-
POSITIONAL ROLES IN A 4-4-2 DIAMOND MIDFIELD
Posted on January 27th, 2009 2 commentsHere is something that we put together to give to the U19 National Team to help remind them of their positional roles in a 4-4-2.
More specifically, it addresses the issues of when we were playing with our midfield in a “diamond” shape. (ie: 4 central midfielders… in a diamond shape).
POSITIONAL ROLES IN A 4-4-2 DIAMOND MIDFIELD
COMMUNICATE!
Forwards
Defensively
- 1st win the ball; 2nd force/funnel outside, then pressure/go to win it – trap opponent with wide CM against sideline
- Should stay about 20 yards apart (width of center circle)
- Double back
- Win 2nd balls-push against their backs
- Dig out loose balls
Offensively
- Should stay about 20 yards apart (width of center circle)
- 1st and 2nd runs-mobility: check, 2nd runs, lateral runs, stack up
- Hold the ball
- Get behind the defense - get endline, shots, serves, CKs
1v1, combining, getting played in
- Get in the box/follow up/CREATE and FINISH
High Center Midfielder
Defensively
- Close entry balls to 1. Intercept/tackle 2. Drive them back 3. Keep them on a side
- Win 1st and 2nd balls on goalkicks, punts, clears-dig out loose balls
- Double back
Offensively
- Get in yourself or play players in
- Support forwards-get underneath them
- Unbalance opposite side
- Run at the restraining line to get played in; can overlap too
- Get in the box/follow up/CREATE and FINISH
- Playmake in the seam between their CMs and backs
Wide Center Midfielders
Defensively
- Defend players and channels – no balls should be able to be played through the middle of midfield on the ground
- Trap opponent with forward against sideline
- If the opponent changes the point in the back, the wide CM rotates up to defend and the WB on that side rotates up into the midfield - backs will slide over (become 3 back)
- Win 1st and 2nd balls on goalkicks, punts, and clears-dig out loose balls
- Double back
- Match up in the box; protect GK
Offensively
- Either get wide like a traditional WM or stay pinched and allow that space for WB
- Support High CM and Forwards
- Get forward-penetrate-get behind or play players in
1v1, combine, get played in
- Get in the box/get endline
- CREATE and FINISH
Holding Center Midfielder
Defensively
- Sit and block channels to opponents forwards/help with checking forwards
- Win 1st and 2nd balls on goalkicks, punts, clears
- Slide and cover wide CMs
- Double back
- Prevent counter attacks
- Match up in the box; protect GK
Offensively
- Sit and playmake between the opponent’s forwards and midfielder
- Change the point; help us possess and get out of the back
- Support wide CMs
- Penetrate if it’s on – must be replaced by wide CMs most likely
Backs
Defensively
- SHAPE and SPACING – Pressure-cover-flat-flat; Pressure-cover-cover-flat
*RECOVER
Reference point for weakside back in a 4-back=back post; 3-back=vertical middle
- WBs must rotate into flank midfield space if wide CM rotates up; other 3
backs slide
- Acordian movement=condense and read service * PRESSURE ON THE BALL
*SERVICE ABILITY
- Hard in our zones-defend going forward
- Cover when winning balls
- Mark in the box; protect the GK
- Center back must communicate, organize, and lead – set our restraining line
- Cushion if midfielder gets behind our MF far beyond shooting range – until about 25-30 yards out-then one must step and the 2 by her cover
Offensively
- Drop off when we win it
- Early cup shape; sprint in support
- WBs MUST get forward in the flank space if wide CM stays pinched and be
effective-possess, get serves, combine, play players in – can still try to get
forward if WM is wide (ie. overlap)
- Possession-play quality balls out of the back to start the attack
Goalkeepers
Defensively
- Lead, organize
- Play the space behind the backs
- Stop shots
- Dominate the box
- Organize restarts
Offensively
- Be an outlet with your feet-possess or clear; take goalkicks
- Look for quality distribution options to counter
- Make sure we pinch in on goalkicks and punts, if time permits
Defensive System: RESPONSIBLE ZONE + TOUCH-TIGHT MAN-TO-MAN IN THE BOX
2 responses to to “POSITIONAL ROLES IN A 4-4-2 DIAMOND MIDFIELD”
-
Jeff,
this is quite interesting!
At first I thought this was a very linear approach to guiding players, but then I was more struck by just how much information there is here.
If a coach is standing in front of his team, is this something like a 10 minute briefing? How many teams get this much specific instruction and how many coaches not qualified to coach U19 MNT would remember to cover all these detail points?
Color me impressed - this sells me on the value of writing out these kind of detailed positional notes before talking to the players pre-game.
- A90
-
I think that this is an exercise that all coaches should go through. In that, it forces them to know EXACTLY what they are looking for when the players take the field.
How do we as coaches know if something needs to be corrected if we don’t know what we are looking for in the first place?
So, I applaud your efforts… you get it!This is more than a 10 minute “briefing”, there is too much information. But, it will help the players understand what their “job” is.
When working with the team, the BIGGEST impact that we were abot to have towards improving their understanding was through the use of video. We showed them both themselves playing, and other teams playing. The old saying , “A picture is worth a thousand words” really holds true with players that is for certain. And, it is much more exciting than a “lecture” if you choose to go that route.
Leave a reply
