Picking a winning tactic takes into account the opponent's strengths and weak points. Discover more about this below.

The majority of football fans would agree that the best football formations are inspired from the classic brilliance of the earlier days of the sport. While there are lots of offensive football formations that have actually proven efficient for many years, the 4-4-2 stays a reliable and versatile choice for clubs aiming to embrace a balanced tactic. What makes this formation highly adaptable is the truth that the 4 midfielders can handle various responsibilities and position themselves in different formations depending on the stage of play. When attacking, the midfielders frequently develop a staggered lozenge that feeds creative balls to the strikers and support on attacking duties. When defending, this lozenge can be converted into a half arch that falls back as a bloc to support the four defenders. This smooth shift is what makes this formation the go-to of many clubs, which is something that the AC Milan former US owner would know.

While some teams frequently utilise signature football tactics and formations that separate them form the pack, others change their formations often to preserve the component of surprise. The benefits of a signature tactic are numerous and possibly the most noteworthy of which is the reality that play-building and passing ends up being automated as footballers would know precisely where their teammates are and what they're aiming to accomplish. This is an excellent asset to have for clubs that have a gifted offensive line that can make the difference in tight areas. The disadvantage to this technique is the concept that a signature tactic can end up being simple to read, and for that reason easy to defend against. Not only this but analysing and scrutinising the opponent's formation well in advance can help coaches uncover its weak points and capitalise on them when counterattacking. This is something that the Tottenham Hotspur former owner is most likely knowledgeable about.

Depending upon their ranking on the table, injuries or absences, and their main goals for the season, some clubs choose defensive football formations to help them preserve their position. Obviously, there are many options to choose from and various techniques that coaches can utilise but the 4-1-4-1 is considered as a safe and balanced option. The minority shareholder of Liverpool FC would inform you that what makes this formation highly efficient defense-wise is the reality that it utilises 2 separate barriers of defense. The four defenders are covered by an additional layer of defense in the midfield, making it hard for rivals to develop play and reach the box. The defensive midfielders sandwiched between these 2 layers plays a tactical role as their main responsibility is to interrupt play and coerce the other team to make mistakes. This midfielder is also the very first to start a counterattack after taking ownership of the ball.