Alright, let's dive into these custom tactics that have been carrying me post-patch, lads. Here's the breakdown of the 4-5-1 formation that's been working wonders.
Formation and Defensive Setup
We're sticking with the balanced build-up style. If I'm facing a lot of pressure later in the game, I might switch to short passing to keep the ball and avoid risky plays. But for the starting point, balanced is the way to go.
For the defensive approach, we're using a depth of 61. We don't want to go too crazy with the depth. I did try 50 at one point, but I didn't like how far the backline dropped. Keeping them as high as possible for as long as possible has been the best approach for me. But, as always, use whatever depth you find most comfortable.
Player Roles and Instructions
Let's get into the roles, lads.
- Goalkeeper: We're using Yashin. He's great for chemistry, and we use sweeper keeper on him. Use whatever your goalkeeper has. If they have the goalkeeper plus plus, use them. If they have sweeper plus plus or plus, use them.
- Left Back and Right Back: Both are on stay back while attacking. This allows our midfield to be more attacking. Having these guys stay back gives you more freedom to send players forward. I recommend having players who can pass. They don't need to be world-beaters, but they need to be decent on the ball. Physicality is also a plus.
- Center Backs: Both are on defend. I've got both plus plus defenders. There's that new EVO that you can put an 85 or lower defender in, and they'll get the defender plus plus. Definitely worth doing if you're doing like an EVO team.
- Center Center Mid: This guy is on deep line playmaker. He's the base of our midfield. I recommend you have a bit of a destroyer in this position, someone good at breaking up play. You want them to be good on the ball in terms of passing because they are a deep line playmaker.
- Left Center Mid and Right Center Mid: Both are on playmaker and attack. Because our fullbacks stay back, it gives these guys a lot more license to go forward. They will come back when you don't have the ball.
- Left Mid and Right Mid: These guys are on similar but different instructions.
- Left Mid: On inside forward and balanced. He's going to be quite close to the striker a lot of the time.
- Right Mid: On wide playmaker and build-up. He's going to be there showing for the pass. However, if you're not getting enough bodies in the box, I do swiftly flip this into wide playmaker attack. It edges him ever so slightly up the pitch, as in his main focus will be a few yards ahead, but in terms of the build-up, I do like him there because you're going to have another passing option. It doesn't mean he's not going to get in the box to score; it just means that he's often showing next to the pass, and he's often the extra pass, which is really nice because you'll break people's midfield line by playing this pass, and then you've got loads of space to run into and pass into for your striker.
- Striker: On poacher and support. I recommend using whatever your forwards got a plus or plus plus in. The support role does tax their stamina a little bit because of how much pressing they're doing. When set to support, the poacher will stay close to the opposition defense, aggressively pressing them while in possession in the hope of triggering a mistake.
Key Tactical Points
- Flat Midfield: Post-patch, I really like to have the flat midfield because it covers the center really well, but it also covers the wide areas really well with the left mid and right mid. You've got lots of bodies in the midfield, and when you're attacking, you've got lots of passing options.
- Midfielders: You want players that can get forward and get back.
- Fullbacks: They're not necessarily going forward too hard, but they're going to be your first pass out of your backline to your fullback or to your left mid, right mid, or center mid, so it is good that they can just pass cleanly.
Substitutions
- I sub out one of my center mids for a box-to-box midfielder.
- I never sub off Ronaldinho.
- I sub off the left mid depending on what we need.
- I have a replacement for my striker.
- I have a sub for the fullbacks.
That's the 4-5-1, lads. It's probably my favorite formation of the year so far.