A very specific and nostalgic topic!
For a more realistic experience without engine manipulation, these "centralized" formations are the most effective. The 01/02 engine favors narrow, wingerless setups. Championship Manager 2001/2002 Forums cm 01 02 patch 3.9 68 best tactic
The magic happened in transition. When the opposing team inevitably lost the ball to your overloaded midfield, the match engine triggered a counter-attack logic that the AI goalkeepers could not handle. A very specific and nostalgic topic
Because the MCs don't run forward, they sit deep and recycle possession. This prevents the dreaded "hole" in midfield that standard 4-2-4s suffer from. It acts like a 4-4-2 defensively but a 2-4-4 offensively. cm 01 02 patch 3.9 68 best tactic
GK / RB / CB / CB / LB / DM / CM / AML / AMC / AMR / ST