4-4-2
This Is A Typical 4-4-2 Formation With More Structure Than The 4-3-3
This will be the other of the two formations which I will look to use more frequently. It is a typical 'old school' 4-4-2. It offers great solidity in the wide areas and two strikers offers multiple threats up front. The only real structural issue of this formation is that there are only two in midfield. Coming up against teams who pack out the midfield may prove to be an issue.
Philosophies In Possession: (*Same as 4-3-3*)I want my team to move the ball quickly and in to space, but over short distances. My idea behind this is for my players to link up together to release an attacker in to space, when space is available, with the range of passing set to be shorter in order to keep the accuracy of passing up. My team is instructed to play out from the back, which can be dangerous for less technically gifted defences, but it allows every player to be a weapon in attack as all players become involved. It also increases the likelihood of keeping the ball once it is recovered, or from a goal kick.
Shape In Possession: We have a flat back four. The two fullbacks will move forwards to assist in attacking moves, but not so far that they are completely disjointed from the defence. We have quite an interesting midfield here. The BWM will not look to move forward too much but he'll happily receive the ball and be a part of the attack, to an extent. The DLP will look to sit deep in a space where he is easily available for a pass, and can influence the game by moving the ball from one space to another. He is our play-dictator. The initial positions of our two wingers in this formation is deeper than in the 4-3-3, so they will find themselves in front of the opposition defence rather than alongside/in behind. So they will have to do a lot of creating work in front of the opposition defence, or try beat them and then create. It is more difficult for them in an attacking sense, but they provide more structure. The DLF will look to drop off to pick up the ball in front of the opposition in defence and work chances for himself and for others, especially as the two midfielders will not look to occupy the space directly behind the attackers, while the AF will look to stay closer to the opposition defence and try to penetrate it directly.
Philosophies In Transition: (*Same as 4-3-3*) Once possession has been lost, it is important for our team to react quickly. That is my philosophy. A quick reaction time can get your team in to the right position to quell any opposition threat, and get back on the ball quicker. We want to be a team who is on the ball as much as possible but to do that we need to make sure that what we do without the ball is done right, in order to ensure we win the ball back proficiently.
Shape Out Of Possession: (*Same as 4-3-3*) As spoken of in the previous paragraph, the defensive line will drop a little deeper off the ball in order for the ball to stay in front of it. The midfielders, attackers and fullbacks (somewhat) will work hard to press opposition in front of our defence, looking to hustle and harry the ball back. Our back line very much becomes our last line of defence, aside from our keeper, and the real defending is done in front of it.
Potential Strong Areas: Up front, definitely. If the two strikers can link up well, they can prove to be a very potent threat. Two strikers who can work in unison is often hard to find in modern day football but is an invaluable partnership to have. Other strong areas are both flanks, defensively. In contrast to the 4-3-3, the wingers here can be touch-tight to our fullbacks, allowing us to double up while defending in wide areas.
Potential Weak Areas: Midfield. In order to bring in an additional striker, we have had to sacrifice a midfielder for this formation. This leaves us with just two players in central positions. In modern day football, the norm is to see three midfielders in a team in whatever shape they play with, so we may find our midfield to be outnumbered at times, particularly in between the lines as our midfielders would tend to be quite central.
Philosophies In Possession: (*Same as 4-3-3*)I want my team to move the ball quickly and in to space, but over short distances. My idea behind this is for my players to link up together to release an attacker in to space, when space is available, with the range of passing set to be shorter in order to keep the accuracy of passing up. My team is instructed to play out from the back, which can be dangerous for less technically gifted defences, but it allows every player to be a weapon in attack as all players become involved. It also increases the likelihood of keeping the ball once it is recovered, or from a goal kick.
Shape In Possession: We have a flat back four. The two fullbacks will move forwards to assist in attacking moves, but not so far that they are completely disjointed from the defence. We have quite an interesting midfield here. The BWM will not look to move forward too much but he'll happily receive the ball and be a part of the attack, to an extent. The DLP will look to sit deep in a space where he is easily available for a pass, and can influence the game by moving the ball from one space to another. He is our play-dictator. The initial positions of our two wingers in this formation is deeper than in the 4-3-3, so they will find themselves in front of the opposition defence rather than alongside/in behind. So they will have to do a lot of creating work in front of the opposition defence, or try beat them and then create. It is more difficult for them in an attacking sense, but they provide more structure. The DLF will look to drop off to pick up the ball in front of the opposition in defence and work chances for himself and for others, especially as the two midfielders will not look to occupy the space directly behind the attackers, while the AF will look to stay closer to the opposition defence and try to penetrate it directly.
Philosophies In Transition: (*Same as 4-3-3*) Once possession has been lost, it is important for our team to react quickly. That is my philosophy. A quick reaction time can get your team in to the right position to quell any opposition threat, and get back on the ball quicker. We want to be a team who is on the ball as much as possible but to do that we need to make sure that what we do without the ball is done right, in order to ensure we win the ball back proficiently.
Shape Out Of Possession: (*Same as 4-3-3*) As spoken of in the previous paragraph, the defensive line will drop a little deeper off the ball in order for the ball to stay in front of it. The midfielders, attackers and fullbacks (somewhat) will work hard to press opposition in front of our defence, looking to hustle and harry the ball back. Our back line very much becomes our last line of defence, aside from our keeper, and the real defending is done in front of it.
Potential Strong Areas: Up front, definitely. If the two strikers can link up well, they can prove to be a very potent threat. Two strikers who can work in unison is often hard to find in modern day football but is an invaluable partnership to have. Other strong areas are both flanks, defensively. In contrast to the 4-3-3, the wingers here can be touch-tight to our fullbacks, allowing us to double up while defending in wide areas.
Potential Weak Areas: Midfield. In order to bring in an additional striker, we have had to sacrifice a midfielder for this formation. This leaves us with just two players in central positions. In modern day football, the norm is to see three midfielders in a team in whatever shape they play with, so we may find our midfield to be outnumbered at times, particularly in between the lines as our midfielders would tend to be quite central.
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Discussion: FM19 - Making a Manager - 04 - Preliminary Tactic Design
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