Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Match Prep Playing out of the back in a 4-3-3 (Start Time: 2021-05-08 19:00:00)

Pattern 1 (10 mins)

Start positions- Ball with GK

- CBs split and drop down towards byline

- FBs high and wide, hitting the touchline

- CDM drop deep either side of their centre forward

- CMs hold position centrally

- Wingers high and wide, hitting touchline

- CF stay high to stretch opposition

Pattern

-Ball goes to CB, FB stays wide and offers an option into feet

-CDM peels out to take opposition 10 away and free the space centrally

-This then becomes wingers trigger to move inside to receive from CB

- As winger moves inside, full back moves higher up the pitch to offer pass outside

- Winger to receive the ball and has several options; slide into CF who makes channel run, pass outside to overlapping FB, switch to opposite winger or slide pass into advancing CM

- Opposite FB to tuck round and support CDM in screening the two CBs (defend as a 4 to deal with loss of possession/counter attack)

Key details

- GK pass to CB in front of them to start the flow of the attack

- Timing of movements key to the quickness of the attack, CDM movement is the first trigger

- Winger and FB relationship of movement important, timing has to be in sync as winger rolls inside, FB must get on in advance to support outside

- CF has to arc their run into the channel and must stretch the opposition back line, if they come too deep then it clogs the wingers space up

- Winger must not receive ball too deep. Body angle when receiving must be side on in order to see the whole pitch and receive the ball on back foot

- Opposite winger must stay wide to stretch the opposition back line further and provide the option of the switch

- CM movement off the back opposition CM to move into space centrally

What if's?

What if oppo winger stays narrow and stops pass into winger?

- Ball can go straight into FB who can look to play forward via a channel ball or pass inside to winger

What if oppo winger and 10 come wider to stop that?

- Ball can be played directly into CDM who can look to turn and switch or play forward

Pattern 3 (15 mins)

What if opposition press high and don't allow us to play out easily?

Start positions alter slightly with CDM coming deeper (to essentially form a back 3), two FBs coming even higher almost as wingbacks and wingers start inside rather than wide. Formation becomes a 3-4-3

Pattern

- Ball to CBs or CDM is not on so the GK must clip the ball aerially into FB who hits touchline

- FB controls ball and first touch must be forward in order to help start the flow of the attack

- FB has several options; first the opposite CM must drop down to provide defensive balance but also a passing option inside, if he is to receive the ball then he has a direct switch to the opposite FB who has licence to get on

- Movement of front three is vital; if CF wants to hold shape then they must be a platform for FB to play into and lay off to oncoming CM. If CF chooses to be platform then both wingers must provide runs in behind opposition defence

- Channel pass into CF or winger run

- Or FB can choose to travel with the ball and create a 2v1 overload on their side of the pitch on the opposition FB

- CBs, CDM and deeper CM to stay in shape, screen passes and deal with counter attack should the team lose the ball

What if the opposition sit deeper and don't allow the ball into FBs?

Ball can be played into CBs and CDM can still drop in to make a back 3