Quote Originally Posted by dimdim1 View Post
4-5-1 means defensive mentality.

I dont agree. I play that formation 4,5 levels.I won 4 leagues and 2 Cl.
It can be defensive but if u set it so.

The key players are not the mids but the wings.If u dont have excellent AMR-Ls dont try it.My wings score more than 50 goals and give more than 40 assists per season,while my main ST scores at about 10...

The next key is the St,u need young ,fast ,and a good scorer.
Then are the DR-Ls which must be fast and with good crossing.They are the keys when u make ur team more offensive as use red arrows to them.
The DMC is key vs 4-4-2 ,a formation with AMC and definately vs 3Mcs.

If u want to play 4-5-1 v try it with no arrows at all ,normal mentality,down both flanks,normal tackling,own half press,no offside,no counter attack.

Try to find in any game if any arrows u use make any difference..for me only the ST red makes sometimes,less the DMC blue and sometimes the red on the DR-L.

Focus on 4-5-1v ,wlile ur alternative must be a similar formation .3-5-2 V is for me...more attacking ,almost my formation vs worst opponents in the first half to score,then change to 4-5-1V to make sure that u win.

My last 3 games where vs t buyers..semi and final Cl.. Won them all and was the first time i set it with defensive mentality,counter attack,blue to DMC ,red to ST.

I will focus in that orders next season if i have better opponents and my AMR-L are getting older (5* both now and close to 6 ,)and need to replace them after next season.

Hope i helped u
Defensive mentality doesn't mean lame or loosing mentality. Actually, most teams in champions league use these kind of tactics when facing too strong opponents. Of course you can win leauge and CL with each tactic. You can play offensive football with 4-5-1 but the way the formation puts players on the field, it's more strong with defensive mindset. There are much more attacking formations/tactics out there. Again, that's not a disadvantage.

Wingers belong to the midfield. That doesn't change my proposal.I said midfield is the key point. All players are key players, especially at top level. Midfield still remains the key part of the field and midfielders (that is, defensive midfielder, central midfielders and wingers) are expected to carry on the game.