People of Minnesota: I have returned. I know; you were scared that you’d seen the last of your precious Coach Kyle. But I decided to follow the North Star one restless night near the end of my holiday break, and I wound up back here in the Twin Cities by the time I stopped to look around. Oh well. Looks like you’ve got me for another year.
I kicked off 2024 with a lesson all about the formations used in Major League Soccer, and after watching a ton of European soccer and experimenting with the 9v9 formations for the U12 girls team I coach, I think it’s time for a sequel. I don’t know if I’m The People’s Gaffer just yet, but I know that my girls are poised to make some noise when the domes come down this year. I’ve done my research, and I simply need to share it with you.
The Next Big Thing is Just the Old One
Faithful students may recall the lesson I wrote a while back about soccer’s position numbering system. In that lesson, I mentioned that when position numbering began in the 1920s, the predominant system of the day was a 2-3-5. You read that right: two defenders, three midfielders, and five forwards. That’s the exact opposite of the most successful system’s that we see in use today—at least, on paper.
Think about flipping the formation for a second. In the modern game, a five-man backline includes two wingbacks that essentially act as wingers. They’re often much more important in the attack, and depending on how you want to categorize them, could essentially be considered part of any of the three categories when you try to write the formation down on paper. So, the Loons’ 5-2-3 could realistically be rewritten as either a 3-5-2 or a 3-2-5. You smelling what I’m stepping in? Picking up what I’m putting down?
In my humble opinion, the best teams in the world—right now—are using pseudo-positionless approaches that closely resemble the tactics of yesteryear. Call it Total Football if you want; it certainly comes from that line of thinking. But every manager adds their own flair, their own flavor to the idea that players can and should be capable of contributing to every aspect of the game.
Need Proof? Here’s Pudding.
I’m sure it’s clear at this point that I’m a bit obsessed with the game and its tactical evolution. Opinions on what’s happening/what’s working in our sport differ from person to person, so I figured I should offer some additional context to support the theories I believe in. The tactics employed by Eric Ramsay this year are a great example of this timeless approach, but your Loons aren’t the only ones leveling up via this method.
In the German Bundesliga, the top-level of German soccer, the legendary Bayern Munich won 11-consecutive league titles from 2012 to 2023. It was a period of complete and utter dominance that seemingly had no end in sight. That is, until Xabi Alonso combined his beautiful mind with the perfect roster of Bayer Leverkusen. Through enterprising wingback play, positional freedom, and players that were willing to adapt to something new, Alonso ended Bayern’s reign of terror, winning the first title in club history for a team that was once affectionately dubbed “Bayer Neverkusen” by rival fans. The 3-4-2-1 formation he used could be called a 3-2-5, much like Coach Ramsay’s preferred formation.
Right here in MLS, we saw Wilfried Nancy employ essentially the same principles with the Columbus Crew, winning MLS Cup in 2023 and transforming the Crew into one of the most entertaining teams on the continent. Once again, a 3-4-2-1 formation that operates like a 3-2-5 in possession. I smell something familiar.
If we can learn anything from these examples, it’s that formations on a sheet of paper only capture a team’s structure at a single moment in time. Throughout 90 minutes, every team goes in and out of each phase of play: attack, defense, and transition. The structure best suited to attacking often won’t be great for defending, so many teams adjust during transition.
Formations are frameworks, folks; they help give structure, guidance, and definition to a game plan, enabling coaches and their players to refer to a general picture to get on the same page before they hit the pitch. What matters most is what each player is instructed to do, how they perceive their role on the field, and their relationship with each of their teammates. If Joseph Rosales cuts inside, does Joaquin Pereyra drift wide to give him space to maneuver, while offering an option outside? A formation doesn’t answer that question, but it lets us know that we should probably be asking it.
I have homework for you. That’s right, homework! This is Soccer School, after all; I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t assign a few things here and there. Watch Bayer Leverkusen, whether it’s a full game or just some extended highlights. See if you can find some similarities to what the Loons did in 2024 and what Xabi Alonso has got going on with his squad. Don’t worry about what Pep is doing at Manchester City right now; we’ll cover that another time, probably after he rights the ship a little bit. Maybe we’ll even talk about inverted fullbacks, every soccer hipster’s favorite hot topic.
As for me, I’ll be coaching while you do your assignment. The girls and I have a scrimmage coming up, and I’ve been experimenting with a 2-4-2 formation that I’m pretty excited about. It’s more of a 2-2-4 when we get into our opponent’s half, and a 4-2-2 when we’re pushed back. The flexibility of wingbacks is the crutch that keeps my sanity intact. I’ll give you an update on our progress in the next lesson: expect great things.
