The ball carrier threatens forward, support arrives from behind and both wings keep the full width of the field available.
Compare the shapes
Compare the connected shape with the two common mistakes: becoming too flat and becoming too narrow.
Shape comparison
Read the orange players from front to back: a carrier threatening the line, support arriving behind, and width that forces defenders to make decisions.
M1 carries forward; support stays behind; both wings hold width.
The ball carrier threatens the line without dragging every teammate into the same channel. M2 is arriving behind the ball, the links retain depth, and LW/RW keep the full field available.
Everyone reaches the defensive line at the same time.
M1 has no clear backward pass and nobody is arriving behind the touch to become dummy half. One defender can watch several attackers at once.
Links and wings follow the ball into one crowded channel.
The defence can compress around M1 without making a difficult decision. The outside space exists, but no attacker is holding it.
Walk the six positions first. Add pace and passing only after everyone can preserve the depth and width.
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