USMNT Tactics - Formations - The Diamond 4-4-2

And we're back in action here at DSF. We lost terribly in the Gold Cup final and I don't want to talk about it. Instead, for now, I will continue my discussion of tactical formations and pretend like all is right in the world.

Having covered the standard 4-4-2, the formation most often deployed by Bob Bradley, and the 4-5-1 (a.k.a. the 4-2-3-1), the formation most recently deployed by Bob Bradley, I would like to move on to the formation that I think he should actually deploy. That formation is the diamond 4-4-2 or the 4-1-2-1-2. It looks a little something like this:


Positional Differences from the standard 4-4-2

There are a couple main positional differences between the standard 4-4-2 and the diamond 4-4-2. The most obvious of course is that both center midfielders in a standard 4-4-2 are defensive holding midfielders, whose primary role is to help the defense by tracking back, tackling hard, clogging the middle of the field and closing passing lanes. The diamond 4-4-2 takes one of these central midfielders and pushes them forward into "the hole", the attacking space in between the forwards and midfielders.

One additional key difference is that the two side midfielders are able to pinch into the center of the field. In the standard 4-4-2 the two holding mids play side-by-side, which forces the side midfielders out wide because they occupy the entire central area of the field. Because the two central midfielders in the diamond play on top of each other instead of side-by-side, the side midfielders have more space inside without intruding on the position of the central midfielders.

Defensive Tactics:

Defenders

The role of the back four is first and foremost to defend. Two center backs bear the bulk of the defensive responsibility by accounting for the other teams forwards, tackling hard, snuffing out fires, and playing physical in the air. The two outside backs contain the other teams wingers and can also support the center backs by moving inward.

Midfielders

The one defensive holding midfielder has the same primary role of wreaking havoc to the other teams attack. The side midfielders play box-to-box on their respective sides of the field and have the freedom to move further inside or outside as the flow and tactics of the game dictate. Against teams that like to spread the field wide they have the flexibility to move outside, or against teams that like to work the ball through the middle of the field they can pinch in and further clog the space. The attacking midfielder drops into the space between the defensive midfield and forwards, marking opposing players who are trying to support the attack and applying pressure to the other teams' midfielders.

Forwards

Forwards track defenders or defensive mids pushing forward.

In summary, on defense, the formation looks something like this:


Offensive Tactics:

Defenders:

Center backs have the role to provide service out of the back to the midfield. Outside defenders become critical to the attack in the diamond 4-4-2. Because the side midfielders are pushed more towards the center of the field, they function in an even greater role as wing backs. Most of the width in the attack is provided by overlapping runs down the side of the field by these outside defenders. They become key cogs in the attack and give the attacking team an advantage in numbers going forward.

Midfielders:

The attacking midfielder acts as a playmaker, linking play between defense and offense as well as pressuring the other team when they have possession of the ball. The defensive midfielder can also act as a deep lying playmaker, since there are typically at least 5 players in front of him on offense, his or her distribution and decision making are key to holding possession or launching a quick counterattack. Side midfielders have the versatility to make runs off the ball and distribute the ball forward to the attacking mid, outside backs, and forwards. They give the defenders and defensive mid an option for distribution once the ball is won in defense, and also provide support to the attack.

Forwards

Since the service to the forwards is a combination of interlinked short passes from the attacking midfielder and side midfielders as well as long balls from the defense or defensive mid, they do not have to play solely as holdup strikers, they are free to drop back or make diagonal runs toward goals to give the midfielders options. The additional players supporting them puts less of an emphasis on skilled hold up play since they should have multiple passing options at their disposal to lay the ball off if needed.

On offense, the formation looks something like this:


Diamond 4-4-2 Pros:
Allows for link up play between the defense and offense and maintains possession. Provides a lot of flexibility to play possession or to allow for long balls. Defensively allows flexibility to allow side midfielders to play inside or outside to take away the opponent's strength. Can lead to maintaning a majority of the posession and gives lots of options in both offense and defense.

Diamond 4-4-2 Cons:
Places a large responsibility on the defensive midfielder as an offensive distributor and a defensive stopper. Most of the width in the attack is provided by the outside defenders, potentially leaving the outside of the field vulnerable to counterattacks. Relies heavily on intelligent off-the-ball movement and technical ability to hold possession within the midfield, sometimes in tight spaces because all four midfielders are compressed toward the center of the field.

Made famous by:
Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan. He had the enviable problem of having too many talented playmakers, so he employed a strategy to get his best XI on the field by employing an attacking midfielder playmaker (initially Rui Costa, later Kaka), and a deep-lying playmaker (Andrea Pirlo). Allowing both room to operate and ply their craft in the middle of the field. His teams won the 2003 champions league, came in second in 2005, and won again in 2007 using the diamond.