Sweeper is Too Far Back

"Discipline (staying within tasks) and continuous communication
with each other inevitably lead to team-building."4
Louis van Gaal

In diagram 1 the orange #3 has stayed next to his own goal while his team mates are deep inside the attacking third. From this position he cannot offer them any real support . They are left to play 3v4. If the orange team does pass the ball back to the number 3 the attack will slow down. When the ball has to travel 20 yards back it has to travel 20 yards again just to get to where it started, in essence making a 40 yard pass. Space equals time and time favors the defense. Furthermore, should the blue team regain possession he is too far back to apply any pressure in order to buy time for his team mates recovery. The orange #3 is effectively out of the game and cannot make any contribution to his teams efforts. From this position he cannot accomplish any of his basic tasks.

In diagram 2 the #3 has come forward. He is in a position where he can support the #8 and has an opportunity to find both #6 and #9 if he receives the ball. This is the correct distance. By coming forward he has decreased the time that any pass takes which gives the blue team a bigger problem, the orange team will enjoy a faster speed of play. Finally, if the blue team regains possession the #3 is in a better position to support his teammates defensively. It will be easier for the orange team to become compact and regain their defensive shape. This is a better distance and allows #3 to make a bigger contribution to his teams effort.

Midfielder is too far forward.

Striker is too far back.

Sweeper is too far back.

Midfielder is too close and at a poor angle.

3v3 bad shape