How the Center Backs and Linking Midfielder interact.

Previous articles in this series:

The Goalkeeper
The Linking Midfielder
The Center Midfielder
The Attacking Midfielder
The Central Midfield Triangle
The Center Backs

Just as we looked at the relationships and interactions of the three central midfielders we need to take a look at how the Linking Midfielder and Center Backs interact on the pitch.

On a professional level, when attacking, the Linking Midfielder will be asked to drop between the two center backs to form a back three.  This allows the outside backs to move forward into the attack.

The other option, and the more common presentation in high school soccer, is for the Linking Midfielder to remain advanced of the Center Backs and push one or the other outside backs forward, but not usually both. We will explore that relationship once we have addressed the outside back positions.

Michael Bradley is a Linking Midfielder supreme. During the transitioning from defending to attack phase he is often found positioned advanced of the two center backs whose split is double of what it would normally be when defending.  They from a triangle with the backs as the base and Bradley taking the point. He plays mainly the way he faces as the team seeks to find the pace and rhythm it wishes to possess and attack with.

At the moment a back (center or outside) wins possession of the ball it is absolutely critical that he has a safe outlet pass to make.  Twenty years ago wing midfielders were taught to get their heels to the touch to provide that safe outlet pass.  As the game has evolved we find that they safe outlet pass, especially for the center backs is often to a central midfielder and especially the Linking Midfielder who will likely be facing the center back.

It may sound dangerous and risky for the Linking Midfielder to utilize a drop pass in this situation but there is strategic value in doing so.  First we must recognize that upon losing the ball the opponents will be seeking to re-establish their defending shape. This might entail pressing the ball carrier but will certainly involve getting numbers behind the ball.  This short, short pattern executed between the backs and the Linking Midfielder slows their ability to press and also addresses the second reason for a short safe pass as a rule of thumb - we need to allow our midfielders and outside back(s) time to move into the attack.  In this sense, the Linking Midfielder is the first target player in the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-1-4-1 systems of play.

Once possession is firmly established the Linking midfielder must play sideways on so that he can help advance the ball up the field with his distribution skills.  With the four backs holding in a bowl shape while the attack develops the formation with resemble a 1-2-3-2-3  with the outside midfielders move forward and the Center Midfielder and Attacking Midfielder supporting both lines of three.

The center backs act as the support for the Linking Midfielder once he turns and the attack takes on a more aggressive nature. It is at the moment the team must transition attacking to defending or when neither team has secured possession of the ball that the Linking Midfielder slides back between the center backs.  This is a delaying tactic to allow the outside backs time to recover into their defending position.

While the Linking Midfielder is playing as a center back, one of his fellow central midfield partners must fill his role as being a sweeper in front of the backs. This will usually fall to the Center Midfielder, but it could be the Attacking mid at times as well - whomever is closest to the position when the need arises.

We will stop here for now so we can define the characteristics of the outside backs and outside midfielders next.  When next we discuss the tactical applications of the 1-4-2-3-1  and  1-4-1-4-1 formations we will explore the versatility that allows this system of play to present itself as multiple formations and the value this presents in confusing opponents.