While it’s always nice to have a squad of players with the skill and flair of world champions, in reality, many teams simply don’t have the ability required.
These teams have solid and dependable squad players who, while giving their all, have to be classed as slower or weaker players.
It is essential for teams with slower and weaker players to find a way to play that can cover their deficiencies and allow them to play to their strengths.
The right formation can help a team maintain a competitive edge when their lack of pace and power makes them easy targets for stronger opponents.
Staying compact and having players able to cover for each other in both offensive and defensive play could be the difference between a winning team and a losing one.
We’ll look at four of the best formations for teams whose players are slower and weaker than their opponents; if your team needs an edge to keep them in the league, these formations could be for you.
4. 5-4-1 Formation
If your opponents are particularly aggressive, and your defense needs all the help it can get, then the 5-4-1 formation could be the best option for your team.
A lack of pace can be crippling for a soccer team, so to combat that, overloading the defense with five players keeps the goalkeeper covered.
Opposing players who head towards the goal will find a wall of players challenging to break through, with the four midfielders dropping deeper to add additional cover.
This tactic does have issues, especially if the defense needs to improve at playing the offside trap; all five defenders must be able to work together to close players down or step upfield to force opponents into offside positions.
The lone striker can become isolated when playing up front alone, especially if the midfielders don’t move forwards to support them when the team has possession.
Having said that, attacking flair isn’t the primary focus of this tactic; it’s there to compensate for a team being slower and weaker than their opponent.
The two midfield players on each wing sit deeper than a more traditional winger and instead hold a wide midfield role, crossing into the penalty area for the lone striker and adding extra cover for the left and right backs.
The 5-4-1 formation is an excellent choice for teams who find themselves consistently playing against stronger teams and, used properly, can also reap the rewards going forwards.
Pros
- A defensively excellent tactic
- Slower defenders are covered by overloading the defense
- It keeps a team compact enough to allow for simple passes to teammates
- A tricky tactic to score against
Cons
- Offensively, the tactic can take time to score from
- A less talented defense will suffer if the offside trap is broken
- The lone striker is very isolated if not supported by the midfield
- A lack of forward players makes it hard to break quickly when possession is won
3. 4-5-1 Formation
Okay, so we’re not a million miles away from the 5-4-1 formation here, but by simply pushing another player into midfield from the defense, the 4-5-1 tactic becomes increasingly more attacking, as well as retaining its advantages for weaker teams.
Moving a player into midfield can be riskier but can work very well if the midfield operates a high press.
If a high press is engaged, even a smaller, weaker team can take control of the game; the ball is won much higher up the pitch, the defense is better protected, and there’s an opportunity for the team to attack.
There is still the lone striker used, as in the 5-4-1 formation, but with the added numbers in midfield, two or three players can advance while the remainder screen the defense.
If speed and skill are at a premium, having five midfielders can offset any weaknesses in the team. The players will still have to work incredibly hard, but as long as opponents are closed down quickly, ideally as a pack, the weaker team can still emerge with the win.
Unlike the 5-4-1 formation, this tactic can include wingers, with the two wide players moving forward in support of the striker. The three central midfielders sit in the middle of the pitch, covering any sudden breaks should the team lose the ball.
The 4-5-1 tactic is flexible, simple to operate, and offers weaker teams the chance to defend and attack in numbers.
Pros:
- Much more fluid in attack.
- Defensively sound if the midfield closes down quickly.
- A weaker team can still defend and attack as a unit, masking player deficiencies.
- With an extra midfielder, the team can attack with numbers, as well as maintain defensive cover.
Cons:
- A strong opposing side can cause the defense issues if the midfield is bypassed.
- The midfield, especially a weaker one, can become tired quickly due to constantly closing down opponents.
- Against much stronger teams, the 4-5-1 can be picked apart by passes; without closing down every opponent, the chances of conceding increase.
2. 4-1-4-1 Formation
Having two banks of four players allows a weaker, slower team to retain a shape that they’re comfortable with.
It’s not just important for the structure of the team, but it also allows slower, weaker players the luxury of having options on either side should they come under pressure.
The added support offered by putting a defensive midfielder between the two lines means extra cover for the defense and additional backup for the midfield should they foray forwards into the opponent’s half.
The Defensive midfielder can drop back or move forwards, depending on which team has possession.
A lone striker in this position is there to do little more than harry the opposition, chasing down long balls and holding it up until the midfielders arrive. The 4-1-4-1 shape allows for multiple passing angles, which can only help a weaker team, especially if confidence is low.
The key position is the defensive midfield slot, but if a team hasn’t got a defensive-minded midfielder, it could be argued that pushing one of the team’s better defenders up into the space between defense and midfield will add much-needed security.
The team accepts that it will offer less of an attacking threat for the defensive solidity that a weaker team badly needs.
Pros
- The addition of a defensive midfielder increases the team’s defensive solidity.
- The players have multiple passing options with a bank of four players.
- Slower teams can stay in position and soak up pressure while the defensive midfielder roams freely to deny passing options.
Cons
- The team sacrifices attacking threats for defensive security.
- The lack of goal threat means opponents can push upfield, overloading the defenders.
- A team setting itself up in a 4-1-4-1 will need to be fit; slow and weak isn’t the end of the world, but the team does need to close down when the opposition has the ball.
1. 4-4-2 Formation
One of the most widely used formations in soccer, the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation has been a mainstay of the English soccer leagues for decades. And with good reason, teams with less than superb players can often utilize this formation to superb effect.
Sometimes, the weaker team has to go on the offensive; the best defense is a good offense.
The 4-4-2 formation makes the most of two banks of four, with the defense retaining a rigid line in front of the goalkeeper, and the four midfielders, including two wide midfielders, marshaling the center of the pitch.
What makes this formation stand out from the others in our list is the two strikers, who, as well as scoring goals, have to make their presence felt in the opponent’s half.
A weaker and slower side has to find every advantage they can, and if that means pushing two strikers upfield in order to force the opposition backward, then so be it.
A team that’s not as quick as their opponents can use the strikers as an outlet, pushing long balls up to the front players.
Long balls relieve the pressure on the defense, and a weaker team can maintain pressure on a stronger opponent by forcing them back into their own half.
In the English lower divisions, the 4-4-2 is still widely used by teams with less technical proficiency than a Premier League team.
Two strikers having the ball crossed in from wide midfielders can win points for their team, keep the ball away from their own net, and turn a mediocre team into a winning one.
It’s why the 4-4-2 has survived the transition of soccer into a more fluid, technical game; there are always squads that simply can’t copy Barcelona, and the 4-4-2 is perfect for these types of teams.
Pros
- The 4-4-2 forces opponents back into their own half to defend
- Many players are comfortable with the formation.
- Both defensively sound and offensively dangerous.
- Slow, lower-quality players can easily fit into the system; there are no real specialized positions within the 4-4-2 system.
Cons
- The formation can be predictable, and a team of real quality can find ways through.
- Not as defensively secure as a formation with a defensive midfielder or an extra defender.
- If the strikers aren’t strong enough to hold up the ball, there can be quick turnarounds in possession.
Conclusion
Each of the four tactics above is excellent for teams that don’t have the quality for intricate soccer, and depending on the level of the opposition, each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Against a much faster team, the 5-4-1 or 4-1-4-1 formation would be ideal; the extra defender or the addition of a defensive midfielder offers a team much greater protection from attacks.
Against a team that would be considered slightly above the standard your team can cope with, the 4-5-1 or the classic 4-4-2 would be a great choice.
Overloading the midfield or using two strikers to force the opposition back is always a good tactic to employ.
A team that’s slower or weaker than their opponent can still grind out excellent results using these formations.
Ultimately, it’s hard work and commitment that often defines whether a team succeeds or not. A hardworking team that’s less gifted than an opponent will always triumph over a lazy, talented team.
Choosing the correct formation is a good start, but the players have to close down opponents, train harder, and over time results should swing in their favor.
