#Technical tactical soccer pyramid plus

The central striker occasionally drops off the opposition defence like a false nine, with Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, or Ferran Torres used in the role, but they can still be considered a centre-forward. The lineup is completed by ‘centre-half’ Rodri (or Fernandinho), and ‘full-backs’ Dias and Stones.

#Technical tactical soccer pyramid plus

When this is combined with the use of ‘free-eights’ in midfield who effectively join the front line as inside forwards, plus the full-backs cutting inside to become old-fashioned ‘halves’, you get the true 2-3-5 in possession. Guardiola’s latest version of the 2-3-5 is even closer to that old lineup thanks to the use of true wingers playing on the side of their favoured foot-Phil Foden on the left and Raheem Sterling on the right. It’s a formation that has been revived in some form in previous years when teams are in possession, including in Guardiola’s Barcelona sides, but in these instances the front five was formed by the two attacking full-backs (Dani Alves and Sylvinho or Maxwell) becoming the wingers in the five before dropping back to form a back four in defence. Though the positional terms have changed as tactics evolved, Guardiola’s current system at City may be the closest thing to a return to this 2-3-5 formation-at least on the ball. Using the original positional terms, this formation was made up of two full-backs, three halves and five forwards consisting of wingers flanking inside-forwards and a centre-forward. One of the earliest formations of note was the 2-3-5, as detailed in Jonathan Wilson’s history of football tactics, Inverting the Pyramid. Manchester City formation in possession with examples of which players can fulfil each role. This helps prevent the centre-backs being isolated one on one. This has eased the burden on the centre-backs during opposition counter-attacks, as there is now a buffer in front of them in the shape of two quick full-backs, as well as a defensive midfielder. They have conceded just 13 goals in 21 games so far this season, which is by far the best defensive record in the league-nine better than Tottenham who have conceded the second-fewest, and 12 less than Liverpool.Īs the season has progressed, Guardiola has found a favoured system which sees his full-backs cutting inside to join the midfield rather than overlapping on the outside in attack, with João Cancelo playing a key role. City are known primarily for their array of world-class attacking talent, assembled and arranged by one of the most high profile and revered managers in the game, but perhaps the most daunting thing for teams coming up against this version of Guardiola’s City is not stopping their attack, but breaking down their defence.