For those over 60 who have no understanding of modern football this may help. Not sure what formation Saints tried in the 1st half v Pompey.
Some web searching but was looking for coaching manual as cant believe side to side back side respect as required is in a FIFA coaching manual.
Modern football tactics emphasize flexibility, aggressive high pressing to regain possession quickly, and positional play to exploit space, moving away from rigid formations. Common tactics include the fluid 4-3-3 with a front three and lone holding midfielder for width and possession control, and hybrid shapes like the 3-4-3. Data analytics are used to refine strategies by analyzing player performance and opponent tactics, influencing approaches to build-up play, and the development of new patterns to bypass high defenses.
Key Tactical Concepts
• Flexible Formations: Instead of fixed shapes, teams use hybrid systems and formations that can shift during a match to adapt to the different phases of play.
• High Pressing: Teams press aggressively from the front and even during goal kicks to win the ball high up the pitch and launch quick attacks.
• Positional Play: Focuses on controlling space and creating passing lanes through intelligent movement and positioning to progress the ball up the field.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Analytics provide detailed data on performance and opponent tactics, allowing coaches to make precise adjustments to player positions and movement.
• Exploiting Half-Spaces: Attacking midfielders and forwards drop deep or move infield to receive passes in the space between the opposition's midfield and defense, creating chances.
Common Formations
• 4-3-3: A dynamic system featuring a back four, a single defensive midfielder (CDM), two central midfielders (CMs), and a front three (two wingers and a striker). This provides a strong midfield control and width in attack.
• 4-2-3-1: A popular system that creates numerical advantages in possession and can transition quickly from defense to attack, often involving advanced midfielders and wingers.
• 3-4-3: A hybrid formation that offers defensive solidity while also providing attacking width, a popular example used by coaches like Antonio Conte.
Tactical Trends
• Build-Up Play: With defenses adapting to playing out from the back, teams are developing new ways to build play, often involving longer passes or specific patterns to bypass aggressive presses.
• Individual Battles: As a result of the pressing, the game is often characterized by individual battles across the pitch as teams fight to win possession.
• Exploiting Defensive Adaptations: When the opponent presses high, teams look for space behind the midfield line or exploit wider areas by stretching the opposition's back
The 4-4-2 formation isn't used as much because modern tactics, especially the rise of three-man midfields, can easily overrun a two-man central midfield, leading to a loss of possession and control. The 4-4-2 can be too rigid, struggling to create chances compared to more fluid formations like the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, which offer more passing options and attacking freedom. While still effective defensively, its central midfield weakness makes it vulnerable to teams that can exploit it with quick, vertical passes and fluid movement.
Reasons for its decline:
• Three-Man Midfield Dominance:
The fundamental weakness of the 4-4-2 is its two central midfielders, which are easily outmatched by teams playing a three-man midfield. This allows opponents to control the game's tempo and possession.
• Lack of Fluidity and Creativity:
The 4-4-2 was often seen as too rigid and flat to create chances against more modern, fluid formations. It lacked a dedicated #10 or playmaker, making it harder to create passing triangles and secure the ball in advanced areas.
• Demand on Wide Players:
To compensate for the two central midfielders, the wide midfielders in a 4-4-2 had to do a tremendous amount of defensive work, often doubling up on opposing wingers. This strenuous demand can be exhausting and negatively impact stamina over a full match.
• Shift in Possession-Based Football:
The early 2010s saw a growing emphasis on ball possession, particularly with the success of Spain's short-passing, possession-based style of play. The 4-4-2 was not well-suited to this approach, which required more midfield numbers and technical players to maintain possession and create overloads.
Modern adaptations:
• Defensive Shape:
Some teams still use a 4-4-2 as an effective out-of-possession shape, providing good pitch coverage both horizontally and vertically.
• Flexible Versions:
The formation is not entirely dead and can be adapted, sometimes appearing as a 4-2-4 when on the front foot, or used to surprise opponents with its traditional structure.
• Not a "Death":
The formation isn't entirely gone but has become a less common primary tactic at the highest level. It's now a specific tool used for certain situations or players, rather than a default system for all teams.
