The success of attacking formations and techniques depends on the work done at midfield level. Here is why.

In professional football, a lot of work enters into strategizing and preparation to come up with the most effective structures and tactical plans. Nevertheless, the sport is really unforeseeable as there is a number of variables and unpredicted in-game situations that could throw things out of balance. This is where the coach and technical personnel come in as timely and astute adjustments are of the essence. For example, severe injuries and footballers getting red cards can have a huge influence on the outcome of the game. It is for these factors that modern football formations often consist of contingency plans should the worst take place. Football coaches plan for such events ahead of time so they would not be caught off guard on matchday, and this is something that the AC Milan former US owner will know. Making timely replacements or modifications to the formation and footballer positioning can significantly restrict the impact of damaging situations.

While offensive football formations are the most enjoyable to watch, tactical formations that have a defense edge tend to be more balanced. For instance, the 4-5-1 formation is most popular with clubs that want to draw or win a title by goal average. The cluster of 5 midfielders in the centre typically requires the attacking team to turn to long balls as they realise that building play through brief passes won't be effective. Even when long balls reach players who are close to the box, two defensive midfielders hang back to form a first barrier placed in front of the primary 4-player defensive line. Clubs who utilise this tactic likewise acquire tall defenders who can block long balls, and the Aston Villa former owner is most likely to validate this. While it's one of the much better defensive football formations, this tactic depends on counter attacks to take the other side by surprise.

Only used by a select few in modern-day football, no one can deny that the 3-4-3 is among the very best attacking football formations. Clubs that use this technique are generally top table clubs that aim to score as many goals as possible every game, all while retaining a defensive solidity when the other team counter-attacks. The Crystal Palace former owner would likely concur that the trick behind the effectiveness of this technique depends on the midfield positioning. Since it uses 4 midfielders, groups that use the 3-4-3 make every effort to control the midfield area, and they frequently are successful. This is merely because having a line of 4 in the midfield makes it very hard for the other group to pass the ball or build play smoothly. When one of the midfielders intercepts the ball, the midfield line ends up being a lozenge that feeds through and long balls to the wingers and centre forward.