Back Three

[Hughsie]

I'm playing with three CBs, two WBs, and no DM.

Any tips on how I should organise my CBs? At the moment I have them all set to CB-D but that's purely because I have no idea what else to do with them. Any advice?

 

[Metz]

Depends if you are playing possession or counter attack. If possession based, have a Ball playing CB. Have the goalkeeper's options sent to distribute ball to that players via collect. That CB will then pass the ball upwards to your midfielders.

If they are all bad at passing then don't do this.


Regularly, you can have 2 CB's set as Cover, and 1 CB set as stopper. Cover if I recall are CB's who cover channels to try to intercept through balls and passes. The stopper is a CB that press the opponent who has the ball to try to disposses him.


Too many stoppers and you leave holes in the back. Too many covers and you end up giving your opponents space to move up.

 

[Hughsie]

Depends if you are playing possession or counter attack. If possession based, have a Ball playing CB. Have the goalkeeper's options sent to distribute ball to that players via collect. That CB will then pass the ball upwards to your midfielders.

If they are all bad at passing then don't do this.


Regularly, you can have 2 CB's set as Cover, and 1 CB set as stopper. Cover if I recall are CB's who cover channels to try to intercept through balls and passes. The stopper is a CB that press the opponent who has the ball to try to disposses him.


Too many stoppers and you leave holes in the back. Too many covers and you end up giving your opponents space to move up.

I'm playing as Man City and am aiming to play possession football.

So you think if I the two side players set to CB-C and the middle one to BPD-S that may work? Also, have you any experience using a Sweeper, that's something I'd do if I found a way to make it work better than three CBs?

 

[Dynamo_ZahnZee]

What is your defensive plan? Are your WB's sitting high up the pitch or do you have a Def/Support option set for them?

Seeing as the Cb's are stretched, there is too much space to effectively play an offside trap so go with stopper/cover.


against teams who like to play wide, I'd opt for a

LWB(s)----------------RWB(s)
CB(s)--CB(c)--CB(s)
View attachment 462441

The LWB/RWB are set to cover the runs of aggressive full backs and prevent passes into deep lying forwards or onrushing midfielders. The two outside CB's are set to stopper so they will go engage and harass the opposition (1) wingers and not give them much time on the ball while (2) the inside CB is set to Cover to drop and defend the middle channel from wingers cutting inside or thru-balls to a striker/AMC running in from deep.


Against teams who play through the middle

LWB(a)----------------RWB(a)
CB(c)--CB(s)--CB(c)
View attachment 462440

Becasue there is not much of a wide threat, you can leave your WB's on attack to stop deep runs from the opposition FBs. The central CB is set to stopper (1) to put pressure on the Striker and stop him to cleanly receiving and playing the ball. The two wide CB's have cover (2) assigned to them as they track back and defend against knock ons and thru balls played by the striker towards onrushing midfielders or inside forwards.
If they are playing with WB's, be sure to man mark them with your own wing backs to put pressure on them as you wide CB's (3) will also close them down forcing a 2-on-1 situation to regain possession.




This is just really off the top of my head so I'm not sure how tactically sound it is. You may need to tweek the player roles to get it to be truely effective with you players but 3 at the back is a system i love myself and have experimented with a lot in the past.
​

 

[Hughsie]

What is your defensive plan? Are your WB's sitting high up the pitch or do you have a Def/Support option set for them?

Seeing as the Cb's are stretched, there is too much space to effectively play an offside trap so go with stopper/cover.


against teams who like to play wide, I'd opt for a

LWB(s)----------------RWB(s)
CB(s)--CB(c)--CB(s)
View attachment 401147

The LWB/RWB are set to cover the runs of aggressive full backs and prevent passes into deep lying forwards or onrushing midfielders. The two outside CB's are set to stopper so they will go engage and harass the opposition (1) wingers and not give them much time on the ball while (2) the inside CB is set to Cover to drop and defend the middle channel from wingers cutting inside or thru-balls to a striker/AMC running in from deep.


Against teams who play through the middle

LWB(a)----------------RWB(a)
CB(c)--CB(s)--CB(c)
View attachment 401150

Becasue there is not much of a wide threat, you can leave your WB's on attack to stop deep runs from the opposition FBs. The central CB is set to stopper (1) to put pressure on the Striker and stop him to cleanly receiving and playing the ball. The two wide CB's have cover (2) assigned to them as they track back and defend against knock ons and thru balls played by the striker towards onrushing midfielders or inside forwards.
If they are playing with WB's, be sure to man mark them with your own wing backs to put pressure on them as you wide CB's (3) will also close them down forcing a 2-on-1 situation to regain possession.




This is just really off the top of my head so I'm not sure how tactically sound it is. You may need to tweek the player roles to get it to be truely effective with you players but 3 at the back is a system i love myself and have experimented with a lot in the past.
​

Thanks for the reply, that looks like it took quite a bit of effort.

I'm too lazy to tweak my tactics match to match to be honest, I'm hoping to make a plug and play tactic. As for the WBs they are set to attack. They are the only width my team has (I play with 2 CM and a AMC) and I have a CF up front to use as a TM so I use them primarily for crosses.

 

[Dynamo_ZahnZee]

Since you have Both your WB's set to attack, make sure you have a CM(defense) to drop and cover the CB's.
Don't set any of your CB's to Limited Defenders or you'll be tearing your hair out with how much they'll kick the ball away.
A Ball-Playing Central Defended and two Central Defenders should work out fine.

 

[alexanderfue]

I too am trying out the 3 cb formation. Before the update I played with WBs a Half Back and two CBs on cover. I havent gotten it to work yet but it has some potential for games when you dominate possession and the opponent plays with one striker.