This strategy can be used when your team is winning but under immense pressure. Your focus is on defending then counter attacking. You can also experiment playing this way for an educational experience.

Playing a 1-5-4-1 (1-3-4-3) defending deeper and Counter Attacking

We play a solid defense shape. We do not press them in the attacking third unless we are sure we can collectively win the ball. WE DEFEND DEEP AND PRESS CLOSE TO THE HALF WAY LINE..

Let them play in their own third or half: We shadow them

Often opponents are used to being pressed and like to play through teams. They will find it difficult to play without pressure as there is no space to play forward into with the other team being very compact.

As the ball travels we travel too

The ball is moved right to left by them. We also move right to left and shadow the ball.

They are attacking and are high up the field

They give the ball away and they are high at the back. We immediately counter behind them in numbers. We time the runs so as not to be offside. The player on the ball must be able to IMMEDIATELY see the opportunity and the 4 up front must EXPECT the ball in behind so no coming short to receive.

TIMING OF THE RUNS AND THE PASS ARE ESSENTIAL HERE.

Poor Timing of runs to be offside when opponents defend HIGH

Game Situation: We win possession but the front three run straight forward often before the delivery is even made so we are always OFFSIDE.

Here is a typical example of how we DON'T beat the offside trap, timing of runs and timing of pass is out of sync and we miss great opportunities. Watch (10)’s head and see if it is up or down; and hence seeing the pass or not.

The passer (10) may need another touch to control then play the through pass. This means the attackers must wait and time their run due to this.

Pressing high if we are close enough otherwise we drop off

Game Situation: Even though our method in this situation is to defend deep players must be able to identify when the opportunity arises where they can change the method to pressing, such as this. All good education.

If we lose it but are STILL Close to the ball; we can press quickly.

If not close enough and they are very good at playing out of the back we drop off and get compact

We can’t get close so we DROP and get VERY TIGHT as a team.

If we press and are not close enough collectively THEY WILL PLAY THROUGH US

Being caught doing both pressing and dropping at the same time. This happens a lot in teams where there is no planning or communication A big gap between attack and defensive and too much space in between.

We press but not quickly enough and they pick us off and play through us. (7) and (11) Must help us defensively. Now we have 5 players the wrong side of the ball.

Getting wide players (7) and (11) in ACROSS the line of the back four

Game Situation: Quick counter attacking

They give the ball away they are high at the back. We immediately counter behind them in numbers. We time the runs so as not to be offside. The player on the ball must be able to IMMEDIATELY see the opportunity and the 4 up front must EXPECT the ball in behind so no coming short to receive.

Playing Diagonal balls to get in behind opponents

Diagonal balls are less predictable to anticipate for defenders plus the ball goes “away” from the keeper. If over hit a straight pass will go through to the keeper and we lose possession.

Playing Diagonal balls from “center backs” to get in behind opponents

We time the runs so as not to be offside. The player on the ball must be able to IMMEDIATELY see the opportunity and the 3 or 4 up front must EXPECT the ball in behind so no coming short to receive.

Beat the Offside Trap with a 3rd man run from deep

Game Situation: Opponents press up VERY fast from the back, our front three come out with them To stay onside. Our midfielder (10) makes a forward run from deep to beat the offside trap.

This is a GREAT way to beat the opponents pressing up offside trap and unless the opponent player (G) marking (10) tracks them its very difficult to stop this from working.

Playing with PATIENCE to play Diagonal balls to get in behind opponents

Game Situation: We have possession we pass at the back and keep the ball and DRAW out the opponents to press us. Short, short, short; then long.

Opponents are “drawn out” to leave space behind them in their own half.. We are patient waiting for the right moment to play the long quality ball in behind them.

Getting striker (9) in with a “Channel run”

Striker (9) runs across the center back from one to the other without going offside then cuts across the 2nd center back to receive in behind. (7) stays wide to keep (B) wide and open up the inside space.

Getting striker (9) in with an OFF the Shoulder Run

Striker (9) runs across the center back without going offside then cuts across the center back to receive in behind. (11) stays wide to keep (C) wide and open up the inside space between the center back and fullback.

Wide player (7) cuts inside to open up space for wing back (2)

We time the runs so as not to be offside. The player on the ball must be able to IMMEDIATELY see the opportunity and the 3 or 4 up front must EXPECT the ball in behind so no coming short to receive. Watch (4)’s head and see if it is up or down and hence seeing the pass or not.