UNION FIND SUCCESS WITH 4-2-3-1 FORMATION
Offense more cohesive after second half adjustment vs. NY
By Kevin Kinkead philadelphiaunion.com April 11, 2011
Manager Peter Nowak's tactical adjustments paid off on Saturday vs. NY. (Greg Carroccio)
If you kept a close eye on Philadelphia Union’s midfield during Saturday night 1-0 win vs. the New York Red Bulls, you likely noticed multiple changes throughout the 90 minutes.
Peter Nowak’s squad essentially came out in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Keon Daniel on the left side of the midfield and Justin Mapp on the right. Sebastient Le Toux and Carlos Ruiz played up top, with Brian Carroll and Stefani Miglioranzi in holding roles.
Though the left-footed Mapp likes to move from one side of the field to the other, this was the first time this season he’d started the game on the right.
The first swap with Daniel didn’t come until 41 minutes in the first half. Mapp came over to the left side of the field, and Daniel took up position on the left.
But it was the second half adjustment that was more noticeable. The Union came out in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mapp on the left, Daniel now in the middle, and Le Toux dropping back to a right winger role. Ruiz played as a lone striker.
“In the first half, when New York was basically playing five on the defensive half and five on the offensive half, there was a big space in the middle,” explained Manager Peter Nowak during the post-game press conference. “With the 4-2-3-1 formation, you have the guy who will be able to take care of this, and not allow New York those passes that bypass our midfield line.
"We found those spaces where we can get the ball and play forward to either Danny Mwanga or Sebastien Le Toux. There was a purpose and design. We wanted to cut off those passing lines, the balls that bypass our midfield.”
“When the formation changed, we had more control of the game,” added Daniel, who made his first MLS start. “Because, in the first half, we were outplayed in the midfield, outnumbered. It helped us a lot, it gave us an extra person to man the midfield.”
It’s not often that an adjustment to the formation can help on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. But that was the case against New York.
The 4-2-3-1 essentially drops your second striker for a more withdrawn center forward who can function as a “pivot” on the offensive end, and an extra man to clog up the midfield when tracking back.
“The way they were playing, with the forwards dropping back so much behind us, Stefani and I had to adjust,” said Amobi Okugo, who entered the game in the sixth minute when Carroll left with a hamstring injury. “Keon was playing the playmaker role, so it helped us going forward, and dropping back as well.”
Red Bulls manager Hans Backe was visibly upset with his team’s offensive performance on Saturday. He explained that the Union’s use of two holding midfielders was the main reason that striker Thierry Henry was playing such a withdrawn role, dropping into the midfield for service.
“That’s what happens when teams sit back, because it is so crowded around the top of the box,” said Backe. “I think that strikers need to come short, and attacking midfielders need to come short to get involved. I think that’s probably the right way to do it, because if you just push players up front, you will just give away breakaways. You need to have that balance, with the strikers coming short, so I don’t think that’s a problem [that Henry was dropping off].”
Midfielder Keon Daniel was effective in multiple positions Saturday.
Second half substitutions changed Philadelphia's formation, and with it the complexion of the match. Mwanga’s entrance saw Mapp leave the field. Daniel then moved back to the left side of the midfield, with Mwanga taking over the central role.
Roger Torres then subbed on for Ruiz, moving Mwanga up front while Torres took over in the center, the third player in the second half to play that position.
But Nowak allows flexibility in his formations, and he likes versatility. Players are generally allowed to move around the pitch and look for opportunities to go forward, as long as teammates are covering ground and tracking back.
“We have free reign to move around, as long as there’s balance and cover,” said Okugo. “We still have to stay disciplined, but as long as there’s balance, there’s freedom to move around, to find gaps and angles to support the playmakers like Roger and Sebastien.
“We should be able to play different roles, and whenever coach calls us, just fill whatever role it is the best you can.”
“That’s football you know?" added Daniel, who played centrally and on both wings. "You have to adjust to where coach puts you. You can’t be a stereotype player, just playing one way. It’s no problem for me. Wherever coach wants me to play, I’m gonna play there, work hard, and do my best.”