Do you love attacking in a three-back system?
How about defending in a 4-4-2 with those impenetrable blocks of four?
What if we could blend the two approaches, giving our side the security of a three-back system in possession while harnessing the structure of the traditional 4-4-2 out of possession?
Finding that balance is the topic of this tactical theory article.
With rest defence structures, seeing many teams opt for a 3-2 at the back, our goal is to identify how teams can transition from a 3-5-2 when in possession to a 4-4-2 out of possession.
We dont want to get hung up on the numbers, so this analysis starts with reasons for using those specific systems and some of the principles of play we hope to put into practice.
Knowing why we have chosen these systems and how we look to use their advantages to attack or defend specific spaces, we’ll turn our attention to attacking and defensive transitions, specifically the moments that force our team to move from one formation to the other.
We’ll discuss positional responsibilities and then offer a couple of exercises to train these ideas.
Why use 3-5-2 in attack and 4-4-2 in defence?
For this first section, lets start with some of the benefits of a 3-5-2 when in possession and a 4-4-2 out of possession.
One of the clear benefits of a 3-5-2 in possession is the structure it gives to a teams rest defence.
We have many examples of teams using a 3-2 at the back when in possession, the most popular of which is Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
With a 3-2-5 rest defence, the teams attacking shape is narrow at the back while maximising width higher up the pitch.
That allows a team to both stretch the opponents backline and often requires additional support at the back.
And this is where the 3-5-2 offers flexibility.
It can take on a flat shape in midfield or a layered approach, which may look like a 3-4-1-2 in terms of positional representation, giving the attacking central midfielder freedom to join the highest line of attack, overloading that high, central area.
He or one of his teammates may also drop in between the lines as gaps emerge.
The setup complicates the opposing teams defensive setup and is designed to limit the success of the oppositions attacking transitions.
An additional benefit is that it allows the in-possession team to dominate centrally while having free players in the wings.
Yellow is our focus group in this tactical theory article.
Below, yellow’s occupation of the central channel and the general narrowness of the eight field players between the wings require the opponent to become unbalanced centrally, leaving the wide outlets available.
Now, this is assuming the opponent plays some variation of four at the back and three in central midfield.
The space available does change based on the opposition’s setup, but we’ll stick with this opposition structure for the analysis.
Within the 3-5-2, the central attacking midfielder can join the front line to give the in-possession team a 3-4-3 structure.
That allows the attacking team to compress the width of the oppositions backline and leaves their holding midfielder without a clear assignment.
He will typically defend the space between h
