U.S.A. Soccer Formation

Lineup (4-3-1-2)

This is the formation I would like to choose for our team. I will explain the different positions individually. However, the first thing I will draw attention too is the versatility of this formation. We know as a team where a few people will play. I suggest Johnny, Greg, Bobo, and Dibba as our CLB and CRB. If we can count on them to take this position every game we can work from there on the outside defensive players. Allowing new or unknown players to play the defensive wings without compromising our defense as a whole.

Our midfield focuses on a 1-2-1. What this accomplishes is creating a team focused on our CDM (I suggest Doug/Johnny/Jason/Victor/Nick) and our CAM (Johnny/Jason/Nick/Victor). This will give us a 'core' element of players who we know can be trusted to deliver passes to the wings and be able to receive passes without loosing the ball. Our wings, who we will be counted on to play both offensively and defensively, will be required to stay on the outside line, receive the ball, carry, and then deliver to the CAM or back to the CDM as needed, as well as make runs both down the lines and inside. This allows, again, for two more positions in which possible unknown players can be substituted without compromising the core element of the team.


Attacking in this formation is based on the CAM getting the ball in position. With the ball, the CAM will be able to use the wings wide, send them on a run, use through balls too the strikers as well as be able to shoot from distance. From within the final 1/3 of the pitch, triangle play on top of the box will create opportunities and allow outside wings too jump in behind the opposing defense. As with the outside wingers, the striker positions are open to new and unknown players if needed.

Two last notes on this formation. First, the formation though effective is simple, which will be important for our new incoming players. We send players to the outside of the formation or we send them forward to try and score. The core players and captains won't need to worry about substituting players nearly as much, as any mistakes that are made will be contained to the outside of the field. Secondly, this formation, played correctly, provides our defense with an extra man back. This is important to our team because we lack both fitness and natural strikers. Giving an extra man in the back will promote passing play, which is the only way we usually ever get goals. Passing play and a solid defensive mind is how we won our tournament and how we have played best as a team. Thanks for reading my thoughts on team formation, I hope you found them insightful as I do really believe in this formation.