| 5-4-1, | | | | The outside players are called, wingers or flank |
| Defense; | | | | players and are also involved in striking the goal. |
| 5, defenders, | | | | This would make this line up have a possibility of 4 |
| The addition to this defensive style is a central | | | | strikers at any given time. |
| defender who can control the play from the back | | | | These wingers usually have the bulk of the running to |
| line. | | | | do as they could carry the ball from the defending |
| This defender could also be an attacking player who | | | | third and into the attacking third. |
| will feed through balls to the striker. In addition to this | | | | This also depends on the team strategy as outlined |
| the play maker will help create and initialze an attack | | | | by the coaching staff. |
| from the defensive edge of the mid-field. | | | | The two inside midfielders are supposed to be the |
| It can be thought that this player is also a mid-field | | | | "play makers". These are the individuals who are |
| player when the attack is mounted. | | | | responsible for carrying out the plans the coach and |
| This team has this formation of positions in order not | | | | players have designed and used as the methods of |
| to lose. | | | | attack and goal scoring. |
| They do not want goals scored against them and are | | | | These positions have traditionally played these roles. |
| usually willing to have a single goal scored for them | | | | However nowadays the play making comes from |
| and will to play for a draw, albeit 0-0. | | | | anyone and sometimes all the players at any given |
| It is also possible that their goalkeeper is not the | | | | time. |
| "best" in the league. | | | | These inside players have also been more defensive |
| It is possible however that this team has also been | | | | in their general on field play. |
| set up to play a strong attacking team. | | | | This defensive idea is to stop the opposition from |
| This would mean that the coaching staff has done | | | | creating attacking options. |
| their homework and scouted the opposition. | | | | This team will require a midfield who is willing to strike |
| All in all this team is more prepared to defend as | | | | the goal at any given time. |
| opposed to attack. | | | | Usualy 2 of these players are latent strikers. |
| This team is an opportunistic attacking team and will | | | | They might feel confident that the defense is solid |
| usually attack against the run of play. | | | | and willing to step up into the middle third of the field. |
| This happens when the opposing team has made a | | | | They then work in unison with the striker/forward. |
| mistake. | | | | This team is usually confident of their lone striker. |
| This system and idea can also produce and utilize the | | | | The striker in this formation actually acts as a |
| positions and concepts known as "wing back". | | | | post-up player. This means that this striker usually |
| These are the players who can make over-lapping | | | | plays with the opposing defense at his/her back. |
| runs from their defensive ends right to the opposing | | | | This player will try and stretch the defense, will |
| goal lines. | | | | receive the ball to lay it back to the oncoming |
| When communicated properly the following happens. | | | | team-mates to close the ground/space that this |
| 1) A full on attack has been launched. | | | | striker has created. |
| At least 5 are attacking simultaneously. | | | | The cycle continues until a good scoring opportunity |
| 2) The outside midfield has now become support, | | | | has been formulated. |
| over lapping and or cutting in and out when and | | | | Occationally this striker will turn and attack the goal |
| where necessary. | | | | when the timing is right. |
| 3) Positons have changed to reflect those areas | | | | This is usually communicated to the strikers by their |
| (space) not covered. | | | | team-mates. |
| The attacking team has changed the zonal aspects | | | | However a great striker will sense these situations |
| and created a player mis-match numerically. | | | | based on the run of play and the opportunities that |
| 4, mid-fielders are usually arranged as outside left, | | | | this striker has created. |
| inside left, inside right and outside right. | | | | |