The 3-5-2 is a very dynamic and flexible system; it can be an ultra-attacking formation or solid defensive formation depending on how it is deployed. In attack the 3-5-2 is numerically strong in the midfield and comes with the benefit of two strikers. Creating width in the attack is never a problem with two wingers and strikers that could also run the channels. The formation is naturally set-up to encourage movement off the ball with the interchanging of positions when in possession; the interchanging of positions and movement off the ball allows different players the opportunity to fill different spaces, making the 3-5-2 more dynamic and difficult for the opponent to predict and deal with. In the modern game I personally find many advantages to playing the 3-5-2 formation, due to its fluid attacking potential and less focus on keeping numbers back. The defensive side of the 3-5-2 presents the formations biggest challenges, yet it can also be seen as a strength if the players understand how to form a back four or five in the correct situations. With only three defenders in the back, covering space in deep wide areas must be addressed and dealt with effectively. In order to offset the possible defensive weakness that come with three players not being able to cover the entire width of the field, the coach must choose player personnel and more importantly the formations tactics wisely. In this book I will cover multiple ways the 3-5-2 can be played to maximize its strengths, while turning the formations possible negatives into positives. When breaking down and analyzing any formation, it is important to note that the difference between formations is about 10 yards in player positioning. You can make an argument that most formations are similar and difficult to identify once the game has started. The transition from defending to attacking and attacking to defending creates totally new shapes from the original formation. The game of soccer is a free-flowing game but inside that flow there must be a structure which drives individual and team decisions. The coach is the one who will lay out the important tactical guidelines for the execution of the formation, so it is important to note that the same formation can be carried out in many different ways, depending on the coach. Tactics that will influence the way the formation played include things like setting a line of restraint, establishing a line of confrontation, identifying pressing zones, outlining counter-attacking areas, realizing when to press or drop-off, addressing the overall style of soccer to be played, player personnel, work load, location of the game, weather conditions, field conditions and much more. All these factors will directly influence the way a formation is played.

This book is a comprehensive resource for coaching the 3-5-2 formation at all levels. The level of detail and tactical solutions included will help you emulate how top coaches, such as Antonio Conte (Inter) and Nuno Espírito Santo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), use the 3-5-2 to great success. This book goes into great detail to show the movement of all players within the 3-5-2 system of play in various tactical situations and against different formations, in the attacking and defensive phase. This will enable you to optimise your team's tactical awareness and performance. Tactical solutions are provided for all game situations, in relation to how to counteract the opponent's positioning, organisation and decision making. This book will teach you to coordinate and solve specific game situations in a flexible way with many different options and tactical solutions. As a coach, you can train these patterns of play repetitively, so that the players' reading of the game becomes automatic and the team is quickly able to recognise and find the best solutions to solve every conceivable tactical situation. This book includes: Tactical Strengths and Weaknesses of the 3-5-2 Formation 3-5-2 Tactics Against Different Formations (4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2, 3-5-2 and 3-4-3) Overcoming the First Line of Pressing (Build-up Play from the Back) Moving the Ball in Between the Opposition's Midfield and Defensive Lines Playing in Behind the Opposition's Defensive Line Defensive Organisation and Pressing Organisation of the Defensive Line 41 Practices and Variations to Apply Tactical Solutions with the 3-5-2 Renato Montagnolo has a UEFA 'B' Coaching Licence and a Patentino Match Analyst Licence. He has been working as a First Team Assistant Manager and Match Analyst for the past few years in Serie C in Italy. With experience of writing books and articles, speaking and teaching, Renato is a respected football tactics expert.

This pioneering soccer book chronicles the evolution of the sport and how it has affected the lives of players, coaches, and fans–perfect for those who adore the timeless game. In Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson offers a masterly global history of the world's game, from unruly beginnings to contemporary strategy. Fully revised and updated, this fifteenth-anniversary edition analyses the 2022 World Cup, charting the influence of the great Spanish, German and Portuguese tacticians of the last decade, whilst pondering the effects of football's increased globalization and commercialization. Inverting the Pyramid has been called the "Big Daddy" (Zonal Marking) of soccer tactics books; it is essential for all soccer afficionados.

The 4-2-3-1 is a system that Arsenal, Real Madrid, Everton, Bayern Munich and many more professional teams use. The formation can be employed in many different ways depending on the personnel available. It can be used to play a conservative, defensively sound counter-attacking game or opened up for an ultra-offensive approach. The interchanging of positions, room for tactical adjustments, defensive soundness, room for creativity and overall fluidity of the system is what makes the 4-2-3-1 effective. This book will take you through the fundamental roles and responsibilities of each player within the system. It also provides multiple training exercises, explains and demonstrates individual and team movement patterns, covers the strategy of team defending and team attacking in the 4-2-3-1 and a number of ways to modify the system.

“Entertaining, very informative, and essential for parents, fans, and players.” —Tony DiCicco, Head Coach, 1999 Women’s Cup Champions “Two thumbs up.... This book will broaden your knowledge of the game.” —Ron Newman, all-time winningest American Soccer Coach “This book will help people to understand why soccer is the world’s sport and why we love it so much.” —Tiffeny Milbrett, Forward, U.S. Women’s National Team “Fans will love it, and those who want to become fans will devour it.” —Bob Ley, ESPN/ABC Broadcaster Simplicity alone doesn’t explain soccer’s enormous popularity worldwide. Soccer is a game that can be as frustrating as golf, as physical as football and hockey, as sporadic as baseball, and as graceful as basketball. It can also be addictive. Whether you are a youth league player, a soccer parent, or a World Cup fan, here, at last, is the book you’ve been waiting for. Written by New York Daily News soccer columnist Michael Lewis with the full support and participation of the United States Soccer Federation, Soccer For Dummies shows you how to: Get a handle on soccer rules and regulations Learn the basic moves and plays Improve dribbling, passing, and other basic skills Find a league to play in Coach kids effectively Get more out of the game as a spectator Featuring expert tips from U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Team stars and packed with hundreds of action photos and illustrations, Soccer For Dummies is the ultimate beginner’s guide to the sport. You’ll discover: The where and wear of soccer Laws of the game Footwork, passing, shooting, receiving, goal tending, and other game fundamentals Staying in soccer shape Teamwork and strategy Coaching youth soccer Everything the informed spectator should know The current state of soccer at all levels from youth leagues to geriatric leagues Get Soccer For Dummies and get the lowdown on the world’s most popular sport from some of its most celebrated players.

Soccer fans around the world adore the offensive style of play based on fast passing combinations, spectacular dribblings, and the art of beautifully shot goals. The question regarding this style of game is how to coach your team to embrace fast attacking soccer. How do you shape your training to cover all the technical and tactical basics? Peter ......

This 4-4-2 Diamond is written for coaches who want to study and teach this attacking formation. It not only provides theory and tactics but it contains ready to use training ground exercises which you can implement with your team right away. The book provides a detailed breakdown of individual player's roles & responsibilities in the formation, a complete tactical breakdown, realistic and specific 4-4-2 diamond training ground exercises/drills, various analyses of 4-4-2 diamond vs. other formations and much more. The information is in-depth and comprehensive, yet presented in a simple easy to follow logical way.