Handbook for 1-4-4-2 ‘’DIAMONT’’

The '' Diamond '' of formations! Vasilis Papadakis

UEFA A’ Soccer Coach

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Contents

• 1. Formation vs Formation

• 2. Application-movements in the attack phase

• 3. Application-movements in the defense phase

• 4. Indicative training drills for the implementation of the formation

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Chapter 1

Contrasting formations

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Strong points

• The big ‘’gun’’ of the formation is the 4 playing closed midfielders, making it possible to every other point formation.

• The 2 attackers with the attacking midfielder, also creates a very strong triangle in attack.

• Central zone, is always '' full '‘ in defence.

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Weak points

• Formations with more than 2 players to extremes, can create defensive problems.

• The promotion and monitoring of full-backs, ‘’opens’’ the diamond.

• No width in attack.

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1-4-4-2 diamond

• Basic triangles cooperation. The promotion of full-backs creates two more.

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1-4-4-2 vs 1-3-5-2

The central-zone for the two teams leading the game at the edges. The team based approach and partnerships-moves, will turn out supernumerary at the ends, will acquire offensive advantage.

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1-4-4-2 vs 1-4-3-3

On offense, there are supernumeraries and advantages on all lines. Defensively we have to monitor the promotion and problems that enables us to create, the opponent's full-backs.

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1-4-4-2 vs 1-4-2-3-1 The above player in the center is the one that must be grasped to make then supernumerary in our aggressive or 1vs1 in attack zone. Defensively the check promotions of opponents full-back, is an essential prerequisite for good defensive operation.

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Chapter 2

Application-movements in the attack phase

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1-4-4-2 diamond

• The basic moves aggressively for players. 1-4-4-2 diamont-Vasilis Papadakis 11

Development of extreme back-solutions The defensive midfielder, right midfielder , center for and the center back should support and give solutions in places that have been created with combination moves.

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Development of extreme back by changing terms

With the defensive depth is always necessary, for lack of risk, change side by fast passing, is a good choice to find spaces and disorganized opponent.

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Development of center-solutions-moves

When the ball is on defensive midfielder the other 3 diamond's midfielders and the full-back give solutions, while the center backs must always give security options.

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1 center-for aside-moves When a CF founds with the ball aside, the aggressive midfielder becomes the 2nd striker in the box and our sides midfielder comes high in offensive roles or '' hidden '' offensive.

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Direct development of central defensive When the σtoppers climb with the ball and our midfielder are closed, a large pass in fan CF, can become a very good solution for immediate development. This long pass should be supported directly by our midfielders and 2nd attacker

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Direct development-rising full-back In this case, the inner midfielder claimed the wall-pass back of CF and the promotion of our full-back, gave us solution for aggressive development that will lead possibly to kick-off in the box.

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Instant deployment-ball in CF back space

The wall-pass from one CF, supported by aggressive midfielder and ends in a vertical pass in the back of the opposing defense, in space that combined has moved our 2nd striker.

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Changing the game-moves Transferring with passes and moves to mislead the enemy on one side, choose quick change in the opponent's zone defense impossible, for our players who stayed and moves in this area.

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Rising full-back for kick-off-movements In the final phase of attack and shortly before kick-off, our 3 players in the box(2 CF and 1 CM), changing spaces creating offensive triangle. The goal is always to have space to move the time of kickoff, to escape from the diffenders

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Contrary moves of 2 CF-vertical final pass

The 2 CF with opposing moves lure the 2 CB to come out, for a final vertical pass .

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CF’s Opening -Penetration central midfielder

The 2 CF’s open the 2 CB’s, to be able to move our aggressive midfielder for penetration or final pass.

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Midfielder move in CF’s back side (3rd player)

Holding of 3rd player, with collaboration of 2 CF and an overlap move of an CM .

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Midfielder move in the box

By orienting the opponent with passes and deceptive moves on the other side, exploit the promotion of inner instrument of the opposite side, on the back of the defense.

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Crosswise movement of 2 CF -vertical pass

In any formation with 2 CF, classic ΄΄crosswise΄΄ move generates space in the back of defense, enough to do at the right time.

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Final aggressive positioning-roles-moves

In the final phase of the attack, we create 3 lines for a) harnessing the kickoff in the area, b) back pass for shoot or securing the rebound from defenders and c) supernumerary in defense and avoid a counterattack.

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Chapter 3

• Application-movements in the defense phase

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DEFENSIVE OPERATION

• In graphics look attitudes, in relation to the opponent ball holder.

• Their learning is done with ΄΄shadow drills΄΄, passing drills per line or 2 lines and small sided games.

• In slow tempo-passively for the defense, in warm-up games.

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Ball in opponent back-Forechecking Whole group combined offset to the side of the ball. Close all the short passes, aiming to bring the opponent to wrong choices and the interception of the ball.

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Ball in opponent CB - Forechecking

The 3 aggressive players closes all options for a short pass, the opponent back s is controlled by the midfielder. The placement of trying to avoid the side change.

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Ball in opponent defensive midfielder-pressing Always when the ball found in the center in an opponent defensive midfielder, the ‘’diamont’’ closes for superumerary , pressure and stealing the ball. One CF returns to press (double-press) and along the 2nd CF close the back pass in an CB.

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Ball into right-center Pressing

Displacement of ‘’diamond’’ on the side and 1 CF closes for pressure. All possible short passes are controlled and trying to avoid changing side with right angle mark.

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Ball in an opponent striker (CF)

Defence 4 closing and create defensive depth. Check the other aggressive players. Returning of defensive midfielders or double-press, other midfielders and aggressive returns for closing lines (coherence).

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Movements in terms of change

If the opponent manages to pass the ball to the opposite side of us, gets combined quick shift with diagonal movements, aiming to control the passes and to close areas again.

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Pressure on the holder and check all near passes

It is very important to close the nearby ball holder transfers.

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Change side-moves

Quick diagonal movements with predefined roles and areas of responsibility is the key. Important the correct assessment of the situation, so if need be a delay, to re-establish the numerical balance.

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Organized defense in 1-4-4-1-1 When selected the non-press high, the aggressive midfielder returns and are divided into 2 zones, with early defense oriented space ball. The 1 CF moves closer to the ball, to help in pressure and help in a possible counterattack.

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Defensive attitudes in triangles (1) Coherence of lines and players through triangular relations in depth and width.

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Defensive attitudes in triangles (2) Comparative form of placements in relation to the ball, for consistency lines and players, through triangular relations in depth and width.

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Defensive attitudes in triangles (3) Suggestive moves and placements, with the ball at the opponent CF, for consistency lines and players, through triangular relationship in depth and width.

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Chapter 4

Indicative training drills for the

implementation of the formation

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Indicative training drills

• Drills for warm-up

• Racing combined drills with ending phase

• Small Sided Games.

• Final Games

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Warm-up drill

In 2 subgroups: a) defense and defensive midfielder for change and promote full-back and b) internal MD, aggressive CM and 2 CF for moves and reception. Give ball and follow your pass.

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Warm-up drill

In formation with diamond. Form: give and follow your pass. The last CF, drives the ball at the beginning. Indicator series of passes.

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Warm Up drill-Aerobic

Specialization coaching positions in form give the ball and follow. Topped with driving in starting position. Running simultaneously on both sides. In the variant finish phase with 2 ways (shoot or vertical pass).

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Warm-up drill

In 2 subgroups: a) 4 defenders and a defensive midfielder (topic change side) and (b)) 4 midfielders and 2 strikers. Give and follow.

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Special Endurance drill based on the formation Movements and cooperations based on the positions of players. Runs alternately from left and right, with subgroups 2-3 players per position. The defensive midfielder after the pass, drive a ball and shoot in the other goal.

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Specializing in attacking 3 & full-backs in crosses

Collaboration of 2 footballers for a cross in the box and combined moves of aggressive 3 (offensive triangle)

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Specialized offensive 3 and 1 full-back

Collaboration of 3 attackers (1 CF-1 CM) and 1 full-back for kick-off. The drill is running unopposed. Can gradually be added 1 or 2 defenders.

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3 vs 2 in crosses

In simple form crosses with aggressive syupernumerary and final placing 1st-2nd shootout and crossbar. Emphasis on attack moves, in the correct placement and quality of kickoff (mark player).

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5 vs 2 specialisation with ending phase

Sync partnership with using players in their positions. 5 attackers against 2 defenders. Emphasis on synchronization of movements and the quality of the final pass.

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Diamond specialization SSG 4vs3 (+ 2 + 2) (A)

In gated triangles in center, 4vs3 SSG, using external 2 CB and 2 CF. Emphasis on blue players exists on each triangle. If you missed the ball direct pressure for recovery (supenumerary)

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Diamond specialization SSG 4vs3 (+ 2 + 2) (B) In progress of the game put 2 small goalies on the side , out of the drill area. If the defenders (red) steal ball trying to score playing in side-goalies, to win the diamond. The 4 players of diamond, tries to directly press on the ball , for non-pass in the sides.

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3 vs 2 & 4 vs 3

With aggressive supernumerary and utilization of players at their position. We create the conditions that we are placing players into positions. Specializing cooperative movements (1-2, overlap, penetration, etc.)

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6 vs 6 shoot game

Movement zones: 3 defenders and 2 CF move in zone A and the 3 defenders averages in zone G. In the neutral zone B can only moves the attackers averages of diamond (red) to shoot. If the blue win the ball, scores in 4 passes.

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5 vs 5

Formation SSG e.g. 3 midfielders + 2 attackers vs 4 defenders + 1 defensive midfielder

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SSG 8 vs 6 FOR shots or crosses Small Sided Game with supernumerary into zones, aiming shoots or crosses and finishing phase. Specialization of defense (Blue 4 + 2) & attack (Red 2-4-2). If the blue team wins the ball, direct pressure of reds, to not allow 6 passes.

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8 vs 8 game into zones of specialization

3 zones 20 x 40 m. Formation of 2-4-2, which becomes in final zone at 3 vs 2 aggressively, as can 1 midfielder to promote.

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8 vs 8 game to shoot or kick-off

Game with emphasis on shots or crosses (to side zone, enters only 1 defender). Same formation for 2 teams.

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Game 8vs8 (2-4-2 vs 4-4-0)

Game tutorial predatory and defensive diamond formation: team with aggressive roles 2 full-backs, 4 midfielders-2 attackers. The defence team 4 midfielders and 4 defenders.

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8 vs 7 Game Game aggressive diamond application (missing 2 CB), against the team that defends on 1-4-3-3 (missing 3 attackers). Emphasis on supernumerary in centre and the use of full-backs. In a variant full-backs play in external zones for crosses.

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Game 8 vs 8 for ball transfer

Aerobic tactical formation game 2-4-2 (missing 2 CB). Goals in every successful transfer (with min. 8 passes) from one external to another. When you win the ball, you must give back in the outside players, to start the attack.

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Game 10 vs10 in space 70 x 60 m.

Preseason game. Formation vs formation. Zones with limit touches. Defence zone 2 touches, central zone 3 touches, attacking zone free.

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10vs10 with supernumerary in defense , in field 70 x 60 m.

Game in zones with emphasis on the development from the defense zone (4vs2 or 4 vs3). Aggressively can climb 1 player to the next zone.

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Author

• Vasilis Papadakis

• UEFA A’ Soccer Coach

• Chania-Crete-Greece-May 2016

• Email: vvpapadakis@yahoo.gr

• Web Page: www.soccercoach.gr

• Blog: www.vpsoccercoach.blogspot.gr

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