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.

Play the ball out to CB who they play to LB,RB, DM, LCM & RCM ( who will pull wide )

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.

DF - Be available for the ball. CB both in charge of the line and brings up to halfway line when attacking. You must all be looking across the line to not play someone on.

Keep the ball when we can and play but clear when we are in danger.   LB and RB must join in the attacks where space is being left by LCM & RCM. You must overlap and LCM and RCM must also cover when they do.

Do not let the ball bounce and one CB covers the other. RB and LB tuck in.

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.

DM - Move the ball quickly and be a pivot. You can attack but the AM must cover you when you do so talk. Protect the back four and instigate/quarterback the plays.

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.AM - Free to roam and be created but dont get in the lanes of the wide people. Keep that channel for LB,RB, LCM & RCM

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.

11 - Play on the last defender but watch the offside at all times

9 -  A little deeper if needed to join the play with the AM. Stay central when possible and be the target man.  9 is the target man so look for him or a ball down the side of the defenders to the 11.

We press hard from the forwards, LCM, RCM and AM. Do not let them out so they have to kick it long.

Throw in LB, RM, CM

Corners Right - Aiden/Leo

Corners Left - Ozwin/Simon

Penalties - Taj/Aiden/Leo