Last month, we launched a number of guides from England star and West Ham first team coach Stuart Pearce regarding the 1-4-3-3 formation, and they've already been helping coaches around the world master one of the most popular formations in the game.
The guides not only look at the formation as a collective, but also the roles and responsibilities the players have individually within the system. The level of detail Stuart Pearce gives is unmatched, giving us an insight into his knowledge on this formation as well as the game.
We wanted to explore the reasons why this content is so highly regarded, and why it's being called 'The definitive guide to 1-4-3-3', so we spoke to our Head of Content Lee Fletcher about what makes it stand out.
Essential for coaches who’ve never coached 4-3-3 before
Lee Fletcher said: "Starting with a new system can be daunting for coaches. What does the formation look like in and out of possession? However, often neglected is the roles that the players hold within the formation, as a system is just a starting point that can be played in different ways. This is helpful to coaches starting out as it gives them information based on what the role is of an individual player and how this connects with their teammates around them, as well as away from them on the other side of the field."
The guides leave no stone unturned in their objective to educate coaches on the benefits of the 1-4-3-3 formation. Coaches will not only learn the best way to deploy the formation, but also the reasons why each player is given their particular responsibility within the team.
Lee added: "The level of detail Stuart Pearce provides is unmatched. The detail he goes is quite frankly, top notch. To be able to capture content that gives this level of knowledge sets it apart from anything else out there."
Helpful for the players themselves
Educating coaches on the importance of individual player roles is one thing, helping the players themselves to understand what is being asked of them, is perhaps even more important - and that is something coaches struggle with every day. Stuart Pearce's guides bridge that gap and help coaches over the hurdles that communication can sometimes present.
Lee said: "Setting a team up is easy, it is just numbers. However, giving players the detail they need to execute their role is what makes a team. Players need to understand where, when and why they should do or be somewhere at any given moment. This guide from Pearce gives players that - a clear instruction to what is expected of them in a 4-3-3."
Helping players get to grips with their own roles and responsibilities within any formation is essential, but if you can convey to your players the roles of the players around them, your team will work much better as a unit. These guides break it all down comprehensively.
"My favourite part about this guide? Stuart Pearce"
When asked what he particularly liked about the content, Lee replied: "Stuart Pearce is my favourite part, not any particular moment. His knowledge, humbleness and sheer passion for the game oozes out of the screen which is captivating to watch."
It's difficult to disagree with that sentiment when you watch Pearce deliver his sessions, and when you see the level of detail in which he goes into when putting together his 1-4-3-3 positional guides.
As well as introducing the formation and defining the levels of responsibility that players have within it, Pearce focuses specifically on what is expected of the following positions in a 1-4-3-3:
- Goalkeeper and Centre Backs
- Holding Centre Midfielders
- Centre Midfielders
- Wide Players - Full Backs and Wingers
- Centre Forward
This content is a must for anyone using or considering using a 1-4-3-3 formation, or in fact any coach who wants to further their learning in the game. It's available in full with a Premium subscription to The Coaching Manual, along with a library of 1000s of other great pieces of content as well as professional organisational tools that help you organise your training at your fingertips.
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