Tag Archives for " 4-4-2 "

0 Funnel Back from a 4-3-3

By Mike Smith A couple weeks ago, my high school team played in the regional tournament for the first time in 4 years. In the first round, we played a team that had beaten us 7-1 earlier in the season. Stocked full of club players from a school of over 1000, my 14 players from our

0 Transitional Shape in a 4-4-2

By Mike Smith The idea of transition, which Merriam Webster defines as the passage from one state to another, should contain elements of both states until the full change is made. From a soccer perspective, this to me means taking an extra step between defending and all out attack especially when a quick counter opportunity is

0 Fluid System of Play

Most teams and coaches play with a set formation.  What I meant by that is, if a team plays with a 4-3-3, they usually stick to that formation whether they are attacking or defending.  Sometimes they will alter that formation in the latter part of a game if they are losing and need to attack

0 Attacking Against a Flat 4-4-2

By Alex Trukan Defending in a flat 4-4-2 formation is one of the most widespread ways to set up a team when out of possession. It is relatively simple to implement, effective and suits a lot of players. When executed correctly, it can be very difficult to break through. This is why, it often poses

0 Training Twin Strikers in a 4-4-2

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session will offer potential combinations for the #9 and #10 players to use in order to create scoring opportunities. Initial Introduction of Movements and Warm-Up

0 Training Attacking Play for Midfielders and Defenders in a 4-4-2

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session will offer potential combinations for the #6, #8, #7, #11, #2 AND #3 players to use in order to create attacking opportunities. Initial Introduction

0 Tottenham's New System of Play

By Michele Tossani

Tim Sherwood has been appointed as André Villas-Boas's permanent successor at Tottenham Hotspur by the chairman Daniel Levy after he signed an 18-month contract. A Premier League victory at Southampton, his ambition and his attitude was enough to be named as permanent manager. It is unclear whether Sherwood will remain effectively the Tottenham manager through the 2014-15 season but the deal make him more sure about it. Sherwood’s coaching staff includes Chris Ramsey, Les Ferdinand and Steffen Freund. Sherwood already tried to put his mark on his side, trying to develop an attacking 4-2-4 featuring two centre-forwards and two attack-minded wide midfielders adding the playmaker Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembélé as central midfielders.

So an offensive shape made Spurs able to create a high number of goal scoring chances although it left them exposed to oppositions counterattacks. Sherwood seems to rely on

1 Developing a Style of Play

There are three thinks that I think contribute to the formation and system that coaches choose to play with. The qualities and personalities of the players on the team is most important. If you have a lot of attacking personalities then a system like the 4-3-3 makes sense. If you have a forward who holds the ball well and can play with their back to goal then you could use a 4-5-1 effectively. But each system can be played with a different style; possession, direct attacking, counter attack, etc.

The second contributing factor is the coaches preference. Most coaches

0 Switching to a 4-2-3-1

There is no one formation that will work for all teams. Most coaches understand and accept this. But I also believe that no one formation is always best for a team.

Prior to the start of the season my U16 girls team experimented with a number of different formations: 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2. The 4-4-2 formation proved to be the best fit for us given the talents and qualities of our players.

The team had a fairly successful fall season. They finished second in their league and competed well in tournaments. In the winter league we were placed in a division with teams that were simply more talented. The girls played hard and to the best of their ability but we were simply out classed.

The last game of the season we played a team that was a three time State Champion and Regional Runner up. The girls and I both knew that it would be a difficult game. To give us the best

0 Small-Sided Games in Training

Small-sided games are a great tool for player development. But as with any tool they must be used correctly to achieve the best results. It's not enough to create two teams of eight and drop a ball. The more specifically you design the game, the more your players will benefit. Most coaches will choose a

0 Playing the Ball Out Of the Back

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on playing the ball out of the back.

We are going to play with two teams playing 4 - 4 - 2 but you can use any formations you choose.  There is a keeper in one goal and the other end line (70 yards away) has two 8 yard wide goals on the ends.

The ball starts with the keeper and the team defending the goal (in this case the black team) gets a