Given how we seem to roll over virtually every time we play one of the top sides away from home and last season struggled to beat them at home as well I think we need to change our formation, especially if we do go on to sign Diarra and/or Parker. Harry has tried the 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation but I don't think he has left us strong enough in the centre of midfield which has meant we have leaked too many goals. I'd like to see us play with two strong centre midfielders like we had in Milan so the side look like this; Friedel Walker Dawson Kaboul/Gallas BAE Sandro Parker/Diarra VDV Modric Bale Adebeyor With the likes of Lennon, Huddlestone and Defoe available from the bench I think we would have a useful side that might hold its own a bit better when we come up against top opposition. We might miss Lennon's pace (although not his inconsistency!) but this would hopefully be compensated by Walkers burst forwards allowing one of the centre midfielders to cover for him if we get caught on the break. Anyone else agree?
With Adebayor coming on board and the likelihood of Parker too, I think this is Harry's thinking. One up top, with a stronger midfield, especially in away games. The big guy from Togo is a much better target man on his own. Defoe has proved countless times he can't do that job. Crouch is not much better and Pav, no way. I see us playing 4-5-1 a lot in games this season with a view to shifting to 4-3-3 when we attack. It will free up Rafa without the risk of leaving gaps in the middle of the park if Parker and Sandro/Hudd are in there with Modric. I still think we need a world class centre back. Gallas is too injury prone. Kaboul switches off too often and Daws is a level or two away from being that commanding presence we need.
One consideration you forget is that Harry sees Bale as an eventual left back. If this were the case, you would see Lennon in the side with Modric probably in left midfield.
I agree about 451 for the big games AWAY, however, in general, it never seems to work going forwards and leaves the front man under too much pressure. tough games away from home, it's a good idea, as well as in europe. playing 1 striker generally on their lonesome, doesn't put enough pressure on the oppositions defence IMO. So for home games I'd like to see some sort of 442, even if that results in an anchor man to protect the defence. for these home games, as well as easier opposition away, I'd like to see one player in front of the back 4 (sandro, thudd, parker/diarra - (if we get them)). this will free up a place and then allow lennon to play on the right. with out his pace, yes, the opposition's left back's will get pressure from walker, but that then results in us leaving a gaping hole at right back. walker is good going forwards, but can also leave us vulnerable. mine would be something like this. friedel walker dawson kaboul/gallas benny sandro/lass/parker lennon modric bale VDV Adebayor.
Makes sense to me. I'm hoping we get Diarra and Parker, to replace Jenas and Palacios. Probably play different formations for different games but it'd be good to have the options.
I'd go for that against the bigger teams too. I would've been tempted to use Charlie but Walker would add better width with VDV cutting in from the right.
I'd go something like... Friedel Corluka/Walker Dawson King/Gallas/Kaboul BAE Lennon Sandro/Diarra Modric/Huddlestone/Kranjcar Bale VDV Adebayor/Defoe/Pav Despite the current trend for 4-2-3-1, I don't think we have the right combination of players to do it, plus if we did play that formation we'd have to drop too many players to make it work.
Surely that's the point. You can't put square pegs in round holes. If it makes us a better team who can control the game and ultimately win, sometimes certain players will have to drop to the bench. Sir Alex has successfully done that for years.
I like the look of that team and formation, our full backs could bomb forward and the 2 holding midfielders sit back so we can't get caught on the counter attack. Gomes, Dawson, Corluka, Lennon, Parker (assuming we sign him), Defoe & Pav on the bench makes a strong squad with Krancjar and others not even in the 1st 18.
With that 4-2-3-1 formation and team setup you can bring Lennon on to stretch the defence later in the game. You'd need Walker at RB as well, as though Charlie does seem to get forward more these days there is no doubt that Walker is by far and away the better attacking wing-back. You could easily switch to a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 as well. I till think our best formation is 4-4-2 but the issue there is how to accommodate VdV (without sacrificing Lennon on the right as the two wingers are the whole point of that formation).
4-4-2, with VDV? Only if you count him as one of the front two (alongside you-know-who) Which kind of destroys the point of bringing in another NEW STRIKER, as 3 would be the optimum amount if you class VDV in that role.
I would say that VdV would play on the right in a 4-4-2, but as I said that is the problem - playing him there limits his effectiveness greatly and leaves Walker/Corluka with a lot to do down the right due to VdV cutting in and drifting around, as he did in the rare times we stuck him out wide last season. As I said earlier as well the whole point of that formation is to take advantage of our wingers, and leaving one of them on the bench defeats the whole point of using that system. The problem with VdV is that we have a brilliant player but he is most effective in a system that does not fully benefit the rest of our players. I stand by the fact that all 3 of out strikers last season would have scored more goals if we persisted with 4-4-2. I wouldn't play VdV as one of the front two as I don't think he's disciplined enough, he would just end up dropping off and leave us with a 4-4-1-1 again.
