Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
If ever more proof were needed as to the irrelevance of formations, this National Women’s Soccer League season has provided it. Almost all of the league’s teams settled, eventually, on some form of 4-3-3. But how they got there, and how they played when they did, is where the differences emerged.
When the playoffs commence, there may still be a uniformity in basic setup, but there will be plenty of variety to keep things interesting.
San Diego Wave
For San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney, good defense is the platform for good attacking play. That was the case during her time in charge of Manchester United, and has remained so since her move to San Diego. This season, she has been more open-minded with her defensive approach to games, utilizing various setups to counteract different opponents. Her team’s attacking play, on the other hand, has remained more or less the same, one significant personnel change aside.
San Diego’s 4-3-3 sees two holding players operating behind one attacking…
