A question about 4-4-2 formation

[Caccio]

Greetings!
My favorite formation is simple 4-4-2.
However, I have a question about the way how it should be used more successful.
Should I:
1. Stick to the default 4-4-2 fromation roles, regardless of how competent my players are in its default, predefined positions and roles?
or
2. Aim to set player's positions and roles to their best, preferred ones, regardless of how much and often they differ from 4-4-2 defaults?

In both cases I had wins, draws and losses in round equal rates so far, so I am kind of clueless about this matter......
while my defense seems to function better in 1st case, my midfielders play better in the 2nd one, and strikers are often very inefficient in both cases, dispite their high quality. (compared to the English Vanarama Conference South Division where I create and play with the weakest club)

 

[bear1]

I think with 4-4-2 you should look at utilising each specific players best roles, whilst creating a balance in the team. For example:

2 centre backs, one CD and one LD
Full Back on support duty with Winger on attack duty (or vice versa)
2 centre mids, one in a more defensive/sitting role (CM/def and Adv Playmaker sup/att for example)
2 strikers, one creator (support duty) and one poacher (attack duty)