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PLAYING THE
GK-3-5-2 FORMATION
COACHING THE GK-3-5-2
1. The two outside centre backs should expand in possession
2. The centre backs should use their extra man to play out of defence
3. The wing backs should go high to push the opponents back
4. The wing backs should stay wide to open passes to the forwards
5. The central defender can also step in front of the defence as a “playmaker”
6. The two centre midfielders must rotate who attacks and who stays to defend
7. Playing into the forwards to flick on or hold up can be very effective
8. The number 10 can rotate with the two forwards to disrupt the defence
9. When defending, the two wing backs can drop back to make a back five.
10. The central defender can drop back as a sweeper with the other two marking
11. The forwards can force play inside or outside to make play predictable
The two outside centre back expand with in possession
The two wide centre backs
must spread wide in order
to use the full width of the
pitch and increase distance
between themselves and
the opposing forwards
The centre backs should use the extra man to play out of defence
The three defenders are
now spread out and can
quickly move the ball in
order to free a defender
to bring the ball forward
The wingbacks should go high and push the opponent's back
In possession, the two wing
backs should try to go high
and wide in order to push
the opponents back into
their own half
The wingbacks should stay wide to open passing lanes for the forwards
The wing backs provide
width and open space
for the forwards to
receive to feet
The central defender can also step in front of the defence as a “playmaker”
The central defender
can occasionally step
out from defence to
create an overload
situation in midfield
The two centre midfielders must rotate who attacks and who stays to defend
One centre midfielder #6
is able to go and join the
attack
However, the other
midfielder #8 must hold a
disciplined defensive position
Playing into the forwards to flick on or hold up can be very effective
The longer pass into the
forward must be played
with quality and not just Holding and setting back to
punted forward the number 10 can create a
3v2 situation with the two
forwards against the two
central defenders
The forward not
receiving must now
look to run behind for
any flick-ons or 3rd
man runs
The number 10 can rotate with the two forwards to disrupt the defence
The two forwards coming
deeper and the #10 going
higher will disrupt the
defenders and create
confusion
When defending, the two wing backs can drop back to make a back five
The two wings backs drop
deep and closer to the
three central defenders to
make a five man defence
The central defender can drop back as a sweeper with the other two marking
The central defender
can drop back in a
sweeper position
behind the two
marking defenders
The two outside
centre backs can
now go tight to
the opposing
centre forwards
The forwards start narrow and force the opponents down the line
The marking centre backs must The team squeeze over to
defend channel side outnumber on this side of
the pitch
The forwards start outside and force the defenders down the middle
The 6 & 8 block
The number 10 blocks
passes into the
passes into midfield
forwards
FORMATION OVERVIEW
GK-3-5-2 ROTATING THE SHAPE
• The number 10 can push forward and the 9 & 11
wide to make a GK-3-4-3 formation
GK-4-4-2 Diamond
• The number 7 & 5 can drop back into defence
and the number 3 can step forward in front of
the defence to make a 442 diamond formation
GK-5-3-2
STRENGTHS • Both the 7 & 5 drop back to make a defensive
• Three solid centre backs GK-5-3-2 formation
• Lots of players in midfield
• Two natural centre forwards • The above rotations should happen naturally in
the game due to player movement
CONCERNS
• Centre backs can be pulled into wide areas to
defend 1v1
• High work rate for the two wing backs
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