4-2-3-1 System & Player's Roles within it

The 4-2-3-1 System & Player’s Roles within it

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The next formation I have taken a bit of time to analysis is the 4-2-3-1 system. This is very
similar to the 4-3-3 system but instead of having 1 player sitting in front of the back 4, this
system uses 2 sitting players. This provides a little more cover for the back four and puts one
extra man behind the ball making your side harder to break down. The attacking responsibility
then goes to the four forward players, who can be rigid and stick to their positions or interchange
freely in free roles, depending on the players within your team.
Roles of the team
In Possession
Make Pitch Big/Wide/Offer Depth
Offer Angles to player on the ball
Communication – Off the Ball
Communication – When giving the ball
(time/turn/man on)
Out of Possession
Make Pitch Small/Tight/Compact
Press Ball/Space
Force Opponents wide & away from goal
Winger’s drop to align with CDM
Out of Possession
When your side is out of possession, the aim is to make the field for tight and compact. The
wingers, come back to align with the holding midfielders making two tight, compact lines of
four. The attacking midfielder sits in front of them.
In possession

In possession of the ball the centre backs offer depth so the ball can be retained. Fullbacks move
forward to offer extra width with the wingers staying wide. If the Wingers come inside the fullbacks are
the main source of width. The Holding Midfielders also offer depth but act as cover should the fullbacks
get caught out of position. The attacking midfielder players in behind the striker, looking to pick up the
ball deep and create openings to be exploited.
Playing out from the back

Playing out from the back is something a lot of team try to do in modern day game; there are a
variety of ways to do it. Within the 4-2-31 system it can be done two different ways. The first
way keep the shape when in possession. The centre back’s split, full backs go high and wide,
Wingers go wide and BOTH holding midfielders drop into the space created by the centre backs,
offering the keeper six different distribution options, without kicking the ball.

The second way has the team going into a 4-3-3 shape to play out from the back. The centre
backs split, fullbacks push forward but only 1 holding midfielder drops, the other stays high and
the attacking midfielder drops alongside that player to give a 4-3-3 shape when playing
Passing Lanes:

The 4-2-3-1 system offers lots of natural shapes and angles which will help your side retain possession.
The shape produces 12 natural triangles which allows for more than one passing option when your team
is in possession.
Defending from the Front

I’ve added this one in as it is something I like teams I am involved with to do as I believe the
further up the field you win the ball the more chance you have of not conceding.