2323 formation can it work?

Hockey CoachCoach

we play 3 defenders, 2 sitting mids then a pivot, 2 wide players and 2 strikers. its worked great so far with the defencive 5 working as a unit and narrow when we havnt got the ball and opening out when we have so there are lots of angles to pass round the back but a few of the guys are a little against it as they prefer 244 traditional football style or a sweeper infornt of the back 3. does anyone have any opinions if were playing the formation right or should we switch?

Hockey CoachCoach

This is an on going debate raging in our older age group side. For me the key is having a pair of inside forwards who are prepared to work hard and allow themselves to be subbed so that they can recover. As a supporter of this shape I favour the idea that this is an attacking formation that takes the game to the opposition rather than seetting our stall defensively. Also it really encourages wide play with your wingers pulling the opposition wide across the front. I look forward to the ongoing debate...

As an aside we coach our youngsters in this position - by and large it works well once they understand their roles.

Hockey CoachCoach

Agree Mike defencively we are quite weak so i thought using this formation allows us to streach the games using our main asset - our wingers and forwards but allowing the defence the cover with the 2 sitting, our problem is the 2 dont like to sit and as were beating teams by a cricket score each week they like to get involved with the scoring, problems will come in a couple of years and if we have this gungho mentality we will be screwed (excuse the expression). Many thianks for the feedback

Hockey CoachCoach

Very interested to see debate on this formation.  We have just switched to it in the ladies tem.  It keeps a structure which gives width and depth.  When we played 5 in midfield then tended to stand flat.