Aidan,

Do you have any links or references for the basics and the nuances of the 4-5-1? I am especially interested in it as it relates to youth soccer.

I gave up coaching for a year and can't stand my son's current coach's formation (4-3-3 with no holding midfielder and a flat 4).I am taking over the team next season. I believe I'll only have one true striker and an abundance of midfielders. What are the determinants on a 4-5-1 vs a 4-4-2?

As a coach, I prefer to cater my formation to the players I have rather than make the players I have fit into my preferred scheme.

The team will be U16 next year and they have requested a return to the stopper/sweeper defense but I think they'll do fine as long as they have a holder. I assume a 4-4-2 would involve a diamond midfield (slightly less defensive responsibility of the holder) whereas a 4-5-1 would require more from the holder as the outside backs attack in tandem with the wings.

I have the outside backs for the 4-5-1 and the striker but I am unsure if I'm having delusions of grandeur and maybe I should just play a 4-4-2 and the second striker is really just a #10 and the outside backs become outside mids.

Anyway, too much type for a simple question. Do you have any links or references I can read? I know there's stuff out there. What I don't know it what is good and what is not. Thanks