Whilst it is often said that players win and lose games, tactical formations serve as an important cornerstone upon which teams demonstrate their personality and construct their strategy.
From the dawn of the Premier League era in 1992 to the present day, these formations have undergone a steady evolution, shaping the narrative of football at the top level and defining eras of dominance and innovation as well as failure.
As football restructured itself in the early 1990’s in the hope of re-energising the game and become more of a world league with players and managers arriving from every corner of the globe, the influence on the tactics and formations of English clubs started to be felt.
At the birth of the Premier League, the 4-4-2 formation was the typically English way of playing, epitomising simplicity and balance.
With four defenders providing a solid defensive foundation, four midfielders offering versatility in both attack and defence, and two strikers up front (usually a big target man and a quick, goal scoring player) creating a potent offensive threat, the 4-4-2 was the hallmark of English football and virtually every team played that way.
However, as the game evolved tactically, so did the demands placed upon teams.
The advent of continental influences and a greater emphasis on possession based football prompted a shift towards formations that prioritised numerical superiority in midfield.
Enter the 4-2-3-1, a formation that gained prominence in the early 2000s and has since become a staple in modern football.
An evolution of 4-4-2, its success lies in its ability to dominate the midfield areas with overloads and by playing in four lines instead of three.
With two holding midfielders providing defensive cover and three attacking midfielders supporting a lone striker, the 4-2-3-1 offers a delicate balance between defensive solidity and attacking fluidity.
It also sparked a trend for formations which had a single, point striker instead of 2 central strikers.
This rendered one of the opposing centre backs as a spare man and meant they were outnumbered elsewhere on the pitch.
Formations, however, are not static entities; they are adaptable structures tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of players.
The age-old debate persists: do formations mould players, or do players shape formations? Throughout history, examples abound of both scenarios.
In the late 1990s, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United exemplified a team where the formation moulded the players.
The iconic 4-4-2 suited the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, whose wide play flourished within this framework.
Conversely, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in recent years epitomises a team where players dictate the formation.
Guardiola's fluid tactical approach sees players seamlessly interchange positions, blurring the lines between traditional roles.
His latest iteration with the 3-box-3 and the centre back stepping in as the second 6 exemplifies this.
Innovation in formations often stems from visionary minds willing to challenge conventions.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal revolutionised English football in the late 1990s with their implementation of the 4-4-2 diamond midfield.
This diamond midfield provided a numerical advantage in midfield, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession and dictate play.
Unexpected success stories often arise when underdogs defy conventional wisdom.
Leicester City's remarkable Premier League triumph in the 2015-2016 season is a testament to this.
Employing a traditional 4-4-2 formation, Leicester City's compact defensive shape and swift counter-attacks
utilising the lightening pace of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez caught opponents off guard, propelling them to an unlikely title victory.
As football continues to evolve, tactical formations remain at the forefront of innovation.
The rise of the 4-3-3 in recent years in the English game underscores a shift towards fluid attacking play and high pressing.
This formation, a staple of European football for decades, is characterised by three dynamic forwards and a midfield trio.
It emphasises positional flexibility and collective pressing, reflecting contemporary football trends.
In addition to these formations, several other tactical setups have left their mark on the Premier League.
The 5-3-2 formation, employed by teams seeking defensive solidity and width in attack, often features wing-backs who provide an additional layer of defensive cover while contributing to the team's offensive play.
Antonio Conte's Chelsea were able to win the Premier League title by utilising this system to counter opposition threats while maintaining a potent attacking presence.
This was after Conte made an ill-fated attempt to replicate his 3-4-3 formation from Juventus at Chelsea during the 2016-2017 and despite its initial promise, defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of cohesion stifled their progress leading to its abandonment.
Meanwhile, the 4-4-1-1 formation, characterised by a withdrawn forward or advanced midfield player, playing behind a lone striker, offers defensive stability whilst allowing for creative freedom in midfield.
Sean Dyche’s Burnley teams and now at Everton use this iteration of the more traditional 4-4-2 to overcome stronger teams by closing down the midfield space and create goal-scoring opportunities on the counter and through set-plays.
The 5-4-1 formation, known for its defensive compactness and emphasis on counter-attacking football, has also been adopted by teams looking to frustrate opponents and capitalise on defensive errors.
Under the management of Sam Allardyce, teams like Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United have employed this formation to stifle opposition attacks and grind out results against more dominant opponents.
To get right up to date, the 3-box-3 formation, characterised by three defenders, a midfield box, and three forwards, offers an exciting way to build through the thirds with four effective lines of players instead of three.
Manchester City have embraced this formation to maintain possession, press high up the pitch, and create numerical overloads in both defensive and attacking phases of play.
In the ever-changing landscape of English football, tactical formations are not mere X's and O's on a whiteboard.
They are dynamic entities that reflect the personality of a team and the ebb and flow of the game, shaped by tactical visionaries who dare to challenge traditional norms.
From where the Premier League started, with the universally adopted 4-4-2 to the modern 3-box-3 and beyond, tactical evolution continues to shape the narrative of our game.
