Post by Wiking on Mar 8, 2012 12:02:43 GMT 8
I thought it would be a good idea for fans, coaches etc to discuss football formations here(specifically the 4231 plus it would be easier to find).
from buddha's post at "Azkals Dream Team" thread:
---- FOREPLAY: 4-4-2 vs. 4-3-3
The question of formations is all about exploiting space.
Note that the field is divided into "thirds": the defensive 3rd, the middle 3rd, and the attacking 3rd. In the past the question was on how to fully cover all the spaces on these "thirds." The answer was the 4-4-2. While this formation was excellent in covering most of the spaces on the pitch it also tends to be quite rigid.
The 4-2-3-1 on the other hand was designed to exploit the spaces between the "thirds" with the hope of being more fluid and unpredictable. It is especially focused on exploiting the space between the defense and midfield known as "the hole." This "hole" has traditionally been the territory of the creative attacker (an enganche, if you will).
---- STRIPPING THE 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 is just a 4-3-3 with her party dress on. Let's take it off, shall we?
By withdrawing your two center midfielders deep and sitting them in front of your defense and pushing another center midfielder higher up the pitch you've opened a genie's bottle: These two deep midfielders are now occupying "the hole" in your defensive third and your high playing midfielder is now occupying "the hole" in your attacking third.
Thus, you've filled two holes in one thrust! *snicker, snicker!*
---- THE DOUBLE PIVOT: Defensive or Attacking?
These two deep playing midfielders are known as "double pivots" simply because the team plays around them. They become the heartbeat of the team.
Now here's where it gets interesting.
One option is to have a traditional playmaker (enganche) high up the field supported by two hardworking, ball winning "double pivots." Players such as Javier Mascherano, Joey Barton, or Claude Makelele would fit into these roles. More brawn than brains, this approach makes the "double pivot" in a 4-2-3-1 assume a defensive stance.
The next option is to put creative players in the "double pivot" roles thus becoming deep-seated playmakers (creative players who remain deep even when their team is on attack). Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo are excellent examples that come to mind. A "double pivot" used this way takes on a unique attacking flavor because the build up of the play starts slowly from deep within your own defensive 3rd.
---- KAMA SUTRA: What's the best position?
Just like sex, in football you won't find an ultimate mindblowing works-everytime position.
While you've got to work with the players available at your disposal it's important to note that all coaches have preferred formations. If a medical doctor is allowed, nay, encouraged to specialize, the same can be said with coaches. Some coaches favor a particular formation simply because it will suit their personality & temperament, their philosophy on how the game should be played, or their preference for a type of player. They will use and master their formation of choice over the course of their career until they become experts at tweaking it in response to changing situations rather than completely changing the set-up.
It is easier to manage a club team than managing a national team:
1. you deal with your players on a daily basis,
2. you get to buy players that fit into YOUR preferred position. If a player doesn't fit in you can just sell him and move on!
It's much harder managing a national team because the players available to you at this level might NOT fit into your preferred formation. Thus, you are left with basically three options:
1. Change the formation to fit the qualities of your players which will ultimately (a) lessen your chances of success because it will be a formation you haven't specialized in and (b) run the risk of upsetting players by playing them in positions they're not familiar with,
2. Or you can go back to 4-4-2 as it's so basic everyone is sure to understand their simplistic roles (what McMenemy did),
3. Or... we can go ask Weiss how he does it.
from buddha's post at "Azkals Dream Team" thread:
---- FOREPLAY: 4-4-2 vs. 4-3-3
The question of formations is all about exploiting space.
Note that the field is divided into "thirds": the defensive 3rd, the middle 3rd, and the attacking 3rd. In the past the question was on how to fully cover all the spaces on these "thirds." The answer was the 4-4-2. While this formation was excellent in covering most of the spaces on the pitch it also tends to be quite rigid.
The 4-2-3-1 on the other hand was designed to exploit the spaces between the "thirds" with the hope of being more fluid and unpredictable. It is especially focused on exploiting the space between the defense and midfield known as "the hole." This "hole" has traditionally been the territory of the creative attacker (an enganche, if you will).
---- STRIPPING THE 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 is just a 4-3-3 with her party dress on. Let's take it off, shall we?
By withdrawing your two center midfielders deep and sitting them in front of your defense and pushing another center midfielder higher up the pitch you've opened a genie's bottle: These two deep midfielders are now occupying "the hole" in your defensive third and your high playing midfielder is now occupying "the hole" in your attacking third.
Thus, you've filled two holes in one thrust! *snicker, snicker!*
---- THE DOUBLE PIVOT: Defensive or Attacking?
These two deep playing midfielders are known as "double pivots" simply because the team plays around them. They become the heartbeat of the team.
Now here's where it gets interesting.
One option is to have a traditional playmaker (enganche) high up the field supported by two hardworking, ball winning "double pivots." Players such as Javier Mascherano, Joey Barton, or Claude Makelele would fit into these roles. More brawn than brains, this approach makes the "double pivot" in a 4-2-3-1 assume a defensive stance.
The next option is to put creative players in the "double pivot" roles thus becoming deep-seated playmakers (creative players who remain deep even when their team is on attack). Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo are excellent examples that come to mind. A "double pivot" used this way takes on a unique attacking flavor because the build up of the play starts slowly from deep within your own defensive 3rd.
---- KAMA SUTRA: What's the best position?
Just like sex, in football you won't find an ultimate mindblowing works-everytime position.
While you've got to work with the players available at your disposal it's important to note that all coaches have preferred formations. If a medical doctor is allowed, nay, encouraged to specialize, the same can be said with coaches. Some coaches favor a particular formation simply because it will suit their personality & temperament, their philosophy on how the game should be played, or their preference for a type of player. They will use and master their formation of choice over the course of their career until they become experts at tweaking it in response to changing situations rather than completely changing the set-up.
It is easier to manage a club team than managing a national team:
1. you deal with your players on a daily basis,
2. you get to buy players that fit into YOUR preferred position. If a player doesn't fit in you can just sell him and move on!
It's much harder managing a national team because the players available to you at this level might NOT fit into your preferred formation. Thus, you are left with basically three options:
1. Change the formation to fit the qualities of your players which will ultimately (a) lessen your chances of success because it will be a formation you haven't specialized in and (b) run the risk of upsetting players by playing them in positions they're not familiar with,
2. Or you can go back to 4-4-2 as it's so basic everyone is sure to understand their simplistic roles (what McMenemy did),
3. Or... we can go ask Weiss how he does it.