THE 3-4-1-2 SYSTEM OF PLAY

THE 3-4-1-2  SYSTEM OF PLAY

HISTORY

The 3-4-1-2 system of play has its origins in the famous Italian club and national sides of the 90s. The three-man defensive system is currently enjoying a renaissance as it is been employed by famous coaches such as Antonio Conte, Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola.

The system is made of the goalkeeper, a three-man backline with one central back (CB), one left sided back (LCB) and one right sided back (RCB). In front of them is a four man midfield in a flat line made of two wing backs (LWB and RWB) and two central holding midfield players (HM). Up front, we have a ‘triangle down’ arrangement with two central forwards (CF) and one  attacking central midfielder (ACM)

3-4-1-2 system of play

IN POSSESSION

The presence of two centre forwards makes it very difficult for a back four to defend properly against the 3-4-1-2 and affords the ACM a lot of space to do damage.Attacks are most effective by rotations and quick combination play (up-back-through) between the centre-forwards and the attacking central midfielder and there are lots of opportunities for three man runs.

Image: Space for ACM

IMAGE: Combination Play (Up-Back-Through)

Also, the presence of wing backs allows for wide attacking play so the central players should always be ready to execute a quick switch of play to expose the weak side.The system in full attacking tilt will morph into a 3-2-5 with the wing backs maintaining the width and the forwards and attacking central midfield maintaining a presence in the zone 14 areas of the pitch. if the opposition back four narrow off, it gives opportunities to get the wing backs involved. If they stretched out, then the gaps appear in between for central penetration.

IMAGE: Expose the weak side by switch of play

IMAGE: Expose gaps by penetration from deep

OUT OF POSSESSION

The presence of three centre backs and two holding midfielders in front of them allows the team to slow down opposition quick attacks through the centre giving the wing backs, attacking central midfielder and centre forwards time to recover.

The back three may choose to defend zonally which is especially effective against a lone forward or choose to employ a man marking and sweeping scheme which is useful against two forwards. The team will need to show tactical flexibility in defending and one of the central midfielders or wing backs will be required to integrate with the back three on the weak side to make a situational four man defence. The wing backs would often find themselves defending 1v2 but they should often and when appropriate show the “play inside” into the traffic of central players.

IMAGE: Tactical shifts in defending wide areas

The presence of three forward players also facilitates pressing from the front should the trainer favour this approach. The natural inclination is to force play out wide and then trap the opposition in those areas, create a quick turnover and then attack.

IMAGE: Pressing from the front

SPECIALIST POSITIONS OF THE 3-4-1-2

The central back (CB) is a defender first but will be expected to launch attacks from deep. Having the attributes such as composure under pressure, diverse range of passing, ability to communicate with teammates and vision help to play this role effectively.

IMAGE: Passing options and priorities of central back

The goalkeeper would be required to be very comfortable with their feet and able to make a diverse range of passes. The goalkeeper would also be required to perform many sweeps in the gap behind the 3 man defence line and the goal.

IMAGE: Launching quick attacks by runs in behind

PLAYER POSITIONS

Goalkeeper

The modern game and the nature of the back three system requires the goalkeeper to be able to perform the following in additional to the traditional roles of the goalkeeper

• Able to perform sweeping actions to protect the space behind the back three in the event the opposition play balls in behind/over the top.
• Able to mix up distribution over various distances either playing short safe passes or playing long direct balls forward to exploit space.
  
• Able to join the team to maintain possession of the ball away from the opposition creating 4v2 or 4v3 situations against a front two or three.

Centre Back

The centre-back should have good vision, ability to read the play and is usually a centre back with the attributes to play in central midfield.

• Able to read the game and provide leadership and communication for his teammates and the team
• Able to drop behind the side backs to provide sweeping action or able to step into midfield to stop the opposition player or developing play.
• Have a diverse range of passes in the locker in order to initiate attacks from deep

Side Backs

The side backs in a three man system will be comfortable defending in central and wide areas. Players who can function in roles as a full-back and centre-back are good for this role.

• Repel opposition attacks by tackling, marking and heading (either in a zonal or man marking system)
• Able to defend 1v1 in wide and central areas of the pitch
• Good height to deal with aerial threat and able to maintain concentration in order to deal with game shifts and opposition late runners from deep.
• Recognise moments to step into midfield to break up player, track a deep lying or retreating forward.
• Recognise moments to step into midfield to support teammates in keeping possession or creating overloads.
• Able to play out from the back by employing a diverse range of passes especially the diagonal pass.

Wing Backs/ Wide Midfielders

• Good physical condition to be able to get up and down the field
•  Agile and quick players with good control and crossing
• Able to defend against opposition wingers/full backs
• Able to defend against overloads 1v2 by forcing play inside into the midfield traffic
• Stop opposition going around him to get the cross in behind the backline.
• Maintain a wide presence in order to provide team with ball retention option and width

Central Holding Midfielders

The holding midfield players provide the defensive stability that allows the front three and the wing backs to attack the opposition back line.

• recycling possession to allow team switch the point of attack or restart an attack
• Good vision and passing to expose the weak side of the pitch by switching play in 1-2 touches
• defend by slowing down opposition counter attacks to allow the wing backs and other forward players recover to defensive roles or counterpress the opponent
• at opportune moments, to offer a late option arriving in the final third
• Tactical flexibility to drop into the backline to plug gaps whenever a side back is dragged out wide
• Able to support the front three players in the press

Attacking Central Midfielder

 The attacking central midfielder should be clever at finding space in between the lines, be an option from a dump pass from a forward under pressure and able to play defence-splitting passes in behind.

• recognise moments to join the forwards in the press o when to join the midfielders to provide numerical superiority in middle.
• Concentrate on finding pockets of space to do damage when team in possession
• Be an option for a dump pass from a forward under pressure with back to goal.
• Drift between the opposition’s lines and provide a long-range goal threat with shots.
• Provide late runs from deep beyond the forwards to surprise and stretch the opposition backline.
• Able to play quick combination play (Up-Back-Through) with the two forwards
• Rotational movement with the two forwards to confuse the opposition.
• Able to support the forwards in the press

Centre Forwards

Two different but collaborative forwards could be employed e.g.  a target man and a poacher or a central forward and a roving forward or playmaker etc usually the attributes should be complementary. A simple yet effective solution is to have a target man who plays with back to goal who can receive direct balls from deep (UP), control and play a dump pass to the attacking central midfielder (BACK) who can then thread a pass through for the poacher to run onto (THROUGH). This allows the team to play a quick combination (Up-Back-Through).

• Quick combination passing
• Support is provided by the attacking central midfield who stays in between the lines or makes runs beyond the pair
• A pairing of a target man who can hold the ball up and lay it off for the oncoming midfielder and a more poacher capable of running on to balls and finishing chances is ideal.
• Lead the press by initially guiding play out wide to the full backs and then we press the ball.

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