The shape
A back five, a flat midfield four and a single striker. Without the ball it is two deep banks with little room between them and the striker screening the passes into midfield. With it the wing-backs step up and the wide midfielders push on, so the counter looks like a 3-4-3 for a few seconds before the shape recovers.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. Sees a lot of crosses, shots from distance and corners. Commands the box and is loud with the back five about the line.
- Centre Backs. Three who stay close and attack the ball. The middle one organises; the outer two deal with the wide forwards.
- Wing Backs. Defend first. Step up only when the ball is won and a wide midfielder has carried it forward.
- Central Midfielders. Sit in front of the back five, screen the shots and win the second balls. They rarely go beyond the striker.
- Wide Midfielders. Tuck in to make the four compact, then break on the counter. Their running is what makes the shape more than a wall.
- Striker. Alone for long spells. Holds the ball up until the wide midfielders arrive and works the channels.
Strengths
- As compact as a shape can be, with nine players within thirty metres of goal.
- Hard to cross against with three centre backs and two wing-backs.
- A tired or outmatched side can hold it for ninety minutes.
- Simple instructions: stay close, win the ball, find the striker.
Weaknesses
- The striker can go long periods without a touch.
- Invites pressure, and a side that cannot clear its lines will concede from set pieces.
- Can look negative, which hurts morale and the development of young players.
- If the wide midfielders stop running the counter dies.
When to use it
Use it when you are a long way below the opposition, when a cup tie is heading into the last ten minutes with a lead, or when half the squad is missing and you have defenders to spare. It suits a side with a strong keeper and a striker who will run all day without reward. Do not make it a season-long default for under 14s and younger; they learn more from losing with the ball than from drawing without it.
What to coach in training
- Two banks defending a wave game: the attacking team gets ten attacks in a row from halfway, and the defending side scores a point for each one that ends without a shot on target.
- Counter in three passes: on winning the ball anywhere, the team must reach the striker in three passes with both wide midfielders past halfway, timed by the coach.
- Striker hold-up with a clock: 1v2 receiving a long clearance, holding the ball for three seconds until a wide midfielder arrives, then combining to shoot.
Works well against
It is designed for a 4-3-3 and a 3-4-3 whose wide forwards and full-backs are met by two defenders each. It is least effective against a patient 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 that works the ball side to side until the midfield four is dragged apart, so against those the central pair must stay narrow and let the wide midfielders deal with the flanks.
