Learn from an English Premier League championship winning coach! In this special set, Manchester City’s Assistant Manager David Platt provides you with a tactical playbook for exploiting and beating your opponent’s formation  

A special delivery for all tactical coaches! Whether you play 4-4-2. 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 or variations of these, this set of books will provide you with the tactical know-how to counter and exploit your opponent’s formation. An England legend with 37 international goals and the assistant manager of English Premier League winning side Manchester City, David Platt knows exactly what it takes to unlock opposition formations and win games.

Dear Coach,

Do you ever struggle for ideas on how to unlock the opposition’s defense? How to counter their wingers? Or what formation to deploy that will expose weaknesses in their backline? If you’re looking for the tactical edge, this special set of books provides the perfect solution. Expertly written by David Platt, one of the biggest names of his era and the First Team Coach at Premier League champions Manchester City, these books provide an in-depth tactical analysis of three of the most popular formations today, and how to exploit and defeat them.

Available in eBook or printed versions

Available individually or as a set, this special Systems of Play series of books provide you with the expert insights, strategic knowledge and experience Platt has gained from playing at the highest level for a decade in the English and Italian top divisions. Utilizing detailed diagrams and clear explanations, Platt explains exactly how to beat your opponents whether they are playing the 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.

Each book looks at the strengths and weaknesses of each formation, before explaining how to plan effectively to play against and beat each one. In addition, the books are packed with soccer exercises and drills you can use to train your team in the skills and formation changes they will need to succeed and win more games. Put simply, this set offers a comprehensive master class in tactical and strategically preparing your team to exploit and beat your opposition all over the pitch.

“These books by Platt provide great detail and ways to prepare to attack and defend in the following formations: 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 (and 4-5-1). The books also breaks down each piece in the different areas of the pitch and provides situational practice plans. If you need help in determining what system would best suite your team, Platt provides the strengths and weaknesses section to aide in that decision based on your players skill level and abilities. These books would be great for academy or advanced club teams, high school, college, and professional teams.” –   Dustin Attarian, St. Louis Scott Gallagher

“A tactical master class in how to prepare your team to counter and beat the most popular formations in modern soccer”

Each book focuses on a different formation with an outline of the strengths and weaknesses of each, recommendations on how to nullify the opposition’s attacks and how to organize your own attacking formation, along with specific soccer drills and training exercises for each phase:

How to Play Against and Beat 4-4-2

Perhaps the most common formation in use today along with the 4-3-3. When analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, this book looks at and compares the success of Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and the Italian National Team in beating the 4-4-2 formation. In particular, this book explains how to overcome an opposition playing 4-4-2 and how to use the extra man in midfield as an anchor player.

When playing against 4-4-2, coaches will need to know how to rotate their players to keep the opposition guessing and how to get the ball to their man in the hole. Platt uses his vast experience as an international and top level club player and coach to answer these questions and more.

How to Play Against and Beat 4-3-3

With roots in the attacking Brazilian and Dutch teams of the past, this formation has evolved into one of the most attacking and exciting styles of play and is becoming more popular each year. There are a variety of ways the triangular midfield can be deployed and subsequently a range of ways this formation should be defended against, particularly when opposing fullbacks are given license to attack.

Along with an in-depth tactical analysis, this book assesses how Manchester United, AC Milan, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Portugal deploy and play against teams who play with the 4-3-3 formation.

How to Play Against and Beat 3-5-2

An evolution of the 4-4-2, this formation is favored by managers happy to play a flat back 3 so they can send wingbacks charging up the field. Teams utilizing the 3-5-2 tend to drop and defend deep and to use the full width of the pitch. Consequently, coaches need to know how to best utilize their forwards to push the opposition’s backline. Similarly, coaches need to know how best to ask questions of the opposition’s wingbacks in order to push them in retreat. This book addresses and answers these questions and much more.

“A playbook series written by David Platt – a star of Italian and English soccer of the 90s and winner of 62 international caps for England”

What’s covered in the Systems of Play Series 

Each book provides a strategic guide to the strengths and weaknesses of each formation. Although the strategies, recommended tactics, and soccer drills differ, each book is structured the same way with the following 15 chapters. (The 4-3-3 has been used in the subheads below, but the chapters are the same for the 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 books.)

Chapter 1 – The 4-3-3 system

Each book starts by looking at the characteristics of each formation, utilizing detailed diagrams and clear explanations. This includes a look at the defensive responsibilities of each position and how the team can transition to go on the counter attack. Along with theoretical examples, the books look at how leading teams, like Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United, either deploy or play against the relevant formation.

Chapter 2 – Strengths and Weaknesses of the 4-3-3

Where is the formation vulnerable? How can you break the down the opposition’s counter attacks? What are the role of flankers? These questions and more are answered in this chapter which analyses how to use a formation to your advantage and how to exploit it when used by the opposition.

Chapter 3 – Defending against the 4-3-3 in the attacking third

Each book now begins to go into more depth, looking at where the opposition’s goalkeeper is likely to play the ball, their team’s likely moves up the field and how you can play traps to force a mistake and win the ball back. Much like a game of cat and mouse, Platt explains how to get the opposition to play the ball where you want them to so you can use your own formation to your advantage.

Chapter 4 – Practices for defending against the 4-3-3 in the attacking third

Platt shares soccer drills and exercises for establishing the principles of a tactical plan to get the opposition playing where you want them to. This can include warm-ups progressing to 11 v 11 soccer drills to practice the attitudes and tactical issues of playing against each formation.

Chapter 5 – Defending against the 4-3-3 in the mid third

This chapter looks at covering movements, possible scenarios and advice on closing down the opposition’s players in the mid third before they can get to the penalty area. Platt also offers suggestions on how to create problems for them in midfield and how to intercept any potential through balls being played to their forwards.

Chapter 6 – Practices for defending in the mid third against the 4-3-3

These drills show you how to defend in the midfield against each formation. Drills can progress from small area exercises to those taking up 2/3 of the pitch incorporating fullbacks.

Chapter 7 – Defending against the 4-3-3 defensive third

Platt discusses the responsibilities of players to win 1 v 1 situations and how to setup cover in case they are beaten. For certain formations, this can involve doubling up on the man on the ball and covering the overlapping wingers.

Chapter 8 – Practices for defending in the defensive third

Drills for improving tackling, positioning and tactics in and around the box.

Chapter 9 – Attacking against the 4-3-3 in the defending third

This chapter focuses on how to use your formation to get the ball into the opponent’s half by splitting the attacking play into thirds of the pitch. Whether you’re playing against a pressing high line or a spread out back four, Platt explains exactly how to exploit the opposition’s formation to your advantage.

Chapter 10 – Practices for attacking against the 4-3-3 in the defending third

These soccer drills focus on how to get the ball from the goalkeeper to your players in the final third.

Chapter 11 – Attacking the 4-3-3 in the mid third

In this section, Platt explains how to position your players to expose weak areas in the opposition’s defensive formation. Through detailed diagrams, he shows you where the best places are to position players to receive the ball and how to open up space in wide positions.

Chapter 12 – Practices for attacking the 4-3-3 in the mid third

These soccer drills focus on training your players on the mindset and formations for getting the ball into the box from the halfway line.

Chapter 13 – Attacking against the 4-3-3 in the final third

In this phases, your players will need to be able to see things quickly and execute moves fast to unbalance and spread their defense. In this chapter Platt explains how to achieve this along with how to win clearances, how to get the ball behind their back line and more.

Chapter 14 – Practices for attacking against the 4-3-3 in the final third

These soccer drills will train your players how to get the ball to your forwards and how to exploit weaknesses in the opposing defensive formation.

Conclusion

In the final chapter, Platt provides an overview of the key points from the book and summarizes the ideal strategy for playing against and beating the opposition.

David Platt with Roberto Mancini and Brian Kidd 

What you will gain from the Systems of Play Series of books by David Platt  

If you’re ever stuck for ideas on how to change your strategy and formation to gain the advantage, this special set of books will provide you with all the answers you need. Expertly written by David Platt, one of the biggest names of his era, the How to Play Against and Beat series offers you a comprehensive playbook for exploiting and defeating the opposition’s formation.

From these books you will gain:

• An expert overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each formation
• Analysis of how top level clubs, like Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid, utilize and play against these formations
• A methodical series of explanations on how to setup your team and how to exploit the opposition’s formation in each phase of the game
• Soccer drills and exercises designed specially to train your players in the mindset, tactics and movements needed to perform the strategies outlined by Platt
• An enriched understanding of the 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 formations, so you can decide which to play based on the players available, the opposition’s likely formation and your chosen style of play
• An improved tactical awareness and astute reading of the game
• An improved ability to change your formation and tactics to counter those of the opposition or the direction of the game
• Your players will feel more confident knowing what their responsibilities are, where they need to be and how to react to what the opposition does

Whether you are coaching at collegiate level or a club team in a top division, the Systems of Play series by David Platt will provide you with the tactical insights and knowledge of a coach and player that has won trophies, national caps and scored many goals at an international level. These books will give you the tactical edge and confidence to counter, exploit and beat your opponent’s formation and win more games.

 “In the How to Play Against and Beat series of books, David Platt does a great job of showing you how to beat an opponent by attacking the weaknessess of the system of play their team is using.  The presentation is clean, precise and easy to understand.  These books provide an excellent resource to coaches of all levels.” – Timothy J Brown – Founder and Director of Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer, Goalkeeping Instructor Grand Lake United, Head Coach of GLU U15 P Boys, Head high school coach

100% ‘no quibbles’ 6 Month Money Back Guarantee

WORLD CLASS COACHING is recognized globally for the quality of its soccer coaching resources, which are used by over 40,000 soccer coaches from around the world. We would’t be offering you the Systems of Play series by David Platt unless it achieves our exceptionally high standards. However, if you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of the Systems of Play series after six months then please contact us for a no quibbles refund.

Whether you are coaching at collegiate level or a club team in a top division, the Systems of Play series by David Platt will provide you with the tactical insights and knowledge of a coach and player that has won trophies, national caps and scored many goals at an international level. These books will give you the tactical edge and confidence to counter, exploit and beat your opponent’s formation and win more games.

As a coach, you spend your entire career developing and improving your tactical awareness and knowledge. The Systems of Play series of books will equip you to rapidly improve your coaching education by gaining the insights of one of the leading players of his era. David Platt continues to coach at the highest level of the game, so he knows exactly how to setup teams and formations to defeat some of the top sides in Europe.

Utilizing detailed diagrams and clear explanations, the Systems of Play series will show you exactly what tactics and formations to use to counter and beat your opposition, whether they are playing 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. Consequently, your players will be more tactically aware and adept at closing down attacks, creating space and taking advantage of more scoring opportunities. It’s often said that when two teams are identical the difference is the manager, and with this series of books you can dramatically increase your chances of being the manager on the winning side.

Best Wishes,

Mike Saif
President

P.S. The Systems of Play series of books are expertly written by David Platt, one of the star names of his era. Each book shows you exactly how to counter and beat the opposition’s formation, whether they are playing 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. In addition, each book contains soccer drills and exercises to train your players in the mindset, tactics and style of play needed to turn the game in your favor.

P.P.S If you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of the soccer coaching resources in the Systems of Play series after six months then we will refund your purchase in full, no questions asked.

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Systems of Play Series

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