FORMATION · 4 AT THE BACK
The 4-1-2-1-2 formation
A back four, a midfield diamond of holder, two carriers and a ten, with a front two.
Also called the diamond · 4-4-2 diamond
The shape
1
GK
2
RB
3
CB
4
CB
5
LB
6
CDM
7
CM
8
CM
9
CAM
10
ST
11
ST
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
What it gives you
Four central midfielders at different heights, which is very hard to press.
What it costs you
The same width problem as the Christmas tree, and the diamond rotates or it suffocates.
Positions
GKRBCBCBLBCDMCMCMCAMSTST
Who plays it
Barely used right now. The 4-1-2-1-2 accounts for 5 of the 5,080 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season.
No club we track uses it as its default shape, though it has been used in individual matches.