Best for: Counter attacking players
Going forward: This formation carried me to a 70% win rate last year and, unlike some old FIFA favourites, is still worthwhile this year.
The secret to this tactic is all in the marauding wing backs. FC 24 so far has been a war of attrition in the centre of midfield and the dribbling nerf means it’s much harder to escape your marker than in previous years. 5-2-1-2, however, gives you an out ball nine times out of 10, with the wing backs in the system almost always being available to continue your attack.
Keeping it tight at the back: While this isn’t a complete gung-ho formation, you should be proactive in your defending by operating on the front foot. The team instruction ‘Pressure on Heavy Touch’ is a godsend this year, allowing you to suffocate any ponderous build-up play from the opposition. If you want to keep things a little conservative, set your full backs to only join the attack at your command by having them set to ‘Stay Back While Attacking’. Then, a tap of the L1/LB button can set them free on the flanks.
What you need: Wing backs with bags of stamina and high attacking work rate are a must. Alphonso Davies is the prototype for this sort of formation.