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4-5-1 formation, as shown above, features 4 defensive players, 5 midfield players, and 1 striker, hence the name 4-5-1. Since it offers many players in the midfield section, it is usually used by teams that want to win possession in the middle, and pass and move their way to the goal. When defending, the players stay wide, and cover zones of the pitch, covering a lot of pitch that way, and since two CB's are staying rather far from one another, the DM player drops in between. When defending, there is always at least five players defending. In attack, this formation features only one striker, so it is imperative to get more players into the box for crosses to be effective, as the lone striker stands very little chance of scoring against 4 or 5 defenders. The only strategy in fm that offers wide width is overload, so my suggestions for the roles are based on it.
Player roles:
GK should be a sweeper keeper. He can start counter attacks with through balls, and also fullfill the role of a sweeper, with a pushed up defensive line.
Two CB's should be central defenders for keeping possesion, and one can be a ballplaying defender if you have a player capable of playing the role. The BPD can initiate counter attacks. With a high defensive line, they should do the offside trap. You can also use two BPD, if you have players of sufficient calibre.
FB players should be wing backs with automatic duties. With overload strategy, they will be on attack when automatic is selected. The players above them are acting as inside forwards, and cutting inside, so the wingbacks should provide width.
DM player should be a destroyer, meaning he needs to have a defend duty. He should have solid passing skills and great composure to remain calm and hold up the ball until attack organizes. Therefore, a deeplying playmaker with defend duty is preferable.
CM players should both be doing offensive and defensive work. They should get into the box for crossess to help the lone forward, and harrie attacking midfielders in defence. Therefore, two box to box midfielders are required, but with different ppms. One of them should have playmaker ppms. It is imperative they are not close together, and stay wide from each other. You can also use 2 deep lying playmakers with support duties, but in that case, you should play on the counter and with poacher or advanced forward as striker.
Wide players need to be smart, with great decions making and passing and creativity. They need no physicall attributes, and they should preferably do both crosses and cut inside. So adv.playmaker with attack duty is the obvious choice.
Striker can play many roles, depending on the player at your disposal. In case you are using at least two players with run from deep often, he can play as a deeplying forward or trequarista, and if not, he should be a poacher or advanced forward.. I beleive Messi plays as a poacher for Barcelona here, as he is prolly the best poacher in the world with at least 15 in all primary stats required for the role, and in fact being the best poacher in the world.
Team Settings:
It is imperative that your team keeps shape and cover zones of the pitch. Therefore, zonal marking and stick to position is required. The playmaker roles don't do roaming by default. If using stick to position, more disciplined creative freedom is required. If you are pressing that much with press more and overload strategy, you need to be carefull in the tackle, and using more cautios tackling will actually set all your players to medium tackling, so it is the recommended option.
Shouts:
none needed, if you followed the above advice, you should play exactly like barca.
Note:
The 4-5-1 formation can be used without short passing, and by using direct passing, but in that case, you should use counter strategy which offers narrow width.
4-5-1 formation, as shown above, features 4 defensive players, 5 midfield players, and 1 striker, hence the name 4-5-1. Since it offers many players in the midfield section, it is usually used by teams that want to win possession in the middle, and pass and move their way to the goal. When defending, the players stay wide, and cover zones of the pitch, covering a lot of pitch that way, and since two CB's are staying rather far from one another, the DM player drops in between. When defending, there is always at least five players defending. In attack, this formation features only one striker, so it is imperative to get more players into the box for crosses to be effective, as the lone striker stands very little chance of scoring against 4 or 5 defenders. The only strategy in fm that offers wide width is overload, so my suggestions for the roles are based on it.
Player roles:
GK should be a sweeper keeper. He can start counter attacks with through balls, and also fullfill the role of a sweeper, with a pushed up defensive line.
Two CB's should be central defenders for keeping possesion, and one can be a ballplaying defender if you have a player capable of playing the role. The BPD can initiate counter attacks. With a high defensive line, they should do the offside trap. You can also use two BPD, if you have players of sufficient calibre.
FB players should be wing backs with automatic duties. With overload strategy, they will be on attack when automatic is selected. The players above them are acting as inside forwards, and cutting inside, so the wingbacks should provide width.
DM player should be a destroyer, meaning he needs to have a defend duty. He should have solid passing skills and great composure to remain calm and hold up the ball until attack organizes. Therefore, a deeplying playmaker with defend duty is preferable.
CM players should both be doing offensive and defensive work. They should get into the box for crossess to help the lone forward, and harrie attacking midfielders in defence. Therefore, two box to box midfielders are required, but with different ppms. One of them should have playmaker ppms. It is imperative they are not close together, and stay wide from each other. You can also use 2 deep lying playmakers with support duties, but in that case, you should play on the counter and with poacher or advanced forward as striker.
Wide players need to be smart, with great decions making and passing and creativity. They need no physicall attributes, and they should preferably do both crosses and cut inside. So adv.playmaker with attack duty is the obvious choice.
Striker can play many roles, depending on the player at your disposal. In case you are using at least two players with run from deep often, he can play as a deeplying forward or trequarista, and if not, he should be a poacher or advanced forward.. I beleive Messi plays as a poacher for Barcelona here, as he is prolly the best poacher in the world with at least 15 in all primary stats required for the role, and in fact being the best poacher in the world.
Team Settings:
It is imperative that your team keeps shape and cover zones of the pitch. Therefore, zonal marking and stick to position is required. The playmaker roles don't do roaming by default. If using stick to position, more disciplined creative freedom is required. If you are pressing that much with press more and overload strategy, you need to be carefull in the tackle, and using more cautios tackling will actually set all your players to medium tackling, so it is the recommended option.
Shouts:
none needed, if you followed the above advice, you should play exactly like barca.
Note:
The 4-5-1 formation can be used without short passing, and by using direct passing, but in that case, you should use counter strategy which offers narrow width.
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