Thanks for sharing your experience it is a great example of what it takes to compete and win. I always say that the formation a coach uses needs to consider the players on the team. And even though I say this so casually, there is nothing casual about it. You need a lot of practice matches to endure the trial and error that goes along with learning your best possible set up. Then you have to consider alternative players because competitive drive, desire, motivation and ultimately performance fluctuates throughout the season and the alternative players may become starters. I wish you success using the 3-4-1-2 and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Cheers! Coach Luis Laureano

Yes, PSG are showing the world how this can work. They of course have 3 very strong attacking players that make it seem easier than it is. Thanks for your support. Coach Luis Laureano

Hello and thank you for your support! Coach Luis Laureano La Vida Fútbol

Yes it is a great formation. It can be adapted into multiple formations as well.

Awesome, and yeah I find it to be interesting as well. PSG seem to use this formation right now as they always begin with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé. I hope the formatios works for you and your team. If you have any questions, let me know. Cheers! Coach Luis Laureano La Vida Fútbol

Great. I am glad you liked it. Do you have any particular formation that you would be interested in learning the tactics about? Also, remember to subscribe! Thank you for your support! ⚽️ 🤙🏽

Same.❤

Hi and thanks for your comment! Yes, I like this formation but what I don't like about it, is that you need specific type of players. Not too many clubs and academies run this system and therefore it takes a lot of time to teach the players how to play with this formation. Once the players learn how to play with this formation then, yes, it can be very offensive minded for sure. Thanks for your support! Coach Luis 🤙🏽

@@LaVidaFutbol indeed, I believe it takes a lot of time to teach the players how to do their roles in a convincing manner. But it sure makes some dividends. I can think of 3 successful clubs who use this approach in a very similar way: Atalanta, RB Leipzig and Sporting Lisbon. I believe their success comes mostly from the versatility of the 3 centre backs, who most of the time can also play as fullbacks and have the right notion of how to cover the flanks, and also from the defensive midfielder, who is technically gifted and also capable of dropping back to play as a ball playing defender. This gives the stability to the other players, who are attacking minded players in almost all of time. But who am I to say anything, I'm not a coach! One fascinating thing about this tactic is, if you can teach the players and get all the necessary attributes, many of these players will turn into elite or world class. Nagelsmann, Gasperini and Amorim have turned nobodies into recognized international players.

Hi just a question. With a system like this, would the technical requirements of the players needed for 3412 be transferred to others?

@@steffancavill-fowler1306 I think so. This tactic is mostly about repetition and settled patterns, players would thrive under these circumstances. But of course I'm talking about hard working individuals with high levels of teamwork. Personally I like to play with only one playmaker behind two strikers, this role is the only one with total freedom of movement and choice of what to do

@@ferrenberg makes sense. I am looking at this for a hockey team. I have a back 3 already and like the width and ability to have a good short game up both sides of the pitch and have a strong attack focus.

That's great. How is it working for you on manager?

I agree. It’s important to have the right the players to be able to use this formation.

Well, due to the positioning, they are considered defensive midfielders. Depending on the type of players that you have and your style of play would determine how those two players are used. I do have to say that there should always be at least one more defensive minded. The middle should not be exposed with a backline of 3. In this video I actually show the two variations. In the first, the center midfielders can take more part in the attack as you have three fixed center backs but int he second variation, the two outside center backs are playing as defensive wingbacks which would ultimately leave the two CDM to stay more defensive. I hope that makes sense and answers your question. Thanks for your support. Coach Luis

Crazy to think that FIFA 05 is now retro. It's great formation for sure! Cheers! Coach Luis Laureano

Hello and thank you for your message. I apologize for such a late response. I am a football coach and the summers are always full of work. So, to answer your question, yes that is possible. If you have one defensive wing back and one offensive wing back then that is certainly a possibility but its also the CDM players that would determine if we use the 442. Meaning, if we have a player there that is more defensive and the other is more offensive then the more defensive CDM would simply drop in between two CBs and create the 442. In the video I explain about a more dynamic way of using the 3-4-1-2 so the outside CBs are actually players that can play as fullbacks or as centerbacks so dropping the #6 would be more ideal. Using the more traditional way, with 3 true center backs, dropping a fulback would be a better but with 3 traditional players, they would be too slow to match up with fast wingers which is why this way would usually defend with a back line of 5. I hope this answers your question and again, I apologize for the late response. If you have any more comments questions or concerns, let me know. Thanks! Cheers! Coach Luis La Vida Fútbol

@@LaVidaFutbol No need to apologize for a late response, thank you for answering in this much detail, much appreciated, have a nice day!

Hello and thank you for your support and for your question. I see your concern and why you would be concerned about your players meeting the demands of the formation. If you have wingback that were converted vs true wingback players then you should definitely be concerned because wingers naturally want to attack and make decisions based on this instinct. So my suggestions to you when playing against tougher opponents are the following: 1. Keep an open mind to play in a back line of 4 (e.g. 4-2-3-1) in which you have fullbacks who have a priority of being defenders who can go up and not attackers that are forced to be back 2. if you decide to play your wingers as wingbacks, make sure they get the extra fitness work in so that when it is time for league championships, they are ready. 3. try the different formations with a back line of 3 and see what best suits the team for the season. As a high school coach you do not have so much time and so many scrimmage matches to see what works but you can experiment against 'easier' opponents so that the team is better suited for when you guys play better competition. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. I would be happy to help.

@@LaVidaFutbol This is great. Thank you!

@@BizInTheFrontPartyInTheBack Anytime. In the future I will offer a video analysis service on my website but it is not yet prepared. If that is something you would be interested in, let me know and we can discuss how to go about it. Cheers! Coach Luis Laureano La Vida Fútbol

@@LaVidaFutbol As in how to analyze game film?

@@BizInTheFrontPartyInTheBack so there are two possibilities, 1. you record a match and outsource the game analysis to me. 2. you record the match and we go through game together and focus on specific topics to help improve your team's performance.

Hello and thank you for your question. Well I am not familiar with soccer manager world but running a press throughout a match is definitely tough. In real life, Liverpool are one of the teams that do such a great job in meeting the pressing demands but even they have spurts and moments in which they defend in a zonal defense. So, it is important to have the players to play in such a way and then you have a better chance of success. Thank you for your support. Cheers! Coach Luis Laureano La Vida Fútbol

@@LaVidaFutbol Liverpool should use this formation with teams always targeting Trent on the counter

In the 3-4-1-2 formation not so much because the first and second lines are too open and can be easily outnumbered but if you push the CAM up and defend in the 3-4-3, then that would be a more secure high press.

As of now, I coach an U19 team. Due to the pandemic, we have been inactive since early November. I am not sure if we will get to finish the season. Do you coach?

No

@@milialpius2182 okay. well i hope i can help you with any of your football learning.

I would use a 4231 to play against this formation. The back line of 4 should be able to cover the two strikers, allowing one or both fullbacks to push up the field during attack. The center would well protected with the two defensive midfielders and the CAM. The outside attacking midfielders would also be helpful protecting the outside lanes. And because of the spaces that the 3412 naturally has, they would be somewhat vulnerable during counter attacks. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, let me know. Thanks! Luis Laureano La Vida Fútbol

@@LaVidaFutbol thank you sir 🙌🏻

@@LaVidaFutbol what about 4 1 2 1 2?

If it is great team then many goals. Currently PSG uses this formation but it is the two strikers who score most goals.

I can do that. Thanks for your support.

Hi, sorry didn’t watch the game, just highlights.

@@LaVidaFutbol hahah I think you missed the sarcasm in that comment friend. I meant the current manager of Manchester United might do well to watch this video and consider it. Essentially he is using a 4231 and is getting done by a low block which leads to counters. I feel this formation would allow him to play both Cavani and Ronaldo, whilst being able to press other teams in the final third. 3 at the back could act as a good insurance to mop up the breaks.

Rashford won't fit in this style and Pogba will need to be more defensive and I don't see that happening

@@uncleseekx Rashford would be one of 4 players trying for the two striker positions, and 2 of his competition are over 34 and can't play every game. This is how it always used to be with two up top. Pogba is leaving soon anyway, and OGS insists on play Fred and Mctominay in the midfield regardless. DVB also competes for one of the no.6 spots as well as being an option at no.10 as an understudy to Bruno. Tldr: plenty of options and it can't be any worse.

@@bogstandardash3751 what if Pogba stays? And what you said isn't bad. Rashford and Greenwood be the other 9's we have. Shaw and Telles for the LWB position. Bissaka will be turned to a right center back. Still lot of places to fix though