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Formation & Strategy

4-4-2：flat back four；flat midfield；zonal system

-Overview
This system is very popular and used by such great teams as the Dutch National and …… .It is a very effective and versatile attacking system based on coming down the sides as well as spreading the defense and then penetrating through the center.With overlapping outside defenders and midfielders the 4-4-2 quickly converts to a 4-2-4 or 2-4-4 putting immense pressure on the opposing defensive units. The vulnerability of the 4-4-2 lies in it’s flat back defense which can be torn apart by diagonal runs through it’s center.

-Team Requirements
Teams employing this 4-4-2 system must have outside defenders and midfielders who are in exceptional aerobic shape as they will both make deep runs to attack and then need to chase back in the team’s transition to defense.The zonal system requires a high degree of verbal and visual communication,particularly when defending,to ensure that opposing attackers are challenged and covered.
This system relies on the off-side trap and that is where defenders need to be alert to ensure they step up just before the ball is played in behind them.This requires almost automatic mechanisms because there is little time to provide each other with instructions.
When attacking,the outside players as well as the forwards all need to be able to play 1v1 and place accurate crosses into the penalty area.Both forwards and central midfielders must have goal scoring technique and capability for heading the ball.
Inside midfielders are the strategists who read the play,decide when to come back to support the defenders,where to distribute the ball and when to make penetrating runs down the middle.They require excellent vision and ability to read the opposition.

-Coaching Requirements
First and foremost,coaches need lots of time before the season starts to train the key elements of this system.Emphasis needs to be on keeping players in their zones and on getting them to make the right decisions regarding challenging penetrating opponents.Much work will be required to coordinate the off-side trap,which again requires verbal and visual communication.
Players with ability to beat opponents 1v1 on the wings with the ability to play effective crosses into the target area need to be developed.
Aerobic conditioning and speed training are a requirement,particularly fot the outside players.

-Strategy
This system works very well when attcking just about any outher system an opponent might play.It is particularly effective against other zonal 4-4-2 systems or a 4-3-3 system because it outnumbers it in the critical midfield area.
The weakness of this 4-4-2 lies in defense,particularly against a 3-5-2 system which can outnumber it in central midfield,thus pulling out a central defender causing difficulty with the integrity of the flat back zone.A 3-4-3 system can also cause difficulties,particularly if its three forwards get additional support from overlapping midfielders.
Ultimately,the strength of your own team will determine if the opponent is forced to make an adjustment to their system during the game or if you need to adjust because the opponent’s system is dominating.
This 4-4-2 is a very attractive attacking system with risks on defense.

-Lining Up:

1.Defenders and midfielders generally stay on their side of the field (zone).
2.D1&D4 challenge attackers on their side,cover for D2&D3,overlap when attacking.
3.D2&D3 mark central attackers if play is in middle.
4.M1&M4 are wingers when attacking,defend against overlapping defenders or outside midfielders.
5.M2&M3 control play,attack and defend centrally.
6.F1&F2 make runs to near /far post or to wings.

-Defending:

1.D4 challenges overlapping midfielder.
2.D3 provides support to D4.
3.D2 marks central attacker.
4.D1 shifts to mark second central attacker.
5.M4 marks overlapping defender.
6.M2&M3 pick up central midfielders.
7.M1 marks outside midfielder.
8.F1&F2 cover remaining three defenders.

-Transitioning:

1.M4 gets ready to make overlapping run.
2.F2 gets ready to make diagonal run.
3.M3 comes to ball for a pass.
4.D3 supports D4 for a ball pass.
5.D4 has option of passing to D3,M3 or deep to right.
Depending on where on the field the play is,the player in possession should have at least three passing options.to players either coming towards the ball or making runs into space.

-Attacking:

1.Ball has been played down the right wing with M4 in possession.
2.M4 can go 1v1 and cross the ball in or pass it to overlapping defender D4 who will then cross.
if ball were in central of field with M2 in possession,then M2 could pass through defenders diagonally to F1 or F2 making runs into space.M2 could also pass wide to overlapping M1/D1 or M4/D4. Again,it is important to provide passing options for player with ball.