There are types of tactics that can be used and it is the skill of a manager to change these effectively during a match.

It might be to play more defensively to hold on to a lead.

Or if the team are losing to be more attacking and push the players further forward.

To alter the way the team is playing requires some players to change position.

In other words, the team has a new formation.

Traditionally teams have a 4-4-2 formation which is four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers.

But as the game has progressed and developed, managers and players have experimented with many variations of team formations.

So why not check out our guide to these varieties and imagine what formation you would use if you were a manager.

What formation?

The 4-4-2

The diamond

The 4-3-3

The 5-3-2

The 4-5-1

The 4-4-1-1

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