1-1-8

English

Noun

1-1-8 (uncountable)

1. (soccer, historical or derogatory) A football formation with 1 defender, 1 midfielder and 8 strikers sometimes played in the 19th and early 20th centuries, now a derogatory reference to a team with poor defence.
   • 2010, Clive Gifford, “Formations”, in The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 60:

     England went even further, playing 1-1-8 (eight forwards), but crowded goalmouths saw the game end 0-0.

   • 2011, Jaime Orejan, Football/Soccer: History and Tactics, →ISBN, page 31:

     Both teams employed what could be considered attacking formations—Scotland (2-2-6), and England (1-1-8) […]

   • 2014 September 22, Des Kelly, “Chelsea fans add a touch of dignity and class to a world of football excess”, in Evening Standard‎^[1]:

     United made a scintillating start against Leicester […] but they seem to be sticking to a 1-1-8 formation, with Evans and then Chris Smalling playing as a sweeper-left-centre-right-back. This is why United have a defence as secure as a paper-tissue truss.