SEASON 3: FORMATION MATTERS Episode 27: The 5’s series (5-4-1 A)

Here we are again explaining another formation within this beautiful game… Today’s episode is all about the most defensive formation in soccer at the moment: The 5-4-1. Remember in earlier episodes where I mentioned some formations that should only be used when you need to score a goal in the last 15 minutes of a match like the 3-3-4 or 4-2-4? Well, this formation is the defensive option to those. Consisting of 5 Defenders, 4 Midfielders and 1 Forward, I would never advise that anyone use it during the entirety of a season as it is just way too defensive (update: I take back the above statement. Use it, but only after youve read season 9’s variant…). The best time to use it is during the latter stages of a match when you have a lead to protect and want to set up camp within your own defensive third.

I have a bit of a gripe to pick with the folks at Invincibles Studio (update: not anymore…) because of how they’ve decided to implement the 5-4-1 set ups within the game. Normally, this formation would have a flat midfield 4 rather than the diamond set up that’s found within the 5-4-1A. The 5-4-1A is extremley limited because of this, which inevitably makes it the least used formation within the entire game (it’s even used less than the 3-3-4!). So, rather than having the set up looking like how it should:

We’re left with this right here:

Let’s discuss why some managers would consider playing this formation. It is arguably the most difficult formation for an attacking team to break down as there are so many defensive players on the field all looking to close down space as well as keep an eye on each opposition’s attacker. On the transition, the ‘Wingbacks‘ and Wide players (in the actual 5-4-1 formation in real life) can get into some dangerous positions outwide as well as get some wide overloads happening. The back 5 are rock solid, and have 4 players sitting infront of them that they can organize to get into effective positons so that they don’t have to do a lot of isolated defending. These are all the good qualities of this formation, but it is still not sustainable to use for an extended period of time. Be very cautious about that (update: it can be used but just make sure you’ve…. you know where I’m going with this…)

PROS
• The most difficult formation to score against
• The best formation to use for a V. Defensive Mentality

CONS
• There’s minimal amount of attacking going on within this formation
• Center Forward has to be a Target Man as no other type of forward will work in this formation
• Due to Soccermnager’s set up of the 5-4-1A, there’s no room to play ‘Wide Midfielders‘, ‘Wingers‘, or ‘Wide Forwards‘

That’s the 5-4-1A in the bag. Let’s finish off this season in the next one with the 5-4-1B! Speak to you in a bit!