[DanTheSmethwickMan]

Playing a solid 442 means that there will be no attacking midfielder. It is basically 2 banks of 4, with the two central midfielders able to get up and down the pitch. However, an alternative 442 is a 442 diamond (also called 41212) where there is a defensive midfielder (Yacob) positioned in front of the back 4 and 2 wingers as normal. There is also however an attacking midfielder (number 10) that plays just off the striker and has license to roam around the pitch and get on the ball and make things happen. These players are often not good defensively hence why they play so far forward (Sess). An example would be someone like an Oscar, small and weak so plays further forward but makes things happen on the ball.