PLAYING THE

GK-4-3-3 NUMBER 10
 COACHING THE
GK-4-3-3 WITH A NUMBER 10
1. When the full back attacks, the nearest midfielder must cover the space
2. If the centre backs are in possession, the midfielders must rotate to receive
3. When one central midfielder attacks, the other must hold their position
4. The full back and wide player must combine their movements to receive
5. The number 10 must start high alongside the number 9 to disrupt the defence
6. In general play, the number 10 is free to roam the pitch in order to receive
7. On crosses, the team must get three players into the box & two on the edge
8. In crossing situations, the number 9 must go to the near post to open the box
9. On longer passes, the midfielders must be ready to pick up 2nd balls
10. When defending, the wide players can drop back to make a compact midfield
11. The number 10 should look to pressure opposing midfielders on the blind side
When the full back attacks, the nearest midfielder must cover the space

The number
The nearest 6 must must
midfielder recognise
squeeze
that both
across full the
to cover backs have
space left by the
joined the
attacking fullattack. Thealso provides
back. This
numberfor
support 6 the
must fullnow
backsit deepthey
should
need to turn
to create theback to keep
back threepossession
If the centre backs are in possession, the midfielders must rotate to receive

The number 10
The furthest should arrive in
midfielder should the spaces behind
come towards the the opponents
centre back to offer a midfield and look
pass on the inside to receive on the
back foot

The nearest
midfielder should
go high to allow the
centre back to bring
When playing out of defence, In attack, the number 6 must
the ball out
the number 6 must go to stay behind the other
create a diamond with the midfielders and always be
goalkeeper and two centre in a position to receive a
backs pass and change the point
of attack
When one central midfielder attacks, the other must hold their position

The
Whennearest midfielder
the team holds and the
are building allows the
furthest
attack from the defenders, the make a
midfielder from the ball to
forward run. This decision is also made simple
number 8 & 10 should go beyond
by the number 10 who is on the same side as
their marker and in between the lines
the nearest midfielder
of the opponents midfield and
defence

This movement
forces the marker
s into a decision of
going to pressure
the ball or staying
with the 8 or 10.

The centre back must be

positive and drive out of
defence in order to create
an overload in midfield
The full back and wide player must combine their movements to receive

The wide player can move inside and allow the full
As the centre back steps out of
back to take up the space on the wing
defence. The number 5 goes high
and the number 11 goes inside.
Finally, the number 8 pulls into a
deep wide position to receive

Go high

Example 2
As the centre back steps out of
defence. The number 2 goes high
and wide and the number 10 also
spins andback
The full goes
canhigh
passinto the
to the wide player and then
forward line to pin
make a forward over orthe defenders.run
under-lapping
Now the number 7 is free to come
deep to receive to feet
The number 10 must start high alongside the number 9 to disrupt the defence

When the ball is about to be

switched, the opposite wide player
can now move inside and on the
blindside of the opponents midfield.
The full back on that side can now
join the attack on the outside of the
wide player

The number 10 must go into the forward

line to occupy a centre back. Now the
number 10 is on the blindside of the
opponents midfield and can pull off the
centre back to receive a pass in space

The number 9 and 10 can now

combine movements in order for
the 10 to go and receive and the 9
to run behind. This leaves the
opponents centre backs with a
difficult decision
In general play, the number 10 is free to roam the pitch in order to receive

Thethree
The number 10 should always
midfielders must bebeon the move and #8 The Energiser this type
looking to receive passes behind the opponents of midfield has lots of energy
different types of player and bring
midfield. If the number 10 is being marked closely,
different skills to the game. This and uses this to good effect
then interchanging movements with will
the central
aid to the variety of the teams playspace for the
midfielders or wide players can create by moving off the ball both
and enable
player natural
or other team rotation
mates in in attack and defence
movement

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

1. From midfielders #10 The Magician the player

2. From defenders that can unlock the defence
3. Runs into the box
with a dribble or moment of
4. From wide players
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
On crosses, the team must get three players into the box & two on the edge

The three midfielders must be #8 The Energiser this type

different types of player and bring of midfield has lotsOne midfielder, the
of energy
opposite wide player and
different skills to the game. This will and uses this to good effect
the centre forward should
aid to the variety of the teams play by moving off the ball
be inboth
the box
and enable natural rotation in in attack and defence
movement

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes. The number 6 & 8
should hold the edge
of the box

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
In crossing situations, the number 9 must go to the near post to open the box
The three midfielders must be
different types of player and bring
different skills to the game. This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement
#6 The Passer the
teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.
The wide players job is
to provide a quality
crosses into the box
#8 The Energiser this type
of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence
The number 9 should make a run to the
near post in order to score
This run also pulls the nearest central
defender to this post and opens up space
for the other attackers to exploit
#10 The Magician the player
that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
On longer passes, the midfielders must be ready to pick up 2nd balls

If the defenders try to play directly into the #8 The Energiser this type
The three midfielders must be
forwards or into the space behind the
different
opponents types of then
defence, player
theand
teambring
must react
of midfield has lots of energy
different
quickly to support the pass. This This
skills to the game. will in
may result and usesTeam
thissupport
to goodtheeffect
pass
aid to the
receiving variety
a set ofpicking
back or the teams play
up a clearance by moving
and off
pickthe
up 2ball both
nd ball

from the opposing

and enable team
natural rotation in in attack and defence
movement Defender heads ball back
into midfield areas

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
When defending, the wide players can drop back to make a compact midfield

The
The 7three
and 11midfielders must
should go deep andbepinch inside to be #8 The Energiser this type
different types
closer to the of player
number 10. Thisand bring
makes the team of midfield has lots of energy
narrow and
different compact
skills when
to the defending
game. This will and uses this to good effect
aid to the variety of the teams play by moving off the ball both
and enable natural rotation in in attack and defence
movement

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
The number 10 should look to pressure opposing midfielders on the blind side
The three midfielders must be
different types of player and bring
different skills to the game. This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement
#6 The Passer the
teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.
#8 The Energiser this type
of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence
The number 10 pressures
the opponents midfielder
from behind and forces
the opponents towards
one side of the pitch.
#10 The Magician the player
that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals
 FORMATION OVERVIEW

GK-4-3-3 NUMBER 10 ROTATING THE SHAPE

STRENGTHS
Use of the full width of the pitch
Two central midfielders
Use of a roaming number 10
CONCERNS
Number 9 can be isolated if the number 10
drops too deep
Full backs must be able to defend 1v1
GK-4-3-3 Number 6
433 Number 6
The number 6 drops deeper and the number
10 takes this position in a 433 (number 6)
formation
GK-4-4-2 Diamond
The number 9 can drop deeper to create a
four player diamond midfield with the 7 &
11 becoming two forwards
GK-4-5-1
The number 7 and 11 drop back into midfield
to make a 451 formation
The above rotations should happen naturally in
the game due to player movement


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