1

https://www.soccerdrive.com/soccer-tactics/low-bunch-corner-kick

2 https://www.soccerdrive.com/soccer-tactics/high-roll-corner-kick

 

The diamond presses I’ve covered quite a bit here with hardly touching on the role of the forwards in the 4-4-2 diamond. That’s crazy because the forward’s defensive responsibilities in a pressing diamond — like the Union intend to employ — are massive. Luckily, this is where the Union’s roster really works for the formation.

A successful defensive possession in a pressing diamond looks something like this (bold is the defending team in the diamond, italics are the offensive opponent):

The two forwards press the opponents’ two centerbacks, the CAM covers the opposing defensive midfielder dropping in for the ball The centerback pushes the ball wide to a fullback The adjacent defending fullback pushes high to cut off wing support The center diamond rotates toward the fullback, cutting off easy central passes The fullback either tries a central pass that is collapsed on by the diamond midfield or hooves it long

STRENGTHS OF THE 4-4-2 DIAMOND FORMATION: A back four which a lot of defenders feel comfortable in A very strong spine of the team from goalkeeper, two centre backs, four central midfielders and two strikers Extra protection in front of the back four in the shape of a defensive midfielder – this can often prevent the opposition no.10 from playing In the centre of midfield you usually have an overload – 4 v 3 or even 4 v 2 The licence for attacking full backs to be able to push on from deep Accommodation for two strikers and a no.10 (attacking midfielder or deep lying striker) WEAKNESSES OF THE 4-4-2 DIAMOND FORMATION: The most obvious is the lack of width – full backs can get overloaded against a team playing with full back and wingers Similarly, you are relying on our full backs to be your attacking width Space in behind attacking full backs can drag central players out of position The two central midfielders have a lot of shuttling to do so need to be extremely fit The full backs are effectively wing backs so again need to be extremely fit

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ROLES IN THE 4-4-2 DIAMOND FORMATION: As already discussed, to make a formation work, you need the players to perform the various roles both defensively and offensively. We take a look at the individual responsibilities for each player below.

GOALKEEPER: Other than the standard requirements of a good goalkeeper, the goalkeeper needs to distribute the ball effectively. The team requires patience to switch the ball from side to side to find the right times to play, so a goalkeeper confident with the ball at their feet, who can receive a pass back from an outfield player under pressure and effectively switch it to someone else is a real asset.

FULL BACK: As already discussed, the two full backs need to be extremely fit. They need to be able to get up and down, from forming a solid back line, to providing as much width as possible when the team is looking to penetrate the opposition defence. When there is the opportunity, they should also be looking to overlap and get crosses into the box. This can become extremely exhausting when the ball is being switched from side to side a lot, as when the ball is in the possession of the opponents on the opposite side of the pitch, the full back has to look to tuck in at the far post defensively.

CENTRE BACK: The modern centre back should be confident in possession and be looking to receive the ball both from their goalkeeper and back from one of their midfielders looking to recycle the ball. They are also the insurance cover for full backs who have been caught further forward, needing to drop wide to cover while ensuring the defensive midfielder has dropped in to cover them.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: This is a key player in the formation. Defensively, can provide extra cover in front of the back four and also drop in to the back four should either of the centre backs get dragged wide. Good positioning can also reduce the pockets of space that an opposition no.10 could find to cause problems. Offensively, this player is often the chief recycler – looking to receive the ball from one side of the pitch and switch it to the opposite side. With this in mind, a player who is an excellent reader of the game, positionally disciplined, and a good “talker” should play this role particularly well.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS: These two players, similar to the full backs, have to be extremely fit. Defensively, they have a shuttling role from side to side which can offer extra protection to the full backs, which as already discussed, can be a potential area of weakness. With this covering role in mind, they also have to remain positionally disciplined so as not to be dragged into areas where they are not needed and therefore leaving gaps. Going forward, they can look to break into wide areas in front of their full backs where there may be space, particularly if the opposition decide to defend narrowly to counter the strength in central areas.

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER/NO.10: Defensively, this player has to provide support to the other three midfielders, dropping in to create overloads in central areas. They should then look to find space between the opposition lines to create opportunities in the final third. Where the opposition try to squeeze the play high up the pitch, the no.10 should also look to make runs from deep to break beyond the two strikers. Overall the player should be an intelligent footballer – good at finding and creating space, patient in finding the right opportunities to play the correct ball, and also disciplined in their defensive responsibilities.

STRIKERS: The best teams defend from the front, so the strikers are key to this. Depending on how aggressively you decide you want the team to press will define the positioning of the two strikers defensively, however either way they should be looking to deflect the opponents possession towards central areas. Key to this is stop the opposition playing to their full backs – this doesn’t necessarily mean they go and mark them, however their positioning should make passes out to the full backs as difficult as possible.

In possession, one or other of the strikers can offer an “out ball”, usually a longer pass hit over the opponent full back’s head into the wide channels. Similarly, another out ball is one played longer into the striker for them to hold up while facing their own goal, and then bringing others into play. Either way, they should be protecting possession of the ball otherwise the defence is immediately under pressure again. Positionally they should be looking to make the pitch as large as possible, stretching the opposition back line. In the final third, their movement should be positive and dynamic to create opportunities for combination play in and around the box.

https://eachgameasitcomes.com/coaching-4-4-2-diamond-formation/