4-2-3-1 DM Wide Tactic

4_2_3_1_dm_wide

4_4_1_1_2_dm

positive

clean_slate

Players

1

3

BALL_PLAYING_GOALKEEPER

SWEEPER_KEEPER

2

2

BALL_PLAYING_CENTRE_BACK

CENTRE_BACK

2

4

BALL_PLAYING_CENTRE_BACK

CENTRE_BACK

3

1

WING_BACK

FULL_BACK

3

2

DEEP_LYING_PLAYMAKER

DEFENSIVE_MIDFIELDER

3

4

DEFENSIVE_MIDFIELDER

DEFENSIVE_MIDFIELDER

3

5

WING_BACK

FULL_BACK

5

1

INSIDE_FORWARD

WIDE_MIDFIELDER

5

5

INSIDE_FORWARD

WIDE_MIDFIELDER

6

3

CENTRE_FORWARD

CENTRE_FORWARD

5

3

ADVANCED_PLAYMAKER

ATTACKING_MIDFIELDER

In possession

shorter

standard

standard

standard

balanced

less_often

keep_ball_in_play

work_ball_into_box

balanced

balanced

balanced

balanced

balanced

balanced

balanced

play_through_press

short

balanced

centre_backs

balanced

Out of possession

high_press

higher

balanced

more_often

counter_press

standard

yes

balanced

balanced

balanced

Key strengths

Cohesive short build-up

Shorter passing, Play Through Press and short goal kicks suit a goalkeeper and two centre-backs who are comfortable on the ball, and keep possession tidy from the back.

[1,3] Ball-Playing Goalkeeper and [2,2] Ball-Playing Centre-Back feed [3,2] Deep-Lying Playmaker.

Aggressive, coherent press

High Press, Trigger Press More Often and Counter-Press work together to win the ball high and keep the opposition under pressure.

[5,3] Attacking Midfielder and [6,3] Centre Forward lead the press from a compact 4-4-1-1 shape.

Conflicting tactics

High line with a slow-footed build-up

A Higher defensive line combined with Counter-Press leaves little cover if the press is beaten, while the team's possession focus asks the defence to hold a high position.

[2,2] Centre-Back and [2,4] Centre-Back defend a Higher line behind a stretched press.

Narrow attack with standard width

Two inside forwards and no wide attackers mean the width comes only from the wing-backs, which clashes with Standard Attacking Width and Balanced overlap settings.

[3,1] Wing-Back and [3,5] Wing-Back must supply all the width, with [5,1] Inside Forward and [5,5] Inside Forward moving inside.

Risk exposures

Space behind the wing-backs

Wing-backs push on in possession and the inside forwards drop to wide midfielders without covering the flanks, so counters down the sides are dangerous.

[3,1] Wing-Back and [3,5] Wing-Back with [5,1] Inside Forward and [5,5] Inside Forward tucked inside.

high

Through balls over the high line

A Higher line with a Sweeper Keeper depends on timing; a beaten press leaves just two centre-backs exposed.

[1,3] Sweeper Keeper behind [2,2] Centre-Back and [2,4] Centre-Back.

medium

Role synergies

Deep-Lying Playmaker + Ball-Playing Centre-Backs

The playmaker offers a safe, technical outlet for progressive passes from the back.

[3,2] Deep-Lying Playmaker with [2,2] Ball-Playing Centre-Back and [2,4] Ball-Playing Centre-Back.

Advanced Playmaker + Centre Forward

The creator supplies a central forward who can finish the work in the box.

[5,3] Advanced Playmaker with [6,3] Centre Forward.

Suggested questions

Do your wing-backs have the stamina to cover the wide areas both ways?

Are your centre-backs quick enough to defend a Higher line?

Do you prefer a possession game or a high-energy pressing game?

A coherent possession-and-press tactic with a good short build-up and a well-organised high press, but it is exposed on the flanks and behind a Higher line. Standardising the defensive line and widening the attack would give a better balance between risk and reward.

Phase description

Patient short build-up from the goalkeeper and centre-backs through a playmaker, working the ball into the box through central creators.

Counter-Press and a high press try to win the ball back immediately, but leave space behind the wing-backs.

Controlled possession with an aggressive high press.