Since the innovation of the flat 4 in the late 1980’s, most professional and international teams have adopted the system as part of their standard tactics. In its most common evolution, the flat 4 is ...

Throughout the world, soccer strategy is a hot topic of conversation. There’s debate about employing a 4-3-3 versus the 4-2-3-1 or the trendy 3-5-2; playing possession soccer or absorbing pressure and ...

Tactics in soccer are great. They are fascinating. Diving into them allows for a deeper look into the game, an embrace of the chess-match element inherent in the sport, and a whole new series of ...

Much has been said about how Arsenal could line up next season after the deals they have already completed and the others they’ve been tipped to complete before the transfer window closes. However, ...

Formations. What are they? What do they mean? Why so many numbers? And so forth. As part of a series I'm going to be doing on this blog explaining some of the ins and outs of soccer to new fans, let's ...

Change can take a while to get used to. The Georgia soccer team is strong evidence of that, still searching for its first win of the season four games in. A new coaching staff has changed the ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Much has been made of how the United States is going to line up in Brazil with the players Jurgen Klinsmann has selected. Will they play a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2? Will he use a ...

An automated analysis by Disney Research Pittsburgh of team formations used during an entire season of professional soccer provides further evidence that visiting teams are less successful than home ...

Formations, formations, formations. Everyone loves to talk formations. Both in real life and in fantasy. In fantasy soccer, actually, formations are more important even than in real life. They can ...

This is going to be difficult for soccer traditionalists to swallow, but here goes. Formations in soccer don't matter. Not anymore. Their chief function nowadays is to justify coaches' salaries and ...