The 4 3 3

4-3-3 The Formation

Today we at The Football Mind do an in depth analysis of the 4-3-3 offensive formation. 4-3-3 is formation which is was to employ a attacking style of play. The formation is best used when a team plays a positive brand of football but doesn't lack men when it losses the ball to opposition.

While defending and chasing the ball, the shape of the team turns in to a 4-5-1 which means the team has enough men tracking the ball and chasing the opposition to win it from them.

There are a few important components to a 4-3-3 formation.

1) Central Striker
2) Wide Attackers
3) Defensive Midfielder
4) Box to Box Midfielders

The above mentioned four are a important component for the system to work and perform properly.

1) Central Striker: The system depends on a out and out striker who can hold up the ball and play it to the two besides him, and bringing the midfielders in to play. A proper example of central striker is Didier Drogba or Luis Ronaldo.

2) Wide Attackers: Wide Attackers or the offensive players are instructed to use their pace and get behind the opposition full backs who push forward. The wide attackers are also told to make pseudo runs so that they create space for the central striker. With trickery and pace the wide attackers are essential part of the formation which makes it tick. Robben and Ribery for Bayern are a good example for it.

3) Defensive Midfielder: The shield ahead of the last line of defense, is the defensive midfielder. A defensive midfielder's basic job is to break play and distribute it to the offensive players. Sitting in the heart of the team, a DM is always decisive when it comes to playing a counter attacking side. Barcelona's Busquets and Previously Michael Ballack and Michael Essien are great examples.

4) Box to Box Midfielder's: In a 4-3-3 line up, the managers generally prefer to play two number 8s and a number 6. The role of the number 8s is to run the yards and initiate attacks. Although their primary role is to initiate attacks, but they are also to told to maintain the teams shape and fall back when they don't have the ball.

Liverpool's Gerrard and Arsenal's Wilshere are the example i'd give you for this.