Strengths and weaknesses of the 4-2-2-2 formation [Download PDF]

THE 4-2-2-2 FORMATION HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY IN RECENT TIMES. A VARIANT OF THE 4-4-2, THE 4-2-2-2 SHARES SIMILARITIES WITH THE STANDARD 4-4-2, YET THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE WINGERS OPERATE IN MORE CENTRAL POSITIONS AS TWO NUMBER 10’S. RALF RANGNICK INITIALLY MADE THE SYSTEM POPULAR, AND COACHES UNDER HIS TUTORSHIP HAVE SINCE ADAPTED THE SYSTEM TO FIT THEIR PHILOSOPHIES, COACHES SUCH AS RALPH HASENHÜTTL, ROGER SCHMIDT AND JESSE MARSCH.

(1). 4-2-2-2 FORMATION GAME MODEL

(2) THE 4-2-2-2 FORMATION STRENGTHS POINTS

1. The system promotes central overloads in the attacking phase.
2. The system can be effective when building the attack from deep. The two CM’s can act as a double pivot to facilitate this.
3. The two number 10’s can be extremely effective in roaming from their position to find space between the oppositions defensive lines.
4. Two CF’s can match up 1v1 with opposition CB’s.
5. The system in itself can be fluid and change shape to resemble a 4-2-3-1 formation with a CF dropping deep to receive.
6. Defensively, the system can be effective in pressing high in a man-oriented action. Whilst, Being able to revert to a standard 4-4-2 when defending in a mid/low block.

(3) The 4-2-2-2 formation weakness Points

1.The system when attacking can be extremely offensive with the FB’s pushing on and CM’s providing support. It can lead to teams being
Vulnerable when in transition.
2. The two CM’s can become outnumbered when playing against a three man midfield.
3. If the 10’s take up extreme inverted positions, it can become hard to penetrate in wider areas.
4. The 10’s in this system need to be tactically excellent as well as technically adept. Players in this role, in this system have taken a while to adapt to playing the role.
5. When pressing high and aggressively in this system, winning the ball high up the pitch is vital. If the opposition play through the press, it can create overloads in dangerous
Areas of the pitch.

(4) MAN ORIENTED HIGH-PRESS IN A 4-2-2-2

KEY FACTORS:

4-2-2-2 REVERTS TO MORE A 4-4-2 SHAPE.

1. The shape looks to remain narrow to force natural pressing triggers in wide areas, using the touchline as an extra defender.
2. The ultimate aim is to win the ball as close to the opposition’s goal as possible to force an attacking transition, increasing the probability of scoring.
3. CF’s are responsible for initiating the press by forcing the CB to play into the fb. CF’s also have to act as a central screen to prevent the ball going into the opposition pivot player.
4. The two number 10’s start a little wider to ensure that they are distanced well enough to apply pressure to the opposition FB’s when they receive from the CB’s.
5. The two CM’s are each responsible for a more advanced opposition CM.
6. The two FB’s track the opposition wide players, and can adjust their starting position accordingly.
7. The two CB’s can create a 2v1 situation and isolate the opposition CF.

(5) BUILDING THE ATTACK FROM DEEP IN A 4-2-2-2

DESPITE OPERATING WITH A PLAYER LESS, IN DEEPER POSITIONS COMPARED TO A THREE MAN MIDFIELD, THE 4-2-2-2 RELIES OF SPECIFIC PLAYER MOVEMENTS/ ROTATIONS TO MAKE IT AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM WHEN BUILDING THE ATTACK FROM DEEP.

KEY FACTORS:

BUILDING THE ATTACK FROM DEEP IN A 4-2-2-2

1. CB’s should position themselves in the half-space to open up potential passing options. A half-space positioning will open up more passing angles than staying central.
2. The pivot’s are extremely important. The number six can move away from the opposition block ‘outside’ the CB’s to receive the ball away from pressure.
3. As a result of the number six’s movement, the number 3 FB can advance further up the pitch and look to isolate the opposition fb who is also tracking the ‘7’. The other FB (2) should remain deeper to receive a pass off of the CB, but also be able to have the technical and athletic ability to offer the left sided CB a chance to change
The point of attack via a diagonal ball.
4. The two ‘number tens’ in this formation (7&11) should look to position in the half space in between the opposition lines. This should open up a more direct pass from the CB’s.
5. One of the CF’s should look to drop deeper to receive ans support the build-up whilst the other should look to occupy the opposition CB’s and also be willing to make a run into the channels to stretch the defence.

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