Olliekse tactics Part 2 : The 4 Diamond 2, Utility Men & Triangles

[olliekse]

Hey, yes i know the title sounds like an English Indie band

Anyway, to continue on this train of thought, I will explain about the other common variable to the rigid 442 - the Diamond midfield.

"Why would a manager choose the Diamond over the flat 4 midfield?"

Thats a good question. The answer is because either the defence needs protection (codeword for leaks too many goals), or the team is in a league with many flat 4's. I cant really recall a dominating team in the English leagues that ran the 4 diamond 2, maybe someone older than me might be able to name one, but in my lifetime, its not a formation that's won anything significant. Man City have chopped and changed formation a lot since their billionaire saviour arrived but i have seen them use it occasionally. Yaya Toure is ideal for the CDM role but it restricts his attacking prowess somewhat.

Right, remember this old girl?



Well she's back, except she had some surgery, and she now looks like this:



well you don't need me to tell you that the gaping gap in the middle highlighted in black is the weakness in this formation. You could swing several cats in that gap.

The obvious change is the relocation of the CM's, into more committed/dedicated positions. Remember that you can't put square pegs into round holes, so these positions can only be occupied by players who specialise in them. The CAM will only concern themselves with the space between the half way line and the 18 yard box, with the CDM being the inversion of this. Here is a few more details on each role:

• CDM : My personal favourite position to control on defense, you are the bodyguard for the CB's. Remember that this position is here in the first place because the back 4 are frail. They should harass opponent CM's in the middle of the park, aiming to disposses them through sheer strength. Alex Song played this role well for Arsenal back in the day. They are tough tacklers and give the midfield something to think about. They will need to help the Fullbacks on occasion , and are in a good position to double team opponent wingers. Pace in this position is a godsend as i will explain later.
• CAM: They occupy the space in front of the opposing CB's called 'the hole'. Brazil has a habit of producing great players in this position. Leeds have one now called Adryan who is extremely talented and fulfils the role very well. I like to think of this position as a stationary role. The player doesn't move much, they want the ball into their feet and they want to run at the CB's. They want to draw a defender out, leaving a gap for a silky through ball to be played into. They collect many assists throughout the season, and the occasional long range goal. They dont do much defensively speaking, they are taught to track back and help out but its important to conserve energy. In the diamond, they work with the wingers/wide midfielders to create TRIANGLES. This means that a player passes the ball, then moves into space, and another player fills that space. Here's a visual representation of this:

(note that FIFA makes it tough to create deadly triangles because you can't control players off ball, PES on the other hand makes it wonderful)

Above is a basic representation of the pass & move triangle that is embedded into Spanish children. The dotted lines indicate a pass, and the blue arrows indicate a off-ball run. This tactic is a clever way of operating as before you know it you have half your team in and around the 18 yard box and the opponent's defence hasn't had time to even pick their nose. The well-drilled organisational aspect is lethal. You can use this between the CAM/CDM, winger and fullback and BAM! overlap. For some teams though, long ball is the status quo so movement in the middle of the park matters little.

Other variations of the 4-diamond-2 is as follows:



What do you notice? Yes, no wingers/wide midfielders. Now we have a very narrow setup. This is used in teams that have no threat of pace. The more narrow you are - the harder it is for teams to break you down. But you also stifle yourself in attack. The areas highlighted in black are the weaknesses, and I watch my team on a weekly basis get ripped to shreds by fast wingers like Watford's Anya. It really annoys me but its something we have to deal with, the CDM does as best he can in helping the fullback but pace kills sadly.

Tactically speaking, this setup is very good for counter attacking as it is narrow. The fullbacks need to be have lots of pace and energy to make this system worthwhile, as they are the source of artificial width. This goes against the rigid system in Part 1, but something needs to be done to create width. You can't run the ball up the middle all game, the opposition will work this out and exploit your narrow setup. As outlined in Part 1, what happens when the FB needs to track back? He is usually watching the opposing winger run into that gap, crossing the ball in for a goal. Sucks. A way around this is the CDM sitting deep for most of the game and thus he can rotate over and help out when needed:



The CDM rotates over to fill the gap whilst the fullback is trying to get back, and a CM has to then occupy the space the CDM left, whilst man marking his assignment at the same time. If the opponents attack fizzles out, players can reset amongst themselves, usually when the opponent starts to pass it backwards. This is the key moment to reorganise. If the opponent's attack doesn't fade out, then the players just need to do the best they can. Foul if necessary, thats a common tactic when the heat gets too much.

On a different note, CDM's tend to have a great long shot, its something thats practiced because when they do venture forward, they need to contribute something that wont jeopardise the team defensively. The shot might miss for a goal kick, no worries. It might induce a spilled save and a poaching opportunity for the striker. Nothing bad can come from a long shot UNLESS there were better options available. As you can see, its a balancing act between defensive compactness and attacking prowess. Thats why this version of the 442 isn't very common, because it requires a more specialised player to play the CAM/CDM role. There are other versions of the diamond, in a 352 system for example, but thats for another post.

Sometimes CB's are great CDM's (David Luiz for example), and they can rotate over and read the defensive aspect of the game very well. They can slot into the CB role and provide 5 at the back for periods of the game when pressure is mounting. They are great Utility men . Some CM's are defensive minded so can slot into the CDM position, some CAM's can play on the wings. Its a nice bonus to have that in a team, especially since its tough enough to find great CAM/CDM players.

So to summarise this part:

If your defence is shakey - consider playing a CDM. But this requires the Fullbacks to provide some tooth in attack, and it can leave them vulnerable. You could make your team a 1-0 specialist and play very narrow WITHOUT wingers. I see teams get ripped apart by wingers too often though to fully endorse this. I think to succeed you need very quick strikers and a long ball tactic into the channels, much like the way the flat 442 can be used. CAM's and CF's dont really mix, its one or the other really, unless you wish to play like Holland in the World Cup where RVP is a lone CF. You could have 1 striker drift out wide and 1 stay central , this would free up some room for the CAM to work in.

My final point in this part is that CAM's can have different mentality's/instructions. They can be told to free-roam or they can be told to stay in the hole. If it is the former, they can drift anywhere along the final 3rd of the pitch, causing chaos for defenders as they try to track him. If they are told to remain in the hole, they will need to hope they have a good pair of boots on for pinpoint passes through the gap between the opposing CB's. They are often the centre point for beating a teams offside trap. The CM's are just the connecting dots between the wingers/strikers and the CAM.

A good general tip is to get the ball in the hole with the CAM and hold L2/LT to instigate close control and either run at the CB's or create space for a finesse shot. Throw a few feints and the opposing CB's could hack you down. I love squaring people up with CAM's, you can see the panic in the opponents eyes.

Never ever let your CDM go past the half way line unless you are winning by 2 goals, especially if pace isn't their forte. Sometimes a pacey CDM can be an express train carrying the ball up the middle of the pitch for an epic counter attack.

So CAM = The Hole
CDM = The shield (no, not that pathetic WWE faction)

[JHedges2]

Quote: Originally Posted by olliekse

"Why would a manager choose the Diamond over the flat 4 midfield?"

Fabulous write up once again. It does make me question using the formation, as I would say that both my FUT and Chelsea have a 'strong' defense--and wouldn't necessarily 'need' this formation? Below are my two respective teams, listed above:

http://www.futhead.com/15/squads/7407985/

http://www.futhead.com/15/squads/9923836/

As for the BPL squad, I do have two quality CM on the roster (not listed) Aaron Ramsey and Paulinho (just as an FYI). Should I consider trying something else--for either squad? (As I've mentioned, new to the game--and I don't know what Chelsea runs in real life).

Thanks again so much for these--they're great reads!

[olliekse]

Quote: Originally Posted by JHedges2

Fabulous write up once again. It does make me question using the formation, as I would say that both my FUT and Chelsea have a 'strong' defense--and wouldn't necessarily 'need' this formation? Below are my two respective teams, listed above: http://www.futhead.com/15/squads/7407985/ http://www.futhead.com/15/squads/9923836/ As for the BPL squad, I do have two quality CM on the roster (not listed) Aaron Ramsey and Paulinho (just as an FYI). Should I consider trying something else--for either squad? (As I've mentioned, new to the game--and I don't know what Chelsea runs in real life). Thanks again so much for these--they're great reads!

You're welcome I would say that RVP is better suited as a lone CF, and Walcott is wasted as a RM. 433 with Walcott as a RW and RVP as the false 9 man would be cool

This is what Chelsea ran out last game:

Courtois

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azipilcuetta

Matic Fabregas Willian Oscar

Hazard Costa

It looks like to me a Diamond with Costa as a CF

[olliekse]

Here is a forum run by someone i know, you can keep updated with Chelsea's lineup and tactics and the usual moaning about the ref robbing them haha

http://www.talkchelsea.net/

[NightRaven3]

Wow...I dont know what to say. This so helpful Ollie, so I play with Manchester united in my cm. My defense is shaky just like in real life. So since that is the case I should use a 4-4-2 flat with rooney slightly behind rvp as a cf? I've been trying to find a formation to use with this starting lineup:
De gea
Rafael jones rojo shaw
Mata herrera blind di maria
Rvp rooney
Personally I enjoy the cdm but blind is so slow. Another question is should I even use these formations or are they fit for another formation you haven't explained yet?

[olliekse]

Quote: Originally Posted by NightRaven3

Wow...I dont know what to say. This so helpful Ollie, so I play with Manchester united in my cm. My defense is shaky just like in real life. So since that is the case I should use a 4-4-2 flat with rooney slightly behind rvp as a cf? I've been trying to find a formation to use with this starting lineup: De gea Rafael jones rojo shaw Mata herrera blind di maria Rvp rooney Personally I enjoy the cdm but blind is so slow. Another question is should I even use these formations or are they fit for another formation you haven't explained yet?

since Blind got injured they reverted to 3412 vs Arsenal. That would mean Di Maria was in the hole and RVP was alongside Rooney. If in doubt - use flat 442 until you work something out. Maybe play Mata on the left and Valencia on the right.

[BradyBunch88]

Quote: Originally Posted by NightRaven3

Wow...I dont know what to say. This so helpful Ollie, so I play with Manchester united in my cm. My defense is shaky just like in real life. So since that is the case I should use a 4-4-2 flat with rooney slightly behind rvp as a cf? I've been trying to find a formation to use with this starting lineup: De gea Rafael jones rojo shaw Mata herrera blind di maria Rvp rooney Personally I enjoy the cdm but blind is so slow. Another question is should I even use these formations or are they fit for another formation you haven't explained yet?

I know you asked Ollie for this, but I'd like to throw my two cents in, if you don't mind.

I'm a Man Utd fan too, so I'd go with the formation A. You most feel comfortable with and B. Work with the strength of your players. Now what I mean by those are, if you play a 3-5-2 but you're terrible at defending, maybe go back to a 4 man back line with a CDM. And the strength of your players, I'd look at your strengths, attacking and find the best formation for that.

I'd suggest a 4-2-3-1 myself, I love the formation. You can have a back line of Rafael, Jones, Rojo and Shaw. You can have Fellaini (massively underrated) and Blind as your CDM's. Then have Di Maria on the left wing, Herrera on the right, with Rooney as your CAM and RVP as a Striker. Mata I'd bring on in the second half, although I prefer him to Rooney, but you'll probably want to play Rooney.
Unless you want to put Herrera as CDM, Rooney on the wing and then Mata as the CAM.

But it's up to you, I'd love to see what Ollie says.

[BradyBunch88]

I agree with you, I really enjoy having a formation with a CDM in my team. In FIFA at least, I don’t like to control my back 4 unless I have to. I’ll let me CDM and maybe another CM do my defending. I’ve found once you control a CB and bring him out to make a tackle. It opens a huge gap which the CPU will instantly go for (just life real life). And credit to FIFA for putting out a football game that can more or less emulate a real football game.

I think that in FIFA, certain formations the CDM is actually the most important man on the pitch. I run a 4-2-3-1 so I have two CDM’s in Nemanja Matic and Nathaniel Chalobah. I also have Yohan Cabaye as a sub. But they get my defence out of sh.. a lot of the time!

I would have to say these articles are the single most important reads for any new or experienced FIFA players.

I have a couple requests, not sure if you’re going to do them anyways but it’s better to ask just in case.

I’d love for you to do articles on the 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 (false 9) and the 3-5-2 that Manchester United have been struggling to use this season whereas Bayern (as we may see tonight against Man City) have been dominant with.

In fact, with your football knowledge, I’d love it if you could break down Pep Guardiola’s philosophy in formation, tactics etc.

Thanks again man for these awesome articles! It’s making me a better FIFA player and even understand real-life football better too!