"Who do you think you are? Get it forward!" A League Two tactical overview
Ali Maxwell gets forensic about fourth-tier football. Plus: the real reason why lower-league teams play out from the back.
Here is an article about League Two tactics!
It’s not a definitive piece on the specific strategy of every team; instead, it attempts to give insight into a few sides that might tickle the interest of the tactically inquisitive EFL observer.
It is quite long, and required a great deal of research and writing, but I hope you can take your time to really savour and enjoy it. Please do comment with any thoughts.
Here’s a table of contents to prepare you:
Good attacking teams! Chesterfield and Doncaster
Good defensive teams! Walsall, Wimbledon and Barrow
Pass addicts! Notts County and MK Dons, and whether the style is ‘appropriate’
Good attacking teams!
There are a few things that I absolutely love:
Football, clearly. Playing it. Watching it. Thinking about it. Talking about it. A good bath on a Sunday afternoon in winter. That is right up there for me.
I also love an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.
There are a few things that Paul Cook absolutely loves:
Football, presumably. He played for over 20 years, in the Conference, the Premier League and everything in between. He’s not far off 20 years as a manager, approaching 850 matches managed and four promotions achieved.
Throat lozenges, surely. The extent to which he loses his voice on the touchline looks painful.
He also loves an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation. According to Transfermarkt, Cook started playing 4-2-3-1 with Chesterfield in around 2012 and has stuck with it ever since, more or less, across spells at Portsmouth, Wigan, Ipswich and now back in the land of the Crooked Spire.
When results are good, it brings joy. When results drop off, his tactical ‘stubbornness’ becomes a sticking point and fans demand change, normally in the form of Two Up Top. But Cook’s teams score goals without needing Two Up Top. In League Two, his teams have scored 1.51 goals per game. In League One, it’s 1.6. In the National League, 1.88.
I like watching Cook’s teams at their best. His 4-2-3-1 system allows for plenty of attacking players on the pitch. In a sport that increasingly skews towards athletes over technicians, Cook still prioritises ball-players in midfield and attacking players with technical skill rather than raw speed.
I really like what I’m seeing from Chesterfield this season, even if they’ve won only two of their first five league games. It’s a genuinely entertaining possession-based system. What I find interesting about them is that they are a high possession team – currently averaging 62%, the 3rd-highest in the league – but unlike Notts County (1st) and MK Dons (2nd), they are more willing to play long passes: 16% of their passes are long, compared to 9% and 10% for the other possession-hungry sides.
And they play long with standout quality. Chesterfield have made the sixth-most long passes in the division, but they’ve done so with the best completion rate by (fittingly enough) a distance.
Of the 10 outfield players who’ve played the most long passes in League Two, three are Spireites: Ollie Banks, Darren Oldaker and Tom Naylor, with Banks (66%) and Oldaker (60%) completing theirs at a rate well above average. This means you can’t take time to get comfortable when defending against Cook’s side. If you’re not in your shape immediately, Banks and Oldaker will pick you off.
In possession, this is an ‘asymmetrical’ 4-2-3-1 which tilts to the left, by which I mean the right-back takes up higher, wider positions in possession than the left-back, who stays deeper and is more involved in build-up. The left-back, Lewis Gordon, has played 65.2 passes per game – the second-most in the team – while the right-backs, Vontae Daley-Campbell and Devan Tanton, average just 39.
In this way, Chesterfield often achieve the much-desired 3-2-5 attacking shape, where the attacking five looks like this: LW-AM-ST-RW-RB. The wingers and the #10 are fluid and rotate a lot. The average touch map (which measures only in-possession positions) from the Grimsby game gives the clearest demonstration of how things look:
While a 4-2-3-1 can work in a number of ways, it’s the role and performances of the #10 that typically dictate the attacking unit’s ceiling. Armando Dobra takes up this role for Chesterfield. He buzzes around all over during build-up, dropping deep to help Banks and Oldaker in midfield, getting close to winger James Berry to create overloads on the left, and also ensuring he is in good goalscoring positions when the ball enters the box:
Dobra puts in a lot of work out of possession, providing the energy and speed in the press that Will Grigg maybe lacks. Is Grigg the right player for the lone striker role in this system? It would be tempting to look for a different profile: more obvious physical strength, qualities with back to goal, pace. But Grigg’s quality of movement across the front line is sensational, and good movement can be a proxy for speed in a packed final third (“the first yard is in his head” and all that). We can expect his finishing to be as good as ever – he’s approaching 150 career league goals.
It was a surprise to see Tom Naylor start the season as a centre-back – he last played there regularly for Burton in 2017/18. However, it makes sense when you consider the sort of control that Cook is looking to have in possession. Naylor spreads wider in possession, with Chey Dunkley anchoring things deep and centrally. Cook essentially gets three deep playmakers: Naylor, Banks and Oldaker. Things may evolve over time - it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Naylor take Oldaker’s spot in midfield if Fulham loanee Harvey Araujo is ready to step into a centre-back role.
Looking for weaknesses, it’s clear that Chesterfield are not blessed with huge athleticism. The midfield duo are not ball-winning, ground-covering types. Naylor and Dunkley aren’t the speediest CBs. This, combined with their expansive in-possession style, means that one of their biggest vulnerabilities is likely to be defending counter-attacks. So far, they’ve avoided too many hairy moments.
I’m not digging deep into their defensive structure here, but it’s notable that the four goals they’ve conceded so far have been two 25-yard worldies (from Swindon’s Will Wright and Grimsby’s Charles Vernam), a solo dribble and finish (Kelly N’Mai of Salford) and a set-piece goal (Robbie McKenzie, Gillingham). Overall, things look fairly sturdy.
I need to mention Doncaster Rovers here. They’re one of the division’s most attack-minded teams, also playing a 4-2-3-1, with exciting wide forwards Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson thriving. As you can see in Opta Analyst’s Team Style graphic, they are playing much faster and more direct than Chesterfield – the majority of their league goals so far have been lightning counter-attacks, with Molyneux, Gibson and Sharp the beneficiaries.
Per Opta Analyst, they play the lowest percentage of ‘backwards’ passes in the division, by some way.
There haven’t been too many examples so far of Donny ‘picking the lock’ of a deep, set defence, which is something that may become more pertinent if they establish themselves as a title-challenger. Either way, they are also really exciting to watch.
Good defensive teams!
Two young managers are using a 3-5-2 formation to suffocate teams out of possession: Johnnie Jackson (42) of Wimbledon and Mat Sadler (39) of Walsall. About half of the division is currently playing a version of 3-5-2, as we can see in the chart below.
The defensive benefits to the system are well-known at this level. Here are the highlights, per The Coaches Voice:
Out of possession, the three central defenders give protection centrally and against direct play. These defenders should shuffle across to help cover the flanks when necessary. This cover gives the defensive line confidence to make aggressive defensive moves, knowing they have protection behind.
While three centre-backs can protect against counter-attacks, the positioning of one or two midfielders can boost this protection further. Having two lines centrally positioned, ready for defensive transitions, minimises vulnerability to counter-attacks.
Out of possession, having numbers on the inside allows midfielders and defenders to defend the key central areas without having to cover too much ground. When the ball is played wide, that is a trigger for inside players to support and cover the pressing wing-back.
Directing the press towards the flanks where possible is important, capitalising on the opposition having little space inside. With two strikers and three midfielders, a funnel can be created that aims to force the opposition outside. Here, the wing-backs must be ready to initiate the press and steal possession.
Based on the above, it’s fair to say Wimbledon and Walsall understand the assignment.
Walsall’s forward players put a lot of pressure on the ball higher up the pitch, with the Saddlers leading the league for high turnovers. Jamille Matt turns 35 next month but is putting in a lot more work than you might expect, while Josh Gordon has always been a work-rate monster. For Wimbledon, Omar Bugiel is phenomenal in this regard, and has Matty Stevens, Joe Pigott or Josh Kelly to lend a hand, although Jackson’s team are more interested in stopping things once they reach midfield.
The #8s of Walsall – generally Charlie Lakin (the literal #8) and Jamie Jellis – have shown incredible energy, covering a ton of distance, jumping forward to press in the right moments and moving out to the full-backs to press when the ball is shifted wide.
At the back, both sides have strong, physical defenders forming the majority of the back three while allowing themselves a more nimble, technical profile playing as an outside centre-back. For Wimbledon, it’s been Isaac Ogundere at RCB; for Walsall, Taylor Allen has had a phenomenal impact at LCB.
Walsall and Wimbledon are managing to restrict opposition shots in an incredibly effective way. Much of that work is done at source, disrupting teams in their build-up or once they get into the middle third. But on top of that, both sides are defending their box with authority.
It’s worth pointing out that the 3-5-2 formation in itself is not a silver bullet: there are teams in League Two, such as Cheltenham and Newport, that are playing broadly similar shapes but still giving up chances and conceding plenty of goals. But Walsall and Wimbledon appear to have the structure in place to massively restrict chances. That sort of foundation can take you a long way.
I’ll mention Barrow and Stephen Clemence here as well. They are playing a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape but have an excellent defensive record – the 3rd-lowest xG against, after Walsall and Wimbledon.
For me, the most notable and highly functioning part of Clemence’s team is the central midfield area, where Dean Campbell, Robbie Gotts and Kian Spence have had a fantastic start to the season as a unit. They’re the driving force behind Barrow being so good at reducing opposition chances and also creating opportunities through high turnovers – the joint-most in League Two after four games. There’s a lot of fluidity in how Stephen Clemence is using his midfielders in and out of possession, and it’s working well. The players in question are #4 (Campbell), #8 (Spence) and #15 (Gotts) in the touch maps below.
Pass addicts! Notts County & MK Dons
We have to finish with a discussion around MK Dons and Notts County. Whether you think possession football is the most attractive way to play, or whether you think it is tippy-tappy nonsense, these two teams add a unique flavour to the tactical menu of League Two.
As Opta Analyst wrote in their August review of League Two:
Last season saw Notts County become the first League Two side on record to average over 500 passes per game in a season (526.4), with their average this season only slightly lower at the moment (524.8).
MK Dons would also have surpassed 500 passes per game had Mike Williamson been in charge for the whole campaign. Both are completing more than 500 this season.
Both managers use what I call a 3-4-2-1 – but can also be referred to as a 3-2-4-1, a 3-box-3, a 3-2-2-3 or even a 3-6-1 – as their in-possession shape, which allows for a lot of deep build-up using the back three and the two deepest midfielders. In attack, the wing-backs play on the last line as wide attackers while the two #10s drift about to combine with CMs and WBs, pick up awkward positions between opposition CBs and FBs, and make deep runs in behind to offer penetration. If I had the chance to plonk myself into a League Two team and could choose my position, it would be as a #10 for one of these sides.
So, how do the two teams differ? Well, Notts County have attacking players with greater X-Factor than MK Dons, which gives them the edge individually. I call such players are called ‘game-breakers’ – those who can muster a goal, an assist, a chance out of absolutely nothing and unlock a tight match. Dan Crowley, Jodi Jones and David McGoldrick all provide regular moments of quality that lead to Notts County goals, whereas MK Dons’ attackers, talented as they are, seem less likely to bring those game-breaking qualities.
The Opta Analyst table below shows that both sides are creating plenty of shooting opportunities, mostly of good quality – note the xG per shot – but Notts’ finishing has been better so far (admittedly helped by McGoldrick scoring three goals from outside the box already).
Both teams are creating plenty in expected goals, which reflects well on their attacking approach. Notts have created more from set pieces, while MK Dons are doing a little better when it comes to disrupting the opposition with their press and winning the ball high up the pitch. If Notts have the more talented individuals on a technical level, MK’s attacking players seem a little more willing and able to press. That said, neither team is matching their high possession with a hugely intense or disruptive press.
Both sides revamped their defence and goalkeeping personnel this summer. The early signings are good for Notts County and… inconclusive for MK Dons. Stuart Maynard is a touch less aggressive with his defensive setup than his predecessor, Luke Williams, and MK Dons manager Mike Williamson, and so far Notts have managed to avoid the classic defensive pitfalls of a team that plays this way: giving the ball away cheaply at the back and struggling to defend counter-attacks. The goals they’ve conceded have been two from set pieces, one strike from range and one occasion where Fleetwood managed to exploit their high line and get in behind.
I’d say that MK have conceded two ‘bad ones’ in 5 games, from five goals conceded. There wasn’t much they could do about Alex Pattison’s screamer, nor a freak own goal on opening day. ColU scored two counter-attack goals against them towards the end of their match – one was avoidable, but the other came when MK Dons threw everyone forward to cancel out the avoidable one. And Salford’s goal last Monday was an individual dribble through the middle of their defence that George described as like a ‘non-league goal’. Not ideal for a televised game.
Overall, I think both teams are – perhaps despite the prevailing narrative – doing fine defensively, with Notts looking stronger overall.
So, that’s the detail of how they play, and how it’s going. The Big Question, brought into focus by Roy Keane’s comments last week, is:
Should a League Two team play this way?
In the EFL, and particularly in League Two, playing this style attracts derision more than any other tactical approach – even more so than ‘hoofball’. Managers and clubs are called arrogant, or accused of having ideas above their station. “Who do you think you are?” asks one of English football’s most decorated footballers.
There is a statistical, evidence-based argument for choosing this approach as a way of winning football matches. Control the ball. Control the territory. Spend time in the opposition final third. Reduce shots faced by keeping the opposition well away from your defensive third. It’s not just Pep Guardiola who wants to achieve the above!
But, as discussed on Dear Ali & George, in order to achieve the above, you need centre-backs who can receive the ball under pressure, pass accurately, make consistently good decisions in possession while also having to defend more space than is comfortable for most centre-backs.
You need midfielders and attackers who can handle the highly technical strategy, know when to move the ball forward and when to recycle, when to take the shot or play the extra pass, and have the technical ability to force the ball through tight spaces and receive it under pressure, while also having the athleticism and energy reserves to press and win the ball back quickly.
At this level, it cannot be possible to recruit centre-backs, midfielders and attackers who have all of those qualities – because those players are playing in the top leagues. You have to pick and choose. Doing so means that Notts, for example, can do the technical stuff incredibly well but fall down on physicality. MK Dons defenders often seem to struggle with the defensive part of the game, and the team’s results in big matches over the past year suggest that, when things get difficult, some of the precision that they need to execute their game plan gets lost in the stress of it all.
This approach is an approach fit for elite football, and when the teams play well it looks elite. But, at this level, an elite level of consistent performance is surely fanciful - is that what trips these teams up?
But it should also be mentioned that another part of the reason for playing this way is to develop players who will be attractive for teams in the divisions above, which is something that any League Two club needs to consider.
Macaulay Langstaff (70 league goals in two seasons). Jodi Jones (EFL single-season assist record). Dan Crowley (just really, really good). Are these excellent individuals for the level? For sure. Would they put up the same numbers for a League Two team that plays in a more ‘standard’ way – Tranmere, for example? Not a chance.
What about Max Dean, sold by MK Dons for one of the highest transfer fees ever received by a League Two team after scoring 15 goals at 0.71 per 90, a similar rate to every single striker Mike Williamson has coached?
Winning may feel like the only thing that matters but, within a club, when setting a strategy, you need to actually work out a journey to success. This means choosing the best style of play for winning football matches but also having a strategy for raising the value of the players in your squad. It is clear that in football recruitment, players who at teams such as MK Dons and Notts County, who take tons of touches and have tons of opportunities to ‘boost their stats’, are going to stand out more than those who play for, say, Tranmere in a direct 4-4-2 system.
I think it’s interesting that when these teams lose, the style becomes the focus.
“You’re too concerned about stats, not winning! Get it forward!”
When teams with a more ‘standard’ style of play lose matches, the system rarely becomes a sticking point in the same way. You may get shouts of ‘change something, it’s not working’, but the specifics of that are generally vague.
Why does this style of play wind people up so much? I would love to hear from you in the comments (even you, Roy). And I will be interested to see what the discourse will be like if one or both of these teams win promotion this season, which is a genuine possibility. What if it works?
For what it’s worth, I hope these teams keep playing like this. I think it’s great for the league. In my dream world, we wouldn’t have half the league playing 3-5-2, which I believe it will affect the goal rate, but others are playing out from the back and it’s great for the product to have teams playing in different ways.
Thank you for reading, that was a really fun piece to write and I hope you enjoyed it. Plenty more with this came from for our paid subscribers… Go well!
As a Notts fan I'm probably a bit biased, but I think if there was one way to guarantee results, we'd all be doing it and this route is as good as any. People like to say that a particular style is the way to be successful in League 2, and conveniently forget that a lot of teams who are unsuccessful are aiming for that same style of play.
I think Ali has nailed a lot of the benefits in the piece, but the other point I'd make is that as top teams are bringing youngsters through to play this style, over time naturally more players will be available who are capable or at least comfortable in the system, so it should be more and more viable as time goes on.
Interesting article. Higher up in L1, Birmingham are introducing a similar system to Chesterfield, primarily with an assymetric 4231 that becomes a 325 in possession with the RB high and wide. Produces a monstrous amount of possession, but much of it in our own half, and chances in open play have so far mostly come via the high press rather than the structured attack. It also leaves our fairly slow CBs exposed and vulnerable to the counter.
The St Andrews faithful are largely lapping it up, having been fed a diet of hoofball for decades, but I fear the shouts of 'gerrit forward' will increase if the narrow victories turn into narrow defeats as it can be a bit dull to watch if the ball is not moved around quickly (as Leicester fans found out last season).
On the broader cultural question, it seems to me that in the EFL there is a cohort of fans (both young and old) that are very 'small c' conservative and reactionary; anything that hints of progressive possession football is termed 'woke' and derided as both unnecessary innovation and also aesthetically undesirable; what is valued is effort, territory (in the sense of the ball being as far away from your own goal as possible), and excitement. For Brum fans this has centred on discussion of Korean international midfielder Paik Seung-Ho, lauded by many fans for his ball retention and technical prowess, whilst damned by a minority for 'not doing anything.'
It's an interesting cultural shift in English football as more and more coaches move to a possession-based style - even as we have seen that low-possession direct football can still bring both goals and excitement, as Wrexham fans can attest to.