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.

Center Backs, Positions #4 & #5 in the 1-4-2-3-1

Other articles in this series:

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

We will continue looking at the spine of the 1-4-2-3-1 and 1-4-1-4-1 formations by examining the role of the center backs.  The spine of the formation is often where the teams best players are found and certainly where the players who play best together are clustered. Today we look at the center backs, positions #4 and #5.

The technical considerations for the center back positions are a bit more specialized than those of midfielders especially in a zonal defending system of play.  Center backs must be able to head the ball with authority and in congestion. First touch must be excellent in terms of getting a solid touch on the ball. Being able to control the ball with the first touch is, obviously, preferred but clearing the ball by volley or half volley can be equally important for backs.

Tactically center backs must game watchers so they can position themselves and teammates properly. Communication with other backs and midfielders is essential.  Center backs need to be quick, decisive and aggressive decision makers. While it is important to play in a safe and secure manner, this must be done with an aggressive ball winning attitude. Distribution skills are important and highly prized.

Physically we like center backs to be rugged individuals. Height is a plus. Explosiveness in terms of jumping ability and overall power are necessary.  Strength.  These players are the wall in between the ball and goalkeeper / the face of the goal. Not every center back need be a speed demon, but at least one of the two needs to possess above average speed.

Psychologically these players need to have a warrior mentality.  They are defenders of the goal and take great pride in executing their role to perfection by combining physical strength and mental strength. The center backs need to very disciplined in preserving the integrity of the position and especially supportive of the back on either side of him. Being considered trustworthy in the eyes of his fellow backs is mandatory.

Evolution in Soccer - the Linking Mid

In camp settings I strive to impress upon players and coaches alike that soccer is a living breathing entity. As such, the game is constantly changing. The easiest way to depict this is to note how the diamond stopper / sweeper system has faded away with the advent of zonal defending concepts.  Yet even as you read this the standard zonal systems are being solved - the game is further evolving.

Teams that played a zonal back four utilized the backs to execute changes of field and often did so with little pressure from opposing forwards. That is, until it was discovered that two, and at times one, opposing forward could disrupt this process. This especially holds true when the outside backs are played advanced in a bowl configuration.

In this regard we have witnessed a zonal back four and the then standard 4-4-2 formation devolve back to 4-3-3 and then evolve into hybrid 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1 formations.  Triangle, diamond and box midfields have once again become the norm.  It is within the triangle and diamond midfields in particular that the Linking Midfielder role has been (re)established. 

The term "linking midfielder" might be new to you but I hardly think I have coined a new descriptive term.  This is a defensive mid or holding mid with a more specifically (and broader) role defined.  In many ways it is the re-emergence of the Stopper role.  Defensively the Linking Mid is charged with protecting the back line and the specifically the center backs.  The attacking role for the Linking Mid is as the name infers - to link the back four with the midfielders and forwards.  Distributing the ball, changing field and playing teammates in is a critical role for the position. So too is the ability to make foraging runs into the attack. 

My teams often refer to this position as the Michael Bradley role.  This is true when Bradley is deployed as the defensive or linking mid.  He "sits" in an advanced position between the center backs and is used to split the afore mentioned opposing forward(s) who would otherwise disrupt the backs ability to move the ball laterally across the back.  By doing so, the back line can continue to function in a forward bowl shape instead of being forced to withdraw the outside backs to provide the depth necessary to defeat the opposing forwards pressure. The linking mid creates a 5 vs 2 (or 3) situation in your favor. 

In some ways delegating 5 players to defeat one, two or three might seem a waste of resources, but the linking mid allows the outside backs to come forward and that is the key to creating numbers up situations for your team to exploit in the attack.

This is the key to understanding how soccer evolves - Deployment of resources seeks to create numbers up advantages.  The zonal four has had numerical advantages in defending for some time now.  This created a real need to get more players forward into the attack. The solution has been to use outside backs to come forward. This can create even numbers for attacking and even give the attackers a man advantage dependent on the manner and timing of deploying the outside back.

The next phase of evolution?  Given many teams are going to one traditional forward combining with a false nine I would suspect there could be a move to playing a back 3 instead of a back four.  This is not a huge leap if we consider the current bowl configuration of back lines which might be better depicted as 2-3-4-1 or 2-4-3-1 formations.  The strength remains down the spine of the pitch and I do not foresee that ever changing.  The goals are located along the central spine after all.