Leeds Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Potts (**) · G. Milburn (**) · J. Milburn (**) · Copping (***) · Hart (***) · Edwards (***) · Cochrane (**) · Firth (*) · Mahon (**) · Keetley (***) · Furness (**)

Leeds plays a high press game using a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to win the ball high up the pitch and strike quickly through the wide areas. The team aims to squeeze the space in the opponent's half and use the width of the pitch to stretch the defence.

Potts starts in goal to oversee the defensive unit. The back line operates as a back five with a central trio consisting of Hart, J. Milburn, and G. Milburn. Hart holds the line in the center while J. Milburn and G. Milburn cover the channels to prevent through balls. Edwards acts as an attacking wing back on the right, while Copping plays as an attacking wing back on the left to provide width. The defenders work together to defend zonally and stay compact when the ball is on the opposite side.

The midfield functions as a double pivot with Firth and Furness occupying the central spaces. Firth and Furness work to win the second ball and protect the space in front of the back five. They act as the link between the defence and the attack, with one player often dropping deeper to collect the ball from the centre-backs. These two players must track back to help the wing backs when the team is out of possession to ensure the midfield is not bypassed.

In the attacking third, Leeds uses three attackers to pin the opposition back. Keetley operates as a lone striker to hold up the ball and fight for aerial duels. Cochrane and Mahon play as wide wingers, with Cochrane positioned on the left and Mahon on the right. Cochrane and Mahon often cut inside to create space for the wing backs to overlap. This attacking unit focuses on combinations in tight spaces and quick transitions to hit the opposition on the break.

One major advantage of this Leeds formation is the ability to create wide overloads by having the wing backs push high alongside the wingers. This forces the opposition to defend more space. Another strength is the compactness when defending in a mid-block, which makes it difficult for opponents to play through the middle. The three central defenders allow the team to stay solid even when the wing backs push forward.

This 5-2-3 formation relies on high intensity and strong work rates from the wide players. It is best suited for games against teams that play a high line and can be caught on the transition.