4-3-3 LAYOUT

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In 10-11 months of coaching and trying to learn the now favorite formation everyone is trying to use the 4-3-3

This is my take on it, and tho there's loads of variations on setting it out and playing it. Heres how i like to implement it...

FOR ME THE KEY TO THE 4-3-3 IS THE NUMBER FIVE!

- This is the blueprint of the formation

However formations rarely stay strict, and work best being fluid and merging into others depending on where the ball is.
For this reason i think the main focus should be on developing player understanding, roles for certain positions during transitions.

- This is a typical layout used during transitional plays

- For me the KEY is superiority in numbers to dominate all thirds of the pitch and the key number is FIVE.
I like to have FIVE players in the middle, to achieve this.













  - When attacking the formation turns into a 2-5-3
and again the key number FIVE players in midfield. Acting as a net to contain the pressure, pick up lose balls, ready to initiate attacks, retain possession and recycle plays.

- WB's both push up! creating FIVE but also help plug the gaps on the flanks for any potential out balls from the opposition. But also give the team WIDTH and when either the wide attackers cut in field, to progress and offer overlaps or occupy the opposition fullbacks attention.

- CB's sit slightly back, FOR ME this is unusual BUT with the CBs marking the opposing strikers, sitting slightly further back. Gives the midfield more time on the ball and less likely to be attacked/tackled from behind. And gives slightly extra confidence, stability and security.

- When defending the formation turns into a 4-5-1
again the main theme of FIVE players in the middle, to dominate the 'engine room, heart beat of the game' if you will

- Wide attackers drop back to plug gaps and give stability and compactness, making it difficult for opposing players to break down or through

Key points:
- Making the pitch as small, and narrow
- Pressuring at key points, i.e. their strikers and midfielders. But getting back into position when their defenders have it. (Unless your chasing the game)

- Make the opposition FORCE it, make them TAKE RISKS.











Summary:

- Always having FIVE players in the middle third, to dominate the game.
- Midfielders stay roughly within width lines of the 18 yard box. To dominate and control the game.
Leaving the WBs and Wide Attackers to control the flanks
- WBs as soon as the ball is out of the defensive third turn into RM's and LM's
- Wide Attackers drop back as soon as an attack fails and plug the gaps and regain the FIVE in midfield

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