Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Playing out from the back patterns in a 4-3-3 shape

Pattern 1

Need to remind opposition to press high and to show us outside as that's where their overload on us is.

Pattern 1

- Build up play along back line. Has to be quick and sharp so that we don't give the opposition strikers any chance of pinching the ball making us vulnerable at the back.

Left centre back to receive ball. Play to full back. As ball is travelling to left back rotations begin. Left of the central midfield three moves high and wide. Left of the forward three rolls inside. Opposite midfielder makes a slight movement forward to engage central midfielder. Number nine occupies two centre backs. Deep lying central midfield player makes late fast movement towards the ball, receiving on the back foot to play forward. Next pass is dictated to by number nines movement away to come short. Wide player then plays off the nine with opposite wide man being played in. Full back on the opposite side will push on creating overloads of 2vs1.

What If's

1. What if the opposition right winger block pass inside

Solution: Then we will look to play the ball directly to wide midfielder

2. What if the opposition midfield player press high on to deep lying midfielder

Solution: Then we can play it into the wide player who has rolled inside

3. What if One of the strikers drop onto deep lying midfielder player and other striker closes down left centre back. 

Solution: Use the goalkeeper to switch the play in order for midfield three to rotate and move the strikers in order to give midfield players time to receive the ball

Links to game model

Comfortable to receive the ball

Clear decision making to play through and around opposition

Quickly into defensive shape

Stop forward passes

Pattern 3

Need to remind opposition to press high and to show us outside as that's where their overload on us is.

Pattern 3

- Build up play along back line. Has to be quick and sharp so that we don't give the opposition strikers any chance of pinching the ball making us vulnerable at the back.

Left centre back to receive ball. Plays to full back. As the ball is travelling deep lying midfielder rotates position with wide right midfield player switching positions. As this happens wide left midfielder moves into the left wing position as the wide left forward rotates into the number 10 position. Deep lying midfielder can then receive on the back foot play either into the number 10 or either wide players. Number 9 has to run the channel as this occupies the full back and centre backs. For defensive cover wide right midfielder rolls centrally. With opposite full back also providing cover whilst other higher full back joins in providing 2vs1 in wide areas. 

What If's

1. What if the central midfielder follows his player and presses high

Solution: Then we will look to play the ball directly to wide midfielder who has rolled into wide left position

2. What if the opposition wide player cuts off central passes

Solution: Then we can play it into the wide player who has rolled outside or play direct into the number 10 or central striker in the channel

Links to game model

Comfortable to receive the ball

Clear decision making to play through and around opposition

Quickly into defensive shape

Stop forward passes