I've only used 4-4-2 Diamond with Real Madrid and it has worked good with wins over Arsenal,Barcelona and Atletico Madrid

It depends on your strikers...

I can see why IC was abusing you

quote Lone Warrior

We all pretty much know how 4-5-1 was the way to go in FM08 and 4-4-2 was the way to go in FM09.

I conquer both FM08 and FM09 with 4-3-3
Just staring out with Lazio, testing with 4-1-1-2-2, so far pretty good.

I know generic formation like 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 works for pretty much everybody as 99% of the team will have players to fit that formation - question is, is it really THAT effective as oppose to other formation that designed specifically with the style of play that you want + the players that you have?

i rotate between the two, and i think 4-5-1 has just shaded it so far.

I've had success with both the 4-4-2 (diamond mainly) and the 4-5-1, although the latter is more of a 4-1-2-2-1 with 2 AMC's playing behind Anelka (Drogba is on International duty atm). It's working surprisingly well though, better than I thought it would and will probably stick to it considering I'm unable to sign anyone with the whole transfer blocking. Using one striker might be the sensible thing to do.

But yeah, I don't see an obvious winner as of yet.

I think with the addition of the new tactics creator, I think it'll be much easier to build tactics that own the game. I think you will see many wide variations of formations that really work on '10.

Me personally though, not that I've played FM10 that much so far, but my version of 4-5-1 seems to be working pretty well.

Using 4-4-2 diamond atm, mid-table after about 5 games with Sunderland, beat Man City 3-1!!

so far, only played in 3 different saves between the demo and the full game. My variant of 4-5-1 with two attacking wingers and a defensive midfielder, does not work so well on 2010. I have had most success on this game, although I have only played a handful of games in each save, was 4-4-1-1 with Parma. A narrow 4-3-1-2 works awfully in the lower leagues in my Waltham Abbey game.

Started as Bolton, used the creator to create a 4-5-1 and then edited bits when I feel like doing so. Have only played friendlies but the team is playing exactly how I want them to and I'm confident of doing well in the season. Will report back.

4-4-2, target support man up front (pavlychenko/anelka in my case), poacher attacker alongside (owen in my case)

I've switched from my beloved 4-5-1 to either a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-2-2 and I have had great success with both.

The extra versatility on the tactics editor this year really opens up a world of possibilities.