How to defend against 4-2-3-1

[quisazzo]

Hi all,
I've been playing FM2014 for a couple of weeks and I'm really enjoying my second season with Swansea in Premier League. My main tactic is an offensive 4-2-3-1 (Darren Dynamic). After a decent first season I am at the fifth position. My main problem is that I have huge defensive problems against big teams playing 4-2-3-1 like Chelsea or Man City. If I set tighter marking for both my WBs and my CDs anyway their wings destroy my defense, leaving a lot of spaces for their strikers. I tried to use a 4-5-1 formation with Full Backs, setting offside, dropping deeper the defense, using a stopper but nothing... Besides, even if I set 'hold position' for my CDs they tend to "help" the WBs leaving their position and making a lot of space for opposite strikers...

Of course I do not expect to win always against the big teams but I want to avoid something like 60 vs 5 shots and taking three goals in the first twenty minutes...

Thank you guys,

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[Dynamo_ZahnZee]

Hassle opponents instructs your team to leave spaces in the defensive line so they can close down the player with the ball. Against the big teams, this can be suicide since they will have good composure, allowing them to pass around your players as they are pressing.

 

[Igneos79]

I would suggest combining your roles better, for starter. You have 4 number 10's and no number 9, no designated goal scorer. Either the striker should be number 9, or the amc, or one of the wingers. You can learn about combining roles at guidetofootballmanager.com

 

[lothrail]

1. Hassle opponents should only ever be used combined with push higher up or much higher defensive line. If you want to play deep untick it since it probably is the problem as it instructs your players to leave their positions to close down opposition whenever its possible.
2. Combining very fluid with be more expressive basically instructs your players to do whatever they please disregarding instructions whenever they see fit. You should choose be more disciplined, or go fluid and untick it altogether to retain the fluidity and freedom but make your players do what you want them to do more often

 

[quisazzo]

Thank you!

 

[quisazzo]

Well, I've modified a little bit the tactic after your suggestions, even if I'm still not sure which role use for my attacker (Bony). For the first time I won against Tottenham with a magnificent 3-0, unfortunately I've lost 5-0 with the West Brom the match after, their wingers destroyed my defense and my WBs couldn't do anything.

 

[duca015]

What I noticed is that when you are on defence in this formation, usualy your wingers do not follow properly opponent fullbacks. This results in movement of lines, and at the end, colaps in your defensive cheme.

Basicly, fullback will give support to his winger, making 2-1 situation with your fullback, and some of other players will naturally come to help. These rotations with better teams could be low risk situations. But if you play lesser side, it could prove to be very problematic.

I managed to solve this with simple marking of opponent fullback with my winger. This basicly forced opponent to bring more players on side of the pich, or to concetrate to attacking trough middle.

Now, for this to be succsesful, you will need good flocal point for your counter attack, and neither your AP nor DLF is not particulary good option for this. Advanced forward, Target man, Complete forward or even Treq should be good options, and Treq for your AMC position is good as well.

In most cases, your counter will triger by receipent of ball to one of your more advanced players (FC or AMC), your wingers, in most cases, will be faster then opponent fullbacks, and they will have a lot of space to exploit, which lead to opposition defence breakdown, similar to yours. Once you create them problems on the other side, this will force them to send their fullback les forward, and your problem with formation breakdown will be solved.

On the other hand, there is always passability that your formation could break down in middle, if your central players are not disciplined enough.

 

[lothrail]

Well, I've modified a little bit the tactic after your suggestions, even if I'm still not sure which role use for my attacker (Bony). For the first time I won against Tottenham with a magnificent 3-0, unfortunately I've lost 5-0 with the West Brom the match after, their wingers destroyed my defense and my WBs couldn't do anything.

DLP support is possibly Bony's best role. I'd change Michu's role to Shadow striker attack so that when the Ivorian drops deeper, the Spaniard will charge into the box and score.
What instructions do the WBs have ?