I’m breaking the rules here slighlty for today’s episode as I had to skip over what is actually the next 3 at the back formation found within soccermanager due to today’s formation having a very close relationship with Episode four’s 3-4-3. Like I mentioned in that episode, most confuse the 3-4-3 with it’s ‘cousin’, and the cousin I am referring to is indeed the 3-4-2-1. This is the formation that practically EVERY team in real life is playing when you see them line up in what looks like a 3-4-3 on paper.
The 3-4-2-1 consists of 3 Defenders, 2 Central Midfeilders, 2 Wide Midfidlers, 2 Supporting Attackers playing along side 1 Forward. The beauty of the formation lies within the 2 Supporting Attackers as they can be asked to play almost any role depending the circumstance of the game, as well as the personnel at your disposal. One of the very first users of this formation was the genius himself Johan Cruyff who first implemented it during his first stinct at Ajax back in the late 1980’s. Over the past 15 years, the 3-4-2-1 can also be attributed to the brilliant Antionio Conte, but the man who really deserves all the plaudits for the versatile methods of implementing it is Thomas Tuchel. Over his stinct as Chelsea boss, we’ve seen Tuchel use a variety of players in those ‘front 3’ positions. Sometimes he played with 3 fluid attackers (Mount, Werner, Havertz), or 2 creators behind a Target man ( Mount, Havertz, Lukaku). We’ve also seen Conte’s Totenham playing this system with a 3 man front line of Son, Kane and Richarlison/Kulesevski. Many people seriously confuse Spurs’ 3-4-2-1 for a 3-4-3 but neither Son or Richarlison (or Kulesevki for that manner) are out and out wide players who tend to hug the touch line which is something found quite often in the 3-4-3 formation. The reason why I am going into more detail for this episode is because I’m sure there are lots of admires of Tuchel’s Chelsea and Conte Spurs’ (and even Cruyff’s Ajax) who would’ve been visualizing about using the 3-4-3 in a similar manner wihtin soccermanager. If you want a flexible front line, supported by good Wide Midfielders/ Wingbacks, then 3-4-2-1 is the formation for you.
PROS
• There are a range of different approaches for Forward players
• The supporting 2 operate more centrally thus allowing Wide Midfielders with more freedom on the flanks
• During long spells of attack, it can convert into a 3-2-5, and during long spells of defence it can convert into a 5-4-1
• Depending on the player, extra attackers can be played in Wide Midfield position
CONS
• Formation is vunerable to teams that play down both flanks
• There is a possibility of opposition central overload if Supporting Attackers do not retreat into defence in time
• Center Forward may be isolated during long periods of defence
I really like this formation a lot and tended to use it when I was in my 3 at the back bag. When it comes to 3 at the back systems, this is arguably the most popular out there right now.
The Soccermanager Experience 