4411
Best For: Counter-attacks, overloading the box, and high-scoring midfielders.
Difficulty: Medium (Requires disciplined defending).
Tactical Setup
To replicate the Football Manager instructions from your image, set your Player Roles as follows:
| Position | Role (FC IQ) | Focus | Explanation |
| ST | Advanced Forward | Attack | He stays on the last shoulder of the defender, stretching the pitch vertically to create a gap between the enemy CBs and CDMs. |
| CAM | Shadow Striker | Attack | The Star Role. He acts as a second striker. When the ST pushes the defense deep, the Shadow Striker sprints into the empty box to score. |
| LM | Inside Forward | Balanced | Cuts inside onto their strong foot This crowds the center, giving the Shadow Striker more passing options. |
| RM | Winger | Balanced | Stays wide to stretch the opponent horizontally making space for the shadow striker. This prevents the enemy defense from just packing the middle. Also is always a passing option when struggling to build up. |
| LCM | Deep-Lying Playmaker | Defend | sits deep, protects the backline, and sprays passes to the attackers. |
| RCM | Box-to-Box | Balanced | The engine. He wins the ball back and carries it forward. |
| LB/RB | Fullback | Defend | Safest option. You can try Balanced as well for more support during build up |
Custom Tactics
- Build-up Style: Counter or Balanced.
Why: The Shadow Striker thrives on chaos. You want to transition quickly before the opponent's CDMs can track his run.
- Defensive Approach: High (Line Height 65-70).
Why: To make the "Ball Winning" midfield work, you need to press high up the pitch.
Ideal Players for This System
- CAM (Shadow Striker): Needs high Pace, Finishing, and Attacking Positioning.
Examples: Zico
- ST (Advanced Forward): Needs Pace and Decent passing to meet the current Meta Playstyle (through balls in behind)
Examples: Pina(P9) Maradona
451
Best For: Possession players, Tiki-Taka enthusiasts, and suffocating the opponent.
Difficulty: High (Requires patience and manual defending).
While the 4-4-1-1 was about counter-attacks, this 4-5-1 (2) is about control. With three central midfielders and two inverted wingers, you create a "box" in the middle of the pitch that makes it nearly impossible for the opponent to get the ball back.
Tactical Setup (FC IQ Roles)
This system uses specific roles to create layers of passing options.
| Position | Role (FC IQ) | Focus | Explanation |
| ST | Advanced Forward | Attack | The lone wolf. Because your midfield is so packed, he needs to constantly push the enemy defensive line back to create space for your midfielders to shoot. |
| LM / RM | Inside Forward | Balanced | Key Role. They drift inside to act as extra CAMs. This effectively gives you 5 players in the center of the pitch. |
| LCM | Playmaker | Attack | Your primary creator. In the screenshot, this is the "Attack" duty CM. He will make late runs into the box (like Kevin De Bruyne). |
| CCM | Box-to-Box | Balanced | The engine. He links defense to attack and covers the gaps left by the attacking playmaker. |
| RCM | Deep-Lying Playmaker | Defend | The anchor. He sits just in front of the defense, dictating the tempo and stopping counters. |
| LB / RB | Fullback | Defend | Keep them disciplined. With so many midfielders pushing up, you need your fullbacks to stay back and prevent easy counter-attacks. |
3. Custom Tactics
- Build-up Style: Short Passing or Balanced.
Why: You have numbers in midfield. Don't rush it. Pass the ball until a gap opens.
- Defensive Approach: High (Line Height 70).
Why: As shown in your screenshot, this compresses the pitch. If you lose the ball, your team is already right there to win it back instantly (Gegenpressing).
4. Why This "Breaks" The Game
In EA FC 25, most players use 4-2-4 or 4-3-2-1. This 4-5-1 (2) counters them by outnumbering them in the middle.
- The Overload: When your Inside Forwards tuck in, you have 5 players vs. their 2 or 3 midfielders. You will always have a free man to pass to.
- The Trap: The "Playmaker (Attack)" acts like a ghost. Defenders track the Striker, CDMs track your Box-to-Box, leaving your Playmaker free on the edge of the box for finesse shots.
5. Ideal Players
- LCM (The Attacking Playmaker): Needs passing and shooting.
Examples: Zico
- CM(B2B): Needs stats all round i.e.. defending, passing and attacking. He'll make late runs into the box so keep an eye on him.
Example: De Jong (Frenkie)
- RCM(Deep-lying defend): Sits back and helps stop counter attacks. Should be a good all round player.
Example: Tijani REijnders
IMPORTANT: When choosing Center backs look for Center Backs with the Intercept Playstyle to try and counter the current meta(through balls)