The success of attacking formations and methods depends on the work done at midfield level. Here is why.
In professional football, a great deal of work enters into strategizing and preparation to come up with the most effective formations and tactical plans. Nonetheless, the sport is very unpredictable as there is a variety of variables and unexpected in-game circumstances that could throw things out of balance. This is where the coach and technical personnel come in as prompt and astute modifications are of the essence. For example, severe injuries and footballers getting sent off can have a substantial impact on the result of the game. It is for these reasons that modern football formations typically include contingency plans should the worst take place. Football coaches plan for such incidents beforehand so they wouldn't be caught off guard on matchday, and this is something that the AC Milan former US owner will know. Making timely replacements or changes to the formation and footballer positioning can considerably limit the effect of damaging scenarios.
While offensive football formations are the most fun to see, tactical formations that have a defensive edge tend to be more balanced. For instance, the 4-5-1 tactic is most popular with clubs that want to draw or win a title by goal difference. The cluster of 5 midfielders in the centre normally requires the attacking group to resort to long balls as they realise that developing play through brief passes won't be efficient. Even when long balls reach players who are close to the box, 2 defensive midfielders hang back to form a very first barrier positioned in front of the main 4-player back line. Clubs who use this method also purchase tall centre backs who can block long balls, and the Aston Villa former owner is likely to confirm this. While it is among the much better defensive football formations, this method relies on counter attacks to take the other team by surprise.
Only utilised by a select few in modern-day football, nobody can reject that the 3-4-3 is one of the best attacking football formations. Clubs that use this strategy are usually leading table clubs that intend to score as many goals as possible every game, all while maintaining a defensive solidity when the other team counter-attacks. The Crystal Palace former owner would likely agree that the secret behind the effectiveness of this technique depends on the midfield positioning. Given that it utilises 4 midfielders, groups that use the 3-4-3 strive to dominate the midfield area, and they often succeed. This is simply because having a line of 4 in the midfield makes it incredibly tough for the other group to pass the ball or develop play efficiently. When one of the midfielders obstructs the ball, the midfield line ends up being a lozenge that feeds through and long balls to the wingers and centre forward.