FC 25 SBC Calculator & Meta Tactics

Alright guys, welcome back to the channel! I'm back again with a new custom tactics video. Honestly, I didn't really want to make this one, but I feel obligated to share this with you because the 5-4-1 is unfortunately back in FC 25, and most likely in competitive FC 25 as well. Which is more bad news for me, and for the viewers of the FC Pro, obviously. If you match me, you gotta put them off, because I don't want to play against a five-back. But let's get into it.

Formation and General Setup

So, obviously, the custom preset is "Custom" because we want to change things. We're going with the 5-4-1 flat.

Build Up Play: Unbalanced.
Defensive Style: Also Unbalanced.
Goalkeeper: Just put him on "Default" and "Defend," not "Sweeper Keeper" or anything. We're not playing with a high line, so it's not really needed.

Defensive Line and Player Instructions

Center Backs: All on "Defend." We also want defenders with a "PlayStyle Plus" role, that helps as well.
Left and Right Backs: Ideally, you want attacking fullbacks. Think Frimpong, Hakimi, Davies on the left, whoever is an attacking fullback. Maybe Dodo for starters. Those are the kind of fullbacks you want because they've got to help you out in the offense. Play them on "Join the Attack" so they get involved in the attacking part of play. The focus is "Unbalanced."

Midfield Instructions

Attacking Midfielder: The better attacking midfielder is on "Playmaker" and "Roaming." Obviously, every role I mention is better if you use a player that's got that role as a "PlayStyle Plus" already, because then they'll be better at what they're doing. In this case, Foden's got the "Playmaker Plus" in Center Mid.
Holding Midfielder: Jude is our holding midfielder, and he's on "Defend."
Left and Right Midfielders: As I said, the fullbacks are helping us attack, so what you want to do is put the left and right mids to "Inside Forward" so they don't really take up the same spaces as the fullbacks and get closer to the goal. So they're on "Inside Forward" and "Get in Behind" so they stay higher up. When you put them on "Balanced," I feel like they drop a little bit more, and we just want them for the attack.

Attacking Instructions

Striker: Son is going to be on "Advanced Forward" because he also has the "Complete" PlayStyle Plus. It's something I'm experimenting with, and I like it a lot.

Gameplay Examples: Attacking

As I said, the fullback is going to have help.

Example 1: Frimpong is bursting out on the right-hand side, taking up the space, finds the pass inside to Son, then the pass that is more attacking minded pops up there inside the box, and we can lay it off to the perfect finish.
Example 2: Again, Frimpong on the right, taking up space, getting forward, getting forward, and then obviously finding the pass inside, which we manage to do. We keep passing it, then he doesn't have side, we anticipate on that pass back to Hansson, we anticipate also on the keeper movement and then finish it near post.
Example 3: Again, Frimpong on the right, pass it to the inside with Hansson, we fake him by going back, then we can pass it again. This is the second time we do this where Putas pops up for the extra pass and then from the edge of the box we can finish that. I understand if you don't have the coins for Putas, that shot might be a bit more difficult, but the buildup and stuff is again the same for everyone.
Example 4: Again, Frimpong on the right, as I said, first taking up space because that's really important, forcing his fullback to go with us, then we find our winger, and then yeah, he just does a segment press, I believe, which opens up some space for us to Sprint Boost in. Obviously, it's very OP, the L1 Sprint Boost for normal controller settings, it's L1. I don't know if you have another controller setting. Talking about controller settings, we've made a video about the best camera and controller settings in the game, check that out as well.
Example 5: Again, we find Frimpong who then looks for the pass inside. That's basically the thing of this formation, you've got to find your fullback and then look for the pass inside, which we do, manage to get to Nico Williams, you haven't even seen in this video, draw the player and then finish it. I think he's expensive, Nico, if you manage to have the coins, I think he's a really good player because "Rapid Plus" is really OP.

Gameplay Examples: Defending

So, what's important, obviously, is a five-back shape.

Example 1: Your midfield has got to be in front of your defense, and in this case, he plays through strike, we close him down with our midfield, he has nowhere to go to, so that's what you want to do, you want to close them in into uncomfortable positions.
Example 2: Again, running B A midfielder, this time we do it wrong because Putas is actually on the left, which obviously now gives him space in the middle, but we compensate with Nico Williams there. Obviously, we still got the five at the back, which you want to always keep in shape as we do here, and then we force him out wide where Frimpong is to obviously stop it.
Example 3: This next clip is more of something you have to be aware of. In this case, he dribbles, dribbles, dribbles, everyone is offside, then you've got to be aggressive, force him to make the bad pass to someone who's offside, and we win the ball back. It's not really something I defend really well, but it's something I'm aware of. He has no options to pass to, then I'm being aggressive, then I force him to make a move, force him making a bad move in which we do and manage to win the ball back. So also play with it offside a little bit.
Example 4: The last clip, as you can see, you don't really have to do anything. I just select Nico, I'm covering the Sprint Boost a bit in that area where people most likely want to Sprint Boost, and then just stay in front of the defense, he has nowhere to go, and you win the ball back easily. That's probably how you're going to win back most balls.