There are several factors that influence a coach's choices when crafting a gameplan. Here are some instances to consider.
In modern football, certain key elements affect the selection of football formations. For example, the manager's vision and main goals for the football season can frequently determine a gameplan. Not only this, but also certain matches require custom strategies since the manager has to account for the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team. In these cases, selecting the best football formations will largely depend on the quality of the squad available to the opposition as well as their ranking on the league table. Besides that, unexpected in-game scenarios can influence the structure, with coaches implementing planned changes if a footballer receives a red card or if a crucial member gets injured. This is why coaches regularly prepare contingency strategies to ensure they can react quickly and efficiently to any situation. Additionally, weather conditions can be influential, something that the Liverpool FC former owner is likely to know.
The 4-4-3 has proven to be one of the most used football formations since the early 2010s, and for a good cause. This one the many offensive football formations that is recognized to aid in teams build play and keep possession of the ball. This is mainly owing to the role of the midfield in the success here of this strategy. In this setup, midfielders act as dynamos managing the pace of the game by charging towards the opponent's box when in control of the ball and swiftly falling back as a unit when losing the football. For this strategy to work, the manager must possess skilled midfielders and wingers able to build play via quick passes, perfect crosses, and intelligent through balls to the front line. Offensive midfielders can also take initiative by shooting from outside the penalty area, something that the AC Milan former US owner would certainly know.
The 4-4-2 stands out as one of the more adaptable setups in football, because it can readily be modified and adapted to be more attack-focused, well balanced, or oriented towards defense. Thanks to the four-player midfield structure, this formation is viewed as among the preeminent defensive football formations. This is because controlling the midfield makes it significantly challenging for the opposing team to shift seamlessly from defense to offense. The positioning of the four-player midfield block can be adjusted depending on the strengths of the players around and the manager's vision. For instnace, the coach could choose a midfield lozenge to cover more area and add flexibility to the rear and attack line. In this way, the midfield is able to assist both the attack and defensive stance as the play unfolds, something that the West Ham United former chairman would know.