Formation Guide for Online Soccer Manager (OSM)

3-2-3-2
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 5 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two centre midfielders playing side by side.
Third digit: Three second strikers. One in the middle while two at the sides.
Fourth digit: Two centre forwards play side by side.
3-2-5
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 5 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two centre midfielders playing side by side.
Third Digit (consists of three lines of attacks): two second strikers play in deepest line of attack, while
two wide attackers play on the second line of offense. The centre forward plays up front alone in the
front most line of attack.
Note: If we were to break 3-2-5 down specifically, it would be a 3-2-2-2-1, with the last 3 digits being
the attackers.
3-3-2-2
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 5 midfielders and 2 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit (consists of two lines): One holding midfielder plays in the deepest line, while further up
we have two side midfielders.
Third digit: Two attacking midfielders playing side by side.
Fourth digit: Two central strikers playing side by side.
3-3-4 A
This formation consist of 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 4 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: One centre midfielder and two shuttlers form a flat midfield line.
Third digit: Two centre forwards and two wide forwards form a flat offensive line.
3-3-4 B
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 4 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: One centre midfielder and two shuttlers form a flat midfield line.
Third digit (consists of 3 lines): A second striker can be found in playing centrally in the deepest line,
with two wide forwards playing in the second line. The centre forward plays alone up front in the front
most line of offense.
Note: If we break this formation down specifically, it would be a 3-3-1-2-1, with the last 3 digits being
the attackers.
3-4-3 A
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two side midfielders flank two centre midfielders to form a flat midfield line.
Third digit: Two wide forwards flank a centre forward to form a flat offensive line.

3-4-3 B
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 attackers.
First digit: Three defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: One holding midfielder, two side midfielders, and one attacking midfielder forms a
diamond midfield.
Third digit (consists of two lines): A false nine plays in a deep role, while two wide midfielders play a
little higher up.
3-5-2
This formation consists of 3 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 2 attackers.
First digit (consists of 2 lines): One centreback plays at the deeper line while two fullbacks play further
up.
Second digit (consists of 2 lines): Three centre midfielders play in the deeper line while two wing
midfielders play higher up.
Third digit: Two centre forwards play side by side.
4-2-3-1
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 attacker.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two holding midfielders play side by side centrally.
Third digit: Three attacking midfielders form a flat line, spreading across the width of the field.
Fourth digit: One lone striker plays up front.
4-2-4 A
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 attackers.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two centre midfielders play side by side.
Third digit: Two centre forwards are flanked by two wide forwards in a flat offensive line.
4-2-4 B
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 attackers.
First digit: One sweeper, two fullbacks and one centre-half forms a diamond defense.
Second digit: Two centre midfielders play side by side.
Third digit: One second striker, two wide forwards, and one lone striker forms a diamond offense.
Note: If we were to break down this formation specifically, it would be a 1-2-1-2-1-2-1, with the first
three digits (1-2-1) being the defenders, while the last three digits (1-2-1) being the attackers.
4-3-3 A
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two side midfielders flank one centre midfielder in a flat midfield line.
Third digit: Two wide midfielders flank one centre forward in a flat offensive line.
4-3-3 B
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers.
First digit: One sweeper, two fullbacks and one centre-half forms a diamond defense.
Second digit: Two side midfielders and one attacking midfielder forms a triangle midfield.
Third digit: Two wide forwards and one lone striker forms a triangle offense.

Note: If we were to break this formation specifically, it would be a 1-2-1-2-1-2-1, with the first 3 digits
(1-2-1) being the defenders, the following 2 digits (2-1) being the midfield, while the last 2 digits (2-1)
being the attackers.
4-4-2 A
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 attackers.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: Two side midfielders and two centre midfielders form a flat midfield line.
Third digit: Two centre forwards play side by side.
4-4-2 B
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 attackers.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit: One holding midfielder, two side midfielders, and one attacking midfielder forms a
diamond midfield.
Third digit: Two centre forwards play side by side.
Note: If we were to break down this formation specifically, it would be a 4-1-2-1-2, with the second to
fourth digit (1-2-1) being the midfielders.
4-5-1
This formation consists of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 attacker.
First digit: Four defenders form a flat defensive line.
Second digit (consists of 3 lines): One holding midfielder in the deepest line, behind two side
midfielders. Two centre attacking midfielders play up front in the third line of midfield.
Third digit: One lone centre forward plays up front.
5-2-3 A
This formation consists of 5 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 3 attackers.
First digit (consists of two lines): One sweeper is stationed behind a flat line of four defenders.
Second digit: 2 centre midfielders play side by side.
Third digit: One centre forward flanked by two wide forwards to form a flat offensive line.
5-2-3 B
This formation consists of 5 defenders, 2 midfielders, and 3 attackers.
First digit (consists of two lines): Three centre defenders play in a line, while two wingbacks play
further up, one on each side of the centrebacks.
Second digit: 2 centre midfielders play side by side.
Third digit: One centre forward flanked by two wide forwards to form a flat offensive line.
5-3-1-1
This formation 5 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 2 attackers.
First digit (consists of two lines): One sweeper is stationed behind four defenders.
Second digit (consists of two lines): One holding midfielder is stationed at the deepest line, while two
side midfielders play in the following line.
Third digit: two centre forwards play side by side.
5-3-2
This formation 5 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 2 attackers.
First digit (consists of two lines): One sweeper is stationed behind four defenders.
Second digit: One centre midfielder is flanked by two side midfielders to form a flat midfield.

Third digit: Two centre forwards play side by side.

5-4-1 A
This formation 5 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 1 attacker.
First digit (consists of two lines): One sweeper is stationed behind four defenders.
Second digit: 2 side midfielders play side by side on each wing, forming a flat midfield with space in
the middle.
Third digit: One lone centre forward plays up front.
Note: If we were to break down this formation specifically, it would be a 1-4-4-1, with the first two
digits being the defenders.
5-4-1 B
This formation 5 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 1 attacker.
First digit: Five defenders line up to form a flat defensive line.
Second digit (consists of three lines): One holding midfielder (deepest line), two shuttlers and one
attacking midfielder (front-most line) forms a diamond midfield.
Third digit: One lone centre forward plays up front.
Note: If we were to break down this formation specifically, it would be a 5-1-2-1-1, with the second to
fourth digit (1-2-1) being the midfield.
6-3-1 A
This formation 6 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 1 attacker.
First digit (consists of three lines): One sweeper is stationed behind four defenders, and one centre half
plays further up front.
Second digit: Two side midfielders flank one centre midfielder to form a flat midfield.
Third: One lone centre forward plays up front.
Note: If we were to break down this formation soecifically, it would be a 1-4-1-3-1, with the 1-4-1
being the defenders.
6-3-1 B
This formation 6 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 1 attacker.
First digit (consists of four lines): One sweeper is stationed behind two fullbacks. Further up in the
following line, two centre defenders play side by side, behind a centre half. If we leave out the sweeper,
it would look like an upside down letter "V", with the centre half being the sharp angle.
Second digit (consists of two lines): Two side midfielders play in the deeper line, behind one attacking
midfielder, forming a triangle midfield.
Third digit: One lone centre forward plays up front.
Note: This formation is really complicated. Try imagining a 1-2-2-1-2-1-1, with the first four digits (12-2-1) being the defenders, followed by two lines of midfielders (2-1) and an attacker.

Glossary
Digit: I don't know what this is called in proper football terms, so I call it digit. It's part of the formation
numbers, like 4-5-1, 4 is the first digit, 5 the second, and 1 the third.
Lines: kinds like rows. Lines shows whether the players stand in a line or stand in front or behind other
players of their position.
Flat: All players stand in a straight line.
Diamond: Four players stand diagonally to each other forming a diamond.
Deep: The deeper you are, the closer you are to your goal post.
Sweeper: The last man of the defense. Usually plays alone and is in charge of "sweeping up" the ball if
it passes the defensive line.
Centre Defenders: Centrebacks. Basically defenders who play in the middle of the defense, but in front
of sweepers.
Fullbacks: Usually plays on the same line as centre defenders, but deployed on the flanks.
Wingbacks: More offensive minded defenders who play on the flanks. Usually plays in the frontmost
line of the defense (in front of fullbacks and centrebacks).
Centre Half: In modern Britain, a Centre Half is a Centreback. However, traditionally, a Centre Half
was actually what people call a Centre Midfielder in the modern game. The reason why people changed
Centre Half from Centre Midfielder to Centreback is because as the game evolved, the Centre Halves
were positioned deeper and deeper. Therefore, in this guide, a Centre Half is a defender who plays in
the centre, but on the front-most line, almost being part of the midfield.
Holding midfielder: Also known as defensive midfielder or battling midfielder. These midfielders plays
in the deepest line, in front of the centre half and behind the centre midfielders.
Centre midfielders: Plays in the centre, in front of defensive midfielders, but behind attacking
midfielders.
Shuttlers: Centre midfielders of a three man center midfield who play on the sides, but not on the
flanks. However, in the presence of side midfielders, shuttlers would be known as centre midfielders.
Side midfielders: Midfielders who play on the flanks, but on the same line as the centre midfielder.
Attacking midfielder: A midfielder who plays in the front-most line of the midfield, just behind the
second striker.
Winger: A side midfielder that plays on the same line as the attacking midfielder, the only difference
between a winger and side midfielder is their line.
Second strikers: Strikers who play behind the targetman, in front of the attacking midfielder.

Wide forwards: Forwards who play on the flanks. Used to be called outside right and outside left.
Striker/Centre forward: These two terms are interchangeable, and pretty much explains itself.