The 442 never needed reviving, Sean dyche has been keeping it real for years

**laughs in Diego Simeone**

Pep: we have no strikers Also Pep: let's play 442

I'd ask for a tactical explanation of Burnley's 4-4-2 but the video would be about 12 seconds long

"robbery,tch,ribery and robben,ribery and robben,robbery" JJ legend😂😂

Great video! Just a suggestion - maybe have a few presets on the animation software that you use where you can tap a button and it immediately re-arranges the players on the board to a high-block or mid-block or low-block etc. This will prevent having to move each player up the field one-by-one when you are trying to show teams moving up/down the field. I feel like a lot of time is spent every video on this inefficient method of moving players around and this could help speed it up as well as make the video flow smoother.

I know Guardiola watches other team passing sports like basketball, but I wonder how much he was inspired by them. Basically in all these segments, he's just arranging an attacking 5 to rotate to pull the defense apart. And in the NBA the passing plays they set up basically try to get the defense in bad matchups and make a mistake in who they should cover.

Thanks J.J Bull, I’ve been trying to explain the German League, “transition is king” works so well.

There’s a lot of talk in the comments about other managers who have used the 442 and how it’s very much alive, but the video itself doesn’t really debate this as its more about Pep’s evolution and how he has accumulated and applied his ideas into a unique 442 at City, rather than the so-called decline of the formation. Pep hasn’t found a way to make a dead and ineffective formation effective again, rather, he has put his own spin on the formation so it can facilitate his tactical approach. If the title was “reinvented” instead of “revived” then maybe that would make more sense. Title aside it’s a great video :)

"Robbery" was a great duo though!

Sean Dyche has always played a 4-4-2.

Pep: today we are gonna play 4-4-FOKIN 2

Could you do a video on the importance of the third man run. Bielsa recently said the third man is the least developed weapon in football.

The real lesson of this is that our traditional idea of what a team shape is, has become a bit meaningless. What the line-up graphics on Sky, BT, MOTD or whatever are showing us is how the broadcaster thinks the team will shape up when without the ball for a sustained period (and even then often incorrectly). Pretty much every top team ends up with a 'front five' across the vertical spaces when attacking, but the shape of that five and how they develop the ball into those attacking shapes is a bit different. A comparison of how City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool progress the ball into their attack would be incredibly interesting because they're all different, and I think Chelsea might be changing their system a bit this year as well

The 4-4-2 is used quite regularly in La Liga, and Lille just won Ligue 1 using the 4-4-2. But yeah, I guess thanks Pep for reviving a formation that never went away?

Based on the moment of the game a team's starting formation is a reference point for players' general playing position. The team's shape which is the most important aspect changes based on what third of the field they are in and what moment of the game they are set in i.e. attacking, defending, or the two transitional moments. A team who both individually and collectively understand their roles based on each moment will always be far more organized then someone who simply states "we play a 4-4-2

Didn't need reviving, Burnley haven't played anything but 4-4-2 since bloody 1930!

I aspire to be as cool as JJ Bull "I know what you're thinking the 4-4-2 is rubbish" well yes I did😂💙 looking forward to the next tactical video

I think that Pep's offensive tactics revolve around attacking the inside channels or space between fullback and centre back. Hence, he always has wide players to occupy the full backs, and players running into the channel. This is the constant even with all the ostensible formation changes. Therefore his formation changes seem to be more to do with considerations of available personnel, build up formation (which depends on the first line of the opposition's defensive block, e.g. 1,2, or 3 forwards defending the first phase of build up), transition defence in having 5 players behind the ball, and how to occupy the oppositions central midfielders so they don't track the channel runner. To me this is the constant. Given that he started not to have all his full-backs run forward from the middle of last season (as LVG pointed out), this 4-4-2 now resembles how he played during his last season at Barca with Cesc and Messi as the 2 false 9's and Busquets and Xavi as the double pivots. Perhaps organising the video in relation to the spaces he likes to attack could have been a little bit more insightful and thus put the formational changes into a better context. But in saying this, I think the video still touches upon these points.

I wish i could spot these tactics on the field. All i see is the players running around randomly😂

Really makes me think of Brazil current tactics; playing with a 4-4-2 with Neymar and Firmino as false 9's with Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus working inwards from the wings. Eventhough Neymar deploys deeper as a No 10 most of the times. This Copa América used a lot the 'false 9' concept. Argentina, Brazil, Chile and arguably Colombia. This could make a Tifo IRL nice video.

Simeone has been incredibly successful with 4-4-2. Dyche has defied the odds with 4-4-2, Ranieri won the PL title with 4-4-2, and even Mourinho employed it to some extent last season with Kane and Son. Guardiola didn't revive anything... it didn't need reviving.

jj could teach me calculus and i'd understand

Tifo do such a great job of overcomplicating things that are actually quite simple to understand.

I forgot how incredible Pep's Bayern teams were. in that attacking formation with the 3 at the back, the lines are: Neuer; Alaba, Hummels, Boateng; Xabi Alonso, initially Lahm then Kimmich; Ribery, initially Schweinsteiger then Thiago, Muller, Robben; initially Mandzukic then Lewandawski. Madness.

It's amazing, but ManCity had 0 shots on target

Do you think the next step for Guardiola would be Serie A? It would only make sense if he went to Juventus since it's the last big league he hasn't been in and it would be an interesting challenge for sure

Flick played 4-2-2-2 or 4-4-2 with Muller as SS , Koman and Gnabry as wingers.

2:59 Pep never managed Jordi Alba

Marcelinho, Simeone must be laughing

Atleti have been playing it for years now

I've been doing it on FM for years, basically the guru!

Really enjoyable explainer, only thing I would add is that this 'false 9' term is kind of a slight misunderstanding of what is really happening (in modern football matches). The only reason it looks like the 9 is perhaps dropping only ever so slightly deeper in Pep's teams is because of Messi, who as we know, uses and perfected the one-two in almost every attack he is involved in. Therefore, whoever you put in the 9 position, as witnessed recently for Messi's first goal for PSG, will come slightly deeper, play the one-two and voila, a goal was created. In modern football, with all players having a good level of ability and fitness, the 9 position, as Pep likes to see it, is an unselfish striker, who is kinda happy to act as a sort of wall so-to-speak .... in order to bounce passes off for the incoming wingers or midfielders who are carrying momentum by running from deep and of course, then finishing the move by possessing a very, very high level of finishing ability.

The thumbnail is exactly what I imagine Pep does when he's home alone...

442 and Guardiola in the same sentence doesn't feel right...

I’m currently reading ‘Inverting the Pyramid’ and now I’m noticing the 2-3-5 come back in all these modern attacking shapes lol

Maybe the real 442 was the friends we made along the way

Spain used a similar 4-4-2 back in Euro 2008 with Villa and Torres on the front. Both strikers got wide creating gaps for Silva, Iniesta or Xavi.

442 is a formation that u can use to give your wingers liberty to attack ur opponent... the 2 central midfielder stays deep and they rarely go forward( they cover for the wingers)... Sometimes the Wingers will drifts inside to confuse their opposition CB and R/L backs.. this gives space for Guardiola's RB and LB to attack on the flanks! When you are attacking , your formation looks more like a 424 or 325 if a RB/LB overlaps. AC Milan have a concept a bit the same. In 442 it's important for a striker to play deep( comes back in the midfield to link up plays)

For some reason I love the 4-4-2. Probably from Simeone despite playing negative football at times, it’s this weird fascination!

In Bayern days, he went against a team with 2-3-5. Completely in attack.

I like the 4-4-2 formation. I've never understood the dislike. Its one of if not the most solid formations. I think and please correct me, its got to do with the old target man and poacher where you'd go long. That has its place but the 4-4-2 offers so much more.

Everyone: Coaches Also everyone: Managers JJ Bull: Tactics people

JJ has definitely had his ready brek this morning

Problem City had with the new narrow back 4 during the build up was the lack of bodies in the opposing half. I believe Pep has formulated this to combat a high press. However, Spurs played a midblock and a narrow 4-3-3. Spurs forced the play wide (ala Tuchel in the UCL final) and City had no interior penetration.

Then TUchel comes in with his 5-2-3 and pep is seen drinking water😂😂😂

Arsene Wenger played a very fluid 442 during his early years. Even the famous invisible seson it was 442. It would fluidly move to 4411, 433, 325 at different stages match and possession

Your videos make me appreciate the coaches job much more. so complex!

Tottenham Masterclass

Mendy really playing that inside role these days

Liverpool used to play a 4-4-2 before Coutinho left, with Firmino and Salah in front and Mane on the right wing. Seems very similar. Klopp also likes his teams to defend in a 4-4-2 in all "big games." But I guess that all managers have their own take on it.

Kane :im still in the plan ryt🌚🙄

4:44 don't worry JJ, the pair of Robben and Ribery were nicknamed Robbery at the time

442 strikerless is the new rage for FM21 - Pep knows his stuff

That 4 4 2 formation looks like Ole's interpretation of the 4 4 2 that he plays against Manchester City 😳 😬 😀 🤔.

What I took from this is that pep's team are fluid it doesn't matter what formation they have as long different player can do occupies different positions

jj bull the bullet/bulldog/bullfrog/bulldozer/bullfighter always bringing the best analysis on youtube

He only plays that wen out of possession. He plays 2 -3-5 wen in possession

To this day I do not understand why so many elite teams abandoned the duel striker formations in an era that emphasizes attacking progressive football. A lone striker just limits your offensive options

there are mid and lower table teams use 442 low block or park the bus, so guardiola didnt revive it, also simeone used it

Pep "the coolest of tactics people" guardiola

As a coach, I can’t touch the 4-4-2 yet. Tactically it is the most difficult formation for me to make work unless I have the right players for every position.

Since the 90s none of the successful managers who played a 442 were actually playing a 442. Even Alex Ferguson said he's never played a 442.

Leicester did not win the EPL with a 442 for Tifo to attribute its revival to Guardiola. Dfkm.

But couldn’t it be argued (well more likely the case) that Diego Simeone and Sean Dyche (shoutout to Ranieri as well with Leicester) are the main/better examples of reviving it? (I’ll admit there likely a few others I’ve missed)

7:34 it finally starts

Thumbnail: Guardiola the Puppet Master from the Land of Sand.

As a City fan I can honestly say that we do not and never have played a 4-4-2 under Pep. We play a 4-3-3 with Mahrez and Grealish out wide, Haaland through the middle (for this team it would have been Foden or Jesus in the middle), and Rhodri, KDB and Bernardo in the middle

Excellent tactical applications

2:57 Pep Guardiola never had Jordi Alba at Barcelona senior team...

No lie it’s so weird knowing the face of the intros and narrations now 😂😂

That fart was squelchy 10:35

Dyche VS Guardiola. let the best 4-4-2 win

The video is great but we love it in animation

The only time I think they used the 442 was when they were pressing spurs I don’t think they necessarily built up in a 442 but good video

I think you guys are over thinking this. These days most coaches don't have a set Formation. The formation is fluid based on the phase of play and possession of the ball. Guardiola is not the master of all tactics jheeze.

Good video, but this formation wasn't created by Pep; other managers had already used it, the best example is Jorge Jesus, his Flamengo team played in this shape, and his Benfica side plays like that sometimes too. He didn't use inverted full-backs, but the midfielders formed a vertical line instead of a horizontal one, and one of the strikers played as a false 9

Congrats on 100 k on the channel👏🏾👏🏾

Hardly revived if he couldn't win with it

From 4-3-3 with Messi as false 9 striker alongside David Villa and Pedro as wingers/inside forwards to 4-4-2 with two false 9 strikers.

Sweden played 4-4-2 for decades. Changed to 4-3-3 and lost tree straight games. Home and away against Norway and home against Serbia...

Pep's usage of 442 is hardly an endorsement, his team is scoreless in the last 3 games, costing him 2 pieces of silverware and losing to the Spurs, which is like losing to ( mean spirited ) children.

10:35 guys😁

Burnley are a fantastic 442 side, Guardiola should learn a thing or two from Dyche

Pep fascinates me tactically, but as the champions league final showed and the spurs game in question; he sometimes goes overboard and changes too much. I think had he stuck to playing the 4-3-3 with inverted wingbacks and playing a 6 that can win the ball like Fernandinho or Rodri, then he'd have won the champions league. As dominant possession wise as City always are, you can't have all the ball all the time against teams at the level of Chelsea, and you won't win a midfield battle against Jorginho and Kante with a midfield full of number 10s. I think Yves Bissouma would be unbelievably good at City, incredible all round midfielder, excellent ball winner and athlete. he'd compliment players like De Bruyne, Gundogan and Foden.

Great video but jesus christ the sound mixing at the end when Joe came back blew my ears out

3:51 me when I see Guardiola playing a 4-4-2

Revived? It was never dead Diego Simone plays 4 4 2 in different shapes Zinedine Zidane played 4 4 2 diamonds STOP PRAISING GUARDIOLA

until queiroz came along, SAF made a living of 4-4-2 🤷‍♂️

10:34 I'm sorry, but was that a fart?😂

4-4-2? With modern game including rotation and baiting manoeuvres the formation will adapt to whatever your up against (with the purpose to be +1 in the zone where the ball is). When playing a single striker the full backs will be above the defensive midfielder and you'll push the #10 up the pitch creating more of a 2-5-3. On the other hand when facing an opponent with an aggressive 4-3-3 with high press, the #6 will fall into the backline and one of the strikers drop deep to receive the ball on the counter creating more of a 5-4-1. So your starting formation could result in vastly different actual positions in different games.

442 is ridiculously attacking

PEP is a football genius

How funny would it be if Guardiola walks on mid conversation on one of these.

I think that formation is more a 4-2-2-2 than the classic 4-4-2

Jordi Alba joined right after pep left, he never played under guardiola

Rubbery was a great player; he was always stretching defences with his elastico

I think Pep using 4-4-2 only on "Defensive Transition" not on possesion.

I enjoyed this analysis, but regarding the Spurs game my eye test and quickly checking the player heatmaps it did really seem like a standard 4-3-3 with Fernandinho holding, Gundogan and Grealish free 8s

Judging by the first game he should have tried to stick with the 433