We end the 3’s series with what is quite possibly the most bizzare formation I’ve ever seen (and I mean that in a good way).
The infamous 3-3-4. The formation that made you think “What the fuck were these managers of yesteryear smoking.” This formation is unorthodox, witty, and brillaint at the same time. There’s no real structure behind it, but it’s a fantastic system to use in pursuit of some goals. You see the thing is, its so unatural that it simply cannot be a formation used throughout the entirety of a season. So much so, that not even unmanaged teams or teams in the SMFA competitions use it (well, not anymore at least). The last time I saw this formation inaction was 9 years ago when my Inter Milan team at that time came up against one of my friend’s Real Madrid team in the SMFA Champions Cup semi final leg 1. Both of us weren’t gold managers at the time so our starting X1’s and formations were completley unknown before the match. To my amazement, I saw that I was playing a 3-3-4 for the very first time in my career, while my friend was playing a 4-2-3-1B if my memory serves me right. I was pissed! “Why the fuck would my assistant manager choose this formation!” I was shouting aloud. I almost didn’t even bother to watch the match. It’s a good thing I did, as my Inter team crushed my friend’s Madrid team 5-0! I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! We checked the stats after. He had 60+ posession, 15 shots on target. I only had 5 shots on target and all of them went in. I’m still shocked as to how on earth that occurred but it got me experimenting with the 3-3-4 formation a bit more.
This formation consists of 3 Defenders, 3 Midfieders and 4 Attackers. Sounds straightforward right? Far from it, mate. It’s very difficult to gain any sort of cohesion while playing this formation. Defenders can’t move to wide as they have no protection, Midfielders have to balance out wether to stay narrow or provide some width, and the attacking players have to figure out where to be at all times in order to link up with each other and not get into each other’s way. Somehow, there’s one manager who used this formation for a successful period of time. It should come as no surprise that the manager was Pep Guardiola. This occurred back when he was at Bayern Munich where, in my opinion, he got the opportunity to do the most experimenting that he has ever done throughout his managerial career. But let’s be frank here, there’s a reason that we’ve never seen this formation used by him ever again.
PROS
*Very good formation when looking to score a goal in the latter stages of a match
CONS
*As with every other 3 at the back formation, it’s vunerable against teams that play down both flanks
*Not sustainable for a 5 match spell, yet alone an entire season!
*There’s no real structure or balance to the formation
*Wide men have to work like dogs
*Not suitable for Advanced playmakers, No. 10’s, Wide forwards or Slow Central Defenders
My advice to all readers is: unless you want to be clattered, do not use this formation unless you’re willing to sacrifice team structure in the pursit of a last minute goal. Come to think of it, not even that makes it worth playing…
The Soccermanager Experience 