Top Eleven How To Win Against Any Formation Guide

This a very important topic and always all managers in top eleven used to discus in; so because most of managers here didn’t add any topics related to this topic idea, I wanted to add an old topic as in the old forum of top eleven and try to discus here in expansion and details.
Also trying to find different formations and their strengths and weaknesses so let’s begin
4-4-2
4-4-2 is not a very strong formation on the game; it rules the midfield and defense but offers very little going forward.
To win against this classic formation and beat it you need to keep the midfield whilst being strong in attack, what I’d recommend is a 4-5-1 V formation with attacking arrows on the DMC to effectively turn him to a MC when you are attacking.
————-ST—————
AML———————AMR
———MC——-MC———
————-DMC (UP)———
DL—- —-DC–DC———DR
If you are losing add arrows to both sets of wingers to give you an extra edge.
Orders:
Mentality: Depends how many you want to win by, go for an attacking against weaker teams and vice verse for stronger.
Passing: Mixed
Pressing: Own half without offside trap, full pitch with fast defenders and offside trap.
The others do not really matter, just make sure your opponent has no AM when you do the offside or counter attack.
—————
4-3-3
This formation has a fatal flaw in the form of not having any wingers. To beat it, exploit this major weakness by focusing your attack on the flanks while defending your middle. Here’s a few examples of formations that do exactly that:
3-1-3-2-1
———-ST———-
AML————–AMR
—-MC–MC–MC—-
———DMC———
—-DC–DC–DC—–
4-1-4-1
—————-ST————–
———————————
ML (UP)–MC—-MC—-MR (UP)
————–DMC (UP)——-
DL (UP)–DC–DC——DR (UP)
3-3-2-2
——–ST—-ST—–
AML————–AMR
—-MC–MC–MC—-
———————–
—-DC–DC–DC—-
The exact formation is up to you, but keep this in mind:
a) Always attack the flanks with either ML/MR with red arrows or AML/AMR
b)Use at least 2 DC’s
c)Use at least 2 MC’s
d)The combined number of your Defenders+DMC’s+MC’s must be 6 or higher.
e) MC’s+ML/MR must be 4 or higher.
Tactics against 4-3-3.
4-3-3 is an attacking formation, so you can either play offside trap with very fast defenders while pressing the whole pitch, or a more defensive counter-attacking way while pressing your own half.
Most formations able to easily beat 4-3-3 will be heavy in the midfield, as such, use short passing if playing offensively and mixed passing when trying to counter attack.
—————–
3-4-3
This midfield based attacking formation can prove devastating if left unchecked. Luckily you can use the formation’s momentum against it with counter attacks down the flanks or exploit the lack of DMC’s or DML/DMR’s to counter any AMC’s or AML/AMR’s of your own.
At any rate, when playing against 3-4-3 you should have more midfielders than the opponent, this can be achieved in many ways, some of which are explained below.
Defending and counter-attacking examples:
This work well with defensive or normal mentality, pressing your own half with mixed passing and force counter.
3-2-2-2-1 ( 5-2-2-1)
———ST———
AML————AMR
—–MC—–MC—-
DML————DMR
—-DC–DC–DC—-
Motivated 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1)
———ST—-ST———
—————————–
ML(UP)–MC–MC–MR(UP)
—————————-
DL(UP)–DC–DC–DR(UP)
3-5-1-1
———–ST———–
———-AMC———-
ML–MC–MC–MC–MR
————————-
—–DC—DC—DC—–
Attacking formation examples:
This work well with attacking mentality, pressing the whole pitch and short passing.
4-3-2-1 Christamas tree
———-ST———
—–AMC—AMC—-
ML——MC——-MR
———————
DL—-DC–DC—-DR
4-3-2-1
———ST———-
AML————AMR
—-MC–MC–MC—
———————-
DL—-DC–DC—-DR
———–
3-5-2
3-5-2 has a few weaknesses, mainly; it’s lack of punch and weak wing defence. 5 midfielders mean a solid ball control, don’t expect to dominate the match, but since there aren’t any attacking midfielders, you can just as easily block their advance.
While there are many ways to defeat 3-5-2, I’ll explain 2 formations that will allow you to better understand the mechanics of how this can be done.
4-5-1 V-style (motivated)
An awesomely versatile formation that combined with a few arrows can be either attacking or defensive. In this case, you want to force an attack through the wings, so…
————-ST—————
AML———————AMR
———MC——-MC———
————-DMC (UP)———
DL (UP)—-DC–DC—-DR (UP
Motivated DL and DR’s block movement from the opponents ML and MR’s while also feeding passes to your AML and AMR. The 2 MC and motivated DMC block any centre movement.
On the attack your formation will effectively be:
———–ST————
AML—————–AMR
——MC–MC–MC—–
DML—————-DMR
———-DC–DC——–
That gives you 5 midfielders to block the opponent’s 5, and you have 2 attacking midfielders which have open access since he doesn’t have wing backs or fullbacks. On the defense, your formation will return to the basic 4-5-1 and still give you a solid coverage.
Mentality: Usually normal, but I recommend going defensive with hard tackling if the opponent’s team is better, and attacking if the opposite.
Force counter: Yes
Passing: mixed, through both flanks
Pressing: own half
Zonal marking
3-1-4-1-1
The main strong point of 3-5-2 is, obviously, a very hard to beat midfield. Fight fire with fire and use 6 midfielders against it. All while exploiting the lack of a DMC to counter an AMC.
——–ST——–
——-AMC——-
ML–MC–MC–MR
——-DMC——-
—DC–DC–DC—
This midfield heavy weight needs short passing in order to work so force counter doesn’t work very well with it. Instead, with fast DC’s, it can be used playing offside trap if you press the whole pitch. With normal or slow defenders, it’s better to neither play offside trap or force counter and just press your own half.
Mentality: Normal
Passing: Mixed short passes
Pressing: Either whole half with offside trap or own half without it.
Marking: Zonal
————-
4-5-1
I haven’t faced 4-5-1 flat often, but when I did I used the formation 3-5-2.
3-5-2 against the 4-5-1 flat would be best used with long passing with zonal marking. Attacking tactics should be focused on long balls. This requires a forward with good pace and speed.
4-5-1 is similar to the 4-5-1 V Style… 3-5-2 is also effective against the V style.
————
5-3-2
How To Beat 5-3-2…
Hi, i wanted to help my friend ,Sam with this special thread…..Here we go…When you play against 5-3-2 you should use the a very attacking system like 3-1-3-1-2 (wide) and put red arrows on you dmc and red arrows on your 2 strikers ,on the one atm and red arrows on your two winger(left and right)…also good idea will be to switch you team mentality to hard attacking(well..based on you opponent’s players level) also id wan to beat 5-3-1 you should switch your pressing style to ”whole pitch”as you opponent with 5-3-2…will play defensive game football…also you should you switch you passing style to ” mixed passes” because the opponent will have a lot of DC/…so you should try to play with long balls and short passes…oh…and something final..try to hit him from the flanks.
——–ST——ST———
————AMC————-
ML———MC————MR
————DMC—————
——-DC–DC–DC————-
———–
4-5-1 V Style
4-5-1 V-style is one of the most versatile formations. It can easily become defensive or offensive with the change of a few arrows. A great jack of all trades, but it’s lack of defensive wingers can be exploited.
When playing against 4-5-1 V, you need to protect your flanks and attack the opponent’s. Forget about attacking the middle, it’s that simple. Keep in mind that 4-5-1 V-style is most often played with counter-attacking orders, so you don’t want to overdo your attacks. Use normal or defensive mentality and press your own half.
As always, when playing against a midfield formation, you need to have at least as many midfielders as the opponent.
Here’s a few examples:
4-3-2-1
This is 4-5-1 V-style’s brother. It takes advantage of not using a DMC who won’t be blocking an nonexistent AMC and vice verse. This translates into a more powerful midfield to feed passes to the forward players.
————–ST————-
AML——————-AMR
——MC—-MC—-MC—-
——————————
DL(UP)–DC–DC—DR(UP)
Motivated 4-5-1 flat.
While an unmotivated 4-5-1 flat would probably succumb to a 4-5-1 V-style, you can take advantage of that and make the opponent underestimate you. He’ll probably realize that his flanks are under constant attack after a few goals.
—————-ST——————
————————————-
ML(UP)–MC–MC–MC–MR(UP)
————————————-
DL(UP)—–DC—DC—–DR(UP)
3-2-2-2-1
While you don’t need more than 1 or 2 DC’s against 4-5-1 V, you don’t want to use an illegal formation. The extra DC acts as a sweeper, DML/DMR block the attacks from the flanks, and AML/AMR attack the soft flanks.
—————-ST—————
AML————————AMR
———–MC—–MC———–
DML————————DMR
—-DC(UP)DC(DOWN)DC(UP)-
3-2-3-2
DC-DC-DC
DML-DMR
MC-MC-MC
ST-ST
The 3-2-3-2 can be beaten by the 4-4-2 Classic. The 4-4-2 is not thought to be an ideal formation to use, however it is one of the most balanced formations in football.
Best used with normal mentality, down both flanks, short passing, zonal marking with normal tackling. No counterattack and no offside trap.
———–
4-1-3-2 Wide
4-1-3-2 Wide 3
DL-DC-DC-DR
DMC
ML-MC-MR
ST-ST
Countered by 3-2-2-2-1
DC-DC-DC
DML(UP)-DMR(UP) (If using DL/DR as DML/DMR, remove the red arrows)
MC-MC
AML-AMR (Red arrows if AML/AMR also play as strikers and you want some extra punch)
ST
Short passing, through the flanks, attacking mentality, zonal marking,
pressing whole pitch with offside trap.
OR
Own Half, counter attack, defensive, mixed passing
Other formations known to beat 4-1-3-2 Wide 3:
3-1-4-2 and 3-1-4-1-1 using normal mentality, zonal marking, own half, short passing, normal tackling, no counterattack and no offside trap.
————
4-2-2-2
DL–DC-DC–DR
—-MC-MC—-
AML——–AMR
——ST–ST—-
Some people however may change the MC-MC to a DMC-DMC, don’t worry too much about this as it will not effect the formations provided and would enhance your ball possession.

The 3-2-2-2-1 Butterfly is no longer effective vs the 4-2-2-2 Hexagon
4-5-1V Motivated
————-ST———–
AML—————-AMR
—–MC——–MC——-
——–DMC(UP)——–
DL(UP)—DC—DC—–DR(UP)
The 4-5-1V Style Motivated is also another option to use against the 4-2-2-2 formation.
———–
3-1-4-1-1
DC-DC-DC
DMC
ML-MC-MC-MR
AMC
ST
Countered by:
4-5-1V Style
Orders: defensive mentality, long passing, through the flanks, pressing own half,
force counterattack, zonal marking.
4-5-1 V Style Motivated
DL(Up)-DC-DC-DR(Up)
DMC
MC-MC
AML(Up)-AMR(Up)
ST
Orders: normal mentality, mixed passing, through the flanks, rest remains same.
——————-
4-1-2-1-2 Narrow Diamond
—-ST—-ST–
——AMC—-
—-MC–MC—
——DMC—–
DL-DC-DC-DR
The Narrow Diamond is a very effective attacking formation, however the vulnerability of this formation is the lack anything to protect the flanks.
A 4-5-1 V Style formation can take advantage of the flanks of the diamond with an AML and AMR as well as defend against the AMC by using a DMC.
4-5-1 V Style:
———ST——–
AML———AMR
—–MC–MC—
——DMC—–
DL-DC-DC-DR
Another variation on countering the narrow diamond would be by using the 4-3-2-1:
4-3-2-1
———ST——-
AML———AMR
—MC-MC-MC—
–DL-DC-DC-DR–
Although there is no DMC with the 4-3-2-1 it is still a very effective attacking formation to counter the Diamond with, mainly because of the strong middle as well as having attacking flanks.
If during the match you feel the AMC is taking advantage, then a simple (DOWN) arrow would be placed on the middle MC which in turn effectively would be turning this formation into a 4-5-1 V Style.
——————
4-3-2-1
——–ST———
AML———AMR
—MC-MC-MC—-
–DL-DC-DC-DR–
An excellent attacking formation and strong in wing attack..
Can be countered by:
3-2-3-2:
——-ST—ST—–
—-MC-MC-MC—
DML———DMR
—-DC-DC-DC—-
A logical choice formation to use against the 4-3-2-1.. 3 DC to block 1 lone striker, a DML and DMR to block attacks from the flanks coming from the AML and AMR, 3 midfield to keep control and 2 strikers to go for goal.
3-2-2-2-1:
ST
AML-AMR
MC-MC
DML-DMR
DC-DC-DC
Fight fire with fire, 3 DC again to block a lone striker.. DML and DMR to block the AML’s and AMR’s which can feed passes up your own AMLs and AMRs to take advantage of the lack of wing defence and one lone striker to go between the 2DC..
There is no such thing as the perfect formation, however you can look for areas exposed in certain formations and take advantage.