There are some key more info elements that influence the gameplan that the coach opts for. Below are some cases.
Among the most successful approaches in football is having clear structures for counterattacks after intercepting the ball. In some situations, a football formations creator would design gameplans that best support this objective, and this is typically done by controlling the midfield. A preferred formation for this objective is the 4-5-1. Thanks to the quantitative upper hand in the midfield level, players are better positioned to snag the ball by staying close to key players. After a successful interception, the five-player bloc would advance toward the opponent's box to create encouraging opportunities. Alternatively, in the company of talented and quick forwards, one of the attacking midfielders would quickly feed through balls to the attacking line to take the opponent by surprise. Counterattacking heavily relies on speed and precision in passing and crossing, which is why the skill of midfielders must be of superior caliber, something that the Wolverhampton Wanderers former owner might understand.
While defensive football formations might not be one of the most enjoyable to see, some trainers rely on them in a bid to stop groups that are extremely effective at transitional play and offensive tactics. In this context, among the most used football formations that is largely defence-based is the 5-4-1. This formation depends on two strong obstacles of the defense, making it efficient at halting the advances of the opponent. The first line at the midfield layer aims to break up strikes and maintain possession of the ball when successful. The second five-player line is fixed in place to cover important areas of the penalty area where threat typically emerges. Occasionally, one of the 5 defenders might leave his typical position to take on the role of sweeper. This player's task is to make upfield runs when intercepting the ball, something that the AC Milan former US owner is probably aware of.
Clubs with loftier ambitions and aiming to win trophies generally choose offensive football formations to get as many goals as feasible on the sheet. This attacking propensity is commonly offset by a solid defence that can be trusted in the case of a counterattack. The 4-3-2-1 excels at this as it is among the more favored strategies for teams that depend both on individual skill and team cohesion. When setting up play, this strategy relies on rapid one-twos and triangular passes that aim to destabilise the defenses of the opponent. Naturally, this type of transitional play is only feasible thanks to the technical abilities of midfielders and wingers who can dribble past the defence when all teammates are marked. The players' alignment on the pitch is similar to a Christmas tree form, which enables maximum use of the space. This is something that the Everton FC former owner might realize.