In the system I utilize, we use a 3-5-2, overloading the weak-side with inside mid and the outside back. i have 20 players on my Varsity team. 7 of these players are wing type players. I am of the coaching mindset that you change your system and formation to fit the needs of your players. I am also low on quality defenders. Therefore, I really should play with a 3 back system so as not to lose an attacker. I have considered the 3-4-3, but have not really had success keeping three forwards involved in defensive pressure. Also, because these are highschool girls, my forwards tend to get drawn offsides. Any comments are appreciated.
Ok, I should say that it is difficult to address these type of "situational" questions because it really helps to know who the personel is and what they can do. If you are short on quality defenders is this a need that you must address with more defenders (4 or 5 to sure up the defense) or do you have 3 quality defenders who you feel confident with? You don't want to get into games where you lose even when you score 3+ goals a game. The 3-5-2 seems like the best line-up if you are confident in your defense.
I have 4 excellent defenders that I can count on. I use the 3-5-2 because I employ a defensive system with fast counterattacks. I am very comfortable with this system I just wanted to make sure it was the best for current players. I understand that you can not make a true assessment without knowing my players, but thanks for the advice.
An idea would be (if you have 2 very quality defneders) is to play a 4-4-2 where the 2 Wing Mids and 2 Wing Backs ALL push forward. What you can do is make the midfield a diamond, so you end up with, when attacking, two center defenders and a defensive midfield holding the line or A DM and three midfielders lined up to gether (see: CM? or AM?. This gives you 4 wing type players on the field. Just make sure those 2 center backs are damn good. Regular: WB--CB--CB--WB -------DM------- WM----CM?-----WM -------AM?-------- ---CF-----CF------ Attack: -----CB----CB----- --------DM-------- WB-------------WB --------CM-------- WM------------WM -----CF-----CF---- Something along those lines.
Ekelund4life may be on the right track with his 4-4-2, at least theoretically and keeping in mind that we have not seen your players. If 7 of 20 players are "wing type players", that's 35% of your roster. But the 2 outside wing players in a 3-5-2 only account for 18% of your starting positions. The remaining positions in a 3-5-2 need players with some serious ability to play central roles. You may not be using your players in the best system based on the talents you say you have. In a 4-4-2, there is room for 4 "wide" players, or 36% of your formation. That may better utilize the abundance of outside players you say you have. A speedy, skillful, outside back can be a valuable and beautiful thing in soccer. Take three of your more mature, hard-working wingers and convert them to outside backs in a 4-4-2. Like Ekelund4life writes, let them join the attack, but also make sure your center backs can cover for the occasional gaps that open up. The trick is to convince some of your wing players that outside back is really an important, fun, wing-type position that gets into the attack from time to time. Many kids growing up in our youth programs get slotted into specific positions for too much of their youth and may have been playing the ever-popular wing in the standard 4-3-3. Wing is for the "star" player, and outside defense is for the "weaker" players, they have often been taught by inexperienced coaches or have come to believe from experience. Adjusting their mind-set may be very difficult in the late teen years. That's why I would look at the more mature, team-oriented wing-type players as a first effort to develop good outside backs. The mature ones may be able to handle the change and even understand the logic. Good luck!
This makes a lot of sense to me!! I use the weakside defender already to attack sometimes. GROVESHSCOACH