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I've decided to try to create a similar tactic to JM's Chelsea and here's my starting effort so far
Here's the actual formation
It is pretty simple but the simplicity provides a fair amount of flexibility.
For example, against higher quality teams I would use, in my flatback four, two DC's and a DL and DR in order to maintain a solid defensive line which won't venture forward too much. I'd then use my DM as a playmaker behind two MC's. The choice of AM's and FC isn't so important but you need to decide what kind of striker would suit your opponent etc.
However, against weaker opponents I would use two DC's and two WB's in my backfour, a DM with little creativity but use two AM C's in the midfield position for more potency in attacking. I'd have them both set to Playmaker.
Here are the Team Instructions - note, some options which are unticked or set to Mixed are ones which I change depending upon opponent. Anything that is specifically set is rarely changed because it provides the actual basis of the effectiveness of my formation.
Note the high line and playing through the middle - my MC's and DM are truly pivotal to this formation so I want them to get the ball and play it.
Closing Down, Time Wasting. Tight Marking, Use Playmaker, Play Offise and the set pieces options are all left default - these are the things I change on a per-opponent basis.
Finally, here's an image of my results using this formation:
As you can see, I'm scoring plenty while not letting in all that many. I've noticed that I got draws or 1-0 wins against teams which also played centrally so I will try Widening my formation and see if I can play around them rather than meeting head-on.
Here's the link to the latest version of my formation:
Feel free to download and try it out. Post any contributing ideas here too
As it happened, my next game was away against the best team in the league by a wide margin (although I beat them convincingly at home earlier this season), and I didn't expect miracles.
My Foggia side actually pulled a 2-0 win out of the hat here, but it was a very even game and could have tipped either way.
The "hostile" manager went berserker after the game, giving his players a piece of his mind.
Then I tried it in the next game, away against much weaker opposition, and lost 0-1, and the result wasn't totally unfair. I've seen this trend for a long time, I do well against top teams but fail miserably against the weaker ones...
I feel a bit dirty now after using someone else's tactic... Will probably scrutinize it and see what I can learn from it and carry into my own tactics. At first glance it looks a lot like my own tactics instruction wise.
I suffer from that same thing against weaker sides but I am starting to suspect that's something to do with FM's game engine - it feels like there are some games you are "destined" to lose.
I have tested this against Blackpool in FA Cup - I predicted an easy win for us but they won a few games (kept re-loading my game) and I only won when I selected "All Out Attack" for my mentality.
Very curious. However, I'm reasonably satisfied with this formation for the time being.
Just drew a match against a "weaker" side again... (last place in the league) I think they are just so defensive that they are harder to beat than stronger teams. Makes sense?
Just looking quickly at the team instructions for this tactic and you can see straight away that it is better suited as a fsat counter attacking tactic away from home.
When you play at home against weaker teams who are going to try and shut up shop against you, you need a slow wide formation that will reatin possession and just keep probing away for the breakthrough.
The team instructions above have a fast tempo, no great width and counter-attacking ticked, which is waste of ime against teams that are not going to come at you
433 Power tactic 
Linear Mode
