For those of you who have used or use a 3-4-3

[PilotMan]

I am considering a tactics change to run the 3-4-3 as a secondary formation. As a middie trainer, I want to make sure that I can still train 3 full IM with this formation. Looking at the tactics, it would seem that I can, but I want to make sure.

[FrogMan]

you can and it is recommended to play 3 inner mids, simply to get a reasonnable midfield rating...

FM

[PilotMan]

I thought so, just needed some reassurance. I have 3 consecutive walkovers (D.IV nonetheless), so I will have a chance to improve it, I may wait until next year though.

[-Panther]

the most recommended way to run 3-4-3 is the 'sissy 3-4-3' as brandished by IndyRacing. Just move a defender to IM and a winger to Forward.

[terpkristin]

Originally posted by -Panther
the most recommended way to run 3-4-3 is the 'sissy 3-4-3' as brandished by IndyRacing. Just move a defender to IM and a winger to Forward.

What makes this a "sissy 3-4-3"? Actually, this brings up a question I've had for awhile: when you do these lopsided lineups, what is the effect? Should you play your IM on the weak side towards the wing to try and make up for some of the loss? Maybe the other side IM, too, and then make the remaining wing offensive?

Just thinking from a perspective of not wanting to lose much of the midfield contribution to defense but stay in an attack mode...

~terpk

[Easy Mac]

Its sissy because your losing a winger and replacing him with another inner mid. A non-sissy move would be to move a CD into an IM role, and move an IM to Forward. Or move guys up along either wing.

[-Panther]

It's known as the 'sissy' version cause you abandon a position to get the 3rd midfielder as opposed to a TM winger. IndyRacing runs it and Cyclones (GM-George) runs 3-4-3 with 2 IM and a TM winger. George and Indy brandished it the sissy version.

Sissy version also applies to any non formation without 5 midfielders (3 IM, 2 Wingers) played with 3 IMs ie:

anything other than 3-5-2, 4-5-1, 5-5-0, 2-5-3, etc... played with 3 Inner-Midfielders is called the 'sissy' version as you abandon a position for the 3rd inner-midfielder.

I usually play 3-4-3 with 3 IMs by making the CD on the side I move my winger to forward as extra-IM.

This allows me to have my Offensive IM on the strong defensive side and a normal extra-IM along with a normal OR defensive IM on the weakened side.

However, to help alleviate the attack loss on the abandoned winger side, some people play that IM offensive to help add to the attack.

[daedalus]

One very important thing to keep in mind is regional advantage. As far as I can tell, you seem to have almost a full level upgrade when playing at home (against a team out of region). Why is this important? Well, if you play with a symmetric 3-4-3 - that is, 2 inner midfielders and 2 wingers - and you have pretty good midfielders, you should be able to do okay at home. On the road, that's another issue. For a concrete example, look at a team from my serie, Eldersburg Town Blue Eagles (71608). This team does incredibly well at home and in explicably fail on the road. Looking at his past matches, it's more than likely because his midfield drops to inadequate on the road as oppose to the passable at home*. One possible solution for this, if you have the personnel, may be to play a symmetric 3-4-3 (2 inner midfielders, 2 wingers) at home and an asymmetric 3-4-3 (3 inner midfielders, 1 winger) on the road. Just food for thought. :)

* From the Files of "STUPID THINGS PEOPLE DO", I told him the likely reason (road midfield woes) 2 games before I play him again. I told him because he's pretty cool and we've been competing in this same serie for a few seasons but, still, that's incredibly stupid. Me, dumbass.

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by daedalus
* From the Files of "STUPID THINGS PEOPLE DO", I told him the likely reason (road midfield woes) 2 games before I play him again. I told him because he's pretty cool and we've been competing in this same serie for a few seasons but, still, that's incredibly stupid. Me, dumbass.

LOL! You're too nice daed...

You do bring a good point, and one that I'm just realizing. I had never realized to what extent home field advantage is important on the midfield rating. Now that you've mentionned it, and looking back, all my 3 solid midfield happened at home. And now I realize that the second half of the season will be very tough with 4 away games and 3 home games...

FM