SEASON 3: FORMATION MATTERS Episode 11: The 4’s series ( 4-4-2C)

Soccerblog 3 Minutes
4-4-2C set up within Soccermanager Worlds

In today’s espisode, we look into the formation that most people in football media like to call the “Diamond shaped midfield” formation: 4-4-2C. This is indeed the real diamond formation as some may confuse it with the 4-4-2B due to similarites in how both look on paper. A very unique formation, the 4-4-2C consists of 4 Defenders, 4 Central Midfielders and 2 Forwards. This formation is very centrally biased as the midfield is packed. It tends to be a formation more suitable for industrious, box to box Midfielders but it also places a lot of attention on the Attacking Midfielder within this set up. Whereas the 4-4-2B has players sacrificing their own game for the benefit of the NO.10, the 4-4-2C is primed for players that are used to playing in a more sacrificial manner. The ONLY exception is if you’re a manager that wants to play a possession based style of play, as the 4-4-2C is one of only two 4-4-2 type formations that make playing a slower tempo with a short passing style more possible. Not a lot of managers use the diamond shaped midfield consistently in today’s game but one of the pioneers for it was the late, great Johan Cruyff back when he was the manager of Barcelona. Cruyff set up that Barcelona team in a very unothodox 3-4-3 with the 4 in midfield being placed in a diamond rather than being a flat 4. As you would’ve probably guessed, this team were masters of possession football back in a time when most teams were playing predominantly 4-4-2A, so that diamond in the midfield caused the opposition a lot of problems. As time went on and football evolved, this system wasn’t sustainable as oppositions now began using their flanks via the birth of the Overlapping Fullback (or Wingback) which could link up with their Wingers more effectively in order to regain domination against the diamond in the midfield.

Image of the 4-4-2C in action. Liverpool are using a diamond midfield consisting of Fabinho, Thiago, Elliot and Firmino. Due to them normally playing a fast tempo with Direct passing, this Midfield 4 will not be as effective due to their lack of dynamism (which a Henderson or Naby Keita provides). Notice their front 2 is Salah and Nunez who are both good with the ball at their feet as well as very mobile. I also placed two circles where the Centre Backs would potentially be if they were within this image. Image was taken from the website: Coaches Voice

PROS
*A great formation for managers who enjoy possession based football
*No.10 and Box to Box midfielders thrive in this set up
*DM also has extra cover which dosent cauase him to be isolated

CONS
*Vunerable against teams that play down both flanks
*Full backs must be very comfortable getting on the ball and getting forward
*Not suitable for Target Men or Poachers that aren’t good on the ball and who are not mobile, as both Forwards have to aid Full Backs when in possession as LCM and RCM have to provide cover

Although I’m not a fan of the 4-4-2, Ill definitely consider using this one for the entirety of a season in the future. But enough about what I’m gonna do. What are your thoughts on the 4-4-2C and the soccermanager blog as a hold? Share your say in the comments below and lets keep this community of soccermanagerites alive!

Another image (courtesy of The Coaches voice) that shows a possession based 4-4-2C set up. Juventus are playing a normal/slow tempo with a short/mixed passing style in this match. The only problem is playing Fernando Llorente. He is an old school Target Man who has no pace and is not good on the ball. Therefore, Juventus are effectively playing with 9 outfield players when in possession as Llorente only plays well within a direct or long ball passing style.
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