Serie A Tactis

Ancona          3 - 4 - 3
Bologna         3 - 4 - 3
Brescia         4 - 4 - 2
Chievo          4 - 4 - 2
Empoli          4 - 4 - 2
Inter           3 - 4 - 3
Juventus        4 - 3 - 3/4 - 4 - 2
Lazio           4 - 4 - 2
Lecce           4 - 4 - 2
Milan           4 - 1 - 3 - 2
Modena          3 - 4 - 3
Parma           4 - 4 - 2
Perugia         3 - 5 - 2
Reggina         3 - 5 - 2
Roma            3 - 4 - 3
Sampdoria       4 - 4 - 2
Siena           4 - 4 - 2
Udinese         4 - 4 - 2

4-4-2 pressing as seen under Sacchi and Capello no longer exists in Italian
football. Capello's Roma were the last team to win the Championship playing a
true 4-4-2 pressing game.

Zaccheroni and madman Malesani were the coaches that popularised 3-4-3 at
Udinese and Parma respectively. Zac is the only coach to have 'won' Serie A
playing a 3-4-3 system at Milan although as I recall the club switched to 4-4-2
during the crucial last 2 months of the 1999 season.

Juve won the last two championships playing 4-4-2 although Lippi's tactics are
flexible and his team have arguably been more impressive without Del Piero
playing 4-3-3 with Nedved behind Trezeguet and Di Vaio.

Milan play a unique 4-1-3-2 system in which Pirlo sits in front of the defence
as a half DM/half playmaker. The player has grown into the role after initially
struggling to come to terms with defensive duties. Kaka/Rui Costa play behind a
front two of Shevchenko and Inzaghi.

Inter have switched to 3-4-3 now that Zac is in charge and the early results
have been spectacular, in the league. In Zac's 3 man front line no one actually
plays in the hole, all three 'forwards' play in attack with van der Meyde and
Cruz flanking Vieri (or Martins).

Capello, like Ancelotti, was a strict 4-4-2 man but has switched to 3-4-3. Roma
play with two out and out playmakers in Cassano and Totti. A luxury Capello can
afford with an virtually impenetrable defence of Chivu and Samuel and the
considerable muscle of Emerson and the much improved Dacourt in midfield.
Capello's philosophy has changed completely. His team play a spectacular, highly
technical brand of football not seen in Serie A (or Europe) since his great
Milan side of the 1991-1992 season.


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