This is Part 4 of our Game Strategies Series. Click below for other parts.

1-5-4-1: We are winning but under intense pressure

Getting immense pressure and the opponents are doing a full team press on us. We drop (6) into a sweeper role. Our counterattack policy is to hit (7), (9) or (11) early and support quickly.

Playing a 1-5-4-1 when pressured and then Counter Attacking

Opponents are doing a full team press on us and GAMBLING playing a high back line. We drop (6) into a sweeper role. A Bad pas s t o 8. Our counterattack policy is to hit (7), (9) or (11) early and support quickly. Back five stay intact unless a wing back is advanced.

Changing Team Shape

Depending on the game situation we may need to change our team shape.

We are winning with 20 minutes to go and the opponents are on top and pressing us hard.

We MUST have a contingency plan to stop them..

We switch from 2 defensive Banks of 3 players to two defensive Banks of 4 players OR, we have a defensive midfielder between each defensive bank of players for extra security.

We rely on our players 7, 9, 10 and 10 to counter attack when we win the ball, then if we lose possession we drop back into our defensive shape.

So when we are dominating the game we are our usual 1-3-3-1-3 or 1-4-2-3-1 and we stay with that.

But if under intense pressure we MUST be more solid defensively so we can switch to either of these following formations, 1-4-4-1-1 or 1-4-1-4-1 as an alternative to 1-5-4-1 if we do not want to change the back line in numbers.

Defensive Positions of Players

Defending shape short and tight; we are winning but under a lot of pressure and need to defend more strongly.

The players are playing in a 1-3-3-1-3 system of play We have :

The keeper
The right midfielder
The left midfielder
The right center back
The left center back
The central center back
The right winger
The central defensive midfielder
The striker
The False (9)
The left winger
No designated fullbacks or wing backs; a very attacking and thought provoking set up.
You may make substitutions to suit this formation better

Offensive Positions of Players

Initial open attacking team shape with 6 players touchline wide to open up the middle and / or create space in wide areas either or depending on how the opponents set up defensively.

The players are playing in a 1-3-3-1-3 system of play We have :

The keeper
The right midfielder
The left midfielder
The right center back
The left center back
The central center back
The right winger
The central defensive midfielder
The striker
The False (9)
The left winger
No designated fullbacks or wing backs; a very attacking and thought provoking set up.

Changing shape to a 1-4-4-1-1

Defending shape short and tight a simple change in system if we need to defend more with now two banks of 4 players protecting the goal instead of two banks of 3 players.

Or Changing shape to a 1-4-1-4-1

Defending shape short and tight a simple change in system if we need to defend more with now two banks of 4 players protecting the goal instead of two banks of 3 players.

Defending deep and counter attacking

Opponents attack and lose the ball we do not hesitate, we immediately counterattack. They MUST attack in numbers to try to get back in the game, so they are vulnerable at the back. We hit them fast, long and hard on the counterattack.

Playing a 1-5-4-1 when pressured and then Counter Attacking

Opponents are doing a full team press on us and GAMBLING playing a high back line. We drop (6) into a sweeper role. A Bad pass to 8. Our counterattack policy is to hit (7), (9) or (11) early and support quickly. Back four stay intact unless a wing back is advanced.

We are Losing : Game Strategy changes : We can play 1-2-3-2-3

We gamble 2 v 2 at the back. We lose possession and 6 immediately drops back into a sweeper role. The 1-2-3-2-3 is the Phases 3 / 4 of the “attacking formation” of the 1-4-2-3-1 so the transition to this as a “start position” should be easy for the players to understand.

We are down to 10 players and losing : Game Strategy Changes : Set up in an offensive 1-4-2-3 (1-2-3-1-3)

We could really go for it and try to fill in the number 10 position and see what the opponents do (if they see it?).

A big gamble perhaps; but we are losing!!

We lose possession; 6 immediately drops to make a back 3.

We are down to 10 players and winning:

Game Strategy change : We set up in a 1-4-4-1

We even it up in midfield 4 v 4 and counter attack through 7 and 11 providing fast support to 9. Player 9 must be able to hold the ball up until he / she gets support.

Fast support in the counter attack : The back four remain intact

We even it up in midfield 4 v 4 and counter attack through 7 and 11 providing fast support to 9. Player 9 must be able to hold the ball up until he / she gets support.