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In response, if, say, a left back bombs up the field to join the attack in a diamond formation, the backline will keep its shape by either slipping the defensive midfielder into the hole between the centerbacks, or by shifting the whole backline left, with the right back dropping in line with the centerbacks - effectively morphing into a 3-5-2 in attack when the “wing backs” push high. This is not only exhausting, but it can often leave the backline exposed. We are calling a full back on the offensive side a wing back and on the defensive side an outside back.” Tanner: “We are not using wingers anymore. The diamond attempts to counteract this weakness by relying on fullbacks to patrol huge swaths of real estate from endline to endline, providing width both in attack and defense.Įrnst Tanner put it succinctly to beat reporter Joe Tansey last week: With this very narrow and compact midfield comes a real lack of width, which is where most teams attempt to exploit the formation. Teams often switch between the two depending on matchups or game states, and this personnel choice will be one of Union boss Jim Curtin’s biggest questions before every match. a traditional defensive midfielder, also called the No.The diamond is nothing if not a highly-demanding formation and these two central midfielder “shuttlers” are called upon to cover a whole lot of ground, from moving the ball between lines to defending all the way to the sideline. Paul Pogba excelled in this role during his time at Juventus, if that provides any type of indication the type of football intelligence, versatility, skill, and running required for the role.įinally, the base of the midfield is held together by either Behind the 10, two box-to-box midfielders are tasked with, well, everything. 10 CAM at the top of the spear to steer possession on offense and cut off pockets of space on defense. The formation eschews wingers (like, at all!) for four central midfielders - yes, that would be the diamond shape - providing a definite numerical advantage in the middle of the pitch versus most teams’s three central midfielders.Īlso unlike a traditional 4-4-2, where there is no central attacking midfielder, the diamond employs a traditional No. Two strikers, four midfielders, simple enough, right?īut that midfielder setup, in particular, is what truly sets the diamond apart. The 4-4-2 diamond uses a traditional four-man backline and on paper looks a lot like old school American soccer’s most familiar 4-4-2 formation up the field. So let’s dive into what exactly fans should expect from the Union’s tactical reset. It’s also fluid and malleable depending on opponents and personnel - so no more predictable winger and striker subs you plug in a different player into a position and the formation shifts around their strengths. Beyond the high-risk, high-reward nature of the formation itself, the diamond is a grit-and-hustle scheme that’s in-your-face for 90 minutes. From the preseason lineup cards and Tanner’s own comments, everything points to the Union trotting out a 4-4-2 diamond - sometimes called a 4-3-1-2 - that intends to press up the field, defend narrowly, force turnovers, and counterattack.įans should be excited by the shift. When the winds delivered new Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner’s to Chester last fall, the immediate consensus was that Philadelphia were in store for a spiffy, new high-pressing formation. The real culprit for fans’ teeth gnashing, though, was the Union’s refusal to shift any sort of tactics mid-game or even game-to-game. Sapong, could have earned a record high points haul. The Union often played pretty, possession-based soccer last year and, were it not for career-poor years from David Accam and C.J.
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The Union’s 4-2-3-1, now soccer’s most common and straightforward formation, was not really the problem, itself. In 2018, the Union performed in perfect mediocrity - right about where the pundits and fans figured them to be. It’s a new season and, after years of 4-2-3-1 or die as the team’s tactical philosophy, the Philadelphia Union suddenly have a new formation.