Formations and positions
The twelve positions, the ten formations, and how wing-backs fit as sided roles.
Every player has one natural position, drawn from twelve position codes across four lines. The lineup screen fills a formation from these positions, and wing-backs are first-class sided roles, not a stretch on the full-back slot.
The twelve positions
Keeper: GK. Defenders: CB, LB, RB, and the wing-backs LWB and RWB. Midfield: DM, CM, AM. Attack: LW, RW, ST.
Ten formations
You pick your formation on the lineup screen, and you can change it before any matchday. There are ten to choose from:
| Formation | Defence | Midfield | Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-4-2 | LB, two CB, RB | LM, two CM, RM | Two ST |
| 4-3-3 | LB, two CB, RB | DM, two CM | LW, ST, RW |
| 4-2-3-1 | LB, two CB, RB | Two DM, then LW, AM, RW | ST |
| 3-5-2 | Three CB | LWB, three CM, RWB | Two ST |
| 5-3-2 | LWB, three CB, RWB | Three CM | Two ST |
| 4-5-1 | LB, two CB, RB | LM, three CM, RM | ST |
| 3-4-3 | Three CB | LM, two CM, RM | LW, ST, RW |
| 4-1-4-1 | LB, two CB, RB | DM, then LM, two CM, RM | ST |
| 4-4-1-1 | LB, two CB, RB | LM, two CM, RM, then AM | ST |
| 5-4-1 | LWB, three CB, RWB | LM, two CM, RM | ST |
How positions fill the slots
Each slot in a formation has one natural position, and most slots match the position of the same name. Two need a note. The wide midfield slots, LM and RM, are natural for a left or right winger (LW, RW), so a winger drops into a flat four or five without any cost. The wing-back slots, LWB and RWB, only appear in the back three and back five shapes (3-5-2, 5-3-2, 5-4-1), and a full-back or winger on the same side covers them as Adaptable.
Wing-backs are sided roles
LWB and RWB aren't just "full-back but higher". They're their own positions with their own natural fit, and like LB/RB they want a matching foot on their side. A left-back can cover left wing-back and vice versa without much cost, but neither is a natural fit for the opposite side.