Which formation will reign supreme in Dream Team? More options than ever before this season
UNLEASH your inner Pep Guardiola with Dream Team this season!
There are no fewer than SEVEN formations available to you in Dream Team this season, allowing you to flex your tactical might to the full extent.
The first thing to note is that your formation will change dynamically when you're creating your team, depending on which players you select.
For example, if you're looking at a classic 4-4-2 and you've already picked four defenders, simply select another defender to switch to a formation with five at the back - see screenshots below.
This season, you have the choice between the following seven formations:
- 3-4-3 (most attacking)
- 3-5-2
- 4-3-3
- 4-4-2
- 4-5-1
- 5-3-2
- 5-4-1 (most defensive)
The players you select will have a far greater impact on your fortunes than your formation but there are some important factors to consider.
Last season was a relatively lean one for defenders compared to 2021/22 so it may be smart to start with just three defenders, at least for the first few Gameweeks before form is established.
Results are harder to predict at the start of the campaign when teams return from their summer breaks with new-look squads and, in some cases, new head coaches.
Relying heavily on clean sheets during this time of uncertainty is fraught with danger.
However, there are times when maximising your defensive assets is the best possible strategy.
When you activate the Park the Bus Booster, all your defenders will have their points doubled throughout the upcoming Gameweek, essentially giving your several extra captains.
Clearly it would smart to employ either the 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 formation in conjunction with Park the Bus to maximise the number of players eligible for double points.
Dream Team's scoring system has been revolutionised this season and one key changes will be suitable rewards for the game's best defensive midfielders.
Previously, the contributions of players like Declan Rice (£3.5m) and Moises Caicedo (£2.5m) were overlooked in the realm of Dream Team but with one point for every two successful tackles and bonus points determined by metrics such as interceptions, blocks and fouls won, these players should receive appropriate returns that reflect their importance to their respective teams going forward.
With this in mind, it will be interesting to see how a formation with five in midfield compares to the traditional alternatives.
It may be the case that one or two defensive midfielders provide healthy returns while allowing enough budget elsewhere to pair Erling Haaland (£8.5m) with either Mohamed Salah (£7m) or Harry Kane (£7m) in a premium strike partnership.
With unlimited transfers available prior to Gameweek 1, your best bet is to experiment with all the formations in an attempt to find the one best suited to your strategy.