Okay, you're predicted to be mid-table and that's where you are. That's not too bad. You're going to get slaughtered using this tactic though.
- You realise that the formation you set is the defensive formation? That brings up problems already. Because your two central midfielders aren't next to each other, but behind each other, it's going to be a nightmare to defend even against normal 4-4-2s with 2 CMs.
- By doing what you did, you're also making the massive gap between AML/AMR and DL/DR even bigger.
This could work going forward, since you're a lower mid-table team and there will be space to exploit, but the defensive problems outweigh the little you have going forward, imo.
- The W/S (AMR) will be okay as long as he just runs and put crosses in. He doesn't have any other real options, apart from just passing it back to the DLP/S. On the other side, the AP/A is going to get the ball and drive down the line, again putting crosses in. In both cases, they will have only the AF/A really to aim for as it will more than likely be on the counter attack. In normal build-up play, you're not going to create much unless that AF/A is a beast in the air.
- Don't expect possession from this tactic either. This isn't the formation/tactic to do so. The LD/D will just clear the ball instead of keeping possession and your front 4 will get separated from the other 6.
I would recommend you rather scrap this tactic completely. You have a better tactic in the 4-2-3-1 (or 4-5-1 as you call it) to start from.
Just something to keep in mind again:
- Maybe put Sheehan (DL) on a support duty to at least be a passing option going forward.
- Could Kennedy (DR) play an Attacking role? FB/A perhaps? It would help create overloads and an overlap on that wing with the Winger on a support duty.
- To cover for a marauding Kennedy, switch your two midfielders. Let the Anchor Man be a DMCR instead of DMCL and the DLP be a MCL instead of MCR. The Anchor man will then protect the space Kennedy leaves going forward.
- I'm not 100% sure AP/A is the best role for the setup you have now, but keep an eye on it. Having an AP/A means that the team will look to give him the ball a little more (as he's a playmaker) and he'll run with the ball often, looking for through ball opportunities. He might not have many options though. The AF/A will obviously be one. Maybe the W/A on the left too? Watch your games to see.
- Hassle Opponents is going to be a dangerous instruction. It sets your closing down to the maximum. This might cause you problems. You AML, AMC and AF/A (and to a degree, the W/S) will already not drop back very much, so the remaining midfielders will lose shape easily, imo. Keep an eye on this too. On Standard mentality, the closing down is "Average". If you want a little more from the forwards/midfielders, ask them individually to close down more or change their roles to Ball-Winning midfielder/Defensive Forwards/Defensive Wingers etc.
If you're going to not use either tactic as you "main" tactic, rather use a "default" formation and tweak your roles and instructions as you want. Creating your own formation, such as that 4-2-4, can work, but you really need to know what you're doing to make it work. Use a 4-4-2 maybe instead of the 4-2-4?
