjoy! And start winning games from now on too!

[/quote']

i disagree with the 3-5-2 counters 4-1-3-2, i have lost four consecutive games against liverpool starting with 3-5-2 first half losing 2-0 at half time thn playing like for like 2nd half and losing 3-2. Both sides are equally matched so i strongly disagree with that