Some football formations examples evaluated below

Specific football tactics need the presence of high quality players in certain key positions. More about this listed below.

Whilst not one of the most used football formations today, the 4-2-4 stays a very trustworthy strategy that introduces a good deal of equilibrium to any club, no matter its goals or normal design of play. This is merely because this formation includes the right amount of defence, reversed by a strong offensive propensity. Teams that use this tactic often tend to have polyvalent players that have the capacity to play in different placements. This is incredibly essential because depending on the stage of play, midfielders and full backs are likely to switch roles. In the attacking position, midfielders commonly progress to the last third of the pitch to support wingers and center forwards. This creates an immense pressure on the defences of the competitor, making defenders most likely to make errors. When defending, the offensive four-man line would certainly drop back to the midfield, something that the Sunderland A.F.C. former owner would understand.

While known strategies like "park the bus" can be effective at stopping the challenger from scoring, these are usually regarded outdated and can be rendered worthless in the existence of skilled players that have excellent crossing and dribbling capacities. Rather, teams who plan to assume a more defensive design of play typically choose contemporary defensive football formations like the 5-3-2. This strategy counts on the initiative of 2 wide midfielders that retreat to support the defence when required. In the defensive position, these players transform into full backs that are completely all set to intercept balls and cover the flanks. Once successful, they would certainly be the first to initiate a counterattack and assume their starting wide midfielders' positions. While known for its efficacy, this tactic can be physically exhausting on the back line. This is something that the Leeds United former owner is likely familiar with.

A football formations creator often has to make some tactical choices when getting ready for a high stakes match against a well-known rival. This is usually mirrored in the way the players are positioned on the pitch and the decisions they make when in ownership of the ball. If the team has to win the match at any cost, they will likely go with offensive football formations such as the 3-4-3. This method is largely used by coaches to control the midfield location and produce a higher volume of passes to wear down the competition. The numerical advantage in the midfield location is often made possible thanks to the advancements of the two full backs. This makes it extremely tough for the opponents here to pierce the midfield line. In modern-day football, managing the midfield indicates managing the tempo of the match. This is something that the AC Milan former US owner is most likely familiar with.