| Formation | 1925~1950s WM System (3-2-5) |
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As it became obvious that
the above-mentioned three-player offside rule reduced the number of goals during a game
and dampened the excitement of the sport, the law-making international board amended it to
a two-player offside rule in 1925. The effect was immediate with a dramatic increase in
goals scored in football leagues. The rule change brought a huge advantage to the
attacking side. The zonal defense with two defenders was no longer sufficient. To guard
against a more aggressive offense and to avoid confusion, the center half (5), who used to
be at the center of the midfield, was brought down to the middle of the defense line. This new formation was called the "WM" system because of its shape. The player (5) marked the attacking center-forward while players (2) and (3) took care of the wingers, and players (4) and (5) marked inside-forwards, or "inners." Thus, the system provided a one-on-one defense. The "WM" system prevailed as the mainstream formation for a relatively long time, especially in Europe. |