Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Ramsdale (Newcastle) · Kerkez (Liverpool) · Aké (Man City) · Kelly (Juventus) · Huijsen (Real Madrid) · Zabarnyi (PSG) · Lerma (Crystal Palace) · Rogers (Aston Villa) · Wilson (Fulham) · Solanke (Tottenham) · Ouattara (Brentford)

Seeking to control games through a heavy defensive block and rapid transition, this team operates in a 5-3-2 formation. The lineup is built to sit deep and absorb pressure before hitting opponents on the break. By using a five man back line, the team prioritizes defensive stability while looking to strike through a powerful two man front line.

Ramsdale sits between the posts to organize the defensive line. The formation relies on a back three consisting of Kelly, Aké, and Huijsen, who act as the central core. Kelly and Aké provide stability in the middle, while Huijsen works as a ball playing defender to help build play. Kerkez and Zabarnyi act as attacking wing backs, tasked with providing width and running to the byline. When defending, these two drop back to form a five man line to squeeze the space.

In the middle of the pitch, a three man midfield controls the central zone. Lerma acts as the single pivot, sitting in front of the back three to shield the defense and intercept passes. Wilson and Rogers operate as the two central midfielders, tasked with winning the second ball and carrying the ball forward. Rogers helps to connect the defensive and attacking lines, while Wilson looks to arrive late into the box to support the strikers. This trio works to compress the midfield and prevent opponents from playing through the center.

The attack features a partnership of two forwards, Solanke and Ouattara. Solanke acts as a target man, working to hold up the ball and win the header against opposing defenders. Ouattara plays as a second striker, looking to make runs in behind to exploit gaps in the defense. They press from the front to force a long ball from the opposition. This front line relies on the wing backs to provide width, allowing Solanke and Ouattara to combine in tight spaces or receive balls in behind.

One major advantage of this lineup is the ability to create wide overloads when Kerkez and Zabarnyi push up to join the attack. This forces the opposition to stretch their defense. Another strength is the compactness when defending, as the three central midfielders and five defenders make it very difficult to play through the middle. This setup allows the team to win the ball back high up the pitch or defend in a low block with great coordination.

This 5-3-2 formation is designed for a team that wants to stay solid and strike with speed. It is best suited for matches against dominant possession sides where the team can exploit space on the transition.