Played a full, exhausting season in my Brazil save with Fortaleza (3rd division) using the 4-1-2-1-2. Results were excellent:
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Won both first stage and playoffs of third division. I have to say I had put together a very good squad for this standard of football thanks to some surprisingly good free signings. Bossed the league, my only problems were against small teams that parked the bus - I lost twice against last placed team despite total domination!
Our form in the cups was even more impressive:
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Won the north eastern cup, beating a first division club (Sport) and a second division club (CRB) in the tournament. Amazing how everyone kept playing so defensively against us despite our sub-par reputation... The real masterpiece was the Brazilian Cup though, where we managed to beat several first tier clubs like Fluminense, Gremio, Internacional etc as we reached the final. We won first leg 3-0 but eventually lost to a good Vasco team after a 0-3 and penalties in second leg. We played our best football against clubs that didn't park the bus like they were facing Barcelona...
My best striker and top scorer:
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62 goals in 44 matches. If it seems too good to be true... you're actually right! These numbers are heavily inflated by playing in the weak state championship in first half of the season (it's Ceara state) where we face a bunch of hopeless, non-league clubs except second division side Cearà. Third division tally was actually 22 goals in 24 matches, not that bad either.
Always used the 4-1-2-1-2 though often changed strategy during matches - going standard, then counter, and even defensive or contain at times. This was useful against bigger clubs especially after scoring first goal, but also against small clubs that parked the bus. I also tended to use 'wrong' footed strikers at either slot (right at STCL and left at STCR) to encourage central play.
Will try this again in second division, hopefully teams won't play so defensive against us! As I said elsewhere, after the cross orgy of FM 16 I owe to myself to play without wingers XD Thanks for a very good narrow diamond tactic!