Sociologists such as Manuel Castells insist that we are living in a network society. Changes to society have eroded old hierarchies and social structures; moreover, advances in communication technology mean that there has been an increase in connectedness between hitherto isolated groups. The notion of social structure therefore makes way for the image of the network, which captures how social relations are now organized.
The concern for the sociologist is how to understand the linkages that are made and sustained between people in society, rather than how these individuals are embedded within overarching structures. Activities are now organized with particular reference to electronic information networks; it is the rise of this technology which particularly defines contemporary social conditions. The proliferation of communication techologies, such as the internet, means that information has become a more democratic medium leading to non-hierarchical, more open networks of social communications. The logic of the network has diffused throughout society and shapes our institutions and culture.
As the network is becoming the sovereign societal state, football will not be immune from this development. In his book ‘How to Score’ Ken Bray looks at how different players are connected under different formations. This, in effect, is viewing the formation as a network which links the players. Bray assesses the efficacy of each formation with regard to how many passes can be made to another player within a certain distance, 40 metres. The most effective network will enable the highest number of linkages between the nodes. It is suggested that 4-4-2 offers the greatest connectivity with 66 passes available in total.
The current trend in football is for formations to be more acutely configured than 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. This is usually done with a two-tier midfield which is broken down into attacking and defensive midfield, or by employing a support striker. Formations are then viewed as 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 for example. The reason these arrangements are deployed is because they provide a more effective network of players than simpler formations. Bray highlights that the likelihood for a pass to be intercepted increases with the length of distance the ball has to cover before it reaches the intended recipient. Similarly,within a communication network, a protracted or convoluted route between nodes means that there is greater potential for information to be intercepted. By staggering the midfield and/or playing a withdrawn forward, the distance is reduced between the different elements of the team i.e. defence, midfield and attack. Improved, more finely graded linkages between these elements thus create a more effective network which assists ball retention.
However, according to these principles, there is a network configuration which outstrips all of the others. If the players are arranged in a tight circle then nine passes are available to each player creating a team total of 90 passes. WCC predicts that football formations will steadily mutate towards a circular configuration: the optimum on-pitch network. By about World Cup 2030, fans will be used to watching two overlapping circles of players navigating the football pitch in pursuit of victory!