How to break down a 4–4–2 using a 4–3–3
Introduction
The first of hopefully many tactical theory articles, this will look at a common system match up that can be seen in all tiers of football, whether it’s in the Premier League or Sunday League. The 4–3–3 system against the 4–4–2 system has been a commonality particularly when one team is dominant in the attacking phase and the latter in the defensive phase.
The 4–3–3 is one of the best systems in the world and it can be attributed to its success based on the flexibility it offers to coaches. If you look at some of the best teams in the world, in Liverpool and Manchester City, they utilise a 4–3–3 however their application is different.
Both of the team’s managers Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp adopt a 2–3–5 base in possession (an adaptation of the 4–3–3), but what makes them different is the positioning of the players. Klopp, utilises the 4–3–3 in order to create chances from wide areas (hence his FBs joining the wingers to create the 5).
With Guardiola, it’s interesting. His 2–3–5 base shape comprises the 2 CBs, the CDM anchoring the 3 in the middle but instead of using midfielders as the two ahead of the CDM, he utilises his FBs as inverted FBs. This allows him to play a front 5, where his two advanced 8s on paper would play either side of the striker and the wingers would hold the width.
Before I go on to explain how a 4–3–3 can exploit a 4–4–2, it’s important to look at the strengths and weaknesses of both.
The 4–3–3
Strengths
The 3 central midfielders enhance the ability of teams to control the central areas and dominate the midfield. This can be achieved through creating a 3v2 or a 3v3, which allows space in behind for the wide forwards to drop into.
In order to give the FBs more attacking license, the CDM can naturally slot in between the two CBs to create a back 3. This can also assist with build up play in the first phase, as a 3v2 advantage can be created allowing for much easier ball circulation and retention.
The natural positioning of the players allows for multiple passing angles and triangles to be created. This can allow a team that has a key fundamental of keeping possession, the ability to do so.
The three attacking players can pin the opposition fullbacks. Particularly if they’re technically gifted or athletically dominant, it poses many problems for the defenders.
The fluidity in the system allows for a team to cope with basically any situation in a game. If the team wants to protect the midfield, it can naturally slot into a 4–5–1. Or if the team looked to hit on the counter attack, the triangle in midfield can naturally change to a 4–2–3–1.
The flexibility in off the ball rotations allows for particularly the midfield players, space to receive the ball and create.
Disadvantages
Space can be conceded on the wings if the wide players aren’t disciplined while out of possession (need to track back in order to avoid an overload). In the attacking phase, if the wide players aren’t active then there’s the risk of the lone striker becoming isolated.
A big requirement for the midfield three to possess the ability to make complex decisions as well as having positional discipline (evident in both phases of the game). This is especially the case in defensive transition if the CDM isn’t positionall disciplined and gets pulled out of position.
There is a potential (but not as great) lack of options in the box if the wingers hold their width and the two advanced 8s don’t enter the box to receive the cross.
The 4–4–2
Strengths
Statistically covers the most pitch area while not in possession (wide players cover 40%, central players cover 60%). This allows the system to offer a sound balance while in and out of possession.
When out of possession, due to the large concentration of players in central areas, it can create an incredibly compact structure. Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have perfected this.
I spoke about balance before and the 4–4–2 contains an element that a lot of other systems don’t have. Natural width. This is ideal when a team’s main chance creation method is via crosses into the box.
When counter attacking, it shares similar properties to the 4–2–3–1 which allows for domination and penetration of vertical areas at speed.
Weaknesses
It faces the clear and obvious risk of being overloaded in the midfield, particularly against a 3-man midfield. Hence why possession play in central areas isn’t as common, unless it is during an attacking transition.
The system may be balanced, but in terms of progressive passing options, it lacks.
If the shape is not compact when the team is out of possession, it risks space in between the lines causing more confusion amongst defenders and opportunities for the opposition to exploit.
The midfielders, in particular the two in the middle have a lot of responsibility both in and out of possession, hence the incredibly high physical and technical roles placed on them.
Due to the natural positioning and symmetrical shape of the outfield players, it can cause predictable attacking patterns/passages, making it easy for the opposition to close them down.
Breakdown
So as I mentioned in the weaknesses of the 4–4–2, the main faults of that system are that it can get overloaded by a 3-man midfield and space can be exploited in between the lines if the shape isn’t compact.
Here are the natural starting shapes of both sides:
I’m going to look to target the half-space in order to create gaps in between the lines. For those that don’t know about the half-space, essentially it’s an area of the pitch in football which has been the subject of much writing from an offensive point of view, with its offensive qualities and advantages making it a frequently used and targeted area for build-up.
It is located in red here:
I’ll divide this breakdown into six areas:
- Build-up Phase
- Penetration Phase
- Creation Phase
- Transition to Defence
- Defensive Phase
- Transition to Offence
Reason being, these are the specific moments of the game that I focus on the most and looking at those moments in detail will give you further understanding of where the areas are to be exploited of a 4–4–2 system.
Build-up Phase
This is roughly how both teams would set up in this phase:
The first thing to observe is the amount of players we have (the yellows) against the blue team’s first line of pressure. It’s a 4v2, as we can utilise the GK, two CBs and the CDM to create a diamond against the opposition’s strikers.
What will be the most interesting aspect, will be how we will be engaged by the opposition’s front two. More or less, they will not press together in a straight line, however if this occurs, a simple pass to the CDM can evade this pressure.
Our objective in this phase is to find the CDM. Whether this involves a few quick passing combinations or as a result of a long sequence, the CDM is the most important player in this phase and this is for a few reasons.
For me, I’d instruct the CDM to play as a ‘Regista’. For those that are unaware of the term’s meaning, a Regista is a creative player who operates in front of the defence, almost always in a central position, looking to get on the ball as often as possible. Andrea Pirlo is perhaps one of the greatest examples of this role.
The opposition can screen the pass to the CDM by staggering the press. How this could look like, would be like this:
At this point, we could go with a safe option to the RB, who has slightly advanced from an initial deeper position or we could trust our GKs ability on the ball. A risk however one that should be taken, as if in major doubt, the GK could clear the ball. But our priority is to keep possession. So circulation of the ball amongst those three players is necessary in order to find the CDM.
Penetration Phase
At this point, we’re looking for the midfielders to take control of the game. They make the team tick and it’s their responsibility to dictate the nature of the game. The number 6 being in possession and facing the opposition’s goal is the trigger for rotations to begin.
Movement is essential when we’re looking to progress the ball from our half to the opposition’s. The midfield 2 of the opposition will face difficulty in dealing with the 3 central midfielders. The key problem to think about is how much pressure will the opposition put on our midfielders and how will they do so.
If the opposition gives us time on the ball, then we can progress the ball much more easily. If not, then quick passing sequences will draw them out of position and will leave them vulnerable and exposed. Or another solution would be to play a quick ball into the feet or to the advantage of one of the forwards.
The ability to be flexible in the approach is what gives the 4–3–3 a massive potential advantage over a 4–4–2.
Another key element is movement. The half-space, as I mentioned earlier, is the area I’d want to penetrate. Players looking to make blindside movements, or dart at speed into those areas are really difficult to defend against, particularly when the ball played to the player takes out two defenders.
Creation Phase
In this phase, it is probable that the opposition will be defending much deeper with their 4–4–2 shape. This is when it becomes a little difficult to create chances, however the priority has to be unbalancing their organisation, regardless of the state of their shape.
Personally, I’d look to create a midfield diamond. This way, we can control the centre of the pitch and allow for gaps to be opened up in the half-spaces.
The opposition will be faced at a crossroad, where they may need to rely upon the services of the two strikers to track back or for the midfielders to become narrow to create a 4v4. There’s opportunities for wide or central overloads, which will unbalance the opposition’s organisation.
I’d look to favour wide combinations, as this will draw the opposition all the way to one side (as they’d want to keep a compact shape) and allow for space for the wide winger to exploit following a switch. The winger holding his width on the weak-side creates a conflict for the non-ballside fullback. Does he stick with his CB or does he get drawn out to the winger.
Blindside movements into the halfspace will also assist with creating chances. For instance, in the above image, the number 10 can receive the ball on the half turn and as that is happening, the number 11 can make a loop blindside run behind the opposition’s number 2 into the half-space.
Transition to Defence
There’s a few variables that can be considered and some coaches have different methods in this phase of the game. For me, I’d prefer to counterpress at a high intensity for roughly 6 seconds. What would be involved with this counter press would be the nearest 2 or 3 players to the ball applying rigorous pressure, while the rest of the team occupy the closest short passing options.
As we know, the patterns of play in a 4–4–2 can be quite predictable due to the symmetrical shape so we can make it difficult for the opposition by making it much harder for them to really gain a rhythm while they’re on the ball. Forcing it long or causing a turnover will be the ultimate objective, as they will be disorganised and unprepared to deal with a counter attack.
The key here in order to make the transition effective, is that if possession is won within those 6 seconds then the counter attack has to occur within the next 10 seconds otherwise we get back into our rhythm and go again. If the counterpress is not successful, the objective will then be to get back into shape and block the midfield areas (I’ll discuss this in the defensive phase).
Defensive Phase
More often than not, the 4–4–2’s main chance creation will be through crosses or direct play. In a 4–3–3 we can be flexible within the shape when we’re defending depending on the plan.
For me, I’d be happy to force them out wide into non threatening areas. In this phase, getting into a 4–5–1 shape or maybe a 4–1–4–1 (it’s a matter of preference) will achieve this. Essentially what we’re doing, is we’re forcing the opposition out wide as we have put a high concentration of players in central areas.
The most important thing when in this phase is staying compact. For me, the width should be the equivalent of the 18 yard box. This way the spaces horizontally are condensed. Another important element is to be compact vertically. We don’t want the players in the 4–4–2 to receive in between the lines.
The CDM has to stay in central areas and not get drawn out of position. Also, depending on preference, he can always slot in between the two centrebacks when defending. This way, a 3v2 advantage is created (a strategy commonly used by Marcelo Bielsa).
Transition to Offence
The wingers will play a key role here. The transition to the offensive phase really depends on where we win the ball back and the state of the opposition’s organisation. This is why when the ball is won back in higher zones, a counter attack done at speed (such as a maximum of 10 seconds after the ball is won) are one of the most difficult to defend.
Already, we know that the FBs are going to have to push out wide as wide play is the 4–4–2’s main strength in possession. So we will again look to target the half-spaces in transition. The defensive lines will be stretched as a result and it won’t give enough time for the FBs to recover fully.
In a counter attack, I advise using 3 or 4 players (including the ball carrier). This way, if possession is lost, we will not be as defensively exposed but also we’re still committing a few players forward in the attack. Also, we may find ourselves in a 3v2 situation given the potential high positioning of the FBs.
Final Thoughts
So this is not the one and only plan you could use to break down a 4–4–2 should you use a 4–3–3 system. This is one of many and there’s so much flexibility and personal input that can be used to improve this. Either way, when looking to exploit an opposition system, look to kill their weaknesses and limit the effectiveness of their strengths.
Very simple message but of great importance.
