How To Coach Patterns Of Play In 4-2-3-1 Formation - Tactical Theory

Below, we look at 6 patterns of play you can use in the 4-2-3-1 formation.

We will use tactical analysis and coaching to identify 4 patterns of play.

These include wide penetration, while the other two are for central penetration.

If you are coaching the 4-2-3-1 system or participating in any high-level coaching courses, such as the UEFA A or B licence, where patterns of play are a requirement, you may find the following valuable.

While developing this series of passing and moving patterns, I share what has worked for me on the training ground and draw influence from some of Europe's finest teams that operate in this formation.

In particular, I observed a lot of Arsenal under the early Mikel Arteta era.

The Premier League side has produced a lot of good, fast, fluid, attacking football in the 4-2-3-1 formation, and they have developed a style under the young Spanish manager that any purest of the game would appreciate.

In the three images below, we will use analysis to see a pattern of play, which I have detailed below as Pattern: Central B.

In this Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Arsenal, Mesut Özil, Alexandre Lacazette, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (formerly of Borussia Dortmund) combine well to give Arsenal their first goal.

Play begins with a forward pass to Özil, the CAM for Arsenal, who in turn lays off a soft pass for Lacazette to progress the attack.

In anticipation, LM Aubameyang starts his run.

Due to his movement to lose the centre-back and his positive body shape, Lacazette is best placed to play a penetrating pass.

While Aubameyang continues his run to meet the through ball.

Aubameyang takes an excellent first touch and finishes down low to the goalkeeper's right.

A three-pass combination resulted in a goal, a goal that would not have been scored.

If not for the perfect passes, well-timed run and good body shape of the attackers.

Why coach patterns of play

The bottom line is that we train patterns of play to help players identify and execute pre-determined passing and moving combinations to beat the opponent's defence.

Sometimes, that may mean penetration to score a goal, and other times, it may also mean playing through the opponents' forwards or midfield to get through their defensive block or pressure.

If you are a coach, also consider individual and team confidence.

When the attacking team only plays in reaction to one another, this means they are trying to discover moments and gaps out of pure randomness to achieve success.

At the same time, the opponent can anticipate and defend.

The likely outcome is a lot of technical and tactical errors that subsequently result in higher turnovers, which weighs on a player's confidence.

On the other hand, when you have a team that knows the system and can execute plays on minimal touches and at such a high speed, the opponent cannot always react to this, which, in turn, offers a higher chance of success.

Orientation of the 4-2-3-1 Formation

The characteristics of a particular formation can only be emphasised by the style of play of the team that uses it.

The 4-2-3-1 is a flexible formation that offers great versatility to possession-based teams that want to create numerical superiority in defence and midfield.

Notice by the graphical annotation that the grey arrows represent each player's primary and secondary movements in attack.

In the build-up phase, one of the two pivots can drop into the defence to temporarily create a false back-three as the full-backs advance forward.

Higher up the field, with wide midfielders drifting into the half-spaces and the two central midfielders supporting close from behind, this helps create numerical superiority as well as optional flexibility in central areas.

As these five players operate centrally, both full-backs can then command their respective channels.

The two centre-backs support from behind while the centre-forwards remain the focal point in attack.

The centre-forward operates as a traditional number '9' as a target player, among other functions.

The above tactical annotation shows a common game moment where the 4-2-3-1 holds its value.

The CAM has positional flexibility to operate on both sides of the field and also between the opposition's lines.

This makes him a tougher player to mark.

The CAM is also key in creating overloads and high-value goal-scoring opportunities in the opponent's final third.

Above, the CAM receives a lay-off pass from the CF.

The LM makes a penetrating run in the half-space, which in turn pulls the opposition RB out of position.

If possible, this allows the CAM to either play a through ball to the LM or out wide to the LB to continue the attack.

Wide patterns

All patterns can be mirrored on both sides of the field.

The 'yellow' icons on the field represent mannequins, so work at your own pace.

You may want to gradually introduce one, two, or three defenders along with the mannequins over time.

All patterns of play are set up to play against a back four, as represented by the positioning of the mannequins on the field.

For each pattern of play, I recommend positioning the mannequins in natural defensive positions relative to the play.

These patterns of play develop attacks that penetrate the opposition's defence in wide areas.

From there, you may want to introduce your own crossing and finishing principles or allow freedom for the ball carrier to dribble into the box and determine his own options.

Wide A

• RB plays forward to the RM; the RM starts wide when receiving the pass.
• After the RB makes the initial pass, he makes a run in the channel.
• As RM steps inside with the ball to the half-space, the CM moves slightly wide of the RM to receive the ball unmarked and also to offer himself the angle to play the next pass forward.
• The timing-movement relationship of the third pass is crucial as the RB needs to receive the pass before going offside, and the CM needs not to delay his pass before losing the angle to play forward.
• The RM should try to offer a cushioned pass into the run of the CM, allowing him to play the third and final pass with one touch.
• The RB should hold the width in his run so that he has a good body shape as he receives the through ball.

Wide B

• The RB takes a short touch forward as the trigger for the CF to drop short to receive the pass.
• Although it's a long first pass, the CF should lay off the second pass with one touch if possible.
• As the ball is travelling to the CF, the CAM makes an angled run into the channel.
• The CF lays off a pass to the CM, who then plays to the RM.
• At this point, the RM will want to offer a high-to-low movement as well as hold the width such that he has both the space and the angle to play the final pass.
• Ideally, the CM should give the RM a pass that he can play and subsequently play forward with one touch, if possible. Position and body shape are crucial here.
• Again, the extra touch can be the difference in the final pass, so the quality of the passes is essential.
• The CAM should angle his run to allow himself a higher degree of flexibility as he looks to beat the offside line in meeting the final pass.
• From here, this would set up a good cross-to-finish opportunity.

Wide C

• The RB takes a short touch forward as a trigger for the CF to come short from his highest point to meet the pass.
• As the pass travels, the CAM makes an angled run between the lines and at a sufficient distance from the CF.
• If the quality of the first pass is good, then the CF can lay off a pass into the run of the CAM with a one-touch.
• At this point, the LM should make his angled run to create a run that would meet a potential penetrating pass. In doing so, the LM would create space for the LB by bringing the opposition full-back with him on his run.
• At this point, the LB should look to cover the ground quickly to get high in support and continue to develop a high-value attack.