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Hello All,
We just finished our 4th high school boys scrimmage against a team that ran the 4231 fairly well.
We soundly handled the 3 previous opponents playing the 442, but this team took our
10, 8 & 6 out of the match, then eventually won 4-1 with late goals.
We had our chances early, but failed to capitolize.
I was wondering if anyone had any advise on how to tactically prepare for the 4231.
Working with overlaps, attacking patterns 1 & 2 worked well, but we’d get caught on the counter.
I know I need to hammer keeping proper shape and support, but we were cruising with this
433, then the wheels feel off. I’m just a little fustrated. The guys just started freelancing
when things got tough and didn’t trust the system. Too much dribbling, not enough talking and to much
complaining to the officials, which were horrible. I’m not sure if they beat us or we beat ourselves,
probally a little of both. Now I’m rambling/complaining myself.
Maybe my question is more about keeping the team organized/focused when facing tough competition.
You need to find an area where you can overload numbers. Playing a 4-3-3 against a 4-4-2 allows you to dominate and overload with your 10,8,6. When they play their triangle to match yours you need to start to move players in and out of that space accordingly.
Think about the role Messi has when he plays as a false 9. He isn’t a CF, he’s an additional midfielder. He’s dropping in that space, while the 10 or 8 move out, or in some cases, they all stay in.
It’s not easy to do this though. Lots of things need to happen.
a) 9 drops in. 7 and 11 stay wide and high while 10 and or 8 move higher centrally.
b) 9 drops in. 7 and 11 pinch in towards CBs to ensure they are occupied. 8 and 10 move slightly wider.
c) 9 drops in. 7 and 11 pinch in towards CBs. 6, 8, 10, and 9 overload the center, and your outside backs push high and provide width.
Pick your poison!
One thing you’ll have to decide is how direct or truly possession based you want to play. If you’re sending your outside backs, they won’t have the luxury of time and space in the attacking 1/2 or 1/3 of the field. The speed of the game will probably increase, as will your amount of turnovers. Be ready to press high, and expect their counter.
You’ll always outnumber their 1 forward with your 2 CBs so you shouldn’t be tooooo worried. On the flip side, if you pinch your wingers in on their CBs, and you push your OB’s to theirs… you’ve essentially put yourself in a bunch of 1v1 match ups on their last line of defense. That’s why you have to decide of you want your CBs playing bombs over the top to those guys. They’ll still have time and space… it’s 3 v 1 all day in the back with your 6 and CBs. Occupy the other defenders with a shitload of movement……. you get the picture, right?
EASIER SAID THAT DONE MY FRIEND!!!!!!! 🙂
Thanks, that’s a lot to digest with some good thoughts.
I do want to be more possession based, today we were settling for the long ball and it was driving me crazy!
The 3four3 way is new for most of them this season, so they naturally revert back to old bad habits when facing adversity.
We have to understand that playing direct is not bad.
Kicking the ball aimlessly is bad.
Rehearsing movements and interchanging in order to get those 1v1 opportunities and exploiting them… is not bad.
There is a big, big difference.
And I only gave you a couple of scenarios… There are endless scenarios!!! Not all require direct play. So if you’re trying to play with the ball on the ground in the attacking 1/2 or 1/3… There are ways.
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