you can't position towards the back if your attacking though.
you are forced by the default formations to have your army nearer the front.
Experienced players know this and take the advantage fro mthe attacker by moving their armies in close but with complete control over positioning. I am sure this is not what creative had in mind when they launched the multiplayer battles and it takes the realism out of the game completely.
START OF A NEW CAMPAIGN. MINIMUM DISTANCES BETWEEN ARMIES ON MULTIPLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!