PLAYING THE

GK-4-3-3 NUMBER 10

COACHING THE
GK-4-3-3 WITH A NUMBER 10
1. When the full back attacks, the nearest midfielder must cover the space
2. If the centre backs are in possession, the midfielders must rotate to receive
3. When one central midfielder attacks, the other must hold their position
4. The full back and wide player must combine their movements to receive
5. The number 10 must start high alongside the number 9 to disrupt the defence
6. In general play, the number 10 is free to roam the pitch in order to receive
7. On crosses, the team must get three players into the box & two on the edge
8. In crossing situations, the number 9 must go to the near post to open the box
9. On longer passes, the midfielders must be ready to pick up 2nd balls
10. When defending, the wide players can drop back to make a compact midfield
11. The number 10 should look to pressure opposing midfielders on the blind side

When the full back attacks, the nearest midfielder must cover the space
The
number
6 must must
recognise
The nearest
midfielder
squeeze
that both
full the
backs
have
across
to cover
space
left by the
joined the
Thealso provides
attacking
fullattack.
back. This
support
fullnow
backsit
should
numberfor
6 the
must
deepthey
need
to turn
back
to keep
possession
to create
the
back
three

If the centre backs are in possession, the midfielders must rotate to receive

The furthest
midfielder should
come towards the
centre back to offer a
pass on the inside

When playing out of defence,

the number 6 must go to
create a diamond with the
goalkeeper and two centre
backs

The number 10
should arrive in
the spaces behind
the opponents
midfield and look
to receive on the
back foot

The nearest
midfielder should
go high to allow the
centre back to bring
In attack, the number 6 must
the ball out

stay behind the other

midfielders and always be
in a position to receive a
pass and change the point
of attack

When one central midfielder attacks, the other must hold their position

The
nearest
midfielder
holds and the
allows the
When
the team
are building
furthest
midfielder
from
the
ball
to
attack from the defenders, the make a
forward run. This decision is also made simple
number
8 & 10 should go beyond
by the number 10 who is on the same side as
their
marker
and in between the lines
the nearest midfielder

of the opponents midfield and

defence

This movement
forces the marker
s into a decision of
going to pressure
the ball or staying
with the 8 or 10.

The centre back must be

positive and drive out of
defence in order to create
an overload in midfield

The full back and wide player must combine their movements to receive

The wide player can move inside and allow the full
As the
centre back steps out of
back to take up the space on the wing
defence. The number 5 goes high
and the number 11 goes inside.
Finally, the number 8 pulls into a
deep wide position to receive

Go high
Example 2
As the centre back steps out of
defence. The number 2 goes high
and wide and the number 10 also
spins
andback
goes
the
The full
canhigh
passinto
to the
wide player and then
forward
line to pin
defenders.run
make a forward
over orthe
under-lapping
Now the number 7 is free to come
deep to receive to feet

The number 10 must start high alongside the number 9 to disrupt the defence

When the ball is about to be

switched, the opposite wide player
can now move inside and on the
blindside of the opponents midfield.
The full back on that side can now
join the attack on the outside of the
wide player

The number 10 must go into the forward

line to occupy a centre back. Now the
number 10 is on the blindside of the
opponents midfield and can pull off the
centre back to receive a pass in space

The number 9 and 10 can now

combine movements in order for
the 10 to go and receive and the 9
to run behind. This leaves the
opponents centre backs with a
difficult decision

In general play, the number 10 is free to roam the pitch in order to receive

Thethree
number
10 should always
The
midfielders
must be
beon the move and
looking to receive passes behind the opponents
different types of player and bring
midfield. If the number 10 is being marked closely,
different
skills to the
game. This
then interchanging
movements
with will
the central
aid
to
the
variety
of
the
teams
playspace for the
midfielders or wide players can create
and
enable
natural
in
player
or other
team rotation
mates
movement

#8 The Energiser this type

of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

1.
2.
3.
4.

From midfielders
From defenders
Runs into the box
From wide players

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

On crosses, the team must get three players into the box & two on the edge

The three midfielders must be

different types of player and bring
different skills to the game. This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#8 The Energiser this type

midfielder, the
of midfield has lotsOne
of energy
opposite wide player and
and uses this to good
effect
the centre forward should
by moving off the ball
be inboth
the box
in attack and defence

The number 6 & 8

should hold the edge
of the box

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

In crossing situations, the number 9 must go to the near post to open the box

The three midfielders must be

different types of player and bring
different skills to the game. This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement

The wide players job is

to provide a quality
crosses into the box

#8 The Energiser this type

of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence

The number 9 should make a run to the

near post in order to score
This run also pulls the nearest central
defender to this post and opens up space
for the other attackers to exploit

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

On longer passes, the midfielders must be ready to pick up 2nd balls

If the defenders try to play directly into the
The
three midfielders must be
forwards or into the space behind the
different
of then
player
opponents types
defence,
theand
teambring
must react
different
skills
to
the
game.
will in
quickly to support the pass. This This
may result
receiving
a set
back or
up a clearance
aid
to the
variety
ofpicking
the teams
play
from
the opposing
team
and enable
natural
rotation in

#8 The Energiser this type

of midfield has lots of energy
and usesTeam
thissupport
to good
theeffect
pass
nd ball
by moving
both
and off
pickthe
up 2ball
in attack and defence
Defender heads ball back
into midfield areas

movement

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

When defending, the wide players can drop back to make a compact midfield

The
midfielders
must
The 7three
and 11
should go deep
andbepinch inside to be
closer to the
number
10. Thisand
makes
the team
different
types
of player
bring
narrow and
compact
when
defending
different
skills
to the
game.
This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement

#8 The Energiser this type

of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

The number 10 should look to pressure opposing midfielders on the blind side

The three midfielders must be

different types of player and bring
different skills to the game. This will
aid to the variety of the teams play
and enable natural rotation in
movement

#8 The Energiser this type

of midfield has lots of energy
and uses this to good effect
by moving off the ball both
in attack and defence

#6 The Passer the

teams playmaker who
gets onto the ball to
make intelligent passes.
The number 10 pressures
the opponents midfielder
from behind and forces
the opponents towards
one side of the pitch.

#10 The Magician the player

that can unlock the defence
with a dribble or moment of
individual brilliant to score or
assist goals

FORMATION OVERVIEW
GK-4-3-3 NUMBER 10

STRENGTHS
Use of the full width of the pitch
Two central midfielders
Use of a roaming number 10
CONCERNS
Number 9 can be isolated if the number 10
drops too deep
Full backs must be able to defend 1v1

ROTATING THE SHAPE

GK-4-3-3 Number 6
433 Number 6
The number 6 drops deeper and the number
10 takes this position in a 433 (number 6)
formation
GK-4-4-2 Diamond
The number 9 can drop deeper to create a
four player diamond midfield with the 7 &
11 becoming two forwards
GK-4-5-1
The number 7 and 11 drop back into midfield
to make a 451 formation
The above rotations should happen naturally in
the game due to player movement

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