Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
- Status
Surprised that super blue HongKongToffee isn't all over this thread.
Blackwell Livermore
Player Valuation: £8m
Marco made no such promises. Billy wasn't the liar in that scenario it was Roberto.
I know where we finished in the league, my point was more about the narrative portrayal in the media. Two finishes outside of top 8 in the next two seasons and we are a 'mid table side that shouldn't have sacked Allardyce'.
Pootsy
Player Valuation: £20m
Its a new beginning. Hopefully Brands will identify any players downing tools and then line up a replacement.
deipnosophist
Player Valuation: £80m
Hope you are right. we don’t want the senior players throwing their weight about...especially Tubby Ashley.
Pootsy
Player Valuation: £20m
He’s a rib injury. Unfortunately that wont help any future medicals in the close future
deipnosophist
Player Valuation: £80m
His ribs have a lot of weight to support...
Good thing about this manager is he has no base to start from, there's no false dawn. Can't ride on anyone else's previous work at the club as we stunk last season.
TheVelourFog
Player Valuation: £6m
Quietly confident.
I expect some signings shortly.
I expect some signings shortly.
Setup
The 4-1-4-1 formation consists of four defenders (the back four), a holding midfielder (pivot), four midfielders and a striker. The idea of the 4-1-4-1 system came from the very well-known 4-4-2 system. The 4-4-2 system of play has a disadvantage in defence because there are no players covering the space between the midfield and the defence. That's why some coaches put another holding midfielder (number 6) there instead of playing with 2 strikers. With this change the four midfielders can play with more freedom.
The back four
The back four in this formation should be a typical flat back four who should be defending as a unit using the defensive mechanism first used and developed by Arrigo Sacchi.
The two centre backs should be good at defending individually because there is only one defensive midfielder that covers the space in the front of them. Coaches should choose their centre backs according to the opponent's style and formation. If the opponent is playing with two strikers, then coaches should ask their defensive midfielder to help the centre backs more in defence.
In attack, the full backs can leave their original position as they have more room to go forward because the two wingers (wide midfielders) will play higher. That's why full backs should have a high lactate threshold (LT)
to execute many sprints on the flanks. They also have to time their runs well when overlapping the wide midfielders. This may lead to 2v1 situations: Preparing Crossing Opportunities and Finishing from the Box
Another 2v1 soccer game: 2v1 Situations and Finishing
The Holding Midfielder
The holding midfielder is key when using the 4-1-4-1 system of play. He should be the most clever player of the team who is also able to defend well. He doesn't have to mark a man, he can cover space in the front of the defence and intercept passes towards the opponent's striker(s). He also has to help the two centre backs when needed so the holding midfielder has to be a "captain" in midfield. He needs to order his teammates when needed so the number 6 should be the coach's right-hand man on the pitch.
He also has to contribute to the build-up play. The two centre backs separate when building the attack and the holding midfielder drops back between the two. If he is marked by an opponent player he has to realise that and move out of the area as soon as possible to open up space for the other two central midfielders (he starts the interchanging movements when needed).
He should stay back in attack to give the full backs more freedom going forward. This midfielder is similar to the midfielder used in the 4-3-3 system (with one defensive mid).
The Four Attacking Midfielders
The 4-1-4-1 formation gives the coaches many options to choose the appropriate tactics for a game. If the opponent is playing with a flat back four, the coach can ask one of the central attacking midfielders to go forward and help the striker dragging a defender away from him.
This move will make the opponent's defenders decide who to go with. This can lead to 1v1 situations in front and is a really useful tactics to apply. Coaches can also ask this central attacking midfielder (number 10) to be patient with their runs and make the overload in midfield for his team to keep possession. This is why at least one of the central midfielders should be good at making runs behind the opponent.
The roles of the two central attacking midfielders can be changed of course but this is a great way to break through the opponent's defence in the centre of the pitch.
The two wide players should be either good with their feet (dribbling) and their head to get into the box for crosses. (Width of the team should be given by the wide midfielders or the full backs.) This will help in possession stretching the opponent and will give the best angle for making runs into the penalty area.
The Number 9
Using this system of play the lone striker can be either a false 9 or a real finisher. This system gives the opportunity to change tactics during the game asking the striker to do different movements. He can drag his defenders away from their original position to create space for the attacking midfielders (number 8 and 10) to make runs into and be played the ball. The number 9 should always look for the space between the opponent's centre back and full back. This might confuse the two centre backs and they might lose the lone striker. This movement also gives a great angle to be ready for the through balls behind the opponent's defence.
Tactical Movements Of The 4-1-4-1
Pressing
There are plenty ways of pressing high on the pitch as there could be countless triggers used. The first thing needed for pressing is a good defensive team position. The team that is going to press has to be organised as there should not be any spaces left free. A good example to take a look at the pressing game is when the opponent has a goal-kick.
The defending team fakes the dropping back and let the opposition make the first pass of the build-up play. Therefore the first pass of the goalie can be the trigger for pressing. Secondly, the defending team has to take control of the game and force the opponent to play what the defending team wants to.
After the first pass, there should not be any free passing options for the attacking team so every defending player need to mark a man or cover some space (to be able to intercept passes - cut passing lanes). This is why the lone striker needs to force the opponent play towards the flanks. The midfield "three" is key (The midfield three now involves the two central midfielders and the holding midfield player.) when pressing. As shown on the picture above, they might need some interchanging movements depending on the opponent's system of play and tactics. There should always be a cover player (holding midfielder position). This is why clever midfielders are very important for pressing.
The rest of the players should be in charge of free spaces or man unmarked. These movements will force the opponent to play long.
Build-up
Build-up plays usually depend on the team's style of play, the characteristics of the players and the game situation.
Good team organisation is key for the build-up play. The two centre backs separate and the holding midfielder steps into space. It is really important for the centre backs to position themselves in the right place with good body orientation. They need to see the whole pitch and this is why they need to position themselves in line with the goalkeeper (or possibly behind the line of the goalie). This will give them a good angle to control and play the ball forward.
There are then 4 options for the centre back. It is expected that every player will be marked so the attacking team needs tactical movements to open up and use spaces.
The full back should try to lose his marker while the wide midfielder comes towards the place of the central midfielder. The attacker should always be ready for the long ball behind the defenders.
Note that this is just an example. Read more in following drill: Building Attacks in a 4-1-4-1 Formation
Compact Defending
Players need to be organised again by applying the defensive method developed by Sacchi. This formation has two lines of four so it is easier to coach. The defensive player on the far side comes in until the centre line.
Advantages and disadvantages of the 4-1-4-1
Advantages
Disadvantages
- It makes easy to practice defensive movements (4-1, 4-1 formation)
- Has many attacking options
- Can be counter-attacked
- Wide players should defend more
Jeez, you like to talk... Effing hell... Point taken though!
billyblue80
Player Valuation: £70m
Listening to Talk sh#te all night one brief mention of Silva, either they are still pissed we sacked their chum BFS or we are a total irrelevance to them.
gorgeousgeorgeEFC
Player Valuation: £25m
I really liked what Silva did at Hull. Very nearly keeping up one of the worst squads in Premier League history was seriously impressive, as was the feat of guiding Hull to victory over Man Utd in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. And as others have mentioned he did well to guide Sporting to their first major trophy in seven years.
However, for me it's his record at Olympiacos that's most impressive. Under his stewardship they won their first SEVENTEEN domestic matches of the 2015/16 season, eventually winning the Greek title (Superleague Greece) with ease. They also trounced Arsenal in the Champions League.
Cracking young manager.
However, for me it's his record at Olympiacos that's most impressive. Under his stewardship they won their first SEVENTEEN domestic matches of the 2015/16 season, eventually winning the Greek title (Superleague Greece) with ease. They also trounced Arsenal in the Champions League.
Cracking young manager.
gorgeousgeorgeEFC
Player Valuation: £25m
Unfortunately we've been an irrelevance for 30 years, in the eyes of the media at least.
Hopefully that will change someday soon.
- Status