The shape
Three defenders across the top of the circle, three deeper midfielders in a line in front, three attacking midfielders in another line ahead of that, and the centre forward alone on the top of the opposition circle. With the ball the wide backs step to the sideline and the midfield lines stagger so a diagonal pass is always on. Without it the back three narrows and the deep three drops to the 23 m line.
Roles
- Goalkeeper. The eleventh passer. Takes back passes when the press is on and kicks or pushes to the free side.
- Left back and right back (wide backs). Step to the sideline and carry over the 23 m line, then tuck in to make the three narrow without the ball.
- Centre back. Marks the centre forward and never leaves the middle unless the ball is already past the other two.
- Deep three (left half, centre half, right half). Receive from the backs, switch the ball across and recycle when the attacking line is marked.
- Attacking three. Find the pockets between the opposition midfield and defence, arrive late in the circle for the second shot and lead the press.
- Centre forward. Holds the line between the centre backs, drags one wide to open a path into the circle and deflects from the top of the D.
Strengths
- Four bands mean there is nearly always a free pass of 10 to 15 metres.
- Nine players in the middle of the pitch win the possession battle.
- A full press gets picked apart because there are more passers than pressers.
- Nobody is more than one band from help.
Weaknesses
- Only three at the back, so a long aerial over the top is a real threat.
- The lone centre forward is isolated when the attacking three are slow to join.
- The wide channels are a long way from the back three.
- Slow to score: the ball goes round more than it goes through.
When to use it
Use it when you have more good passers than good tacklers and a goalkeeper who can play. It is made for an opposition that presses high and badly, because the extra band of passers exposes that. A good fit for an adult club team coached to keep the ball, and a poor one for a group that panics when a defender is isolated. Avoid it on a bumpy pitch.
What to coach in training
- Possession in four bands: three players in each zone on a half pitch, and the ball may only move one band at a time. Add two pressers, then four.
- Playing out against a full press: seven opponents press from the 23 m line and your team must cross halfway in ten passes or fewer.
- Aerial defence for the back three: a coach throws aerials over the top, the nearest back calls and drops, and the goalkeeper sweeps if the back is beaten.
Works well against
At its best against a side that commits five or six to the press, such as a 4-3-3 pressing full court or a 3-4-3 with wing backs pushed on, because the spare passer is always the one the press forgot. It also bypasses a 4-2-3-1 with a diagonal over the two holders. It struggles against a patient 5-3-2 that refuses to be pressed.
