Flat-4 Defensive system

During the post of Training 15 and Match Day with Monash 5-0 i mention about a Flat-4 defensive system and i said i will covered it on later post, well here it is.

A Flat-4 defense formation is basically, like i said in the post:

"its basically a 4-man defense line, which stays forever as a line, and act as one whole unit other than individual defenders marking."

This type of defensive line is common for strategy that has a compromise of more attacking then defending, commonly nowadays defensive strategy are most consists of Flat-4 system.

Here is a pic depicting the Flat-4 system, note how the 4 Defenders (the white dots) are in a straight line.












And as such, zone marking is used instead of man-to-man marking. One Defender is in charge of one 'Zone', and doesn't matter if there is alot of opponent's player inside the box, as long as the 'Zone' is marked out there should be no passes allowed to the feet of the opponent's players.












By using the Flat-4 formation a common set piece is started by the Left or the Right Back. And as they are attacking (in this case, the Left Back as a Winger) the remaining Defenders will 'tuck in' to his side












If Right Back is attacking












As well as maintain the possibility of robbing back possession that was being rob and create a offside trap for Forwards that are caught out of position. Notice how the Defender will forever stay in a line.












In this case we put up a few opponent's Forward and Midfield players (marked by green dots).












Lets say that if the opponent passes a through ball ( straight line) and the Forward makes a run (dotted line).












In this case the Defenders nearest to the goal or lying in the deepest area one (in this case the Right Back) will act as a Sweeper or Marksman as he is in the most comfortable area to intercept the passes, as he is facing that way, the Center Back might have a hard time if they're not fast enough, as they must turn to the other way to run to it.












The same Defender (Right Back if Left Back is attacking, Left Back if Right Back is attacking) is also responsible to mark out the potential players that may run into the back of the defenders as well as organizing the defenders according to the situation, in other words, job of a Sweeper.












If should a fast switch side happens and the opponent's winger has the ball and is making the run, the deep lying Defender must rush over to cover he's angle, while the other 3 Defenders drop back to cover back the 'Zones' to prevent opponent unmarked.

























And while full offensive is taking places, maximum pressure can be exerted on the opponent by pushing up all 4 defenders, creating a wider offside trap as well a more bigger area to chase down any runners from the opponent.













This is nowadays defensive system, it doesn't have an actual Sweeper, so 1 extra player can be used up front for attacking. The example of im giving now is that the Left Back is attacking, but while the Right Back is attacking its just that things go the opposite way thats all, its still all the same.