Striker is Too Far Back

"Each training session is a form of communication. The drills
themselves are not so important, it is a question of what
you do with them."4
Louis van Gaal

In this diagram the #9 has come too far back. He has killed the space between himself and the #3. The numbers 4 and 5 are able to mark their opponents tighter because their covering defender, #2 is closer. They can even see #9 so his movements will not present them with much of a problem. This has made the field much smaller for the orange team, an objective for the blues. It also places greater technical demands on the orange team, they have far less space to use. With this position if the #3 passes to either of the midfielders the #9's position eliminates the other midfielder as an option for a pass. The orange teams shape is essentially a triangle, not a good shape for 4 players. One of #9's basic tasks is to stretch the opponents, with this position he fails to do this and makes life for his team more difficult and easier for his opponents.

In diagram 2 the #9 has pushed deeper into the opponents half. From this position; the blue midfielders can only wonder what he is up to, a pass from the #3 to one of his midfielders leaves the other midfielder as a target, there is space behind the blue midfield for the #9 to receive a pass, the blue team has more space to defend and they cannot support one another as easily. The distance and angle of the #9 is better. The orange team has more options while the blue team has greater problems.

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