The way in which the outfield players line up is a key element in a team's overall tactical approach to the game. Naturally, coaches have experimented with various formations and systems in an effort to improve performances and results. Neither a particular formation nor a precise set of tactics can guarantee success. What they can do is to help maximise the potential of the individual players.
Tactical decisions can give a team a vital edge, as the the margin between success and failure is often extremely small. A good system uses the individual strengths of the players to the full. If there are any obvious weaknesses in the team, a formation should be adopted which makes it difficult for the opposition to exploit them.

Defensive Formations

Defensively, the main considerations are how many players to use, and whether or not to deploy a sweeper. For many years, four defenders were considered the norm. These days, many attacking sides might play with just one or two strikers. Having spare defenders is all very well but it means a team must be outnumbered elsewhere. This is one of the factors behind the introduction of wing-backs in a 3-5-2 system in recent years.
It was the defence-minded Italians of the 1960s who developed the idea of playing a sweeper or 'libero' (free player) behind the marking defenders. His job is to cover across the whole back line, and he must also co- ordinate the offside trap. Although the use of a sweeper was originally conceived as an ultra-defensive tactic, teams gradually became aware of the attacking potential of the libero. In particular, the great Dutch and German sides of the 1970s recognised that the sweeper was in a prime position to break forward and launch attacks. Remember, a team should not simply decide it wants to operate a sweeper system; instead, the coach must look at his available players and decide whether anyone has the skills required for this highly specialised role.

Midfield Formations

The midfield area is universally acknowledged as the most important battleground on the pitch. The team that controls the midfield controls the match. This fact has informed every coach's thinking concerning formations in the modern era. At one time, the 4-2-4 system was very common, with two playmakers linking the defence and attack. This gradually gave way to 4-3-3 and 4-4-2. Today, some teams operate a 4-5-1 system, particularly for away games. You can see from this pattern that there has been a tendency to pack the midfield by pulling strikers into deeper positions. The recent trend to play with wing-backs in a 3-5-2 formation has had a similar effect, but this time by pushing defenders forward.
Certainly no team can afford to be overrun in midfield. However, if four or even five players are operating in this area, it is vital that they drop deep to bolster the defence, and break forward to support the attack. Of course, midfielders shouldn't all go forward or fall back at the same time. Good players watch how the play is developing and cover for each other as required.

Sweeper system

The great Dutch and German sides of the 1970s recognised that the sweeper was in a prime position to break forward and launch attacks. The Dutch philosophy of "total football" was based on the talents of Johan Cruyff. Ajax of Amsterdam won the European Cup with the 1-3-3-3 formation.

Five Forwards

Gone are the days when teams regularly lined up with five forwards. The 2-3-5 formation was very vunerable defensively.

Attacking Formations

Nowadays, the striker's role can be a very lonely one, particularly away from home. Most teams tend to play with two up front, sometimes only one. If other players join the attack, however, it can be devastating. Manchester United's success over the past decade has been founded on a basic 4-4-2 formation. The pace and fluid movement in the team have always meant that midfield players and defenders are quick to get forward when United are on the attack. If this kind of support is lacking, strikers - or the lone striker - can find themselves isolated and outnumbered. Hunting in pairs There is an old saying that strikers hunt in pairs. This can be a straightforward twin-pronged attack, or the more recent innovation of a split-striker set-up. In the latter system, one striker plays in a slightly withdrawn role. By dropping a little deeper, players in this position can sometimes find space more easily and make themselves difficult to mark. Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes are often used in this role to very good effect.