Well...thoughts? Here's mine: -----RVP---Walcott ------Arshavin------ -----Arteta---Song--- Gibbs--Mert-Kosc--Jenk -------Fabianksi------- That team is narrow minded indeed. Except it sort of isn't with RVP and Walcott being players who would cut in from the wings and with Gibbo being a proper attacking fullback. -----RVP---Walcott---------- Gervinho----------Chamberlain -----Arteta---Song-------- Gibbs--Mert--Kosc----Jenk --------Fabianski--------- Team with a lot of width but could get overrun in midfield ---------Walcott---------- -----------RVP------------- Gervinho-------------Chamberlain -------Arteta---Song--------- Gibbs---Mert----Kosc-----Jenk ---------Fabianski-------------- Won't get overrun in midfield with RVP dropping deeper. Will get bodies forward and still provide defensive cover. -----------RVP------------ ----------Arshavin--------- Gervinho-------------Walcott --------Arteta--Song-------- Gibbs---Mert---Kosc----Jenk ---------Fabianski---------- More or less the same as before. It's a versatile formation. One substitution can jiggle around all of the front four how we see fit. It's useful for attacking, defending, getting width, controlling the centre and moving on the counter. If we're struggling on the wings then Arshavin/RVP (depending which of the two above we're playing) moves slightly left or right to support. If we're getting overrun in the middle we pull Arshavin/RVP deeper to create a 3, not 2, man midfield. If we're struggling to get bodies in the box then Arteta can move towards to the edge of the box while Gervinho and Walcott are cutting in. It's a formation which, frankly, should have been used when Fabregas was here. It would have benefited his game just as much as it'd benefit the AM/SS here. It'd get the best out of whoever players there. Be it RVP, Arshavin, Rosicky (I reckon he'd actually thrive in that role) or whatever. A 4-4-2 isn't the answer. It's too rigid for our players. Our current set up is just as bad. It's too predictable and unchanging. This formation is more fluid and works to the benefit of every player on the pitch.
I'd go with.... ---------------Szneznkezy jenk--Merte--Song--Kossy--Gibbs--Santos --------Frimpong-----Cockky -----Theo--------------RVP Atleast it would stop all the moaning about the defence!