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1-4-2-3-1 System of Play in Detail


Playing the 1-4-2-3-1 and staying this way with more detail

This is the defending team shape (defending start position) of a 1-4-2-3-1.


Attacking Shape

This is the attacking team shape (attacking “start position”) is 1-3-3-1-3.


Overload in Zone 14

This is the attacking team shape now a or 1-3-1-3-3 or 1-2-3-2-3 depending on the moment. This can also be the attacking team shape we change to when we are chasing a game perhaps losing 1-0 and wanting to be more positive in attack. So this now would be the start position.


Interchanging Positions in Attack

A lot of interchanges between positions in attack. If we lose the ball, we have to be tuned into being defensively concentrated and disciplined.


Defensive Discipline

If we cannot win the ball back quickly, we can alternatively drop into a compact defensive unit. Perhaps (9) can try to delay the opponents attack until we get into our best defensive set up.


Regaining Possession very close to THEIR goal so immediate high pressing as a team. A Full Team Press from back to front.

We must press up from the back too leaving opponents offside; should they get a chance of a counterattack. First pressing player should stop the attempted forward pass. Defenders must decide in a split second which course of action they take.