Formations guide

This formation is quite an attacking one.

The 4-3-3 system - that is four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers - allows you to have three attackers while still having a strong midfield.

PICK YOUR OWN FORMATION To see how Chelsea might line up with 4-3-3, click below Squad selector To tinker with your own team's formation, go to your club's index and click the green 'squad selector' graphic Select your own club

The three midfielders will normally play quite closely together to give protection to the defence and so they cannot be passed around by the opposition.

The three strikers will split across the pitch to provide width to the attack.

Usually you would have a central attacker with one each side of him.

The 4-3-3 does not actually differ that much from the 4-5-1 formation Former England coach Don Howe Don Howe explains more on 4-5-1

Barcelona play with this system with Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Ludovic Giuly.

Very few teams actually start with this line-up as you need to have specialist attackers.

But if a manager needs a goal late on in a game then he may opt to move to three up front.