Alright lads, these 95 depth 4-1-4-1 custom tactics are absolutely ridiculous, and I can't wait to show you them. Let's get into it!
Formation and General Tactics
Diving in with the tactics, lads, and the 4-1-4-1. This is probably one of my favorite formations in the game. I've used it in the past to kind of see out games, but I've taken more of an approach, especially since I've got Packy Matuidi who's got holding plus plus. I don't really like him in that center mid position because he doesn't really have many of the play styles I like, but I want to get the most out of that holding Plus+ and I've seen a lot of people talk about the 995 depth meta, and I've never really given it a go. I thought I'd just lob it on. I've done my qualification, I've got all my wins in Elite Rivals, so we used this formation for the whole of it, and I can confirm, lad, 955 depth is absolutely ridiculous and it needs to be patched. It's just insane, lads, the way you step up on people is just unbelievable. The game does 90% of the work for you, which is a bit rubbish to be honest. It shouldn't really do that, it helps you out a lot. I have always been using like 61 because it's a good balance, but I just found people were always on top of me. So if you're playing against someone that's using 95 depth, this is probably the best counter to it is to push them back.
The buildup style we live on is balanced, lads, again as always. I don't really like short passing or counter, although if you're struggling with the passing game, lads, and you want to improve at passing, put in short passing on for a little while, it's pretty good. It will get you used to making those short passes. But for the most part, we use the bumpers to bring players closer and send them on runs.
Player Roles and Instructions
Let's dive into the roles, lads.
- Goalkeeper: We have him on sweeper keeper Plus+. I do think this is the best role for the goalkeeper. I think sweeper keeper they cover a bit more of that box area, whereas they just the goalkeeper they're a bit scared and they stay on their line. So you want someone that dominates that area a bit better and they don't really make too many errors, especially when they got the Plus or the plus plus version of sweeper keeper, lads, especially using like quar wise probably the most broken goalkeeper in the game, 50k and you've got yourself probably the best goalkeeper in the game.
- Right Back: My right back is on fullback balanced. He'll step up now and again, but for the most part, he'll just stay back unless I trigger the run. I like Kundai in this position because one, I can put us into three backs if I wanted to. I've not got any three back set up now, but it's always nice to have the option. He's just great in the tackle, especially against those faster wingers. With fullback plus plus as well, you're getting animations and movements out of him that you wouldn't normally get out of a normal fullback as well as the strength side, lads, the amount of times we've been able to push people off the board with Kundai, it is nice. I recommend though your defensive forbat, lads, is more physical and able to push people off the ball.
- Center Backs: The two center backs are both on Defender, and that is because we just like them having just stay in this area. One, it protects your stamina, especially if you go deep into a game, your stamina is going to benefit if you're just using Defender, whereas if you use like stopper because they stepping out a lot or like deep ball plane Defender, the stamina does get hit a lot a lot more. I wouldn't recommend, lads, if you've got someone like, I don't know who's got stopper plus plus, but if you got like Campbell for me and he's on Defender plus plus, you really want to put your other defender on like stopper because he's got a plus or plus plus version. I don't really recommend it. You probably want to have both Defenders on the same role because what will happen, you'll get one step up, one stay, and they'll be able to play in between you. If you've got one on stopper, you need both on stopper and you probably need replacement on the bench if you're playing stopper on both because they will get extremely tired. So that's why I just recommend leaving on Defender, lad, and make sure they do have at least a plus in it because it does help a lot with the animations and just the marking of runs.
- Left Back: The left back is on Wing back and he essentially steps up a little bit into our Midfield, especially with the way we've got two playmakers. They Don't Really push on as such, they're not they're not crazy overcommitting, but they do get forward. So having the wing back that almost steps into Midfield and then further when we trigger the runs is really nice. Capa Wing back Plus+ is a super, super useful option in that, but plenty of good left backs, lads, if you want to use like uh Meny or someone like that, it doesn't really matter if they haven't got Wing back plus or plus plus. It's just nice to have that option step up into Midfield. I I definitely recommend though, lads, that the player you have as the wing back, they are like good on the ball because you know the game play is garbage at the best of times, so you really want them to be decent on the ball, otherwise they are going to just be clunky and get caught out.
- CDM: The CDM is basically going to be holding down the midfield for us as you'd expect, and he's just on holding Focus defend, and he's just going to literally sit in front of our center backs at all times. And as you can see, he's like that that Cornerstone in Midfield that is going to be used to cut out the play. Recommend you have them have like a A plus or a plus plus in this Ro of course, L. I was lucky enough to get Matuidi, and he's insane because of the plus plus, but you just want someone that's an out and out CDM, a Bowl winner in Midfield, lads, and I think having really high interceptions in these solo midfielder roles is really, really good.
- Center Mids: The two Center mids are both on playmaker and attack, and they are going to step up quite high as you can see from the um the with the ball view, they do step up quite a bit away away, and I love the way this lays out in the Midfield. It kind of sets up in like that V, plenty triangles as well as lots of triangles between the midfielders and the CDM and the striker as well, so you've got lots of passing options. I would recommend for these scams, lads, you have a right footer on the right hand side and a left footer on the left hand side because you are going to get lots of opportunity to Ping those travas. I will be getting uh PES to replace Pedri because I missed that card. I saw it on F Friday for 500, luckily cuz she dropped to 350 on the Saturday, so I got lucky to get out there. But having players that can ping those travellas and those attacking playmaker roles is nice, lads, because they do get a lot of space on the edge of the Box, especially with the um the left mid and around mid, they just kind of push on.
- Left and Right Mids: Moving on to the left mid and right mid, they're both on inside forward and balanced. We don't really like attack because I like they they push up nicely to be fair, and if I'm losing, I will go into like attack because you want to push them right up to the striker, but in general, because this game is really slow, having it on balance, you will always have a passing option and they do score a lot of goals, a lot of goals, lad. So you don't really need to put it onto attack, but if you're looking to push later on, you can put them in the attack. I recommend you have a left footer on the left hand side and a right foot on the right hand side cuz the shots across the Box are still the best. Rafia I know is not optimal and his inform did have left mid and I did swap these when I had the inform, uh, but he's still very good, lads. He's like one of those cards that is worth sacrificing that left foot that right foot on the right hand side. He's still very, very nice with the way he dribbles, so he creates a lot for our Striker.
- Striker: Moving on to the striker, we have Adama Traore, very sweaty option, lads, but he's actually he doesn't have a play style plus um a role Plus at all in a striker, but because of his strength and Pace, he's absolutely ridiculous. He's just on poacher, so he's literally going to hang the top at the top of the pitch and just wait for those opportunities. What I like about Adat Traore is the speed boost cuz VVD and all these center backs are an absolute nightmare to deal with. Having someone I did have Griezmann in this role and also, lads, if you have someone like a Griezmann, putting them on false 9 and have them drop in the pocket with the left left mid and right mid overlapping. I've got a 451 coming eventually with this, but we just released at 451, but this new one is pretty sick as well. But he's just going to kind of chill there on that back line and he sets up nicely for the speed boost, but because he's so fast and so strong when he's away from the defender, he stays away and there's not many forwards unless you use an Mbappe in the game that can get past the defender and stay past him. So that's why I really like him in Striker. If you use him in this position, I forget what play style I've got on him. I think it is a finisher, fairly certain it's a finisher with the one that gets dribbling and shooting, you get plus 12 on the finishing, so he doesn't really miss much anyways, especially when you're just hitting the ball.
Final Thoughts
But this is an unbelievable formation, lads, great balance in terms of the buildup, but when you're pressing without the ball, ads, it's absolutely ridiculous and you can really pile pile a pressure onto someone. It's something in my opinion that really does need to be nerfed, but NOA it won't be for a while, and when it does, we'll just drop back down to 61, lads, because at the minute not having higher depth will cost you wins because you just get stuck in your box cuz when when your opposition is then using a high press, you can't really beat it, whereas if you're using the 95 depth, lads, you are going to get a bit more out of the game in the sense you can push them back, whereas without I don't think you can. But leave in the comments if you use it.