With the two banks of four linked by the DMC I think you need to pack out the middle. A play maker in the middle to spread the ball about. From the traditional 4-4-2 formation this means you have to sacrifice either a defender or a forward, and I would opt to lose a defender as the 4-1-4-1 formation relies on the midfield to support the lone striker so I would suggest 3 centre backs 5 in midfield and 2 up front. The midfield can be arranged however your players fit best, so given that you'll have have two wingers they are locked in so you could either have 3 MC, this would pack out the middle of the park giving you a one man advantage in most situations, or 2 MCs and an AMC, here I see the AMC eliminating the DMC and it would attempt to overwhelm that DMC and CBs or play his own game and have 2 MCs and a DMC, which would give your back 3 some cover.