Genuine question re 4-3-3

[Up the Duff.]

When playing a 4-3-3 formation are the fullbacks supposed to be bombing on firing lots of crosses into the box ? I know at Liverpool the fullbacks get forward but I don’t recall them being the main outlet.

Any coaches out there who can give a summary of what the intention is generally ?

Interested to know if there is a better formation for two lightening quick widemen as they can’t be effective if the Full backs are operating in their space.

[Mastercracker]

Depends, Man City and Liverpool both play 433. Man City's fullbacks generally come inside and the widemen stay high and wide. Liverpool's fullbacks both fly forward whilst Salah and Mane play very narrow.

Bolton used to play 433 under Big Sam and just leather it towards Kevin Davies. There's many ways to play and the formation isn't the main driver.

Too much is made of the formation, really its just your shape when defending.

[kdriveterrier]

General idea is wingers make diagonal/curved runs into the box to support the lone striker.Trigger is often when an attacking midfielder can get his head up and play forward.Wingers therefore have created space for full backs to attack.Can depend on how an individual coach interprets 4-3-3.- you have to be wary of the negative transition and being caught on the counter.

Dani Alves at Barcelona spent more time in the funal third than defensive third at Barca.The game evolves and Guardiola saw something different in Philip Lahm and used him in a different way at Bayern as an inverted full back in that version of 4-3-3.

If you had two very good attacking full backs who could influence the game in the final third -worth looking at 3-4-1-2 -as you would naturally push these players further up the pitch.

[Million Dollar Babies]

Towns version is Elphick smashing it over Grants head for the centre halves to easily deal with.

If we're taking thst approach then we'd be better off with Mounie up front