The Modern 4-4-2
July 2010. The world cup is over and Spain are victorious, while England have crashed out in the second round. All four Semi-Finalists had played with 3 man midfields; and England, the biggest side in the World Cup playing 4-4-2, had been humiliated before even reaching the Quarter Finals, destroyed by a German side playing 4-2-3-1, with damage coming from players attacking between the bands.
Many commentators, pundits alike were quick to pounce on this and say what had first been mooted in the 2006 World Cup: 4-4-2 was dead. The era of the rigid 3 band structure, led by the classic Big man/Little man combo was being shuffled off to be replaced by the passing and movement orientated 4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1s.
But hold on a second. While it could be argued the classic 4-4-2 born in the 60’s no longer had a place at the very top, people had forgotten that it had a son: Enter the Modern 4-4-2.
What’s the Difference?
On the face of it they are identical; a three band formation with two forwards, two central Mids., two wingers and a flat back. How they differ greatly in their execution. The classic 4-4-2 has an inherently rigid structure, relying on quick, direct passing and very heavily on crossing from the wingers. The modern 4-4-2 is a far more subtle beast, seeing the 4-4-2 as merely a framework within which the players work with fluid movement, playing a passing game to overload and open up spaces in which they can exploit the opposition. The best exponents of this is the current Manchester United side, arguably the only side playing 4-4-2 at the elite level, so we will use them as the working example
The Facets of the Modern 4-4-2
The 4-4-2 weakness against the 3 man Mids. was the centre of the pitch, where they were outmanned and very easily risked getting out passed. Modern 4-4-2 gets round this by evolving its shape as determined by play.
Because of the fluidity of the Modern 4-4-2, the requirements of the player are different and higher, compared to the classic, it carries no passengers, as the side must work as a unit, defending and attacking as one. Both wingers must be able to track back, the central must know when to pick the right times to get forwards, and the forwards must creative players able to come deep and link up play, or know when to pull away into the channels. This is difficult to achieve as the front six must all be intelligent and hardworking players.
Not only that, defensively the Modern 4-4-2 defends space, as opposed to the man, requiring good anticipation of opposition play; and on top of that it requires heavy pressing to compact the space against 3 men, needing the players to have very good fitness.
The demands on the players are great, as such not many teams can pull it off, but when it is pulled off, it is devastating to watch. Defensively mean, yet free scoring in attack; few sides can’t live with the Modern 4-4-2
For this example I will use my last game FM against West Brom, who were playing 4-2-3-1, a formation well known for causing 4-4-2. The result was 6-0 demolition of West Brom, who were out passed and outmanoeuvred from start to finish, we will analyse some of the key goals which each facet of the 4-4-2
The 4-4-2 Line up – How do we achieve this?
The modern 4-4-2 relies on team unity, movement, defensive pressing, marking the space and a possession game,. Therefore we look to play fluid, short passing, more pressing, zonal marking and more roaming.
The roles the players take themselves means the formation is asymmetric in execution.
This is important in creating the defensive match up against 3 man Mids.
GK: Standard goalkeeping role
DR: Supporting fullback, gets forward well enough, but also protects the marauding winger ahead
DC: Standard Centre back
DC: Standard Centre back
DL: Attacking Wingback, his job is to attack and overload into the space created, by the winger ahead attacking into the channels, creating constant overload against the 3 man mid
MR: The marauding winger, getting forwards down the by-line to shoot/run/cross at will
MCa: Advanced playmaker, distributing the ball on the attack, but also picking the right runs to overload the central mid areas
MCd: The other half of the intelligent centre mid partnership, the deepest player of the mid, controls possession, can split the opposition from deep
ML: One of the key players of the Modern 4-4-2, if one winger is the flying marauder, then this one is the intelligent channel runner, coming inside to make it 3 vs. 3 in centre mid, while taking his man with him and freeing his wingback, this role is reserved for intelligent creative players rather than speed merchants
FCa: The intelligent spearhead, along with his partner he creates and scores at will. On their day forwards like this are unplayable
FCd: The fearsome number 10, links the attack with the mid, he will take DMC’s out the game, drop deep and pull his DC marker with, drift wide into the channel to let is winger come inside. Not too many players can pull of this difficult role, but those who do are instrumental to the side
Conclusion
As you can see, the 4-4-2 is certainly not dead, but it requires a number of very well rounded players, but as the trend of players coming through moves a away from dedicated specialists to more blended players, 4-4-2, the son of 4-4-2, will be resurgent once again
attached is the PKM for the game,
Here is the tactic
and thank you for reading
July 2010. The world cup is over and Spain are victorious, while England have crashed out in the second round. All four Semi-Finalists had played with 3 man midfields; and England, the biggest side in the World Cup playing 4-4-2, had been humiliated before even reaching the Quarter Finals, destroyed by a German side playing 4-2-3-1, with damage coming from players attacking between the bands.
Many commentators, pundits alike were quick to pounce on this and say what had first been mooted in the 2006 World Cup: 4-4-2 was dead. The era of the rigid 3 band structure, led by the classic Big man/Little man combo was being shuffled off to be replaced by the passing and movement orientated 4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1s.
But hold on a second. While it could be argued the classic 4-4-2 born in the 60’s no longer had a place at the very top, people had forgotten that it had a son: Enter the Modern 4-4-2.
What’s the Difference?
On the face of it they are identical; a three band formation with two forwards, two central Mids., two wingers and a flat back. How they differ greatly in their execution. The classic 4-4-2 has an inherently rigid structure, relying on quick, direct passing and very heavily on crossing from the wingers. The modern 4-4-2 is a far more subtle beast, seeing the 4-4-2 as merely a framework within which the players work with fluid movement, playing a passing game to overload and open up spaces in which they can exploit the opposition. The best exponents of this is the current Manchester United side, arguably the only side playing 4-4-2 at the elite level, so we will use them as the working example
The Facets of the Modern 4-4-2
The 4-4-2 weakness against the 3 man Mids. was the centre of the pitch, where they were outmanned and very easily risked getting out passed. Modern 4-4-2 gets round this by evolving its shape as determined by play.
Because of the fluidity of the Modern 4-4-2, the requirements of the player are different and higher, compared to the classic, it carries no passengers, as the side must work as a unit, defending and attacking as one. Both wingers must be able to track back, the central must know when to pick the right times to get forwards, and the forwards must creative players able to come deep and link up play, or know when to pull away into the channels. This is difficult to achieve as the front six must all be intelligent and hardworking players.
Not only that, defensively the Modern 4-4-2 defends space, as opposed to the man, requiring good anticipation of opposition play; and on top of that it requires heavy pressing to compact the space against 3 men, needing the players to have very good fitness.
The demands on the players are great, as such not many teams can pull it off, but when it is pulled off, it is devastating to watch. Defensively mean, yet free scoring in attack; few sides can’t live with the Modern 4-4-2
For this example I will use my last game FM against West Brom, who were playing 4-2-3-1, a formation well known for causing 4-4-2. The result was 6-0 demolition of West Brom, who were out passed and outmanoeuvred from start to finish, we will analyse some of the key goals which each facet of the 4-4-2
The 4-4-2 Line up – How do we achieve this?
The modern 4-4-2 relies on team unity, movement, defensive pressing, marking the space and a possession game,. Therefore we look to play fluid, short passing, more pressing, zonal marking and more roaming.
The roles the players take themselves means the formation is asymmetric in execution.
This is important in creating the defensive match up against 3 man Mids.
GK: Standard goalkeeping role
DR: Supporting fullback, gets forward well enough, but also protects the marauding winger ahead
DC: Standard Centre back
DC: Standard Centre back
DL: Attacking Wingback, his job is to attack and overload into the space created, by the winger ahead attacking into the channels, creating constant overload against the 3 man mid
MR: The marauding winger, getting forwards down the by-line to shoot/run/cross at will
MCa: Advanced playmaker, distributing the ball on the attack, but also picking the right runs to overload the central mid areas
MCd: The other half of the intelligent centre mid partnership, the deepest player of the mid, controls possession, can split the opposition from deep
ML: One of the key players of the Modern 4-4-2, if one winger is the flying marauder, then this one is the intelligent channel runner, coming inside to make it 3 vs. 3 in centre mid, while taking his man with him and freeing his wingback, this role is reserved for intelligent creative players rather than speed merchants
FCa: The intelligent spearhead, along with his partner he creates and scores at will. On their day forwards like this are unplayable
FCd: The fearsome number 10, links the attack with the mid, he will take DMC’s out the game, drop deep and pull his DC marker with, drift wide into the channel to let is winger come inside. Not too many players can pull of this difficult role, but those who do are instrumental to the side
Goal #1 - Breaking the Lines gives the option
We start early in the game, Manchester United are defending a free kick from West Brom, conceded by Hazard.
As the ball is played into Tychoi, take a look at the position Macheda has taken up (27). In the classic 4-4-2, he would be 10-15 yards close to goal; instead here he has broken the line and dropped deep, almost back into the midfield. This simple but fundamental change here makes a telling difference.
Fabio gets up ahead of Tchoyi, and now look where Macheda is, in a perfect position to receive the headed clearance, where he immediately turns and plays in Hazard.
They play the one-two, and now Macheda is into space. Take note of the front six, all in near support of each other as they progress up the pitch, the two bands almost becoming one.
The ball comes back to Carrick in deep support, and suddenly Jara is in big trouble with two runners against him.
Carrick takes Jara out the game with a splitting pass to Hazard…
…Who darts away…
..... Into the box…
To tee up Macheda for a clinical finish. 1-0 score line and all because Macheda broke the line. Also note how the rigid band has disappeared into one line that stretches the West Brom defence
Goal #2 – Heavy Defensive Pressing gets you goals
This goal and the great chance before it is all about the defensive side of the modern 4-4-2
Tamas passes to Jara; meanwhile Macheda has dropped off to mark Dorrans.
As Jara turns, Hazard and Macheda quickly move to close him down
Jara is forced back towards goal and in the pass back to Tamas
Who passes back to Jara, meanwhile West Brom have been forced back 10 yards to their own goal.
In the end Hazard slides in and wins the ball
Without ever passing the ball, United are now camped in the West Brom half, and their defenders have pushed right up to the halfway line. West Brom have a deep throw in but United have closed down their best options.
Jara throws long…
…But Fabio intercepts and heads to Hernandez
Once Hernandez looks up he has multiple pass options (again notice how the bands merge), or even the chance to run at goal
He goes short to Macheda…
Who takes three West Brom players out the game…
Finds Anderson who makes a first time defence splitting pass to Nani (who has ghosted in from wide)…
Who missed a gilt edged chance for 2-0 and the ball goes out dead
From the goal kick, Shorey picks up a pass from Carson
And tries to launch a direct pass down the flank
But it’s intercepted
Walker knocks it back to Lindegaard, who knocks it back to Walker
Walker finds Nani out wide
Nani dribbles into the channel; at the same time Hernandez has peeled away into space in the channel just ahead of Nani, who can pick him out, or go it alone.
Nani goes it along, annihilating Shorey in the process, while Hernandez has lost his man and moved free towards the box (once again nothing the bands have merged) West Brom are badly stretched here and are in big trouble if Nani can find the cross
Which he fails do to…
But the ball falls to Carrick who picks out Anderson
Anderson drives inside sucking the West Brom players in with him. Jara has vacated the flank because he must cover Hazard..
Who steps off and bends a sublime shot in… and all because West Brom couldn’t find and outlet for the pass when Jara initially had the ball
Goal #4 Goalmouth to Goalmouth, pass and move means the opposition never touch the ball
This was my favourite of the 6 goals as it perfectly demonstrates the Fluidity of the Modern 4-4-2
Lindegaard is on the ball. The 4-4-2 is in the 3 bands, looking like a classic 4-4-2. Keep an eye on Fabio (20) throughout the move, and keep an eye on the changing structure of the side
The ball comes into Walker on the right,
He turns and hits back across to Vidic
Vidic picks out Carrick, who is dropping off into space with options around him
He turns and finds Hazard moving inside. (Hernandez has gone into the channel and lost his Centre back, leaving an issue for Shorey)
Hazard continues inside, he has 4 options on, 3 nearby, and a cross pitch pass to Hernandez
He goes short to the withdrawn Macheda. (The bands are merging with movement). All this time Fabio has continued his run down the flank. Hazard run inside has pulled Jara well away from the flank
Macheda finds Fabio, and suddenly its 6 against 4, Fabio the left back is now the furthest player up the pitch for United
He continues up the flank, in acres of space because Tamas cannot recover and get to him
As he nears the by-line, United have 5 players moving into the box vs. West Brom’s 4;
The cross comes in….
And Hernandez puts it away, West Brom having been totally undone by movement, nothing flamboyant, nothing stellar, just simple pass and move. That is Modern 4-4-2, breaking the bands with fluid movement.
We start early in the game, Manchester United are defending a free kick from West Brom, conceded by Hazard.
As the ball is played into Tychoi, take a look at the position Macheda has taken up (27). In the classic 4-4-2, he would be 10-15 yards close to goal; instead here he has broken the line and dropped deep, almost back into the midfield. This simple but fundamental change here makes a telling difference.
Fabio gets up ahead of Tchoyi, and now look where Macheda is, in a perfect position to receive the headed clearance, where he immediately turns and plays in Hazard.
They play the one-two, and now Macheda is into space. Take note of the front six, all in near support of each other as they progress up the pitch, the two bands almost becoming one.
The ball comes back to Carrick in deep support, and suddenly Jara is in big trouble with two runners against him.
Carrick takes Jara out the game with a splitting pass to Hazard…
…Who darts away…
..... Into the box…
To tee up Macheda for a clinical finish. 1-0 score line and all because Macheda broke the line. Also note how the rigid band has disappeared into one line that stretches the West Brom defence
Goal #2 – Heavy Defensive Pressing gets you goals
This goal and the great chance before it is all about the defensive side of the modern 4-4-2
Tamas passes to Jara; meanwhile Macheda has dropped off to mark Dorrans.
As Jara turns, Hazard and Macheda quickly move to close him down
Jara is forced back towards goal and in the pass back to Tamas
Who passes back to Jara, meanwhile West Brom have been forced back 10 yards to their own goal.
In the end Hazard slides in and wins the ball
Without ever passing the ball, United are now camped in the West Brom half, and their defenders have pushed right up to the halfway line. West Brom have a deep throw in but United have closed down their best options.
Jara throws long…
…But Fabio intercepts and heads to Hernandez
Once Hernandez looks up he has multiple pass options (again notice how the bands merge), or even the chance to run at goal
He goes short to Macheda…
Who takes three West Brom players out the game…
Finds Anderson who makes a first time defence splitting pass to Nani (who has ghosted in from wide)…
Who missed a gilt edged chance for 2-0 and the ball goes out dead
From the goal kick, Shorey picks up a pass from Carson
And tries to launch a direct pass down the flank
But it’s intercepted
Walker knocks it back to Lindegaard, who knocks it back to Walker
Walker finds Nani out wide
Nani dribbles into the channel; at the same time Hernandez has peeled away into space in the channel just ahead of Nani, who can pick him out, or go it alone.
Nani goes it along, annihilating Shorey in the process, while Hernandez has lost his man and moved free towards the box (once again nothing the bands have merged) West Brom are badly stretched here and are in big trouble if Nani can find the cross
Which he fails do to…
But the ball falls to Carrick who picks out Anderson
Anderson drives inside sucking the West Brom players in with him. Jara has vacated the flank because he must cover Hazard..
Who steps off and bends a sublime shot in… and all because West Brom couldn’t find and outlet for the pass when Jara initially had the ball
Goal #4 Goalmouth to Goalmouth, pass and move means the opposition never touch the ball
This was my favourite of the 6 goals as it perfectly demonstrates the Fluidity of the Modern 4-4-2
Lindegaard is on the ball. The 4-4-2 is in the 3 bands, looking like a classic 4-4-2. Keep an eye on Fabio (20) throughout the move, and keep an eye on the changing structure of the side
The ball comes into Walker on the right,
He turns and hits back across to Vidic
Vidic picks out Carrick, who is dropping off into space with options around him
He turns and finds Hazard moving inside. (Hernandez has gone into the channel and lost his Centre back, leaving an issue for Shorey)
Hazard continues inside, he has 4 options on, 3 nearby, and a cross pitch pass to Hernandez
He goes short to the withdrawn Macheda. (The bands are merging with movement). All this time Fabio has continued his run down the flank. Hazard run inside has pulled Jara well away from the flank
Macheda finds Fabio, and suddenly its 6 against 4, Fabio the left back is now the furthest player up the pitch for United
He continues up the flank, in acres of space because Tamas cannot recover and get to him
As he nears the by-line, United have 5 players moving into the box vs. West Brom’s 4;
The cross comes in….
And Hernandez puts it away, West Brom having been totally undone by movement, nothing flamboyant, nothing stellar, just simple pass and move. That is Modern 4-4-2, breaking the bands with fluid movement.
Conclusion
As you can see, the 4-4-2 is certainly not dead, but it requires a number of very well rounded players, but as the trend of players coming through moves a away from dedicated specialists to more blended players, 4-4-2, the son of 4-4-2, will be resurgent once again
attached is the PKM for the game,
Here is the tactic
and thank you for reading
Last edited:
