Football managers and coaches examine every angle and formation to gain the winning edge over the opposition. One prominent strategy is using tactics to dominate certain areas of the pitch.
In our latest article about different tactics, we examine the 3-6-1, which is a tactic that targets midfield domination.
How do teams set up in the 361 formation?
As the tactic’s name suggests, the team plays in a 3-6-1 formation, predominantly with three defenders, six midfielders, and one forward.
However, one of the benefits of the formation is that it is highly adaptable, as it can become a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2, depending on whether the team is in or out of possession.
The three defenders are often split, with the wide defenders moving into positions that the full-backs would usually occupy. The defenders need to be intelligent and disciplined in this formation.
With this formation so heavily reliant on the midfield players, the players in the centre of the park are the key to its effectiveness.
There are a variety of ways the midfield can be set up in this formation. One of the most popular ways is with a double-pivot of central midfielders in front of the three defenders, then with players who play like wing-backs and two midfielders whose job it is to get forward.
In this formation, the midfielders are the players who are vital in both attack and defence. When defending, the team could end up with nine men behind the ball and be difficult to break down.
However, in transition, the team could end up with seven players in attacking positions, which is needed to support the lone forward.
The lone forward’s job is simple. They are the focal point of the teams and need to be able to hold the ball up and give their teammates a chance to get up in support. They will be the primary goal threat and likely top goalscorer.
If the team plays a high-pressing game, he will be the first to press the ball high up the pitch. They have to be hard-working and have good stamina for the position.
When was the formation first developed?
It is difficult to pinpoint how or when the formation was first used, as it is not that commonly used in the modern game.
It’s not a formation that many teams use on a regular basis from the start of a game, as it usually morphs from another formation, as previously mentioned. You will hardly ever see a team line-up in a 3-6-1 on a team sheet from the start of a game.
However, some of today’s top coaches have used the formation. At times, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has set his team up to play in this way in order to gain midfield control. With Guardiola’s 3-6-1, it usually turns into more of a 3-2-5 when the midfield players break forward.
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone has also used the formation in big games. For example, he once used it in a capital derby against Real Madrid. However, that morphed more into a 5-4-1 when defending.
Former Chelsea and Italy head coach Antonio Conte has also used the formation against particularly potent attacking teams to negate their threat. It is fair to say at least that it was likely invented in one of the Mediterranean countries then.
What are the pros and cons of the 3-6-1?
The 3-6-1’s biggest pro is that if executed correctly, a team can control and lock down the midfield. This makes it extremely difficult for the opposition to break through. In most scenarios with the formation, a team will have an overload in midfield.
However, in transition, this formation can also offer great flexibility when attacking, as at least the wing-backs and two of the central midfielders could join in the attack.
With the 3-6-1, if a team wants to perform a high press, the midfielders can spring forward and support the lone forward, as they know that there are enough players behind them for the team not to be defensively exposed.
This means that the lone forward can concentrate on getting into dangerous attacking positions in the opposition area rather than having to press the opposition alone constantly.
The formation also works well for a team looking to create passing triangles due to the large number of players in the centre of the pitch.
One of the biggest cons is that the midfielder’s players need to get up to support the lone forward. If they don’t, the lone forward can become highly isolated, which can lead to the opposition quickly neutralising the team’s attacking threat.
Another con is in the unlikely scenario of all the midfielders being caught up field on the counter-attack.
However, there are usually still three centre-backs and at least one defensive midfielder in defensive positions. In this formation, the midfielders have to be intelligent, fit, and disciplined enough to take instructions and follow them on the pitch.
Is it popular on FM?
Although the 3-6-1 formation is not commonly used in real life or FM, its principles may be effective in the game.
Some tactic creators, such as the renowned Guido, are famous for their unconventional tactics. However, he is more famous for creating strikerless tactics than using a 3-6-1 formation.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any 3-6-1 tactics on any of the FM sites I visit. However, if I do, I will edit this article and add a download link so our readers can try it out. The results would undoubtedly be interesting.
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