Creating options when playing from the Goalkeeper- Movement will have to be adjusted depending on how the opposition set-up. Defenders and No6 may have to drop or move laterally to create an angle to receive into feet from the goalkeeper. The timing of the movement is also extremely important especially when the opposition want to press high up the field and try to force you to play long. If the defenders and centre midfielders have already moved before the goalkeeper gets set to pass out then they will become static and as a result be closed down. The timing of the run must come when the goalkeeper is ready to play out. Below is different scenarios you may come across and have to adapt to create the option to play out. On most occasions there will be some form of pressure from the opposition when you attempt to build from the back. As a coach it is up to you how much freedom you give to your players in their movement and how confident you are in your team playing under pressure in their first third. As a club we want to encourage the build from the back principle and encourage them to do this at all times. Options vs a team playing a low pressure system and with one centre forward- Two centre-backs can pull out either side 8yard box if the centre forward decides to close down one particular centre back then the other centre back or defensive midfielder will be available.
Options vs a team playing high pressure with three forwards- When the opposition attempts to press high up the major issue is creating space away from their wide forwards. To do this the centre back can drop off- A)if the wide forward does not press then he can receive and immediately pass to the right back(), defensive midfielder(6) or centre midfielder(8) who will make an angle to receive off the centre back (4). B) If the wide forward continues to press the centre back then the full-back can make an angle higher up the field to receive directly from the goalkeeper.
Options vs a team playing with CF s- With the two CF s and two wide players they may decide to press higher up the field. The goalkeeper may still be able to pass out to a centre-back, full-back or defensive midfielder. But the options now could also come from the wide player making an angle to receive from a lofted pass to their feet and through midfield rotation in an attempt to pull one centre forward away to create space to exploit. Option A- Two centre forwards press high onto the two centre-backs- Midfield rotation and play out to the CM
Option B- If the opposition try to split the fullback and centreback on each side and start with a compact midfield four, then you must maximise the width and try to exploit space centrally. It may be that the first pass out might be to a centre midfielder under pressure. If this is the case then the centrebacks should have depth in their position and be an option to play back to before playing out.
Starting High to drop short- An alternative option is to start much higher up the field to disguise the short pass out from the goalkeeper. As the goalkeeper is preparing to kick the ball out then there needs to be movement towards the ball. This will create alot of space in the first third for the centre backs, full-backs and defensive midfielder to then drop towards the goalkeeper and still play out from the back.
The First Stage of the Attacking Phase As a club we want to build up play from the back using a patient passing game. The defenders of the team will be heavily involved in this phase and must have the technical ability, tactical knowledge and confidence to do this successfully. The main aim in this phase is to break down the opposition pressure using short, quick passing and good movement off the ball to create the correct options and move the ball into the middle or final third. The more options we can create for the player on the ball the easier it is to maintain possession.
Our formation can be adapted when in possession to our advantage, depending on the number of opposition forwards they employ. As a team we would like to have a spare player at the back that can cover if possession is lost. Playing vs two centre forwards When playing against a team that plays with two centre forward s, one of the full-backs or the Defensive Midfielder will remain back to ensure superiority in numbers. When the ball is in a wide area the no5 will provide depth and an option to play back to. The No4 will shift across to provide balance and the full-back will tuck in to ensure a v advantage if possession is lost
When play is in a central area we would look for both full-backs to provide width and to offer an outlet to pass to when the centre-midfielders or centre-forward are in possession. In this scenario the defensive midfield will drop in to provide the v advantage.
Playing vs one centre forward When playing against one centre forward the two centre backs already have the advantage numerically, allowing much more freedom for both full-backs and defensive midfielder to support the attack. When the full-backs and defensive midfielder are higher up this also greatly improves your defensive pressure and allows the line of confrontation to be much higher. When possession is lost, the wide forwards and centre midfielders will be in a much higher starting position and therefore the initial pressure will be quicker upon the opposition.
With the two full-backs higher up the field this also allows the wide players to constantly make diagonal movements inside the opposition full-backs and creating overloads in both wide and central areas.
Creating width when playing against a compact midfield- -4-4- (diamond) /--5- When the opposition team is compact in the centre of the field or when the two opposition centre forwards work closely together it is important to maintain more width in the first third. In both of these scenario s the opposition limit the space to play centrally so you must create options in space in wide areas. A good example of this may be when the opposition play a -4-4- diamond or --5-. This width can be created by the defensive midfielder dropping deeper and the two centre backs pulling wider. This allows for the full-backs to push higher up and give the team maximum width in their shape. With the full-backs maintaining width this allows more freedom for the wide forwards in their movement to create angles and options to play to. Effectively when in possession this becomes a -4- system, with the defensive midfielder working close with the two centre-backs, allowing the full-backs to make forward and overlapping runs, creating overloads in the final third while maintaining width.
Playing from the first third into the middle third- When we have possession of the ball at the back it is important that we have good mobility from as many players as possible. All of our players should have an understanding of various types of movement and runs. Within our shape we should also highlight the importance of width and depth especially from the defenders and midfielders. When building out from the back a lot of the runs from the centre midfielders and wide forwards will be to come short and offer an option to feet. It is important that our players understand when these runs should be made and how other players can exploit space created. The correct timing of the run is paramount. When our centre-backs are in possession, the full-backs should maximise the width of the field to help create space for the centre-backs, themselves and for the midfielders.
When the centre-back plays wide to the full-back other players must adjust to the new ball position and create space and angles as required. The defensive midfielder or centre midfielder should be two of those short options from the back and should look to receive with an open body stance to give them the ability to change the point of the attack. Below play is switched from the right side of the field to the left by the centre midfielder. The left-back looks to make a forward run to exploit the space created by the diagonal run of the left forward.
Another short option for the full-back should be the use of the wide forward (no7). The winger should time his move to drop short only as the right back is receiving, thus hopefully creating space when he receives. The full-back can either pass directly to the winger as he receives off the centre back by controlling on the back foot. If the angle is immediately cut out the opposition winger then the triangle should be created by the centre midfielder (no8). This allows the fullback to play inside and then the pass to go wide. If the midfield players are not immediately available to pass to then we should be patient and look to penetrate through the midfield by changing the point of the attack. If the centre back cannot switch the point of attack or play forward, then the goalkeeper should be available to maintain possession of the ball.
Rotation in wide areas- creating the option for the centre-back- If the full-back is not immediately available to receive off the centre-back then they can rotate to give a number of new options. The full-back will make a forward run which the centre-back might be able to use via a lofted ball in behind the fullback. The wide forward will drop short to offer an option to feet, perhaps drawing the opposition full-back with him and the number 8 can clear that space by pulling wide, exploiting the space created by the full-backs forward run.