4-3-1-2 FormationThe 4-3-1-2 formation is used by managers who don’t have that many wide players or they prefer to attack down the centre. It can be effective but lacks space in the final 3rd as the players have to execute a near perfect attack for it to work. Not many managers use this formation because it is always easier to attack thought the wings then the centre. Attacking centrally could be very predictable and easy to defend against.
Managers like to assign one of the 3 centre midfielders as more defensive minded to play in front the defenders while the other 2 can defend and support the attacking midfielder. The attacking midfield is very important in this formation and seen as the main playmaker. Sometimes, the attacking mid could also overlap the strikers to be the furthest player forward. This keeps the opposition guessing as an overlapping attacking mid can also act as a temporary striker when playing off the last line. The makes it harder for the opposition to defend against. The attacking midfielder also does very little defending, allowing them to focus all their mentality on attacking. Players like Zinedine Zidane, Frank Lampard and Kaka all like to play in this attacking role.
Teams that opted to attack down the wider positions can exploit this weakness. The midfielders will have to work along the wide positions to give cover to the full backs as well as defending centrally. This formation is not played as much in modern day soccer as it lacks width play and it does not used the whole of the pitch to stretch teams in an attacking sense. Pros Cons Return from 4-3-1-2 Formation to Soccer formations
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