- Rank B. Tested over five games in Division 2.
- Four midfielders and an anchor keep the ball and press hard when it is lost.
- One CF means few goals, so the wide midfielders’ runs and the CF’s link play are vital.
The 4-1-4-1 is about keeping the ball with four midfielders, and pressing the moment you lose it. In the games we won, possession was 75%. The price is up front: with one CF, goals are hard to come by. The way to win is a game where you score little but concede little.
4-1-4-1: overview
| Rank | BTested over five games in Division 2 |
|---|---|
| In one line | Keep it with four midfielders, press at once when you lose it |
| Biggest weapon | Possession with four midfielders (75% in the games we won) |
| Biggest weakness | One CF up front, so attacking power and goals are low |
| Suits you if | You want strong midfielders and a possession game |
| Not for you if | You want strong forwards countering all the time |
| Team Playstyle | Possession Game / Quick Counter |
Rank B. Two wins, two draws and a defeat in five games in Division 2. The rank is provisional.
What it does well, and where it hurts
- Four midfielders and the CF keep the pressure on with the ball (75% possession in the games we won).
- A high press with the front five leads to quick counters.
- Four midfielders and an anchor defend very well: two goals conceded in five games.
- Few attackers mean few goals: six in five games.
- Few players run forward on the counter, so long counters lack power.
- One CF struggles to break down a deep block.
The shape
4-1-4-1: a back four, a DMF, four midfielders and one CF.
Four midfielders with one DMF behind them, and one CF up front. The goals come from the wide midfielders running forward and the CF’s link play.
How to attack
Possession and quick counters are the main routes. Four midfielders and the CF pin them back, and if you lose it, the press from the front wins it back to finish.
Press when you lose it, then go in behind
Push them back with the ball. Three goals came from this pattern in our matches.
- The central midfielder and the RMF press the instant you lose it
- You win it high up
- A through ball finds the LMF, who has gone in behind
- The LMF shoots
The chain of runs in behind
Few players go forward, but one fast vertical move can be enough.
- A CB wins it
- A through ball finds the LMF in behind
- The LMF slides it to the CF running alongside
- The CF shoots
Building up
With four midfielders to receive, building up is a strength. Use both the route through the DMF and the vertical pass into a CMF.
Through the middle
Go through the DMF first, and play straight into a CMF when that pass is on.
- It starts with a CB
- Through the DMF to a midfielder
- When it is on, a CB plays straight into the CMF
Round the side when the middle is shut
If it gets stuck, go back to a CB and start again.
- A CB plays it out to the LB
- The LB draws them wide, then plays into the CMF coming back
- The ball moves on to a midfielder and the front line
Mistakes people make, and the fix
You lose it on a forced long counter
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| This shape is not good at long counters, but after the GK catches it you rush it forward and run into opponents who get back quickly. | Do not force it after winning it deep. Settle into possession and attack once you have pushed them back. |
You get countered behind a full-back who went forward
| Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|
| The full-back’s cross gets collected and they use the space left behind. | If the cross is unlikely, turn back and start again. Keeping the full-backs back is also a valid choice. |
How to defend with it
The defence is built on the four midfielders’ high press, which wins the ball early and leads to quick counters.
| Area | What to do |
|---|---|
| Midfield | Press with all four the moment you lose it, win it high up and go for the quick counter. |
| Wide | The space a full-back leaves is the hole. Play quick CBs or otherwise plan for the counter. |
| Against many forwards | Against four forwards or a counter-minded side, a defensive full-back with no playing style takes away what they do best. |
| When ahead | Set both full-backs to Defensive in Individual Instructions to add numbers at the back. |
Players and playing styles that fit
Your midfielders decide this shape, and the wide midfielders add the goals. These are the styles it asks for.
| Position | Playing Style | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CF | Deep-Lying Forward | Comes short to help build and keep the ball. There are few chances to run free in behind, so a linking forward fits best. |
| LMF / RMF | Hole Player / Roaming Flank / Box To Box | Their runs add numbers to a thin attack. Pick the type that adds the most going forward. |
| CMF | Creative Playmaker / Orchestrator | The heart of possession. Players with good passing and dribbling move it forward without losing it. |
| DMF | Anchor Man | Stays at the base of midfield and holds the defence together. |
| Full-backs | Full-back Finisher / Offensive Wingback | Attacking ones when you need a goal. Keep a defensively strong full-back with no playing style against counters down the flank. |
| CBs | Quick and good on the ball, or Build Up | Passing for possession, and the pace to cover behind the full-backs. |
Best managers for this formation
4-1-4-1 runs on Possession Game and Quick Counter, so what you want is a manager with high Team Playstyle Proficiency for those. Every manager below is rank SS on eFootball LABO — high proficiency, a Booster and Link-up Play — picked for their proficiency in these Team Playstyles.
Best managers for Possession Game
Best managers for Quick Counter
Keep the ball, press when you lose it, and do not force long counters. Settle first, then attack.
Matchups
| Opponent | Matchup | Why, and what to do |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-1-2 (three in midfield) | Good | Their midfield has three, so your four can outnumber them and keep the ball. |
| 4-2-4 and other four-forward shapes | Even | A counter after your full-back has gone forward leaves you outnumbered. Use a defensively strong full-back with no playing style and set them to Defensive. |
Matchups are provisional. We update them as we play more.
FAQ
Is 4-1-4-1 good in eFootball?
What Team Playstyle should I use with 4-1-4-1?
What is the weakness of 4-1-4-1?
What should I do when I am ahead?
Summary
- The spine of it is possession with four midfielders and a high press: keep it, defend, and win.
- The weakness is few goals from one CF. The wide midfielders’ runs and the CF’s link play are vital.
- The space behind the full-backs is the hole. Use quick CBs or a defensive full-back.
