retired_eddyloin

For the life of me, I cannot get a 442 Diamond to work. I don't want an AMC and a DM in the MC positions; I would like to get an AMC in the AMC slot and a DM in the DM slot and be able to win matches. I just can't seem to get it right.

It's not that I'm losing an alarming number of matches. The matches I lose, I shouldn't be losing, and I have had way too many draws and am now languishing in mid-table mediocrity with Hamburg.

Any pointers, please? For example, does a target man tactic work with an AMC up there? I won't elaborate on my current setup as I'm quite disheartened with it - what tempo's, width's etc, if any, have you had any success with?

Cheers in advance.

retired_eddyloin

no-one?

retired_B-Scott

Ive had a few attempts at a diamon formation and they didnt come off to well.

I came to the conclusion having no MC ios the kiss of death, and have fared better arrowing in players to the DM and AM positions ie keeping 3 4 or 5 across the middle

retired_missybee

Well, i have played with 4-4-2 diamond for ages so maybe I can give you some instructions, mate.

First, your amc must to be excellent. Values of 15 (or greater, depends the level of your opponents) with creativy, passing, decision, off the ball, anticipation, techic and first-touch needed. If shooting and finishing are with the same rations, even better. I also tick this player to play "free role".

Target man tactic, well, i think it's kind of useless with diamond tactic ´cause amc and your target man are so close each others. I prefer either two fast attackers (amc gives them lots of trough-pass) or one fast and one good in air -combination. Last one gives you lots more options, because if opponents stuck way trough the middle, you can spread your play more to wingers and so on give crosses to one with good-in-air. Also this combination is very usefull, because the "big-fellow" can give through-pass headers to another fc and to amc.

Team setup depends of the opponents, so these I have no "right" answer.

psychodad13th

I have also had trouble making the diamond formation work. The problem is often that the sole DM, with little help from the offensive minded AM, gets overrun by a strong opposing midfield.

I would recommend playing a narrow diamond formation with two MCs with arrows out to the wings over the wide one with wingers, as your central midfield needs to be strong to win even matches. Playing without specialized wingers may of course mean less crosses into the box, but IMO, the improved defense and possession will be worth it.

You might also consider giving up the diamond formation altogether and put your AM (Isn't Van Der Vaart with Hamburg?) out on the wing, for example the AMR position, but with plenty of creative freedom, a free role, and possibly an arrow to the AMC position to make him cut in. This way you can play with two solid defensive midfielders without giving up your star AMC.

Another option is playing with one striker, two MCs, two wingers and a AMC. This can be effective, especially away from home. I myself like to have two strikers on the pitch though.

retired_parks

Some suggestions that might be helpful:

1. Narrow the width of formation to gain stronger control of the midfield.

2. Give freedom to wingers, let them through ball, and use wingers with some appropriate pass ability and creativity.

3. At least one full back on full defensive duty, or even both of them.

4. Put trust in the MC, let him run with ball, long shot, through ball, press opponent. And therefore this guy must be a comprehensive genius.

5. Use full backs who are strong and good at tackle as they hold responsibility to stop attacks from relative vulnerable wings.

In real life, AC Milan apply the formation in some matchs.

retired_dannia

The key to the diamond (if you recall england trying it under Ericksson irl) is that the full backs are your width. The rm and lm are the extra support in central areas with the anchor man covering the holes your advancing full backs leave.

Using a narrow width setting keeps your team compact and prevents you getting over-run. arrow out strikers to the flanks also and have them hold up the ball to let your team get forward and keep the ball if you need.

I started using it after i signed roger from ajax. Hes not quick bur hes a playmaker so i needed him free in the inside left channel to shoot or put a striker through so the narrow diamond system freed him up in the middle areas where he needs to be. Overlapping Full back steaming past him on the left makes the space for the system to work.

DM needs to have high Positioning, marking, teamwork, workrate and anticipation. Basically an extra cb with more ball skills, he doesnt need any creative freedom, just have him pass short to the fullbacks, think Carlton Palmer.

waterwolf

personally, i prefer to have the playmaker as the DM so he can sit back and spread the play. he also gets more time on the ball so i find it works better than selecting the AM as playmaker. also lets the AM just do his own thing and roam around really. having the DM as palymaker allows more people to get forward too and its worked well in various formations ive tried

retired_bradshaw46

the narrow formation and dm playmaker advice is key , i also find playing wingbacks in the ml and mr postions helps, without farrows, so they can help win the ball back in midfield. also try making your amc a targetman who is fed to feet.