Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): system of play

1-4-4-2

Strengths

Attacking :

o Team is made up of two equaly balanced halves.

o Fulbacks can get forward to support the attack and still leave 3 defenders.

o Fulbacks can create numbers up situations in wide areas

o Center forwards have space to work in

o Center forwards can have different roles to pull defenders apart

o Opportunity to switch the point of attack at anytime to exploit space in wide

areas

o Simple for players to understand

Defending :

o Two banks of 4 players making penetration difficult

o Option to play zonal or man to man

o The 4 defenders and midfield cover the width of the field easily

o 1 forward can drop into make a 5 man midfield if require.

Weakness.

Attacking:

o Support of # 9 and 10 by the line of midfield.

o Quality of the wide service and long range passing.

o Effective relationship between the two forward.

o Secondary and tertiary goal scorers.

Defending:

o Opponent with 4 lines( e.g 4-2-3-1)

o Opponent with three central midfielders

o Midfield balance in defending transition.

o Weak side balance.

1-4-2-3-1

In possession;

o The role of # 9.

o Multiple attacking options

o System values sustained possession

o Aloows for diverse playing personnel

Out of possession:

o Establishing 4 distinctive line.

oCentral box of 4 players.

o Establishing defensive pockets.

o Potential for transition to attack.

Strengths

Attacking :

o Commitment of number forward, threat coming from 6+ players.

o Can pull opponent out of shape.

o Fulbacks can create numbers up situations in wide areas.

o Opportunity to switch the point of attack at anytime to exploit space in wide

areas.

o Significant supporting depth.

Defending :

o Significant depth making penetration difficult

o Ability to pressure opponent high

o Easy passive defending allowing swift counter attack.

Weakness

Attacking:

o Lone #9 getting isolated.

o # 6 to stay connected when going forward.

o #9 must be able to hold up the ball when counter attacking.

o Over relliance of # 2 and 3 for width.

Defending:

o 4 players disengaged from recovery.

o Gaps between line of #6 and 8 and line of # 7,10 and 11.

o A lot of space in front of the # 3 and 2.

o Distance and shape between # 4 and 5 and # 6 and 10

1-3-4-3

Strengths

Attacking :

o Three atackers alow the team to attack quickly when the ball is w on

o A lows the team to play more direct as there are more players to play to

o Forwards cover more space in attacking third.

o Difficult for defenders to mark all players

o Alows the team to attack with numbers

o Wide midfielders create width and numbers up situations

o The formation can help to stretch the opposition in the attacking third.

Defending:

o The 3defenders can play man toman with a sweeper when playing

against 2 forwards

o The 4midfielders cover thewidth of the field easily

o The defensive midfielderi s able to screen the back 3 defenders

o 2 wide forwards can drop into make a 6 man midfield

o Alows the team to play high pressure

o Prevents teams from playing long direct passes out of defense.

Weakness

Attacking:

o Three forward ( # 7,9 and 11) getting flat.

o Challenge for midfield to support.

o Lack of space for deep forward runs.

Defending:

o Flexible shape demands a lot of communication.

o # 4 dropping in between center back when wide players are caught up.

o Challenge of only one or three opposing forward.

o One pass may bypass the front three.