how do you counteract the 3-4-3?

[Michael Mejido]

Hello all... i play a 3-5-2 and i can NEVER beat a 3-4-3 team... i have a promotion game next week vs. a team that plays a 3-4-3 and Attacking on the wings... what would you suggest i do to counteract these strategies?

thanks!

[PezJunkie]

If your midfield can still compete with 4, I've had decent luck playing 4-4-2 against 3-4-3.

I would assume if he's playing AOW, he's only using 2 central mids? Seems like 3-5-2 should win midfield w/o too much trouble.

[MLS SupaStr3]

i guess you could do the complete opposite and play a 5-3-2 or if your players are good enough, you could do the 3-4-3 too

[kuhnscoot]

Don't give away all the hints, especially you Chris, you know George will get mad at you just like he got made in the NKOTB Fed when people started giving away secrets. That said I don't know how to beat it, I lost to it tonight so do with that what you will

[Craig P]

Giving away all the secrets? Huh?

[AAGunner3]

I started using the 3-4-3 in league play this season. That's how I chose to beat my opponent's 3-4-3. That coupled with a better midfield helped me win.

Somehow, I also have the best defense in my series (based on goals allowed) which is strange because I don't think my defense is that good.

My last opponent also plays AOW in his 3-4-3 which seems strange. He uses 3 inner mids so he still abandons a wing. I took a chance and abandoned that side also.

If you play 3-5-2, I suggest putting your 3IMs and Wingers offensive. On your defense, especially if he has a tendency of abandoning the same wing in his 3-4-3, play 2 CDs and a then a Wingback on the side that he still has a wing. Be warned, it could backfire if he all of the sudden flips his winger over to the other side.

[Kevin in Louisiana]

He'll be weak down the middle defensively, so you could try to take advantage of that.

[ZeekLTK]

He'll be weak down the middle defensively, so you could try to take advantage of that.

Not necessarily. I ran a 3-4-3 in my league game and got the following ratings:

Midfield: weak (old)
Right Side Defence: formidable (old)
Central Defence: formidable (old)
Left Side Defence: outstanding (old)
Right Side Attack: formidable (old)
Central Attack: brilliant (old)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (old)

[junjunforever]

probably too late for the reply, but the best way to counteract any 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 is by playing normally and jacking up rating as much as you can. It used to be that 3-4-3 was useless if u lost midfield by quite a margin, but after the changes, i think getting good ratings with normal formation is the key in winning the matches.

[Qamle]

what do you consider 'playing normally'? 4-4-2?

[phillips10]

He'll be weak down the middle defensively, so you could try to take advantage of that.

exactly, I play a 3-4-3 with varying degrees of success...if he only plays 2 center mids, than attack there where you'll expose the 1 center back.

If he plays 3 IMs and leaves one wing open (as I and many do) than maybe try to guess that wing and attack there with your best winger...

[junjunforever]

what do you consider 'playing normally'? 4-4-2?

normal symmetrical 4-4-2 is a bad formation.. but i think 4-4-2 with 3 inner midfielder can be quite useful, as the formation experience is always excellent. So defense teams can use it anytime they want. I'd replace a winger for a defender for a innermidfielder and don't reposition forwards to maximize attack.