NevStar
04-25-2003, 10:30 AM
Seeing that I beat a div II team with this formation, I think the defensive-oriented tactics (5-4-1, 4-5-1) are highly undervalued.
The 5-4-1 is a highly useful tactic for those training defending, as it allows 10 players to get training every week.
Let's look at what people say the weaknesses of the 5-4-1 is:
The midfield is weakened:
Rather than moving a forward directly to defender, I move a forward to inner mid, and a winger to defender. This increases the strength of the midfield, while giving up the attack on one wing. In addition, playing a central defender or two offensively will also improve the midfield.
Very weak attack:
Although there is no doubt that central attack is severely weakened, you can still get strong wing attacks if you play wingers offensively. If the opponents wing attack is weak, you could also play a wingback offensively.
an example tactic would be
offensive normal offensive defensive
offensive offensive offensive xtra defender
normal xtra inner mid
The personnel needed to play the 5-4-1 in competitive matches would be rather strict:
Defenders/Wingbacks
Young - They're your trainees.
- Having one or two with strong playmaking/stamina to play offensively in the central defense would help your midfield.
- One wingback with an inadequate or better winger rating
Midfield
It's key to find midfielders with very good playmaking, as you will be outmanned in this area. Look for older inner mids, as they are often much cheaper. As far as secondary skills go, passing is far more important than defense.
Wingers
This position, I feel, is the single most important position on the formation. You MUST get a player with strong winger/passing skills. Even at the sacrifice of playmaking. This guy will be the source of all your offense.
Forward
No real requirements here, although a guy with [Unpredictable] or [Head] will be good for some event goals
Coach
It's key to get a coach who "goes all out." Your defense will be strong enough, you need the offensive boost much more.
Clearly, you won't win any matches 9-0 and with the way tie-breakers are handled, you're at a disadvantage in determining promotion. But, the important thing for low-division teams is the long-term improvement of your team. And the added training of 2 or 4 more guys is key to that.
I doubt this tactic would work in the upper divisions, or against other defensive oriented teams, where your opponents defense is strong enough to force you to using 2 forwards. But against lower division teams, who all use the 3-5-2, who all have much stronger attacks than defense, who all usually have relatively weak midfields, this tactic could work.
The 5-4-1 is a highly useful tactic for those training defending, as it allows 10 players to get training every week.
Let's look at what people say the weaknesses of the 5-4-1 is:
The midfield is weakened:
Rather than moving a forward directly to defender, I move a forward to inner mid, and a winger to defender. This increases the strength of the midfield, while giving up the attack on one wing. In addition, playing a central defender or two offensively will also improve the midfield.
Very weak attack:
Although there is no doubt that central attack is severely weakened, you can still get strong wing attacks if you play wingers offensively. If the opponents wing attack is weak, you could also play a wingback offensively.
an example tactic would be
offensive normal offensive defensive
offensive offensive offensive xtra defender
normal xtra inner mid
The personnel needed to play the 5-4-1 in competitive matches would be rather strict:
Defenders/Wingbacks
Young - They're your trainees.
- Having one or two with strong playmaking/stamina to play offensively in the central defense would help your midfield.
- One wingback with an inadequate or better winger rating
Midfield
It's key to find midfielders with very good playmaking, as you will be outmanned in this area. Look for older inner mids, as they are often much cheaper. As far as secondary skills go, passing is far more important than defense.
Wingers
This position, I feel, is the single most important position on the formation. You MUST get a player with strong winger/passing skills. Even at the sacrifice of playmaking. This guy will be the source of all your offense.
Forward
No real requirements here, although a guy with [Unpredictable] or [Head] will be good for some event goals
Coach
It's key to get a coach who "goes all out." Your defense will be strong enough, you need the offensive boost much more.
Clearly, you won't win any matches 9-0 and with the way tie-breakers are handled, you're at a disadvantage in determining promotion. But, the important thing for low-division teams is the long-term improvement of your team. And the added training of 2 or 4 more guys is key to that.
I doubt this tactic would work in the upper divisions, or against other defensive oriented teams, where your opponents defense is strong enough to force you to using 2 forwards. But against lower division teams, who all use the 3-5-2, who all have much stronger attacks than defense, who all usually have relatively weak midfields, this tactic could work.