didz
Full Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2014
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- 4,179
So many teams now play 442 out of possession now that it is starting to become the norm again I think. United were doing it for the most part against Villa.
It all becomes a bit more fluid when teams have the ball, but it seems like a lot of coaches are deciding 442 is the best set up for pressing outside of transitions at the moment.
I don't think teams ever really stopped defending in a 442. Obviously there have been teams defending in a 541/532/etc as well, but dropping into two banks of four never went out of style. Pressing high in a 442/424 is pretty ubiquitous now as you say, although you could argue that's just the same thing on a different bit of grass.
As for getting crosses in, supposedly one open play cross into the box in 92 leads to a goal, so Moyes had the right idea that day against Fulham, but his wingers fell 11 crosses short.