Board wants Counter attacks

[Angus Osborne]

I think over the years I have become fairly set in my ways with tactics, moderate possession/pressing going between 4-3-3. 4-2-3-1 and occasionally some 3 at the back formation depending on how the opposition line up. In season one with Sunderland I mostly used this, finding that more pressing too hard for the team:

At higher levels I'd start making the passing shorter, up the tempo be more creative etc.

However this time I'm managing Sunderland, champions of League One, and going into the 2022/23 season in the Championship the board wants me to:

• play defensively sound football
• make the most of set pieces
• play counter-attacking football

I'd appreciate some advice on setting this up. I think I'll be able to do the first two parts OK, but I've never delved into playing on counter-attacking football that much. Going into preseason I'm planning on this set-up:

Any thoughts?

 

[coach vahid]

If I may, 

Balance to Positive. It help to go more forward when you recover the ball.

[Angus Osborne]

Thanks. I tried that. And made a couple of tweaks and have won the first six matches of the Championship with this:

[Matt_1979]

I think the most important thing is having the room to counter attack into. Drop your line engagement?