Tactics 4-4-2 Baciccia Classic

[Baciccia]

Important: this is not a tactic built to win exploiting the game engine.

This is a tactic built to play as intended, a classic-clear-symmetric 4-4-2, a very difficult way to play in FMM actually.

 

So i decided to build it to have fun and at the end of the day, to start a career using a self made tactic trying to use 442.

 

Anyway, its still under development.

 

I Made a lot of tests, changing positions of the players many times, offensive and defensive approaches, and these are the results.

 

Lets start with the tactic:

 

 

 

As you can see, absolutely easy positions.
Everyone in the right place, symmetric, balanced.

I tried a lot with different roles, especially for the midfielders, but at the end this gave me the best results at all.
CM are balanced, then dont shoot too much unfortunateley, but they do great helping the defense (and is fine for me since i have 4 offensive players).

Im anyway still trying to use other than CM.

 

FB are needed and important: with other options i used to take more goals than expected.

 

CMs im trying are close to be BBM, with some shooting.

 

Really important: the wings are, de facto, very close to be forwarders. Shooting is needed.

Dribbling is a must. 

To give an example, Dobre is amazing as W. 

Fatawu was not so good as W.

 

During the match, the wings will often cut in the middle but in accord to their preferred foot.

And then.. shoot.

If they are at the start of an action, they will pass the ball to the same side AF, who shots with the correct foot.

 

This is very important for the whole tactic:

Left FB, W and AF —> left foot

Right FB, W and AF —> right foot

Im still testing the correct foot for CM, but currently i m trying opposites.

 

Some results in the season where i set up this tactic.

Important: until January (Parma) i was trying some different positions, with good results but not so impressive.

At the end of the season, i was focused on champions and coppa Italia since serie A was already won (and my B team was not so good).

 

 

I won serie A, champions league, and coppa Italia with Sampdoria (3rd season. I won serie A in the second season with same tactic but different position, less performing).

Not totally perfect, but my team was not so good to win everything actually.

 

Recommended players: Harder as left AF (35 goal in the season), Dobre as right W, Eicchhorn as CM, Vina as left FB… not incredibile in general, but worked fantastic.

its very important to have/find the right players: if you dont use the correct guys, probably this tactic will not work well. If you find them, as i did (still not for 11/11) then is great

 

Hope it works also for you, since 442 is a nice and difficult tactic.

Still checking other positions rather than 2CM and 2AF.

 

Tactic is still under development, any advices are more than welcome

Edited November 18, 2025 by Baciccia

[Resurgam]

1 hour ago, Baciccia said:

Important: this is not a tactic built to win exploiting the game engine.

This is a tactic built to play as intended, a classic-clear-symmetric 4-4-2, a very difficult way to play in FMM actually.

 

So i decided to build it to have fun and at the end of the day, to start a career using a self made tactic trying to use 442.

 

Anyway, its still under development.

 

I Made a lot of tests, changing positions of the players many times, offensive and defensive approaches, and these are the results.

 

Lets start with the tactic:

 

 

 

As you can see, absolutely easy positions.
Everyone in the right place, symmetric, balanced.

I tried a lot with different roles, especially for the midfielders, but at the end this gave me the best results at all.
CM are balanced, then dont shoot too much unfortunateley, but they do great helping the defense (and is fine for me since i have 4 offensive players).

Im anyway still trying to use other than CM.

 

FB are needed and important: with other options i used to take more goals than expected.

 

CMs im trying are close to be BBM, with some shooting.

 

Really important: the wings are, de facto, very close to be forwarders. Shooting is needed.

Dribbling is a must. 

To give an example, Dobre is amazing as W. 

Fatawu was not so good as W.

 

During the match, the wings will often cut in the middle but in accord to their preferred foot.

And then.. shoot.

If they are at the start of an action, they will pass the ball to the same side AF, who shots with the correct foot.

 

This is very important for the whole tactic:

Left FB, W and AF —> left foot

Right FB, W and AF —> right foot

Im still testing the correct foot for CM, but currently i m trying opposites.

 

Some results in the season where i set up this tactic.

Important: until January (Parma) i was trying some different positions, with good results but not so impressive.

At the end of the season, i was focused on champions and coppa Italia since serie A was already won (and my B team was not so good).

 

 

I won serie A, champions league, and coppa Italia with Sampdoria (3rd season. I won serie A in the second season with same tactic but different position, less performing).

Not totally perfect, but my team was not so good to win everything actually.

 

Recommended players: Harder as left AF (35 goal in the season), Dobre as right W, Eicchhorn as CM, Vina as left FB… not incredibile in general, but worked fantastic.

 

Hope it works also for you, since 442 is a nice and difficult tactic.

Still checking other positions rather than 2CM and 2AF.

 

Tactic is still under development, any advices are more than welcome

Can’t tell you how happy I am to see this, definitely gonna give it a run. Since the old championship managers days I’ve always loved a flat 4-4-2 🫡

[Ciwati]

Parma e Doria ❤️ I will try with my Parma

[Baciccia]

Probably you could spend some time to find the right players for the tactic. Im finding some mid/high players that are a lot more performing than top players (eg Dobre still much better than Echeverri and Garnacho, Harder much better than estevao ecc)

 

[rseven]

My only concern is facing opponent with an AMC.

How about in your save?

[rabi3]

 4-4-2 😍😍 

[Baciccia]

6 hours ago, rseven said:

My only concern is facing opponent with an AMC.

How about in your save?

Thats a good point. This is actually the main threat.

until i set CM and CD, the risk was higher. To give an example, using the RP when AMC on the other side let him alone in the center. Or BPD could soffer pressing. 

currently is still not 100% handled, but as you see in the results i won also against tactic with amc (but in some case need to score more goals than the opponent)

[Pinuccio]

This year the opposing CPU's 5-3-2 tactic is creating many problems

[Baciccia]

The real issues i face (again, with my current save, and my players, maybe i was lucky to find the right ones) is against some tactics with AP/SS/trq cause we dont have a player in that position, but in my save i won anyway (but with getting goal/s probably)

[Resurgam]

Gave this a quick couple runs because I’m a sucker for a 4-4-2, one with Newcastle and one with my local non league team Torquay. Didn’t do anything other than cancel all friendlies, and add the tactic and quick run through games on commentary only. No transfers/player talks/training etc. 
 

did really well with Newcastle and was a lot of fun. Didn’t do so well with a Torquay after winning the first 4 games. Noticed that every team I faced after those games played a 4-2-3-1 so the AI definitely adapts to weaknesses a lot quicker this year. 
 

still love this tactic, simple/basic but effective, and makes a nice change to the usual 4-1-2-2-1’s 🫡

[Baciccia]

41 minutes ago, Resurgam said:

Gave this a quick couple runs because I’m a sucker for a 4-4-2, one with Newcastle and one with my local non league team Torquay. Didn’t do anything other than cancel all friendlies, and add the tactic and quick run through games on commentary only. No transfers/player talks/training etc. 
 

did really well with Newcastle and was a lot of fun. Didn’t do so well with a Torquay after winning the first 4 games. Noticed that every team I faced after those games played a 4-2-3-1 so the AI definitely adapts to weaknesses a lot quicker this year. 
 

still love this tactic, simple/basic but effective, and makes a nice change to the usual 4-1-2-2-1’s 🫡

Thanks for sharing!

I dont think this is a plug and play tactic, im starting a new test career with wealdsone anyway.
I had some issues just changing some players in my sampdoria save. If the players are not right, then it works less.

I also saw that it works really better when the players have good relationtship together in the tactic (i dont know how to explain in english).

probably with Newcastle you have stronger players that can suit better.

ill make the test with very low level team but with some transfer in critical roles and ill update you

[Resurgam]

1 hour ago, Baciccia said:

Thanks for sharing!

I dont think this is a plug and play tactic, im starting a new test career with wealdsone anyway.
I had some issues just changing some players in my sampdoria save. If the players are not right, then it works less.

I also saw that it works really better when the players have good relationtship together in the tactic (i dont know how to explain in english).

probably with Newcastle you have stronger players that can suit better.

ill make the test with very low level team but with some transfer in critical roles and ill update you

I have a save just for testing tactics. This is the only tactic Ive used that beats Man City, and did it twice in a row. All the other tactics i test I lose this game. Might use this for teams that don’t  play an AMC going forward, works so well 🫡

[Baciccia]

1 hour ago, Resurgam said:

I have a save just for testing tactics. This is the only tactic Ive used that beats Man City, and did it twice in a row. All the other tactics i test I lose this game. Might use this for teams that don’t  play an AMC going forward, works so well 🫡

Awesome, thanks for your feedback!

did you try against big team with AMC? In my save its harder but still possibile

Edited November 19, 2025 by Baciccia

[oskarsson81]

I love the 4-4-2, I'm also a long-time fan (since 1996) and I can say that finally after the Welcome to Wrexham tactic we finally have a classic effective 2-forward formation.

Nothing particularly exceptional, but effective and fun (which considering the flaws of the match engine, is truly a miracle).😅

 

I'm testing it in Serie C and after 13 of 19 games I easily won almost all the matches with a low-ranking team (Foggia is currently near to last position in the real championship), beating big teams in the division such as Crotone and Cosenza away and Catania at home (Crotone and Catania played with AMC).

 

It became even more stable defensively and with better ball possession point by switching to the "Control" mentality (last 5 screen games), as I previously won but with more balanced numbers (shots and possession).

I think "Attacking" is fine at this point, even in the lower categories, if you have a top 5 team.

For mid-table teams or worse, it is better to go with a Control mentality (or at most even balanced) as it allows you to concede very little in defense.

In any case, the tactic works by respecting exactly what is reported in the original post: full-back, winger and attacker on the left side must have a preferred left foot (and so must those on the right), because they converge and, at that point, shoot or serve lethal balls in the area.

The prof Is thst the two attackers I have, the one on the right with a right foot scored 12 goals in 12 games, while the other who plays on the left (but  with a right foot) scored "only" six goals.

[Baciccia]

13 minutes ago, oskarsson81 said:

I love the 4-4-2, I'm also a long-time fan (since 1996) and I can say that finally after the Welcome to Wrexham tactic we finally have a classic effective 2-forward formation.

Nothing particularly exceptional, but effective and fun (which considering the flaws of the match engine, is truly a miracle).😅

 

I'm testing it in Serie C and after 13 of 19 games I easily won almost all the matches with a low-ranking team (Foggia is currently near to last position in the real championship), beating big teams in the division such as Crotone and Cosenza away and Catania at home (Crotone and Catania played with AMC).

 

It became even more stable defensively and with better ball possession point by switching to the "Control" mentality (last 5 screen games), as I previously won but with more balanced numbers (shots and possession).

I think "Attacking" is fine at this point, even in the lower categories, if you have a top 5 team.

For mid-table teams or worse, it is better to go with a Control mentality (or at most even balanced) as it allows you to concede very little in defense.

In any case, the tactic works by respecting exactly what is reported in the original post: full-back, winger and attacker on the left side must have a preferred left foot (and so must those on the right), because they converge and, at that point, shoot or serve lethal balls in the area.

The prof Is thst the two attackers I have, the one on the right with a right foot scored 12 goals in 12 games, while the other who plays on the left (but  with a right foot) scored "only" six goals.

Thank you for you reply!

i agree, nothing spectacular like tiki taka, great games etc. But funny and classic old football

glad to see your results, ill try set control from the start (i currently use offensive and sometimes overload against small team). From my first tests it was more difficult to score, but even if my Sampdoria was not a great team, i was anyway very good in serie A. Im gonna try with wealdstone tonight.

im happy you also check that players need to use their correct foot, thats a point i verified 100%. Any feedback about foot of CMs?

thanks for testing, really appreciate!

[oskarsson81]

Not particular, actually I'm testing left footed CM to the left like the other player on the left side? Do you noticed some improvement with right footed CM to the left?

Edited November 19, 2025 by oskarsson81

[Baciccia]

42 minutes ago, oskarsson81 said:

Not particular, actually I'm testing left footed CM to the left like the other player on the left side? Do you noticed some improvement with right footed CM to the left?

Some goals, cause when the wing passes  the ball to the CM, its because that side is closed by def. so the CM doesn’t go on the same side, change foot and shoot. But this happens not so often tbh

[rseven]

4 hours ago, oskarsson81 said:

Not particular, actually I'm testing left footed CM to the left like the other player on the left side? Do you noticed some improvement with right footed CM to the left?

This depends on how you want the team to play. right footed CM at right side, he will link right wide players at his right side more. Left foot CM at right side, he will link center players at his left side more.

And if you turned on "run at defense", players will try to dribbling to his footed side.

Edited November 20, 2025 by rseven

[oskarsson81]

2 hours ago, rseven said:

This depends on how you want the team to play. right footed CM at right side, he will link right wide players at his right side more. Left foot CM at right side, he will link center players at his left side more.

And if you turned on "run at defense", players will try to dribbling to his footed side.

CMs should do so, but they don't (or, better, seems they rarely do what you wrote). At least, viewing their movements in highlights (I don't have much time to play and view extended match).

Run at defense: considering what I observing in match engine actually (and better reported in Black Hawk topic) I wouldn't active this option in low categories, unless having a technical level better than average (player under pressure tends to have an "irrational" manage of ball possession).

Here are the statistics updated halfway through the championship. The numbers are absolutely good, sometimes I immediately score and spread, in other cases, despite being in full control of the match, my forwards are unable to convert some good shots on goal into goals.

Observing the statistics of some good matches (away victories against the big teams like Benevento and, in the cup, against Cittadella) I notice that I have a problem with crosses (the statistic successful ones/cross attempted are worst, compared to the opponents) while the other statistics (passes, tackles and dogfights) are generally in line with opponents, if not even Better.

It may depend on technical lack of my team.

Edited November 20, 2025 by oskarsson81

[rhnzl7]

On 19/11/2025 at 05:18, Baciccia said:

Important: this is not a tactic built to win exploiting the game engine.

This is a tactic built to play as intended, a classic-clear-symmetric 4-4-2, a very difficult way to play in FMM actually.

 

So i decided to build it to have fun and at the end of the day, to start a career using a self made tactic trying to use 442.

 

Anyway, its still under development.

 

I Made a lot of tests, changing positions of the players many times, offensive and defensive approaches, and these are the results.

 

Lets start with the tactic:

 

 

 

As you can see, absolutely easy positions.
Everyone in the right place, symmetric, balanced.

I tried a lot with different roles, especially for the midfielders, but at the end this gave me the best results at all.
CM are balanced, then dont shoot too much unfortunateley, but they do great helping the defense (and is fine for me since i have 4 offensive players).

Im anyway still trying to use other than CM.

 

FB are needed and important: with other options i used to take more goals than expected.

 

CMs im trying are close to be BBM, with some shooting.

 

Really important: the wings are, de facto, very close to be forwarders. Shooting is needed.

Dribbling is a must. 

To give an example, Dobre is amazing as W. 

Fatawu was not so good as W.

 

During the match, the wings will often cut in the middle but in accord to their preferred foot.

And then.. shoot.

If they are at the start of an action, they will pass the ball to the same side AF, who shots with the correct foot.

 

This is very important for the whole tactic:

Left FB, W and AF —> left foot

Right FB, W and AF —> right foot

Im still testing the correct foot for CM, but currently i m trying opposites.

 

Some results in the season where i set up this tactic.

Important: until January (Parma) i was trying some different positions, with good results but not so impressive.

At the end of the season, i was focused on champions and coppa Italia since serie A was already won (and my B team was not so good).

 

 

I won serie A, champions league, and coppa Italia with Sampdoria (3rd season. I won serie A in the second season with same tactic but different position, less performing).

Not totally perfect, but my team was not so good to win everything actually.

 

Recommended players: Harder as left AF (35 goal in the season), Dobre as right W, Eicchhorn as CM, Vina as left FB… not incredibile in general, but worked fantastic.

its very important to have/find the right players: if you dont use the correct guys, probably this tactic will not work well. If you find them, as i did (still not for 11/11) then is great

 

Hope it works also for you, since 442 is a nice and difficult tactic.

Still checking other positions rather than 2CM and 2AF.

 

Tactic is still under development, any advices are more than welcome

any right back suggestion

[__perun.b__]

3 hours ago, rhnzl7 said:

any right back suggestion

Hakimi.

[Baciccia]

I Made more test with low level team.

This is the second season with wealdstone im currently playing. Right player for specific positions, but only free agents and some loans. (Hard turnover in cup)

i honestly still prefer using offensive than control, but it works both way.

 

Edited November 23, 2025 by Baciccia

[Resurgam]

On 20/11/2025 at 05:49, oskarsson81 said:

CMs should do so, but they don't (or, better, seems they rarely do what you wrote). At least, viewing their movements in highlights (I don't have much time to play and view extended match).

Run at defense: considering what I observing in match engine actually (and better reported in Black Hawk topic) I wouldn't active this option in low categories, unless having a technical level better than average (player under pressure tends to have an "irrational" manage of ball possession).

Here are the statistics updated halfway through the championship. The numbers are absolutely good, sometimes I immediately score and spread, in other cases, despite being in full control of the match, my forwards are unable to convert some good shots on goal into goals.

Observing the statistics of some good matches (away victories against the big teams like Benevento and, in the cup, against Cittadella) I notice that I have a problem with crosses (the statistic successful ones/cross attempted are worst, compared to the opponents) while the other statistics (passes, tackles and dogfights) are generally in line with opponents, if not even Better.

It may depend on technical lack of my team.

Is this all with control mentality? 

[Baciccia]

I’m Still testing the tactic, this is my season (league two, wealdstone).

At the end of the season (last 10 matches) i starded turnover with some young players in key roles (CM, CD).

in the last third of the season i verified the importance of CM: if i change position, i receive 1/2 goal per match. Same if CMs are not good.

this, mixed with offensive approach, made me have a not-so-good defence.

additionally, if the forwarders are very good in low level seasons, then the correct foot is less important (left forwarder in loan, right foot, 37 goal) even if the tactic doesn’t work as it should (i prefer the team plays as intended as explained in my first post).

ill try the next season probably with control from the beginning of the match but the results look great (considering this is a linear 442)

[Kiliminjaro]

Corner tactics? 

[mr.duracell 11]

On 25.11.2025 at 03:39, Baciccia said:

Hala taktiği deniyorum, bu benim sezonum (ikinci lig, wealdstone).

Sezon sonunda (son 10 maç) bazı genç oyuncuların kilit rollerde (CM, CD) yer almasıyla birlikte kadroda bir değişiklik oldu.

Sezonun son üçte birinde CM'nin önemini doğruladım: eğer pozisyon değiştirirsem maç başına 1/2 gol alıyorum. CM'ler iyi değilse de aynı şey geçerli.

Bu, hücum yaklaşımıyla birleşince, pek de iyi olmayan bir savunmaya sahip olmama neden oldu.

ayrıca, eğer forvetler düşük seviyeli sezonlarda çok iyiyse, taktik olması gerektiği gibi çalışmasa bile (ilk mesajımda açıkladığım gibi takımın amaçlandığı gibi oynamasını tercih ederim) doğru ayak daha az önemlidir (kiralık sol forvet, sağ ayak, 37 gol).

Muhtemelen maçın başından itibaren kontrolü ele alarak gelecek sezon deneyeceğim ama sonuçlar harika görünüyor (bunun doğrusal 442 olduğunu düşünürsek)

Hello friend, have you made any additional edits? Are these the results of the tactic on the first page?

[Baciccia]

16 hours ago, mr.duracell 11 said:

Hello friend, have you made any additional edits? Are these the results of the tactic on the first page?

Same settings, players on loan and free agent but anyway my team was for sure in the top 5 so it was pretty easy.

currently in league one i have a bad team and im having some issues with my defense (2CD and GK very very bad) so im trying to fix something, but im first anyway

[N10_]

Hi mate, what a tactic you've made. I used it with QPR in the Championship for 2 seasons, where I finished 5th in the first season and lost in the play-off final, then the next season I won the league with 111 points and even made it to the FA Cup Quarter Finals but lost to Spurs 2-0. I even beat Crystal Palace 3-1 who were 5th in the league at the time and only lost to Arsenal 1-0 where the goal was from a corner.

 

I must say I didn't use the exact same one, I made one of my strikers a Target Forward and also used opposite-footed strikers up front and opposite-footed wingers as well.

 

Great results, but I'll have to change the tactics for my 3rd season because in the Premier League, half of the teams have a 4-2-3-1 tactics and that was the only one i struggled against in my 2nd season, which Brighton had.

Thanks for such a great tactic, it really helped!