BARTOLOMÉ

4-3-3 STRATEGY

(3-5-2)
The formation Bartolomé plays is often set out like a 4-3-3 but quickly switches to a 3-2-5
when the team is in possession with the central midfielder moving alongside centre backs.

• Encourages playing out from the back (standard passes)

• Encourages ball retention (play back or wide when unable to play first time or
standard pass)
• Likes to play with width across the pitch
• Demands pressing in numbers to win the ball back

ATTACKING STYLE
Goalkeeper plays short from the back, no long balls. Once one of the back three collects the
ball from the goalkeeper, the two full-backs are to be positioned high and wide, making the
pitch as large as possible. Once they receive the ball, they are expected to pass forwards to
one of the attacking five and then tuck in as two central midfield players. The five attacking
players are given the freedom to provide the creative flair. The two wide players must keep
their width to make the pitch as big as possible, creating space for the attacking midfield
players to pick up the ball in the pockets of space between the defence and midfield of the
opposition. They can do this by slipping in clever first time passes to the striker or their
attacking wingers who can now leave their wide positions, or by going for goal themselves.

DEFENSIVE STYLE
Defensively, the team uses an offensive tactic to win the ball back, rather than dropping
back to defend their lines. Once the team loses the ball there must be an instant reaction
• Standard passing regain it. The front players start this reaction and their aim is to pressure and hassle their
• First time passing opponents to win possession back as quickly as possible.
• Keep possession
Once they regain the ball it is a matter of drawing out the opponent again, keeping the ball
• Press in numbers circulating until the gaps start to appear once again in the opposition’s defensive shape.

Rego

4-3-1-2 STRATEGY
The formation is a 4-3-1-2 with a midfield diamond. The central midfielder sits and screens
the back four.

• Play on the Counter-attack (long balls from the back or midfield dribbles)
• Once possession is won, play direct and get the opposition on the back foot quickly
(long balls and high passes)
• Disciplined and compact when defending
• Two units – Defence (rigid and structured) and Attack (freedom on the ball)

ATTACKING STYLE
The team’s midfield three play strictly in concert with each other and with the back four.
They remain horizontally and vertically compact, seeking to create a difficult-to-play-through
midfield block that win possession back and transition it quickly and directly to the attacking
trio. The flanking midfielders are also tasked with carrying the ball forwards in transition.
Width comes from the full backs but to cover their defensive duties, only one goes forward
at a time. Once the ball has been played forwards, the attacking trio take over, supported by
one of the flanking midfielders and a full-back to provide width and a high pass option if
needed. A playmaker sits behind the two strikers, capable of dribbling and playing first time
passes through. The strikers combine direct running off the ball with good positional
awareness to make the most of balls through or the width provided by the full-backs.

DEFENSIVE STYLE
• PLAY ON THE COUNTER The team plays with a high line to facilitate this midfield block, and they also press as a 7
DIRECT LONG & HIGH
player unit. Once the ball is won back, the two main options for transition are the carrying
• runs of the midfield, or long passes from the centre-backs. The aim is to get the opposition
BALLS on the back-foot quickly, especially if they had over-committed players to the attack. The aim
• DEFEND AS A UNIT is always to create space for the front three by sucking in the opposition, winning the ball,
and then transitioning directly.
 SORDI

4-4-2 STRATEGY
Sordi plays a narrow and compact 4-4-2 in which every players has to contribute defensively
and play according to the situation.

Note: Because of Sordi’s win at all costs mentality, all tackles on

a dice roll of 2 (in addition to the normal roll of 1) are considered
fouls on the opposition.

• The team allow the opposition to have the ball freely in the final third, only closing
down in the middle of the pitch and their own half
• The team play as two banks of four and attack on the counter, launching long balls to
the lone striker with the other striker dropping off
• The team operates an aggressive press but only when the ball is played wide – the
entire team shift across the pitch with this press. Sordi believes the opposition player
with the ball on the wings has limited options

ATTACKING STYLE
Sordi demands that the team play quick and aggressively on the counter attack. Driving
forward both full backs and wingers with dribbling runs to play in the strikers with standard
passes into space for the strikers to run on to. The risk is high of a turnover but because the
ball is already in the opposite half, the team will have the time to get back in shape.

DEFENSIVE STYLE
The team choose particular moments to press and when the situation is perfect, they press
• LONG BALLS INTO STRIKER really hard. These moments are generally low-risk/high-reward when the opposition player
has a minimal chance to escape the press and the chance of a counter is high. They
• Aggressive press in generally allow the opposition to play in central areas and away from the penalty box. The
own half fanatical pressing starts when the ball switches to the wings. Because of the team’s narrow
• Wide players dribble shape which leads to congestion in the middle, the opposition is naturally drawn to the
wings where the team presses in a pack.

RAIBURN

4-4-1-1
STRATEGY
The formation is a 4-4-1-1 that becomes a 4-4-2 when balls are out wide. Raeburn believes

(4-4-2)
that regardless of the context of the game being played his team should always play to win,
pass the ball, impose their football and play an attacking style.

• Play on the front foot, dictate the game and force the opposition to react
• The wingers should have pace and dribbling ability, able to rampage down the wing
and either cut inside or play high balls and passes into the box
• Raeburn encourages the team to press only in their own two thirds of the pitch and
capitalise on opponent’s high ball mistakes or passes into space
• Raeburn admires the individual and relies on individuals to tackle alone and intercept
passes

ATTACKING STYLE
Raeburn demands an attacking, direct style. Balls to feet where individual brilliance will
conquer the opposition or balls into space for players to counter attack quickly and catch
the opponents off-guard. The central midfielders play very different roles, one drops deep
and screens the back four. The other receives balls from deep and dictates play, playing
raking passes to the wings or into the box and driving forward when there is space. The
wingers and forwards are relied upon to be individually brilliant, the second striker is
expected to push forward and overwhelm the opposition when attacking, turning the shape
into a 4-4-2.

DEFENSIVE STYLE
PLAY ON FRONT FOOT
The GK will always play to the wings where the team can get on the attack quickly and drive
• into the opposition. The back four stay in line until they are broken by runners when they
• USE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER track their man individually. The back four’s job is to win the ball and send it forward
SKILLS quickly, launching a counter attack. When defending the second striker is expected to drop
• ATTACKING AND DIRECT back and forage for the ball. The team never plays unnecessary passes at the back, always
direct and always pushing forward.