Choosing a 4-5-1 Formation

Deciding which formation to use for your team depends on many factors. There is not any one formation that is necessarily better then another nor is there any formation that is perfect for all teams. A coach has the responsibility of accessing:

- The strengths and weaknesses of their players
- The strengths and weaknesses of the opposition
- The number of players at each position that are available
- The situation in the game (winning, losing, or drawing)
- Whether you are playing at home or away

Be careful not to over analyze the situation and go with a formation that will not confuse your players. Too much change can make it hard for players to adapt but it is good to be able to change up your tactics from time to time given the situation the team is in.

A 4-5-1 formation consists of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 1 forward. This formation is a modification of a 4-3-3 and has become more popular with teams in Europe. This formation is considered more defensive since there are players behind the ball and therefore less space for the opposition to use in attacking. When attacking, the formation resembles a 4-3-3 with the two outside midfielders going forward to support the lone striker.

This formation works well when you have:

- A very good striker who can hold the ball and win balls in the air
- Midfielders who can work in tight spaces to posses the ball
- Athletic outside midfielders
- To defend a lead late in the game

Defenders in a 4-5-1

The basic responsibilities of a defender will apply in a 4-5-1. The back four defenders must be able to work as one unit and shift together to provide adequate cover for each other and the midfielders. Each defender must be a good communicator to ensure the team shape is maintained. Traditionally this system is played with a flat back four system (shown below) which allows for better shifting as well as an opportunity to run an offside trap. But if your team is having difficulty keeping a line or shifting as a unit then you can use a diamond formation. In a diamond formation one of the central defenders becomes a 'sweeper' and works to cover the other defenders.

While attacking the 4-5-1 formation allows for one of the outside defenders to get into the attacking third while still maintaining an advantage in the defensive third.

Midfielders in a 4-5-1

The basic responsibilities of a midfielder will apply in a 4-5-1.The midfielders will have an easier job of controlling the middle in both both attack and defense because of the extra player. They have to maintain compactness and avoid being spread out on defense while providing support to defenders and lone striker. The midfielders must be very good in tight spaces to possess the ball and be able to quickly read where they can support the lone striker. The outside midfielders should look to provide wide support for the lone striker. The weak side outside midfielders should look to score off of far post crosses.

Forward in a 4-5-1

In a 4-5-1 the forward has to be a very good target player. Usually this player is good at holding the ball and good in the air. The forward should look to combine with the midfielders and make good runs in the box to finish crosses. Defensively there is not much responsibility since there are plenty of players behind the ball already. But the forward should be alert to any balls that are cleared out by their defense and be an outlet for their team when necessary.